What's the tryout like?
Coaches run tryouts in order to evaluate athletic skill and potential. After a registration and warm up period, the tryout usually consists of various drills in the areas of passing, setting, serving and hitting, followed by game-like situations for the younger athletes, and 6v6 scrimmages for the older groups. Each athlete will be wearing a numbered t-shirt and their skills will be evaluated throughout the tryout.
Many facilities do not have space for parents to observe tryouts. IF parents are permitted in the gym, they must keep a reasonable distance away from the action, and may not interrupt the tryout or speak with coaches or athletes during the session.
After the tryout, evaluators meet and discuss the possibilities for building teams. Criteria include all the facets that make good volleyball players, including skill, but also attitude, potential, and work ethic.
There are multiple tryout dates. Do I have to attend them all?
14U-18U: Attend Tryout #1 or the make-up date. There will also be two "Callback" dates that athletes may be invited to for further evaluation and/or final team decisions.
11U-13U: Multiple tryout dates will be offered. Because we like to see how athletes develop with instruction, we ask that they attend as many tryouts as possible.
Athletes should wear their same numbered t-shirt to all tryout sessions attended.
How many players will make the team?
Standard volleyball rosters are filled with 10-12 athletes, although there are variations. Given substitution rules, it is difficult for a coach to play more than 9 or 10 athletes per game. In some cases, it makes sense to take only 10 players on a team to avoid a situation where one or two athletes rarely see game time. Some teams will occasionally take more than 12 players if there is upside potential for all of them, although that is the exception rather than the rule.
While it varies based on age group, only 20%-40% of athletes who tryout will make an NYC Juniors National or Travel team. Numbers tend to be lower at 11U, 12U, 13U and 18U age groups, but 14s-17s age groups see 80+ athletes competing for 20-24 roster spots each year.
How many teams will there be?
We will field teams in each of the following age groups:
11U – 12U – 13U – 14U – 15U – 16U – 17U - 18U
For most age groups there will be 2 teams ("National" & "Travel")
In age groups deep with talent, we may choose to field 3 teams if space and coaches are available.
*The Club makes no definitive decisions about size of roster, or number of teams in each age group, until the tryout process is complete. The coaches of each individual team will then work with their colleagues to fill rosters in a manner that makes the most sense for each coaching staff.
When are practices and games?
Beginning in early November, teams practice two weeknights, usually 7:00-9:00pm, plus Sundays (times vary by team). Tournament play typically begins in early January and the regular season runs through mid-May.
On average, most teams will compete twice monthly at weekend tournaments (from January through May).
Single-day tournaments are held on weekends throughout the season. National & Travel teams also attend overnight tournaments, which are a highlight for players and parents. Overnight tournaments are 2-3 days, and sometimes may require missing a day of school for travel and competition. All athletes should expect to attend tournaments on holiday weekends, including MLK Weekend, President's Day Weekend, and possibly Passover or Easter Weekend.
It is a goal of every team to make a run into GEVA Regional playoffs and to compete in a post-season National Championship tournament during the Summer. All players accepting a spot on a team are committing to a season possibly running through June (IF the team qualifies for Nationals). Specifics on tournament schedules and team fees can be found under "Girls Travel Teams" tab above.
Where are the games and how do we get there?
Most of the regional tournaments are held within 2 hour driving distance – Hudson Valley, suburban New Jersey, Queens, and Long Island are frequent venues.
Overnight tournaments are held in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston or farther away depending on the level of team.
***Transportation, hotel rooms, and air travel are NOT included in season fees.
Families are responsible for making sure their athletes has transportation to all tournaments, and housing for overnight events. For tournaments requiring air travel, families will also need to book flights.
For more general tryout information, see Tryout Guidelines.