Guide to Club Volleyball

So, you have decided to play club Volleyball or are thinking about it. It can be both confusing and intimidating for new people searching for opportunities. This questions/information below will provide a basic introduction to club Volleyball in the Northern Virginia (Loudoun County) area, along with frequently asked questions and answers.

The first thing you should do is click the link below and read the Guide to Club Volleyball in Northern Virginia by the NoVa Volleyball Alliance. They do a great job of breaking down the difference between club, travel and recreational (house league) volleyball and introducing many of the local area clubs.

🔗 Guide to Club Volleyball in Northern Virginia

Go to clinics for each of the teams you are interested in playing for. During the months leading up to tryouts, each club holds prep clinics.

The tryout isn’t where you want to meet the coach for the first time. They should know who you are ahead of time.

By the time tryout day happens, most coaches already know who they want on the team and may only have one or two open slots they are waiting to fill.

For the 2025–2026 season:

• U12, U13, U14

  • Tryout Period opens Friday, October 24 at 11:00 AM

  • Runs until Tuesday, October 28 at 10:00 PM

  • Offers must be in writing (not verbal) and honored until the Tuesday deadline.

• U15, U16, U17

  • Tryout Period opens Friday, October 31 at 11:00 AM

  • Runs until Tuesday, November 4 at 10:00 PM

  • Offers must be in writing (not verbal) and honored until the Tuesday deadline.

➡️ CHRVA Rules:

• No tryouts before the official start time.

• No offers before the official start time.

• All offers must be in writing, not verbal.

• Players have until the Tuesday deadline to accept or reject.

If you know where you want to play and receive an offer, you should accept it as soon as possible and notify the other clubs. All offers expire at 10:00 PM Tuesday. Any offers made after that do not need to be held if the player does not accept before the deadline.

DYS Volleyball is affiliated with USAV/CHRVA and follows these rules. Most local clubs do as well, but some (JVA or AAU clubs) operate on different timelines. Families may see differences in how and when those clubs run tryouts and make offers.

Our best advice is to try out for several clubs that you are interested in playing for. You may not get offers from all of them, so this will give you options to choose from.

Trying out for multiple clubs also gives you the chance to meet other players and coaches and to see how different organizations handle the process. You can learn a lot about a club just by watching how they run their tryouts.

Don’t panic if you don’t get an offer right away — this happens every season. Most coaches don’t make all their offers immediately. They often keep spots open until they have seen everyone.

After that, they must wait on responses from players and will likely continue to reach out with additional offers throughout the tryout period.

There will still be teams trying to fill rosters after the Open Tryout Period. If you don’t have an offer by Monday, it’s okay to reach out to coaches and ask where you stand. Teams that don’t fill their rosters by Tuesday will often hold callback tryouts. You should actively look for these opportunities if you are still searching for a place to play.

Pat Powers, Olympic Gold Medalist and world-class Volleyball coach, outlined 5 truths for junior athletics:

1. Everybody thinks they are better than they are.

2. Every parent thinks their son/daughter is better than they are.

3. Everybody wants to play with the better players.

4. Which means nobody wants to play with the weaker players.

5. Everybody thinks the first four rules do not apply to them.

Each family should ask what matters most when choosing a club. Keep in mind: your athlete must try out every year. There are no guarantees of making the same team again, or even wanting to.

Questions to consider:

• Is the priority having a great experience as a family?

• Playing at the highest level (college/D1 ambitions)?

• Improving to prepare for High school Varsity?

• Balancing school, life, and Volleyball?

• Or is winning more important than playing time?

None of these goals are wrong, but it is rare to find a club that can give you all of them at once. Each club has its own culture and values. Matching those values to your own is key to finding the right fit.

The level of time commitment varies by club and team.

• High-intensity programs may practice up to 5 days a week, travel nationally, and aim for a bid to the National Championships.

• Balanced programs usually practice 2–3 times a week and focus on strong competition while allowing athletes more balance outside of Volleyball.

Tournaments:

• Some teams play back-to-back weekends.

• Others compete every other weekend (roughly twice a month).

• Most programs run from November through May, with some extending through July if they qualify for Nationals.

Expect to spend almost every holiday weekend at a tournament. Skipping tournaments is not an option. Families should be prepared to travel regularly.

Every club has its own personality and priorities. Understanding the atmosphere is key:

• Win-at-all-costs programs:

  • Heavy focus on results.

  • Coaches may invest less in relationships or player development beyond skills.

  • Some players thrive in this environment, but it can be mentally demanding.

• Development-focused programs:

  • Use Volleyball as a tool to teach teamwork, leadership, and life skills.

  • Emphasis on growth and building relationships.

• Balanced programs:

  • Aim to provide strong training, competitive opportunities, and an enjoyable team experience.

Also consider the player/parent group. Even the best coach may not be a fit if the surrounding team culture is stressful or filled with drama.

Club Volleyball is a significant financial investment.

• Club fees: Usually $2,500–$10,500 per season (varies widely).

• Not included in fees: travel, meals, hotels, and postseason play.

• Travel costs:

  • Regional play: add $500–$1,000

  • National-level play (flights, hotels, extended stays): add $4,000–$5,000

Typical additional expenses:

• Hotels for multi-day tournaments: $2,500–$3,500 (Jan–May)

• Uniform packages, gear, or spirit wear (varies by club)

• Postseason costs if the team qualifies for Nationals

➡️ Higher cost does not always equal higher quality. There are strong coaches and programs at every price level. Do your research and ask questions.

When evaluating clubs, ask these questions to see if their values match your family’s:

Philosophy & Culture

• Is the focus on winning, improvement, or player experience?

• What is the club’s mission/vision?

Team Details

• How many teams per age group?

• Who are the coaches and what are their backgrounds?

• What is their coaching style?

• How is playing time determined?

Roster & Development

• How many players per team? (10–12 is typical, more may mean limited touches.)

• What position do you see my athlete playing?

• How many others at the same position are on the roster?

Logistics

• Practice schedule (days per week, weekends off, locations)?

• Travel requirements and expected number of tournaments?

• Length of season (start to finish)?

Financials

• What is included in dues?

• What is not included? (Uniforms, fundraising, travel?)

• Payment schedule?

Other

• Do you accept practice players, and what is the fee?

• Are players allowed to play other sports during club season?

• What happens if a player misses practice or a tournament?

These questions help you look “behind the curtain” and understand what the season will really look like.