With summer tryouts for the next season approximately 10 days away players must decide on the next (or first) steps in their volleyball journey. Many players will return to tryouts with their last year’s club and secure their spot, on next season’s team. Some players riddled with frustration will decide it’s time to venture out and see if there is another “home” better suited for them. Some players will want to see what’s out there and are considering trying out for multiple clubs, however, they might feel like they are “cheating” on their club or are nervous to do so because “someone will find out and think poorly of them”. Here’s a little insight from my end of the telescope from all three perspectives.
AS A CLUB DIRECTOR: I would recommend trying out for multiple clubs. You never know what will happen with former teams, current teams, or future teams. Every club runs things differently. Many clubs/teams may look different from year to year or depending on who is in charge, who is coaching, which players come back etc. They may also look different because YOU are different. YOU have gained more volleyball knowledge and insight into this crazy, competitive, and often political world. YOU may see things through a different lens being open to new things or having been burned by bad situations. As a club director if you try out for multiple clubs I will think that you are smart to give yourself all the options that are open to you and realize you are working hard to find the best situation that is right for you this season. I will consider you courageous. It takes guts and character to put yourself out there in front of multiple coaches and giant groups of players, to work hard, and try to stand out. Kudos.
AS A COACH: Do I like it that my players might go to another tryout and leave me when I really want to coach them? No. Of course, I want them to choose me. PICK ME, CHOOSE ME! 😊 But I totally understand, and at the root of it if someone tries out somewhere else and chooses someone else that is what they felt was right for them. From the other side of the coin, yes PLEASE give yourself the most options. If I don’t have a spot for you and you didn’t try out anywhere else then you might not play or have a team. I NEVER want that. I always want kids to play, however it’s a numbers game. So many kids on a team so many positions. You have to give yourself the best odds. Try out with multiple clubs.
AS A PARENT: Same as above. I have my own club, I still have my kids try out for different clubs. Depending on who attends what tryout and who the coaches are you just never know what situation would be the best fit that year. Will they choose my child? Maybe, maybe not. I’m hopeful that the clubs I choose to have my kids try out for will choose the best players or rather the best players that are right for their program. If that means my kid, great. If not then it wasn’t the best fit, for them or us.