2023/2024 Season Information
This year we will be offering an Indoor Club Volleyball team under the Evergreen Region for USAV volleyball. This year the Evergreen Region has set tryouts dates as follows:
Summer Tryout period for ALL AGES: July 27-August 6, 2023
Fall Tryout period ALL AGES: November 1, 2023 and any time thereafter.
Our club will participate in the Summer Tryout Period and depending on need may participate in the Fall Tryout period. Each age level may be treated differently. Tryout registration will be posted on our website and social media.
Club Philosophy
As a club we believe that there is a place for every player to play volleyball at every level. That being said we know that it is not within our means or our ability to provide that for every player. Our philosophy is to field only the number of teams that we believe we can provide a positive holistic experience for. Quality over quantity if you will. Does that mean we will have only the best players and only the top level teams? NO! It means that we will only commit to making a team if we can provide them with quality: Coaches, Playing Time, Gym Availability, Communication, & Overall Club Experience.
The 3 C’s
COMMUNICATION
We believe in the importance of solid communication between club staff, coaches, parents and players. We will communicate via team chat, emails, and phone calls regularly to ensure that all parties are on the same page. We believe that PLAYERS should be involved in this communication at every age level.
COMMITMENT
Since most ages will only have 1 team it is imperative that when accepting a position on a team the athlete & parents understand the level of both finical and time commitment it takes to play club volleyball. This doesn’t mean that your athlete can’t attend important family events, or other extra curricular activities, but it does mean that the conversations are had ahead of time before the player accepts a position within the club and anytime emergencies, illness or other situations arise.
COMPETITIVE
Every team, year and season may look differently depending on skill level and age. What does not change is that at our core we are a competitive club. Our coaches will work hard to teach volleyball skills as well as life skills to their players but we will provide competitive practices and game experiences. The objective of sports and games is winning and learning what it takes to do so. It is not the only outcome or thing gained from playing but COMPETING is the name of the game. We will play to learn and have fun but we will do so by staying competitive and striving to do our best individually and as a whole.
Playing Up
In some instances when an athlete has played for a number of years and displayed a higher level of talent and abilities players may ask or be asked to play up on teams higher than their age group. For example: Player A has played club volleyball for 3 years but due to their age they fall within the lower age group. The team at the lower level is made of newer players or players whose skill the athlete far exceeds. In this circumstance Player A may be asked to play on a team in the age group above theirs. Our club philosophy is that we should do our best to make the STRONGEST team at each age group. This allows athletes to gain all of the mental and physical characteristics needed to be the most successful. A player may be physically ready to move up to play at the next level but might not have had the chance to be in a Leadership/Captain role in the previous season. Players may have the physical ability but maybe mentally or emotionally they are not ready to deal with the stressful situations playing at a higher level can cause such as not getting much playing time or coaches having much higher expectations of players, etc. We believe that there is much to be learned by strong athletes at whatever age group they play at. Players that are forced into situations or on teams that they are not mentally, emotionally or physically ready for can be detrimental to their career as an athletes. These players can become discouraged, have self doubt which in our opinion is not worth it. Additionally, kids need to PLAY the sport to improve at it. It is not beneficial to a young athlete to move them up to a higher age group in order for them to be the 3 or 4th person in line for that position and end up sitting the bench and not getting enough court time. What is right for one athlete may not be right for another. There are also downsides to playing up such as playing time and if the athlete is not prepared to move up to the next level after that they could feel “left behind” in the following year as they are younger and will be now playing at their true age level.
That being said there are some instances when moving up is appropriate. If you would like your child to play up or you believe it is in your child’s best interest, there are a few things you need to do:
1.) Contact the club director and let them know your concern.
2.) Your child must participate in the tryout for their ACTUAL age group.
3.) Upon the completion of the tryout both the lower level coach, the upper level coach and the club director will evaluate the current skill level and needs of the teams before inviting the athlete to participate in the older age group tryout.
4.) The athlete and the potential coaches will meet and discuss trying out of the older age group.
5.) The athlete may be invited to tryout fo the upper level or offered a position on the lower level team. If the athlete would prefer to continue the process to tryout for the higher team and they are invited to do so, they need to understand that the lower level coach needs to fill their current team and a position will not be offered on the lower team until the outcome of the upper level tryout. The coach on the lower level team may decide NOT to hold that position for a player that is wanting to play up at the higher level.
Any questions or clarification regarding Playing Up should be directed to the Club Director as it is a club policy and not solely a coaches decision. Please email: nicole@yakimaelite.com