What is club volleyball? Club volleyball refers to the nation-wide competitive volleyball program for Juniors, ages 8-18, organized by USA Volleyball (USAV). It provides junior athletes, the opportunity to train and play with other junior athletes. PSVC competes in tournaments scheduled by the Palmetto Volleyball Association (PVA) a non-profit organization connected with USAV. The volleyball season is from January – June. Most tournaments throughout the season are 2- 3 days. Regional Championships and National Qualifiers are 3-day tournaments and National tournaments are typically 4-day tournaments. Full tournament schedules are posted prior to tryouts.
Why should I play club? Club volleyball gives you the opportunity to play nearly year round with players of equal talent and trained by experienced coaches. The most important aspect of club volleyball is for college recruiting. If you want to play volleyball in college, then you should play club. College recruiters have a very limited number of visits to watch a player. A typical club tournament consists of many participating club teams (20-200) and a recruiter can use only one of their visits and watch 100 to upwards of 1000 potential college prospects. A college recruiter rarely uses a visit to attend a high school match where they can only see 20 players.
How do I find more information about PSVC? Follow us on the web at: www.palmettostrikers.com, Friend PSVC on Facebook (@palmettostrikers), Instagram (@palmettostrikers), or Twitter (@StrikersVball). All tryout and club information will be shared on these sites.
What should I look for when choosing a club? One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a club is the coaching staff. Look for a club with head coaches that have multiple years of experience. Choose carefully the role model that will be mentoring your child throughout the season. Review the club’s website and social media pages. Is the information current and relevant? Does the club operate just during the travel season? Interact with club administration and tour their facility. Is the club competitive? Look at the rankings on Advanced Event System for the Palmetto Region (PM) and your childs age group for how a team or club performed last season. Lastly, speak with friends and ask them about their experience with the club.
Why don't you call your teams National or Elite? Having a team name National or Elite does not always define the level of the team. We choose to name our teams by age and coaches name. The level of play determines the teams ability. Don't get caught up by the name. Some clubs list the team with a name like 16 National or 16 Elite, yet attend lower level tournaments or compete in the lowest division available at larger tournaments. Do your homework and review a teams schedule from the previous season through Advanced Event System to best determine the club that will profice your athlete the opportunity to play at a skill level commensurate with their ability. If a clubs tournament schedule is not posted to their website or available for public viewing prior to tryouts - beware!
Can I play club volleyball and participate in another sport? Yes, but it takes discipline. Many excellent athletes play multiple sports. We do caution dual sport parents and players that missed practices or tournaments may have a negative impact on the players growth and learning. We will work with players in dual sports so that they and the team have a positive experience.
How many teams will you have? Team decisions are based on player interest and coaching availability. The anticipated # of teams for this season are posted on our website. In general, if we have enough qualified players to make a team and a strong coach, we field a team in that age group. At PSVC, we will not sacrifice coaching experience just to form a team.
How many players are on a team? Most travel teams will have 10-12 players. In some instances, a team may be fielded with as few as 9 players, but this rare.
Does PSVC pre-select their teams or fill teams with only returning players? NO, for 11U through 18U teams PSVC holds open tryouts. PSVC’s goal for National and Power teams is to field the most competitive teams by offering positions to the most skilled players, regardless of prior club affiliation.
How many coaches work with a team? PSVC assigns a head and assistant coach for every team. We also have position specific coaches for additional training.
What type of experience do you look for in a coach? Head coaches must have 2+ years coaching experience at the level commensurate with the team the will be coaching (i.e. – college level for our 17U and 18U teams, middle or high school for our 12 through 16U teams). Bios for our coaches can be found online.
What do PSVC coaches look for in a club player? First and foremost, coachability. Coaches also seek players with a good attitude, who put forth effort during every drill or practice, pay attention, are respectful of coaches and team mates, aren’t afraid to make mistakes and are athletic. If a player is eager to learn and willing to put forth the effort, we will provide the training to help them grow and progress in the sport of volleyball.
Is there equal playing time for all players? NO. PSVC coaches make playing time decisions on a combination of a player’s position, attitude, effort, strengths and weaknesses, practice attendance, opposing team lineups and future match considerations. At the Club, Developmental and League level, coaches make every effort to ensure “fair” playing time, but fair does not mean equal.
Will my child play the same position as on their school team? We will try to train them in the position they play at school, however, a team's dynamic may require that we train them in a secondary or new position. Every player should be willing to play any position.
If my daughter misses a practice, will she be benched? PSVC does not bench players as punishment for missed practices. Unexcused or multiple absences affect a player’s development which may result in reduced or no playing time at tournaments. This information is also covered in the PSVC Parent /Player Handbook.
Will my son/daughter have to miss school to attend tournaments? Potentially, depending on the school calendar and the teams tournament schedule.
Is there practice in the summer? National level teams are scheduled to practice through the end of June. All other teams will finish practices prior to the end of the school. PSVC offers year-round training for players through our camps and clinics.
How much does it cost to play for PSVC and are there fundraising options? Our dues range from $210 for league teams up to $3500 for National teams. All financial information can be found on our Fees and Fundraising page. These fees include costs for practice facilities, uniforms, warm-up apparel, practice shirts, coaches’ fees, coaches’ expenses, and tournament entry fees among others. The fees do not include your child’s hotel, travel, and food expenses for traveling to tournaments. As a 501(c)3 our players also have the opportunity to fund raise and seek sponsorship from individuals or business that are 100% applied to the players dues.
Does PSVC offer a discount on dues if more than one child is playing? Yes. If two children playing on a PSVC travel team, parents receive $100 off on one player’s dues.
Where do your teams practice? 90% of our team practices are held at the PSVC facility located at 1007 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt. Pleasant. We utilize additional facilities which are listed on our website. The full practice schedule will be posted on our website at least 1 week prior to tryouts.
How many practices each week will there be? Most teams, including the boys’ teams, practice three times a week; two during the weekdays and one on Sunday. The 11’s and 12’s teams’ practice twice a week; one during the weekdays and one on Sunday. Teams may miss practices once tournaments begin or due to holidays.
Are there practices over holidays? Non-practice dates are posted on our calendar, which can be found on our website. Teams may practice when schools are closed for Thanksgiving, winter break, etc., but do not practice on major holidays Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years). There are tournaments over holiday weekends like MLK, President’s Day, and Easter weekends
Tryout Frequently Asked Questions
Check our website frequently for updated information, tryout dates and times, along with other pertinent information.
What age group or team level do I try out for? Refer to the USAV Age Group Guidelines for your age level. The program descriptions will guide you toward the appropriate team level based on skill, experience and commitment requirements.
Do I need to be present for all try out dates? Yes, all players should attend all try out sessions to ensure consistent coach evaluations. If you have a conflict, contact the club immediately to determine whether there is an alternate option.
How many clubs can I try out for? There is no limit to how many clubs you can try out for. Allow yourself the opportunity to tryout with as many clubs as you are comfortable with. TIP: Plan ahead to ensure you can make tryouts for all clubs you are considering. There are strict guidelines for parents, players and clubs. The rules can be reviewed at: http://palmettoregionvb.org/juniors/pva-tryout-info/multiple-club-tryouts-faq/
How do I register for Tryouts? Complete the online registration and prepare any necessary forms prior to tryouts. You will also be required to register for or renew your USAV/Palmetto Region membership. Please review our Tryout page for detailed information.
What do I need to bring to tryouts? You will need to bring any required forms or documents and a full water bottle to tryouts. Players should be prepared to work hard, wearing shorts/spandex, a t-shirt and athletic shoes. Tryout numbers will be provided either in the form of a pin-on number or a tryout t-shirt.
How are tryouts conducted? Players tryout in their age group. All players go through series of athletic skills evaluations (vertical jump, 10-yard dash, etc.). General volleyball skills evaluations follow with stations in passing, setting, attacking, and serving. Players are evaluated based on their primary position, as well as drills and games. Evaluations are made by qualified PSVC and outside coaches. All players with a tryout number receive evaluations. Players' attitudes, willingness to work hard, communication, ability to adapt to new drills/situations, general athletic ability, willingness to learn, and primary position are all considered. Teams are based not only talent but also players' positions (teams can’t be formed with 5 setters and 5 libero/DS). Generally, there are 2-3 players per position on each team.
What happens if I make a team? After the tryout, you will be notified via email if you are offered a place on a team. You should state in writing whether you accept or decline the offer as soon as you have decided. If you decline, PSVC is able to present an offer to an alternate player. If you do not respond prior to the deadline PSVC can rescind the offer and present an offer to another player. Once you've accepted an offer, you cannot change your mind and accept an offer at another club without prior written approval from the club director of the first club.
Do I need to sign a contract? Yes. The contract is between the player and the club with terms affecting the parent, player and club. Read the contract carefully to be fully aware of the club policies, as players and parents are held accountable during the season. Contract terms are based on one club season. You are free to join another club after the season concludes.
Do I need to sign with the first club that offers me a spot? You DO NOT have to sign if offered, but the club may withdraw the offer if you do not sign before the stated deadline. If you have offers from multiple clubs, you will have a limited amount of time to decide. PSVC's policy allows 48 hrs from the time the offer is sent via email, per the timestamp on the email, for a player to respond, or the offer can be withdrawn and PSVC can offer the position to another player.
How much does it cost to play for PSVC and are there fundraising options? All financial information can be found on our Fees and Fundraising page. Please review this information carefully before tryouts. If you have any additional fundraising suggestions, please feel free to contact us.
What should not happen during tryouts?
• Not allowed to leave the gym without committing to a team (prohibiting other tryouts)
• Being promised a spot and then not given one
• Delayed in leaving to attend another tryout
• Being poorly treated The best way to deal with the situation is to take your business elsewhere. You can also contact the Palmetto Volleyball Association and express your concerns.