What is Junior Olympic Volleyball or Club ball?
Junior Olympic Volleyball is part of the USA Volleyball Organization,
think of it as a league that is played across the nation. Many people
call it "club ball" because players usually have to tryout for
a club before competing. Both boys and girls can compete as long as they
are younger than 19 and are still competing at the high school level.
Clubs may have only one team or many teams. All teams compete in the region
and the national level, if they qualify.
What is a Region?
The country is divided into different regions to help govern and promote
the sport. For those of us in the Kansas City area we belong to the Heart
of America Region.
How do I get my child involved?
The first thing you'll want to do is get a list of clubs in the area,
you can find that on the HOA website You will find a list of club directors
and contact information to begin your search. The HOA office will also
post a list of tryout dates, times, and locations before tryouts begin
in November. Your athlete will, in most cases, have to tryout for a club
and make a team. Word of Caution, beware of any club who tells you that you MUST sign membership forms before you leave the facility during or after a tryout. Some clubs may try to force you to make a decison before you are prepared to do so. Policy for the Heart of America includes a player offered a position with a club has 24 hours to make a decision or until Monday, 4:00 after the tryouts. Some clubs try to create a sense of urgency to be a part of their program and if you feel pressured or unsure take some time to consider your options.
What is the difference between the teams?
Teams are determined, by age with the cut off date set at September 1st
of the following school year. The teams are divided by age starting with
the 10 & under teams up to the 18 & under teams. If your child
is 14 and will not turn 15 until the following September, they will play
on the 14 & under team. However, if she turns 15 during the season
she will have to compete on the 15 & under team.
Teams are also determined by skill and ability of the players. The stronger players compete on the gold level with the silver level following and then the developmental teams at the bronze level.
What is the difference between the clubs?
Some clubs are very large carrying many squads at different
age levels while there are other clubs that carry only 1 or 2 squads.
Some clubs compete only at the elite (gold) level while others compete
at only the silver or bronze and, of course, some clubs may have all three
levels associated with their club. Other differences include the number
of tournaments in which they compete, where they compete and how long they
compete. Southwind suggest researching the different clubs before you attend
a tryout so you will know what to expect and to find the best fit for you
and your child.
How long is the season?
Most teams begin in November and compete through April with elite teams competing
on through late June/early July.
How often do they compete and where?
Teams compete in weekend tournaments and each club is
different in how often they compete. Since there are tournaments almost
every weekend, coaches determine the number of tournaments they would
like to enter. Some squads may have 14 tournaments during the season while
others may have only 4 tournaments. Tournaments are held throughout the
local area as well as throughout the country. Most teams will compete
in many local tournaments and may travel to regional/qualifying tournaments
since you must win a regional tournament to qualify for the National tournament
at the end of the season.
How often do they practice?
Some teams may practice 3 to 4 times a week while other teams practice
once a week. This varies from club to club and from team to team.
Is my child guaranteed playing time?
This is another area that differs from club to club and from team to team.
Just because you pay for your child to participate it does not guarantee
playing time. Some coaches may feel this is important while the players
are developing but other teams are developed as elite (gold) teams and
their goal is to win with the best players on the court. This is another
concern you should address with the club director.
What is the cost?
The cost will range from $300 to $2500 depending on the club and the level
of the team. Many teams will have club fees that are posted but be sure
to ask about additional fees... for traveling, uniforms, and consider
the number of tournaments that are out of town because this will be an
additional expense for the family to travel with the players.
Closing thoughts...
Southwind recommends contacting Cub Directors to find out more about their
club philosophies. Also realize that each club meets a particular need,
work hard to find a good fit for you and your athlete. Word of Caution, any director or coach willing to speak ill of another club is probably
not the best club to exhibit good sportsmanship. Respected clubs will speak well of other clubs within the Heart of America and will, most likely, not share any negative impressions they may have concerning competing clubs. It is also recommended
visiting with parents who have had/or have children involved with Junior
Olympic Volleyball; they will be your best source for truthful feedback due to their personal experiences with the different clubs.
Many of the people involved with Junior Olympics do so because we are passionate about the sport as well as children and young adults. Our goal is to help young athletes and be a part of their lives to influence them in a positive way. Many of us have coached for a number of years and the decisions we make are for the benefit of all involved with the sport. Please remember some of these decisions are very difficult ones, we understand that our choices affect young lives and we take our responsibilities seriously.
As you search for a club please keep these thoughts in mind so you, the club, and most importantly, your child can have a successful season.
