Chicago's Club Volleyball Tryouts - What to expect

Club Volleyball Tryouts: A North Shore Family Guide

If you are thinking about having your daughter try out for club volleyball this year you are making a great decision to help them grow and this guide can help you navigate the process. Club volleyball in and around Chicago's Northshore is growing fast and getting a lot of attention from investors who want to make money. Our communities like Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, Glencoe, Lake Forest and the wider North Shore have seen a lot of growth in recent years and tryout season can feel overwhelming with all the emails, dates and decisions to make with time or information.

This guide is written for parents who want an understanding of what to expect at club volleyball tryouts, how different types of clubs and teams work and how to keep your athletes long-term growth at the center of every decision. As a director and a parent with kids in sports clubs I know how important this is.

Types of clubs and teams: Local, Regional and Travel

Not every club volleyball experience is the same. Around Chicago's Northshore you will see options usually falling into three categories.

Local teams: these teams practice close to home and play mostly on weekends at nearby schools or facilities. They are a way to transition from park district or school teams into a more structured club environment without a lot of travel.

Regional / Club teams: these teams train often and play in stronger tournaments across the Chicago area and sometimes neighboring states. Families commit to weekends in the gym more competition and higher expectations around practice attendance and training than local teams. Cost expectations $2000-5000 per season.

Travel / National teams: Highest commitment and player expectation. Expect practices per week strength training and multi-day tournaments that may require flights or overnight hotel stays. These teams are usually for athletes who're serious about long-term development and potentially college recruiting. Expect to pay out of pocket of at least $5,000 including travel up to $10,000 plus.

When you register for tryouts pay attention to how each club describes these levels, including practice load, tournament schedule and cost so you can compare them.

What happens at club volleyball tryouts?

Most tryouts follow a structure. Knowing what to expect can make the process less stressful for both parents and players.

• Check-in and tryout number assignment: players check in early receive a shirt or tryout number and sometimes take a quick photo for identification. Arriving early helps them settle in warm up and get used to the gym.
• Skill and athletic evaluations: coaches run players through drills to assess their serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking and defense skills. Some clubs measure jump or speed but most focus on volleyball skills, coachability and effort.
• Game-like play: scrimmages or controlled drills show how athletes move, communicate and respond in real-game situations. Coaches watch body language, hustle and how players respond to feedback.
• Offers and next steps: some clubs make offers on the spot while others email or call later. Most regions have rules about when offers can be made and how long families have to respond. Be aware that some clubs may use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to sign up on the spot to keep you from trying out other places.

Parents are sometimes allowed to watch. Its often best to keep a low profile and avoid coaching from the sideline or over-analyzing every move. Regional and travel players are expected not to engage with parents during tryouts.

How to compare clubs

On the North Shore there are a lot volleyball clubs within a short drive. When visiting websites attending tryouts or talking with directors consider these questions:

• How many practices per week. Where are they held?
• What does a typical tournament schedule look like at each level?
• Who will be coaching this age group. What is their experience?
• How does the club handle playing time -sport athletes and school commitments?
• What support exists for long-term development, such as skills training, positional work, strength and mindset?

It's also important to manage expectations both yours and your athletes.

• Not every player will make the team on their first tryout.
• A great fit isn't about the "highest" level; it's about where your athlete will be challenged, play meaningful points and stay confident.
• Growth across a year physically, technically and emotionally is more important than where they start.

Friends, teams and your athletes journey

One of the questions parents face is whether to prioritize playing with friends or pursuing the best development fit. It's a tension.

• Friends are a bonus, not the foundation. Playing with classmates or teammates from school can make the season more fun. In almost every club season players make new friends quickly. Volleyball is social and shared practices, tournaments and travel create bonds.
• Development and environment matter more over time. As volleyball in middle schools and high schools becomes more competitive training quality and individual coaching become more important. An environment that challenges your athlete and supports their confidence will serve them better in the run.
• Your athletes voice should be part of the decision. Ask them how they feel about trying something versus staying with a familiar group. Help them weigh short-term comfort against long-term goals in a supportive way.

Being able to speak with your athlete and working with them will help them consider if they follow their friends or not is ultimately the best way to choose the club and team that feels healthiest for their child's growth.

• The importance of a club that cares about growth no matter what logo is on the jersey the real value of club volleyball is in how your child grows, off the court.
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Signs a club is serious about development:

• Coaches talk about process and improvement not just wins and rankings. The best clubs for player growth will do this even during tryouts!
• Players receive feedback and opportunities to work on weaknesses, not just generic encouragement.
• The club has a teaching philosophy that shows up in all teams, not the oldest or top groups.
• Communication with families is clear, respectful and focused on partnership than pressure.

During tryouts and parent meetings ask directors how they define success at your athletes age. Clubs that emphasize confidence, skill development and love of the game alongside competitiveness are often better long-term homes.

The changing club landscape: Big Investment firms vs. independent clubs

Youth sports including volleyball have caught the attention of investors and private equity firms across the country. Analysts estimate that American families spend over 5 billion dollars annually on youth sports and national groups are buying up clubs, tournaments and facilities across the country.

Larger organizations can bring benefits: resources, and sometimes access to technology. At the same time growth and consolidation can make some families feel like their child is just a number in a system.

This is where locally owned clubs can offer a different experience.

• Decisions are made locally by coaches and directors who know the schools, teams and families in the area.
• Communication is more personal; you're not emailing a help desk or someone in a different timezone.
• There's room to prioritize values, character, academic balance, community, alongside goals.

Both models exist in today’s youth volleyball landscape. The key is to choose what feels right for your family: some will prefer the scale of a brand while others will look for a club environment where their child is known by name.

Final thoughts: Keeping your athlete at the center

Tryouts can be emotional for athletes and parents. There will always be another club, another team, another season. What lasts is how your child feels about the sport and about themselves.

As you navigate club volleyball tryouts this year:

• Focus on fit and development over status.
• Remember that friends come and go but confidence and skills last.
• Look for a club that communicates clearly teaches well and genuinely cares about your child as a person.

If you keep those priorities front and center your family will be, in a position to choose a club season that helps your athlete grow, compete and still love playing volleyball.