Club volleyball teams will typically practice 3 times / week (twice on weeknights and on Saturdays they don't have a tourney). Players will also participate in position specific training about once a week (setters, middle blockers, outside hitters, defense, etc.). Much of the position specific training is for an hour prior to scheduled team practice so still 3 days / week.

 

A typical tournament schedule would have a team traveling about 2-3 weekends a month. This would be mostly regional travel (Louisville, Columbus, Indy, Chicago) but would also include major tournaments in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, etc.

I know soccer players that played the very highest level of club soccer and also played high school soccer.

 

Maybe in the past, but the highest level of club soccer is now sponsored by the U.S. National Team and is the Development Academy. You train about 44 weeks of the year and are not allowed to play any other form of organized soccer outside of sanctioned DA events - including high school. The local team for NKY is Cincinnati.

 

They have been practicing since 1st week of January. Took 3 weeks off at Christmas. Some teams went to Florida in December and some teams just went to PA last weekend. Practices are 3-4 days per week and will increase to 5 per week shortly.

 

There is some leniency in regards to playing high school basketball, I do not mean to imply that there isn't, but there are often times when girls simply have to choose which place to be. You can't do both at the same time.

 

I know my post is about soccer - not volleyball, but I think there is little difference between what I said here and what applies there.

Club volleyball teams will typically practice 3 times / week (twice on weeknights and on Saturdays they don't have a tourney). Players will also participate in position specific training about once a week (setters, middle blockers, outside hitters, defense, etc.). Much of the position specific training is for an hour prior to scheduled team practice so still 3 days / week.

 

A typical tournament schedule would have a team traveling about 2-3 weekends a month. This would be mostly regional travel (Louisville, Columbus, Indy, Chicago) but would also include major tournaments in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, etc.

 

When is club volleyball season?

Typically will have a couple clinics leading up to tryouts in November and December. Practices and tournaments start in January and run through end of June.

Typically will have a couple clinics leading up to tryouts in November and December. Practices and tournaments start in January and run through end of June.

 

Then college, or USAV, camps in July. More individual lessons mixed in with that. School tryouts in August followed by the start of the season. More individual lessons mixed in with that. School postseason takes you though September, October, and into November. Practices, lessons, and club open gyms mixed in as well. Tryouts coincide with the KHSAA tourney weekend. If you play open, you’re practicing in December plus conditioning in addition to practices and individual lessons. Then the club season starts. Volleyball season is year round for an open level player.

My daughter played NKYVC in high school. It is one of the most competitive programs in the area. Equus is right on with his information. No way can you play a second sport if you choose to compete at that level.

 

What makes it really hard, is if the prom or any other social event is on a tournament weekend, they are expected to be at the tournament. I remember one parent saying that it separates the girls who are serious from those who are not. Nationals are held during dead time so family vacations are screwed too.

 

NKYVC is a great program, but it comes at a price.

Just a few stand outs in both sports that come to mind.

Julie Farley Dixie/Alabama

Michelle Cottrell Boone/NKU

Rachael Adams Mount Notre Dame/Texas

Elle Ogle Beechwood/LSU and UC

Just a few stand outs in both sports that come to mind.

Julie Farley Dixie/Alabama

Michelle Cottrell Boone/NKU

Rachael Adams Mount Notre Dame/Texas

Elle Ogle Beechwood/LSU and UC

 

Lauren Tibbs from Scott was an all state in both sports. Played basketball 3 years at Marquette and finished at Bowling Green.

Not saying it can't be done, but it is rare. Your examples are excellent athletes but you're spanning 17 years or so to get 4 examples.

 

Where did Tibbs play club volleyball?

 

I'd add Stephanie Niemer St. Henry / UC / professional

Not saying it can't be done, but it is rare. Your examples are excellent athletes but you're spanning 17 years or so to get 4 examples.

 

Where did Tibbs play club volleyball?

 

I'd add Stephanie Niemer St. Henry / UC / professional

 

I'm not sure that she even played club volleyball, as Basketball was her main sport. Scott also had Lauren O'Conner (Played Vball at UK) during that time period. Unfortunately, O'Conner got hurt and missed most of their senior season. Both were well over 6 ft tall, athletic and could just hammer the ball. Might have been Scott's best team ever, but Scott was still in the 9th region at the time, and could never get by Notre Dame.

So now we are getting documentation that you don't need to play club volleyball to be a top-notch player. Why do so many coaches pressure players, especially young athletes, to drop other sports and play volleyball year round? Who benefits from that - paid coaches or young athletes?

We were discussing the ability to play high level club volleyball and HS basketball at the same time.

I know O'Conner played club ball at NKYVC. Did she play basketball at Scott at the same time?

We were discussing the ability to play high level club volleyball and HS basketball at the same time.

I know O'Conner played club ball at NKYVC. Did she play basketball at Scott at the same time?

 

No. O'Conner did not play basketball.

So now we are getting documentation that you don't need to play club volleyball to be a top-notch player. Why do so many coaches pressure players, especially young athletes, to drop other sports and play volleyball year round? Who benefits from that - paid coaches or young athletes?

 

I wouldn't use Lauren Tibbs as an example to definitively prove the point that Club Volleyball isn't necessary to be a top player. Tibbs is 6' 4"+ and a great athlete. Plus, she had O'Conner who was just as tall and freakishly athletic playing next to her. And I'd say she was the exception to the rule. There is generally a BIG difference between high level club and the non club player, and I'm not sure that Tibbs would have stood out as much on one of the high level clubs or on one of the traditional volleyball powers, without truly dedicating herself to volleyball.

I wouldn't use Lauren Tibbs as an example to definitively prove the point that Club Volleyball isn't necessary to be a top player. Tibbs is 6' 4"+ and a great athlete. Plus, she had O'Conner who was just as tall and freakishly athletic playing next to her. And I'd say she was the exception to the rule. There is generally a BIG difference between high level club and the non club player, and I'm not sure that Tibbs would have stood out as much on one of the high level clubs or on one of the traditional volleyball powers, without truly dedicating herself to volleyball.

 

I think this supports the point that it is extremely difficult to do both. Both O'Conner and Tibbs were great athletes but neither played high end club volleyball and HS basketball at the same time.

 

To excel and advance in volleyball, Tibbs would have needed the club experience to develop.

O'Conner was able to develop through her club experience and continue her volleyball career at UK. But did not play HS basketball (much to her father's chagrin, I'm certain).