Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does the season run?
A: Teams compete in tournaments from January through June. Our teams are separated into two categories: National Teams & Regional Teams. National Teams travel extensively throughout the season -- if successful they will end their season with either the YJOV National Championship Tournament or a similar championship level tournament. The balance of our teams are Regional teams -- they range in skill level from beginner to advanced, compete primarily within the Puget Sound Region and are the largest part of our club.
Q: When are tryouts being held?
A: We'll know more after the 27 Sep 09 Club Director's Meeting. However, the tryouts usually take place in November after the Junior High and High School seasons have ended. Tryouts are typically in November: for Under 14's it is typically the first weekend in November and for U15 and older teams it is after the State High School Volleyball Tournament. Please ensure you check our tryout link on the left menu bar for updates.
Q: What happens at tryouts?
A: At all times, participants trying to make it onto an Olympia Volleyball Club team are treated with dignity and respect. We strive to keep tryouts a positive, fun and memorable experience. Throughout the tryout process, our coaching staff performs on-court evaluations of such things as attitude, effort, ability to communicate, competitiveness and desire. We typically do volleyball skill-related drills to assess each player's skill level, then begin selecting players for teams with multiple game-like drills. The best way to assess playing skill is through observing and evaluating players in a game-playing environment. Team selection is done by the coaches that will coach the team. If there is a need for cuts, they will be done by the Club Managing Director.
Q: Are the U12’s treated differently?
A: Yes. We know that we are an important program for cultivating the younger age groups. We take that responsibility seriously, and do our best to keep the experience positive and fun. Although there could be cuts at this level, we haven’t had to cut a u12 participant in years. This is because we’ve made the conscientious decision to have a second coaching staff on standby in the event we have the participants to add a second U12 team. In the event we add a 2nd teams at that age group (or any age), more emphasis is placed on the process than the results. Many of our 2nd team participants eventually end up on a top team. Additionally, the U12 tryouts are fun and are treated more like a skills development clinic. We are looking to instill upon all players the enjoyment of volleyball. We certainly look for preexisting skill, good attitude and effort to determine those that appear to have the most potential. However, the reality is we can’t see into the future, so we try and teach volleyball fundamentals to as many young girls as possible; adding quality to not just Olympia Volleyball; but to other clubs in our region. Bottom line is that we want the community to know that we care about the psyche of the young players, we put the player before any club agenda, and are committed to keeping the tryout experience positive, educational and fun.
Q: How does a player get picked for a particular team?
A: The tryout results are determined from the volleyball game competition and also by on-court evaluations by the coaching staff of attitude, effort, ability to communicate, competitiveness and desire. The team composition needs are determined by each individual coach's decision as to how many players are needed at each position (setter, middle blocker, outside hitter, libero, etc), with additional consideration given to such factors as physical height, if they are returners to the club, and previous comportment to the PS Region & Olympia Volleyball Clubs established policies as expressed in their respective website and Handbook. The goal is to assign players to teams where they will have the best chance of individual success and be most capable of making a significant contribution to the team's success, as well as to meet the needs of the teams to allow for the strongest possible lineup.
Q: Are teams members picked in advance of the tryouts?
A: Not at Olympia Volleyball Club. Although we are loyal to our returning families and provide them every opportunity to make the team when they choose to come back in successive years, we are still a competitive club, with the goal of achieving at the highest level. Anyone trying out will be given equal consideration to returning players.
Q: How come OVC doesn't take a more active role in contacting and recruiting student athletes in our area to join the club?
A: There are strict rules that apply to the recruiting of players into club sports. It is the policy of the club to adhere faithfully to the rules as they pertain to "Closed Recruiting Periods". Coaches and club staff are not permitted to have contact with student athletes not already affiliated with Olympia Volleyball Club.
Q: What are the age group definitions?
A: We adhere to the are the USA Volleyball 2010 age definitions. As a guide, the 18-U division typically contains high school seniors and juniors, the 17-U division is juniors only, the 16-U division consists of high school sophomores and freshmen, the 15-U division consists of freshmen only, the 14-U division is made up of 8th and 7th grade [middle school] students, the 13-U division consists of 7th graders only, the 12-U division contains 6th and 5th grade. For those that are "old for their grade" or just miss the date as defined by their age group definitions, they must play at AGE level, not at GRADE level. There are very few, if any, exceptions made for those in this category. See the tryouts section of the website for specifics on Birthday cutoffs.
Q: Who do I contact for questions?
A: For general questions regarding the Olympia Volleyball Club, you can contact Club Director Ron Kellar at 360-250-9827, or via e-mail at info@olympiavolleyball.com.
Q: How many players are on a team?
A: Most of our teams in the 2010 season will have 10 or 11 players. The exact number is dependent upon several factors, including team composition needs, ability level of players and number of athletes participating in tryouts. During tryouts, we would typically pick 10 – 12 players, which allows a bit of flexibility and a variance to off-set any possible attrition of players.
Q: What if I don't make the team?
A: We work hard to ensure all players that tryout have a place to play. If we have enough participants we try to create an additional teams. We work with other clubs in the region, and with the Puget Sound Region USAV office to provide additional opportunities through referrals if a player doesn’t make the Olympia Volleyball Club team.
Q: How often do we play in tournaments?
A: Olympia Volleyball Club teams typically play in nine to eleven tournaments. Teams usually participate in an average 2 tournament days per month over the course of a season which runs from January thru May. February, March, and April being the heaviest months. The tournaments are played on either Saturday or Sunday, sometimes both. Ultimately, how often you will play in tournaments will depend upon which team you are on.
Q: Where are the tournaments held?
A: Tournaments are held at a variety of locations throughout the Puget Sound Region. Every team age 13 and over is afforded at least one travel or overnight tournament. Many teams will also travel to Yakima, Washington for a two-day tournament there and/or Spokane for a three-day tournament. The top teams striving to go back to Nationals will have a more agressive travel schedule. For instance OVC 13-1, 14-1 and 16-1 all went to the No Dinx Far Western Qualifier in Reno, Nevada.
Q: When will we get tournament information?
A: The timing for receiving tournament information such as gym location and start times primarily depends upon the respective tournament director. Due to team cancellations, the tourney schedule is not set until the week prior.
Q: How often do we practice?
A: Typically, practices are twice each week on weeknights. There may be some occasions when teams getting ready for a national schedule will practice three times each week. Because we must compete for gym space with basketball programs and other Volleyball Clubs there will be times when we will need to move our practices. Early weeknight practice times are typically reserved for the younger teams.
Q: How much does it cost?
Three factors go into the costs for players: Club dues which are fixed costs and the same for all players. These funds pay for gym space rental, special training programs, coaches stipends, equipment and registration fees for coaches and players; tournament fees. Tournament fees, which are variable costs depending on the tournament the coach chooses to play in; and travel expenses, which pay for club travel expenses. It should be noted that each player is required to cover their own personal travel expenses.
Q: Will travel expenses be billed separately from club dues?
A: Yes, travel expenses will be billed separately and will be due at different times depending on the deadlines from the airlines and hotels.
Q: How are coaches selected?
A: The VB community here in the South Sound is pretty small. Most new Coaches are either former OVC players, or are referred to us by a trusted source. All potential Coaches are fully vetted. We interview, check references and run a background check before they are permitted to work with our players. Most new Coaches start out as an Assistant Coach with one of our more experienced coaches before they take the reigns of their own team.
Q: Volleyball systems, techniques and stratagies are continually changing as the sport & rules change. Do you send your coaches to reoccurring training?
A: Yes. We take serious our responsibility to train and equip our Coaches. We're proud to be the South Sound's only Gold Medal Squared Club. The majority of our Coaches have attended official GMS Coaches' Clinic; and the few expections have attended GMS Players camp with group follow up with the GMS training staff. The feedback we're getting from the North Thurston, Tumwater and Olympia High School Coaches and players has been overwhelmingly possitive. That is why we've invited the GMS staff to come back again this Winter to provide us with refresher training or intial training in the event that we add new Coaches. Many of the local High Schools, Colleges and Premier Clubs are using the GMS system. All of our coaches have recieved the Increased Mastery and Professional Application of Coaching Theory (IMPACT)Certification, Scorekeeping and Officiating training. Many of our Coaches have secured the Coaching Accredidation Program (CAP) training through USA Volleyball.
Q: Do coaches get paid?
A: Olympia Volleyball Club takes pride in the professionalism of their coaching staff. We budget to provide each team a modest stipend for 2 or 3 coaches on the staff of that team to cover their out of pocket expenses. On average a conservative estimate of hours invested into a team is approximately 60 hours per month, per coach. Our coaches coach for the love of the sport, not money; but a very modest honorarium helps off-set the of-of-pocket expenses that include professional coaching education & certification, gas money, personal coaching equipment among other things.
Q: Where are the tournaments?
A: Most tournaments are in the greater Puget Sound area and are within a one hour drive. Directions to the sites can be found on our website.
Q: Do parents have to attend the tournaments?
A: No, but parents should make sure their daughter has a ride to and from the tournament. The team chaperone will provide a list of items that players need to bring to the tournament.
Q: If I’m not there who will watch over my daughter?
A: Each team has a team representative, one or two chaperones, and at least one coach. At tournaments, the coach has control of the team. At overnight venues, the chaperone is in charge of watching over the entire team while they are not at the venue.
Q: Can I use a credit card to pay my dues?
A: Yes, the club accepts MasterCard and Visa. Bills are sent our by the 1st of each month by Email. The bill is due on the 10th of each month.