FAQs NVVA Club Volleyball

There is a lot of information on our website to describe the tryout process, as well as the program offerings for the 2011-12 season. We are fielding many questions and hope to answer some of the most common ones below:

I want to play “Open”, do I need to try out for ICE?

1. No, you can just try out for club tryouts.

I only want to play for the “Developmental league”, why do I have to try out?

1. We are only able to accommodate 96 players in this league and are therefore can only accommodate those athletes who have the athletic potential to play club volleyball in the future. Please indicate that you only want to play in the DL, but you must still go through the tryout process, esp. the TrueAP testing for your evaluation. Please only try out for the “Club” level division- either Loudoun or Fairfax, whichever is more convenient.

I am trying out for ICE, what if I don’t make a team?

1. If you don’t make an ICE team, the you need to try out for club teams; the top level club team, will be the “Open” team;

If I make an ICE team, do I have to play in the ICE division?

1. Our expectation is that if you are offered a spot on an ICE team, that you are committed to playing for an ICE team

What if I can’t afford ICE, but can afford “Open?”

1. Please get in touch with NVVA’s Treasurer, Fred Padeway, treasurer@nvva.com as soon as possible to inquire about various options to work with your particular circumstance

Who picks the teams?

1. A Selection committee made up of a) Technical Director, b) Age group coordinator/Master Coach (depends on age group and division; names are listed on the website) and c) Head Coach will pick each team, ICE to Club division

How are teams picked?

1. Selection Committee reviews the TrueAP testing scores and the evaluator sheets throughout the tryout; players are ranked 1 through ???(depending on how many kids show up)
2. Players are evaluated during their tryout, given an overall ranking and offered; depending on how players respond, teams are filled
3. ALL divisions’ teams are filled in based on athleticism and the contribution they can make to the team, NOT by a draft method of selection
4. Players for ICE-1 team are offered spots or told they are alternates; players for ICE-2 team are offered spots or told they are alternates;
5. Remaining players should try out for club teams and may receive offers
6. ALL players can a) accept a spot offered immediately, b) accept an alternate position (if offered) AND accept a spot with a lower level team with the understanding that if the alternate spot opens up, the player WILL be moved to the higher level team

Do I have to accept a spot right away?

1. No, you may accept right away, but you don’t have to. If you need time to check out other programs, make some determinations, talk things through, then take that time. CHRVA rules indicate that you have until the end of the Tryout Period. That means, you can accept a spot right away, or you can wait until the Tryout Period over to reply. The Tryout Period ends on 11/12/12 for ages 13 and under and 11/19/12 for ages 14 and over.

Why does it take so long sometimes to hear from a coach when you’re an alternate?

1. Likely because that coach is waiting for a reply from a player he/she offered a spot to

Should I take an offer from another club if I’m an alternate on an NVVA team?

1. That is a family decision. We suggest to look at the previous year’s records to get an idea of how strong teams are likely to be. Sometimes our second, third or fourth teams are stronger than another club’s first team, but ultimately it needs to be your decision

If I don’t make a team, what are my options?

1. We are starting a developmental league at NVVA, geared towards those players who have potential to play on club teams in the future, but need more skills development to achieve that goal. Further information is on our website at NVVA.com
2. There are many clubs in this are. Go to CHRVA.org to get a listing of all the clubs and their websites to see when and where other tryouts are
3. NVVA runs a “Northwest Youth Volleyball” league in the spring; this league is somewhat like Loudoun Youth Volleyball, but practice and play locations are in Fairfax County.

Can I discuss tryout results?

1. Yes, we are happy to discuss tryout results. Please contact Ken Whitson at juniors.director@nvva.com to make this request.

I’ve heard that your teams have already been preselected, so why bother to try out?

1. Our teams are NOT preselected! Our coaches have been watching players and making lists of players who they think have potential to play for NVVA. Until we know who actually tries out for NVVA, and if offered, who chooses to play for NVVA, we DON’T know which players are on teams.

We wish everyone good luck for your tryouts! We realize these are anxious times and will work diligently to make this necessary process as brief as possible.

NVVA Leadership