Welcome to the world of club volleyball.  If you are like most parents, you're wondering what are we getting ourselves into? Well, the answer, of course, is not simple.  But here are some important things to know about our program.

WHAT IS CLUB VOLLEYBALL?

Club volleyball is an opportunity to play volleyball outside of school-sponsored activities. Families pay to join a volleyball club that arranges for coaches, teams, insurance, uniforms, practice facilities, etc. so that the teams can play against other clubs in tournaments. Usually a club will have a number of teams for different age groups and skill levels, and may have girls and/or boys teams.

Each club and team determines its own tournament and travel schedule; some travel a great deal, while others stay more local. Selecting a club is a family decision and takes some research. Although clubs must abide by general SCVA/USA Volleyball rules and or AAU Rules, each club is different in the way they run their organization and train their athletes. It is important to know these differences when selecting the right club for your family.

Once my child signs with a club, can they change their mind and join another club?

No, unless their club releases them, your child has made a season-long commitment to that club. The club is under no obligation to release them until the season is finished after USA Volleyball Junior National Championships. Clubs will ask parents/players to sign an Letter of Intent Form after tryouts. Many clubs will also require a verbal or written contract. The contract may be a legally binding agreement. Please read and understand what you are committing to before signing!

What's the difference between team levels?

National Teams- competitive program designed for players who are serious about improving their game, and are committed to their role on the best teams possible. We expect players to attend all practices and tournaments, athletes who miss 40% of practice in between tournaments will not play in the following tournament. While we don't expect families' lives to completely revolve around volleyball, we do expect it to be a high priority. Our general guideline is that if players are going to miss more than one practice per month or more than one tournament during the season, a conversation with the coach and club director needs to be had before making a commitment to the team. 

SoCal & SoCal+ Teams- competitive program designed for players who are serious about improving their game, and are focused on athlete and team development. We expect players to be at as many practices and tournaments as possible, though understand some athletes may have other sports/program commitments that will be communicated to the coach in advance. Athletes who miss 50% of practice in between tournaments will not play in the following tournament. Our general guideline is that if players are going to miss more than one practice per week or more than two tournaments during the season, a conversation with the coach and club director needs to be had before making a commitment to the team. 

310 VB Academy Teams- developmental program designed for players who are serious about improving their game and are focused on athlete development. This is a great program for athletes who might not be sure if they can commit to a club team or have never played organized volleyball. 

When and where are the tournaments held?

The dates of the tournaments are determined by the organization our teams play under (SoCal Cup for Boys & SCVA for Girls). Locations and times of where/when the teams will play are not posted by the organization until the week of the tournament & and can change up until the day before the tournament. Please keep the full tournament dates open as teams could start play anytime between 8am-3pm and play until 3pm-9pm.

SCVA Parent Handbook

Other Helpful Resources

Positive Coaching Alliance: valuable resources for sports parenting 

USAV Parent Resources: helpful resources on parenting in the volleyball world 

What Parents Should Say: some guidelines on what parents should say as their children perform

9 Things Good Sports Parents Avoid: Sometimes it's not about what you do, but what you DON'T do

Teach your Teenage Athlete to be Coachable: a great article of fostering coachability in your child