Club tryouts are around the corner, and for many athletes this is a very stressful time. The pressure to choose the right club for the season is difficult for the whole family. The goal is to get a true evaluation, and for most to make the top court. How do you walk into a gym and get evaluated when you are new to a club? The answer is, do not put yourself in this position. You need to begin doing your research to find out who is offering “Tryout Prep Clinics” or summer camps to build relationships at the club. In reality, there will not be much of a break this summer with volleyball. You will juggle high school, beach (for those who play) and summer camps at various clubs. If you had a good club season last year, than do not try and fix what is not broken! The grass is not always greener on the other side. Changing clubs is not always a wise move. College coaches love to see loyalty. You want to play where you are going to get better, and you are going to gain exposure.
If you are a family struggling to make a decision, go with your gut. As your athlete gets older, club is more serious and intense. If you want to play in college, you want to evaluate where the club will be traveling for exposure. Once you know where the club travels, you can log in to University Athlete to check on the attendance of college programs at each of the tournaments. If you do not have a profile on UA, than you need to register today. You can better understand the benefits of University Athlete by clicking here.
Lastly, while at tryouts be gracious! Be a good teammate. Encourage the athletes who surround you. Following the tryout, approach each coach who worked with you and say thank you! Make eye contact, and be sincere.
Volleyball is a lot of fun. I remember playing a lot when I was a kid. I did not know that so many people tried out for volleyball.