Thank you in advance for educating yourself on the tryout process, realistically preparing yourself and your daughter for all possible outcomes, and understanding that this is a necessary part of elite-level athletics.
DEFINITIONS
“Tryouts” is the process through which players are chosen for the various NYC Juniors teams. This process consists of coach evaluations, observation of the players in game and drill contexts during designated “tryout” session. Tryout participants will be given color-coded T-Shirts, based on USA Volleyball age guidelines, with numbers. This is to create an equitable atmosphere to judge skill and performance.
NYC Juniors fields teams in 11U-18U age groups. 9 and 10 year olds are welcome to tryout for 11U teams. Age groups are dictated by USAV Volleyball with a birthdate cutoff of July 1st (see age definitions on the Tryout Schedule page).
In general, two teams are formed in each age group:
"National" team: Top team in the age group. (Often the best 10-12 athletes that age in all of NYC) National teams will play an extended season, November-June/early July and attend several out-of-state events, sometimes requiring air travel. Season culminates at USAV Girls Junior National Championships.
"Travel" team: Second team in the age group. Still highly competitive, but with a shorter season running November-early May. Multiple overnight tournaments in the northeast. No air travel required. Travel teams have the opportunity to extend their season if the team wins a bid to Nationals.
EVALUATING SKILL LEVELS
All evaluations are obviously subjective – coaches from different clubs, and even within the same club, may disagree on the potential of any given athlete. At NYC Juniors, coaches understand this and generally try to seek out the opinions of their colleagues within the club when making final roster choices.
While volleyball experience and skill levels are clearly the greatest indicator of an athlete making a team, there are other factors that come into play, namely attitude, work ethic, and the “coachability” factor. These are all part of the evaluation process during the tryout.
A BIG TIP FOR ATHLETES
If you are able to demonstrate, during the tryout, that you are able to take a coach’s suggestion and CHANGE your usual method by trying the method suggested by the coach, and improving your skill – then you have demonstrated exactly the thing that most coaches are looking for.
ATHLETES “PLAYING UP” IN AGE GROUP
On occasion, some athletes “play up” in an age group older than their age indicates. The club does not encourage this sort of roster move unless it makes clear and obvious sense – i.e., an athlete has been competing at that level in the past and still maintains the capability to do so, or an athlete new to the club with previous experience playing at a high level is clearly skilled enough to be considered for an older team.
A second case of “playing up” would be encouraged if an athlete in a younger age group: 1) did not make the “National” team in her designated group, and 2) was talented enough to make a team in a higher age group, or 3) offered a positional advantage to a coach looking to fill roster with her particular skill set.
All players interested in being considered for a team are expected to attend the tryout for that team’s age group. If a player cannot attend for a legitimate reason, then the coach of the team and assigned evaluators will discuss how to assess that player and whether they will be offered a spot on a team.
MOVEMENT BETWEEN "NATIONAL" AND "TRAVEL" TEAM
In many cases there is roster movement from year to year – athletes may have improved a skill set over the previous year, or a coach may be looking to fill a specific position with a new player.
Movement between teams, where appropriate, is necessary to preclude players and/or their parents from believing that they have a “right” to stay on “their” team even if the player does not possess the requisite skill level to play on the team. Also, keeping an unqualified player on a team is unfair to the new player, that may deserve to make that team.
Immediately after the tryouts, coaches make a preliminary assessment and player allocation. No team parents or players take part in this meeting. Generally, head coaches of the older age groups make their team choices first. Head coaches of “National” teams, in conference with “Travel” team coaches, have first selection. Based on the “National” team selections, the “Travel” team decisions follow.
OFFERS AND COMMITMENTS
Roster selections for both "National" and "Travel" teams, along with respective alternates, will be communicated to families as soon as decisions are made by the coaching staff, either by email or phone call. Upon roster announcements, details will be extended to prospective team members, including information about the team for which a player has been selected, fees for the season, and instructions to officially accept or decline a spot on the roster.
Not all team offers will go out at the same time. Coaches may selectively begin the process of extending "early offers" to some athletes roster decisions are made. This is simply because some decisions can be made easier than others, and tryouts may extend across several days or weeks. Often times, "Travel" team coaches will have to wait until "National" team rosters are set before they can assign spots to remaining players, so it is normal for most National team offers to go out before Travel team offers.
NYC Juniors competes in the Garden Empire Region under the umbrella of USA Volleyball. The Garden Empire Volleyball Association (GEVA) provides strict tryout guidelines by which all clubs and members are
governed.
Per GEVA guidelines, NYC Juniors reserves the right to ask for written commitment to an official offer after a mandatory 72 hour waiting period. If a player is unable or unwilling to make a commitment after the 72 hours, their position on the team could potentially be offered to another player. In many cases, there will be athletes who have yet to be offered a spot, waiting for word on roster openings.
WHAT IF I DON'T MAKE A TEAM?
While we wish we could provide the coaches and facilities to be able to accept all interested athletes, we do not have the resources to do so, and thus, every year, final cuts must be made.
The reality is that the majority of interested athletes will NOT make an NYC Juniors team. For most age-groups, we will see 50-80 athletes at Tryouts, of which only 20-24 will make teams. If you are not offered a spot on a team, be proud of yourself for the effort you gave, and continue to work on your skills for future tryouts.
Once all roster spots are officially accepted, families of athletes not accepted will be notified via email. At this point, all decisions are final. The Club may offer additional playing options (i.e. weekend Skills Academy or future training opportunities).
If you have not been offered a spot on a team, please do NOT contact NYC Juniors regarding team roster decisions. We ask all athletes and parents to respect the decisions made by NYC coaches and staff, and encourage all athletes who do not make a team to seek out alternative volleyball opportunities, and to return the following year.
POST TRYOUT RESPONSIBILITIES
Playing club volleyball with NYC Juniors, or any other club, is a major financial commitment. Because our club is a non-profit organization, and because gym space in the city is incredibly costly, we rely on prompt payment of all club fees. NYC Juniors is making a one-year commitment to you and your child when you are asked to join a team. Similarly, by accepting this invitation and joining one of our teams, you are assuming the responsibility for paying the required team fees (less any financial aid granted).
**NYC Juniors does NOT ascribe to the belief that elite-level volleyball need be elitist by nature. We strive to offer any and all deserving players an opportunity to play on a club team, regardless of their ability to pay. We have a Scholarship Fund available to support those families who need financial assistance to cover club fees. If you need to apply for financial aid, you will let us know as part of your tryout registration, and final payment plan will be agreed upon once you have been offered a spot on a team.