How To Start Your Own Volleyball Club

Here's How:

1. Get Some Uniforms

   At a minimum, all you need is coordinated t-shirts and shorts. I received my uniforms through donations, a box of T's from one company and a box of shorts from another. When bikers became fashionable, I the players buy a $7 pair of bikers from the local department store. I had a company to put #'s on the T's and *poof* we have uniforms. They even make a blank uniform nameplates to make your uniforms look and players feel, a little more professional.

2. Raise USAV Membership

   I charged just enough to enter the program to cover the cost of the USAV membership. That's it. They didn't get a uniform. I loaned MY uniforms out at every tournament and took them back up. I washed them at my school and had them ready by the next tournament. However, if they can afford it, there are some pretty cheap and great volleyball jerseys. A good idea is increase the membership to include the jersey and let the gals buy their own shorts.

3. Tournament Costs

   Each one-day tournament that a player wanted to attend would cost $15 to $20. A two-day tournament cost $30-$40. Since one-day tournaments are about $100 to $120, I had the entry fee covered, plus had some left over. The leftover went to pay for my gas (I was often the ONLY driver!). Over a season, I had collect enough extra money to also pay my hotel bills, some end-of-season awards, a second set of T's (that's SPLURGING!!), etc. without having to charge the kids.

4. Local Donations & Fundraising

   There was also one local company that gave from $200 to $300 per year. So that was COOL! You may be able to get more than that! There's a great thread going on now on our forums about raising money. Or check out these great fundraising resources.

5. Tryouts

   Tryouts were the easy part. We just let all the area school know and we went for it. Just like in most junior programs I've seen, the players who attend the school where the director's the coach (or where tryouts are held) will flood the tryouts. The players from other schools will be scarce.

6. List Tournaments You Can Make

   I listed the tournaments I was willing to attend. Included was the location, cost per player and it was an overnight. I listed both local and road-trip tournaments.

7. Committing Players and Parents

   They took the list home and with their parents signed beside each tournament that they would COMMIT to. Their signature meant they were PROMISING to go.If we had enough players, and the right mix, I would schedule the trip. If we had too many hitters and no setters, I'd try to fill the holes in the team before cancelling.

8. If we had TOO MANY of one position, I'd allow the girls to "uncommit."
9. Make Them Accountable

   In our club, "Standing Up The Team" was huge. The penalty for "SUTTing" was to stop the SUTTer from going to the next tournament the player committed to. SUTT again and they are off the team. Those consequences were on the Commitment Sheet that everyone signed. The coaches reminded the players at practices who was going to which tournaments and warned them about SUTTing. I handed the schedule out each week listing the trips and who had committed to going.

10. Practice

    Practice is mandatory until they had no more pending tournaments. An unexcused absense ment they SAT OUT one Match at the next tournament they attended.

    Excused Absenses:
    • Illness, personal or family
    • Emergency
    • INSEASON SCHOOL sports
    • Church
    Unexcused:
    • Other sports,
    • Dates
    • Concerts
    • Jobs
    • Parties
    • etc.
    Manage unexcused absences by providing voluntary practices where players can earn some bank time! Is it not great to EARN time off rather than be punished for missing practice!

Tips:

1. Get the kids early.
2. Teach them how to play the game, correctly.
3. Give them opportunities to play.