WHAT IS CLUB VOLLEYBALL

CLUB VOLLEYBALL, also known as Travel Volleyball, offers the most advanced and competitive youth volleyball in the area. Most athletes on high school varsity teams also play club volleyball. Club teams are available for both girls and boys starting with Elementary School (U11, U12) going through Middle School (U13, U14) and High School (U15, U16, U17, U18). In Pennsylvania, many clubs are members of the Keystone Region (KRVA) and of USA Volleyball (USAV). Participants must be USAV members, and coaches must be certified. 


USA Volleyball is the National Governing Body (NGB) for volleyball for the United States and has 40 independently run regions throughout the country. As a Region of USA Volleyball, Keystone Region is the umbrella organization for clubs in Pennsylvania, and operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Keystone Region sets policy, implements USAV and independent education programs, provides insurance, and operates various tournaments and championships. The clubs themselves are also independent business organizations, implementing their own policies, and managing their own finances.

WHAT IS THE CLUB VOLLEYBALL COMMITMENT?

Club volleyball is a two-season commitment: winter and spring (6+ months). Boy’s tryouts are in September,, and girl’s tryouts in late October for the younger girls, and early November for the older girls. Most teams practice 2-3 times per week for about two (2) hours in the evenings or on weekends.

The tournament season begins in September for boys and January for girls, and runs through May or June with teams competing in single-day or multi-day tournaments on weekends, one to three times each month. Single-day tournaments are usually local within a one-hour drive. Some multi-day tournaments are also local but may also be outside the region requiring overnight stays. Tournament days are LONG, running from 6 to 10 hours a day so this is a commitment for the entire family, not just the player.

Players are expected to attend all practices and tournaments. Playing time is earned during practices and is never divided up evenly. Some teams have “practice players” who do not attend matches in exchange for a reduced fee and a chance to attend practices in order to improve skills and experience.

WHICH AGE GROUPS?

Teams within clubs are broken down by age. You can learn more about age definitions from the KRVA Junior Age Definitions page.  A few exceptional athletes play up a level, but most stay with their age peers.

WHEN ARE TRYOUTS?

The Keystone Region has defined windows when club teams can hold tryouts.  

  • For Boys:  beginning July 21, 2023
  • For Girls 14 and under: October 20, 2023
  • For Girls 15 and over: July 21-30, 2023 and beginning November 10, 2023

In addition to club websites, you can learn more about tryout dates and times by linking to Keystone Region Sanctioned Tryout Page. Note that the weekend of the tryout period is packed. Most candidates attend multiple tryouts, so you will need to plan accordingly. For more information about a what to expect at tryouts, please visit our Parent Resources: Tryout page.

Most teams begin practices as soon as the team is finalized. For boys, practices begin in late October with tournaments starting after December 1. For girls, practices begin in late November with tournaments starting after January 1.

HOW ARE CLUBS DIFFERENTIATED?

There are over 65 volleyball clubs in the Keystone Region, each with its own selection criteria, coaching philosophy, practice facilities and fees. Some have only one team per age group while others are large enough to support multiple teams per age group.

There are two broad categories of club teams:

  • Regional – More inclusive teams that primarily compete in Keystone Region tournaments across Pennsylvania. The playing season usually ends in April or May shortly after the Keystone Region Champions Cup tournament.
  • Travel/National/Open – More selective teams that play a wider range of tournaments both within the Keystone Region and outside (involving car/bus/plane trips), and compete in Open-level events for a chance to attend the USAV national tournaments. These teams generally require a higher level of commitment and have higher fees. The competitive season typically ends in May or June, but can also stretch into July if attending national tournaments.

Some clubs have both regional and travel/national/open teams.

CHOOSING A CLUB

There are so many dimensions in determining the right club for an individual. Key factors you may consider include:

  • Coaches
  • Competition level
  • Commitment
  • Playing time
  • Player development
  • Location
  • Cost
  • Culture (fun vs. serious)
  • Recruitment exposure if planning to play in college

There is a great deal of variety without easy standards to measure and compare. Some clubs only target the most elite athletes and coaches, while others are more open to a variety of experiences and skills. Some clubs  provide a consistent level of services from year-to-year, while others see fluctuation.

HOW MUCH DOES CLUB COST?

Club fees vary widely from as low as $1,500 a season to $7,000+ for the most elite clubs. While that might sound like a lot of money, it covers a 6+ month long season that includes hundreds of hours of court time, tournament expenses, team gear and coaching support.

Here are some general guidelines influencing cost:

  • Younger teams and regional teams tend to travel less and are less expensive
  • Travel/National/Open teams tend to travel more and are more expensive

A majority of clubs are within a $2,500 to $5,000 range (boys are always less). Club fees pay for uniforms, practice equipment, gym space, coaching expenses, tournament entry fees, and sometimes hotels for overnight stays. In most cases at least one parent will accompany his/her player to out-of-town tournaments and those travel/lodging costs are not covered in the player fees. You can find detailed information (costs and tournament schedules) on club websites.