EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW
ABOUT FORMING A USA CLUB VOLLEYBALL TEAM

BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO ASK OR WHAT!

WHEN IS THE SEASON?
The USA or "club" volleyball season typically runs from January through April of each year. Friendship tournaments are often held in December, however the majority of tournaments run through the end of April culminating with the Regional Championships. There are, however, numerous tournaments from May-early July ending with the popular Volleyball Festival in Sacramento, CA or the Junior Olympic National Championships which are held in a different location each year throughout the U.S.

WHO IS THE GOVERNING ORGANIZATION?
USA Volleyball is the governing organization for club volleyball however the country is divided into regions who administer the program in their specific area following national guidelines.

The Puget Sound Region has been in existence since November 1, 1997. It encompasses all of Western Washington with the exception of the area from Lewis County south down the I-5 corridor to Oregon. That area is part of the Columbia Empire Region. The Evergreen Region comprises Eastern Washington and Idaho.

HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT REGIONAL SERVICES & PROGRAMS?
The best avenue for detailed information is to contact the region's website which is: http://www.pugetsoundvb.org.

You may contact the regional office at:
Puget Sound RegionóUSA Volleyball
6902-220^th St. SW
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone:  425-673-4103
Fax:  425-673-4293
email:  usavpugetsound@aol.com

HOW DO I GET TOURNAMENT INFORMATION?
Updated tournament information will be available on the regional website after November 1. A hotline for tournament information will also be established at a future date.

ARE THERE CLUBS IN PIERCE COUNTY I CAN CONTACT ABOUT JOINING?
There are several clubs in Pierce County that field several teams and several clubs in Olympia and South King County that you may contact for more information. These clubs typically conduct tryouts in November to select their teams.

When talking to club representatives, be sure to ask them about club dues as most clubs require an initial membership fee plus monthly dues. Make sure you fully understand the financial and practice/tournament commitment and player and parent expectations before you join a club. In most clubs, playing time is earned, not guaranteed so make sure you are fully aware of what you are getting into.

WHAT ARE THE AGE DIVISIONS MY CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE IN?
There are four main age groups: 12 & under, 14 & under, 16 & under, and 18 & under. There are some teams, however, playing as 13 & under, 15 & under, and 17 & under teams and enter tournaments that way.  The national guidelines to determine what age you can participate in are as follows:

WHAT DO I NEED TO FORM A TEAM?
Players, coaches, a gym and money--and one parent crazy enough to volunteer to serve as the team representative to coordinate all aspects of the team's activities!

Players: This is the easy part. You can stay within your own school or school district or you can draw from your community, the entire county, or from outside the county. The choice is yours. Most teams carry 9-11 players on their roster as a rule.

Coaches: Finding a coach who can instruct and motivate and being willing to devote a fair amount of time for practices and tournaments can be a challenge. Start looking NOW! Former high school players are often energetic and available and you should contact the local high school coach for suggestions. You may also find a volleyball official who may be interested in taking this on. And current high school and junior high school coaches are another good source as long as they don't violate WIAA coaching rules.

Gym: Gyms are somearial difficult to find, especially during the basketball season, so be creative in your search. You may have to settle to a less than ideal time to practice which may include Saturdays and Sundays. Be prepared to pay for this.

CAN YOU GIVE ME A PROPOSED BUDGET TO CONSIDER?
Below is a budget showing typical expenses for the season to consider:

Based on this budget, it would cost each player $500 for the season.

Remember, team expenses can be reduced through the help of local business sponsorships and creative fundraising efforts. It takes time and an organized effort but it can be valuable.

 *Tournament costs vary and a two-day tournament will cost approximately $175.00-$200.00
**Uniform expenses can mount up if you purchase spandex shorts and sweatsuits or sweatshirts for the players. It just depends on how elaborate you want to be.

HOW DO WE REGISTER OUR TEAM?
Team and player registration forms are available from the Puget Sound Region's website or by contacting the office directly. Forms and fees must be submitted before you can play for insurance liability purposes.  Tournament entry forms are also available from the office. Make sure you understand when these need to be submitted to tournament directors. And finally, when ordering uniforms, make sure you know what the requirements are in terms of numbers on front and back and matching shirts and shorts.

WHAT RESOURCE MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE TO HELP MY CHILD?
There are numerous resources available such as instructional books and video tapes. You may also want to contact college or high school coaches to see if they might loan you materials to review for certain drills etc.