Frequently Asked Questions for New Athletes
Looking to take your game to the next level? We've answered a few commonly asked questions for parents and athletes looking to move from recreation or school sports to Metro Volleyball Club.
How is club volleyball different from school or rec leagues?
Club volleyball is an independent, competitive environment that runs outside the school sports season (typically late autumn through spring/early summer). It features professional coaching, advanced skill development, travel to multi-day tournaments, and playing against higher-caliber competition.
How long is the club volleyball season?
Practices for the season generally start after Thanksgiving and runs through April or May or June, depending on the level of team you are on (National/Regional/Academy). National teams have an extended season to compete at the National Championships tournament in Orlando through late June.
How do tryouts work and how are teams formed?
Tryouts are held over 3 days in the autumn, generally near the end or after school seasons, and are organized by age group (USAV age brackets based on birth year and month). Coaches evaluate players on athletic ability, positional skill, effort, and attitude. Players receive offers as teams are posted shortly after tryouts conclude and will have 24 hours to accept a position on the team.
How are team levels (National, Regional, Academy) structured?
• National: Highest competitive level; full regional/national travel schedule; attends national championships in Orlando in June.
• Regional: Strong competitive focus with limited long-distance travel; mostly regional weekend events.
• Academy: Focuses heavily on skill development and local play; minimal financial and travel commitment.
You can find more information about teams here.
What does a typical weekly practice schedule look like?
Teams practice twice per week for 1.5 - 2 hours. All teams practice together with their own team to ensure team cohesion. Practices will include dedicated positional training, team systems practice, and physical conditioning. Practice time is occasionally shared with another team to practice against. Every other Monday the club hosts position specific trainings that our lead by our club director and focus on specific skill sets.
What should we expect at weekend tournaments?
Tournaments are single-day or multi-day events. Day formats usually start with pool play (3 matches in a round-robin group) in the morning or afternoon, followed by single-elimination bracket play. Expect long days—pack plenty of healthy snacks, water bottles, and portable phone chargers.
Why are players required to work or referee matches?
Unlike many youth sports, volleyball teams keep score and officiate matches when they aren't playing. Players take turns serving as line judges, scorekeepers, score-flippers, and down referees (R2). Coaches supervise, but learning these duties builds sportsmanship and rule literacy.
How is playing time handled on a club team?
Unlike recreational leagues, club volleyball does not guarantee equal playing time. While all players receive equal high-level coaching in practice, tournament court time is earned based on performance, attendance, attitude, and tactical needs.
How is information communicated to me as a parent?
Your central hub is the Parent Portal on our website, where you can access all official scheduling details at any time—including practice schedules, tournament dates, position specific training sessions, hotel booking blocks, and direct contact details for your team’s coach. For day-to-day announcements we use GroupMe. Separate GroupMe channels will be established for direct coach-to-parent (team) communications as well as club-wide director announcements.
