​​FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Do players have to tryout to be part of a Development team?

No. Players who attend tryouts receive the first opportunity for Development Team offers. After tryouts, any remaining roster spots are opened to additional players until teams are full.

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Do players need prior volleyball experience to participate?

We recommend that players have some prior volleyball experience / exposure before joining our Development Program. This may include recreational leagues, instructional classes, camps, clinics, or a school volleyball team. The goal is simply for players to have a basic understanding of the game and an interest in continuing to develop their skills.

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The Development Program is not intended to be a player's very first volleyball experience. Prior club volleyball experience is not required, in fact, many of our Development players are participating in club volleyball for the first time. The program is designed to help athletes build on the fundamentals they've already learned while preparing them for higher levels of club volleyball in the future.

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What if my player doesn't have a position?

That's completely normal! Many (and often most) players at the 10s-12s age levels have not yet settled into a specific position. Our Development Program focuses on building well-rounded volleyball players by developing skills across multiple positions rather than specializing too early.

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Practices emphasize the fundamental skills that are most important at these ages, including serving, serve receive/passing, setting, attacking, defense, and overall court awareness. During tournaments, players may be asked to focus on one or two positions based on the team's needs, but our overall goal is to help athletes build a strong, complete skill set that prepares them for future success.

 

How are players split into teams?

After the first few practices, players are divided into teams based on age, positional needs, and skill level. Rather than creating "1s" and "2s" teams, we aim to build balanced rosters that provide a fun, competitive, and developmental experience for all players.

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Will teams include players from different age groups?

Yes. Depending on registration numbers and team needs, Development Teams may include a mix of 10- and 11-year-olds or 11- and 12-year-olds. This is common at these younger age levels and provides players with the opportunity to develop alongside athletes with similar skill levels.

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Many tournaments also combine 10U or 11U divisions with the 12U division to create appropriate competition and full tournament brackets. Additionally, all 12U and younger teams compete using the same lighter volleyball and lower net height, making mixed-age teams a natural fit within the Development Program.

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How do tournaments work?

Development Teams compete in local, single-day tournaments, held on Saturdays or Sundays (about one per month). We do our best to enter tournaments where we can compete against teams with similar skill levels, rather than the highest-level competitive events. Tournament days generally begin around 7:00 AM and end between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, depending on the schedule. Throughout the day, teams play matches, complete officiating assignments (line judging, scorekeeping, etc.), and have breaks between matches.

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