TRYOUT FAQS
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WHEN AND WHERE ARE TRYOUTS?
Tryouts for 10u–14u will begin on Saturday, October 25th and last for several days. Tryouts for 15u–18u will begin on Sunday, November 7th, and will also last for several days. All tryout sessions, regardless of age and intended tryout level, will be held at MidAmerica Sports Center at 1906 Watterson Trail. Full tryout schedules can be viewed here.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE DAYS AND SESSIONS TO TRYOUTS. DO WE NEED TO BE AT ALL OF THEM?
Yes. While it is not required to attend all tryout sessions, we highly encourage players to attend all of them so evaluators can get an accurate assessment of your player and make the best team placements possible.
What if we are unavailable to attend tryouts on the dates provided?
We realize some schools are on fall break, vacation plans have been made or there might be other reasons why you can’t attend any of the tryout sessions. In this case, we recommend you attend some of our training events listed here and make sure our Club Directors and the Select Coaches for your age group are aware of the session(s) you cannot attend. Players still need to register for tryouts to be selected for a team, even if they won’t be able to attend any of the sessions, so that we have everyone in our system.
How Do I Know What Age Group to Tryout For?
As most nationally competitive clubs recommend, MAVA stands by players playing within their high school graduating class, or up. There is a USAV age definition chart that specifies which age group players are eligible for according to their birthday. See age definition chart here. If players are interested in playing up an age group, above their graduating class, we welcome you to speak with Glenn or Dan about such opportunities.
What position should I tryout for?
We highly recommend trying out for the position(s) that you see yourself playing in college and/or the position(s) that you are best at or enjoy playing the most. If you are uncertain what position(s) that might be, we recommend coming to a clinic prior to tryouts and asking the coaches for your intended tryout age group what they recommend. On tryout day, if you want to be seen in multiple positions, make sure you communicate that with the Select and/or Hammerhead coaches at your tryout and when asked by a coach throughout the tryout process.
Each day and session will be structured and run by the Select Coaches of each age group with the guidance of the Club Directors. The drills will be set up so that the coaches can best determine which players make each team and players should expect to demonstrate all skills throughout the duration of the tryout. Teams will be finalized continuously through the tryout, which is why it is highly encouraged that players attend each session so they get a full assessment and have the best opportunity to make the highest level team possible. Rosters will be verified by the Club Directors prior to phone calls being made on the final day of tryouts for players to accept their positions. If you need time to consider the offer, you will have a maximum of 30 minutes to deliberate. After that time has passed, it will be assumed that you have declined the offer and the coach will move on to the next player on the list. However, this time period can be extended with the approval of a club director if certain circumstances arise, but this courtesy does not apply to travel teams. The chosen select team families will be expected to sign their contracts electronically that night and email them in before midnight.
What happens if we don’t make a travel team? What happens if we don’t make a team at all?
If you try out for a travel team and don’t make it, you will be offered to return and continue to try out for a non-travel team. There will also be other opportunities to train throughout the season including lessons, clinics, and small group work.
How Are MAVA Teams Organized?
What are the differences between Select, Travel, and Non-Travel teams?
Team Breakdown
At MAVA, we offer a variety of competition levels for athletes. Our highest level is Select, then Travel, then Non-Travel. All levels are competitive, but commitment level, time requirements, college prep, etc. will vary based on each team starting with Select and going down from there.
Travel Team Name Breakdown (Top 3)
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1st Team in Age Group - Select
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First Travel Team - Elite
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Second Travel Team - Blue
Non-Travel Team Name Breakdown
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First Non-Travel Team - Hammerhead
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Second Non-Travel Team - Great White
How many teams do you have in each age group?
We will have a maximum of 6 teams in each age group. For 11u–18u there will be 1 Select team and 1–2 travel teams per age group. Additionally, for 10u–17u there will be 1–3 local non-travel teams per age group.
How many players are placed on each team?
Generally, we will have 10 players on a team. Due to extenuating circumstances, we could have as few as 9 players on a team and up to 11 players if the situation calls for it.
Who are the coaches of Select, Travel, and Non-Travel?
A full list of coaches with their bios will be available for viewing under the Home tab.
What costs are involved with playing at MAVA?
Is there a required conditioning component?
We do not include a charge for conditioning in our fees because we do not have a required conditioning program. However, we highly recommend that every athlete engage in some type of conditioning routine for injury prevention and performance enhancement. Select team athletes are expected to participate in some type of program not only for injury prevention, but for optimal performance and development of good athletic habits. Options can, for example, include regular team/group training sessions, personal trainers or rigorous home programs. MAVA coaches can work with you on options based on past experience and help ensure how strength and conditioning training can best coexist with practice and tournament schedules. Ask one of our Select coaches for their recommended trainers and training programs if you aren’t sure where to start.
How can we best prepare for tryouts at MAVA?
What can my athlete do to physically prepare for tryouts?
We offer a variety of opportunities to get in the gym, meet the coaches, and train prior to tryouts. We have Open Gyms that focus on 10–14 year olds, MAVA Minis for 7–12 year olds, specialized skills clinics for athletes of all ages, general skills clinics, private and small-group lessons and more. Our current offerings and more details can be found here.
What can I do, as a parent/guardian, to prepare myself for the upcoming club season?
The best way to prepare for the upcoming club season is to attend our Parent Information Meeting. This will allow you to get firsthand information from our club directors, meet the coaches, ask any questions you might have and talk to other parents who have experienced club volleyball. More information on this can be found here.
Assuming I make a team, what is next after tryouts?
What is next?
Master Training. This is club-wide training that all teams, players and coaches alike are required to attend after the conclusion of tryouts and before team practices start in December. A schedule for the following dates will be shared shortly after tryouts once teams are formed.
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10u–14u team dates: November 4, 6, 18, 19 (Patty to update)
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15u–18u team dates: November 18, 19, 20, 21 (Patty to update)
When will I find out the practice and playing schedule for my team?
Once teams are selected, a team meeting will be scheduled with parents, players, and coaches. During this meeting, the tournament schedule and unofficial practice days/times will also be shared and discussed. The practice days and times could change from what you are told, but regardless, they will become official after tryouts conclude for all age groups. Keep in mind, we do modify practice times (and sometimes days of the week too) at set increments in the season to make sure teams are not stuck with unwanted or inconvenient times for their entire season. These changes will be communicated well in advance.