Choosing a club volleyball program can be a confusing and frustrating process. If you don't find answers here, please feel free to email or call Jen Robinson, Club Stellar Director.
Q: What is club volleyball?
A: USA Junior Olympic (sometimes called J.O.) volleyball or club volleyball is a nationwide, junior volleyball system comprised of individual clubs organized by region under the parent organization, USA Volleyball, for the primary purpose of growing and supporting the sport. Generally, club volleyball offers participants the opportunity to continue to compete and develop skills well beyond the relatively short middle school and high school seasons.
Club Stellar is a member of the Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) of USA Volleyball and the United States Volleyball Association (USAV).
Q: How long is the season?
A: After tryouts girls will be placed on teams and those teams will begin to practice in November. The first local competition is the beginning of January. Usually each team will enter one or two local competitions each month through the end of April. All National teams set their goal of going to Nationals in late June.
Q: Will we have a choice or say in what team our daughter plays on (i.e., National vs. Regional, playing up vs. playing at age-level)?
A: Yes, you are asked to indicate your preference when you register for tryouts. We also work with families throughout the tryout process to determine the best fit.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Club dues vary by age group and team. Please contact Club Stellar for details.
Q: What do I get for my money?
A: Fees include: Facility Rental: We will be practicing at the Colorado Springs School, Cheyenne Mountain Junior High, and we're currently seeking another facility further North. Coaching Salaries: Our staff is extremely knowledgeable about volleyball and understands how to teach and train its fundamentals and strategies. More importantly, they will consistently model and teach principles integral to success in life. In short, they are dedicated to each player’s maximum growth on and off the court. Each team has 1-3 paid adult coaches. Each player will receive 4-6 hours of volleyball instruction each week working with multiple coaches. Tournament Entry Fees: All tournaments Club Stellar teams participate in charge an entry fee for their event. These fees range from $125 for a Regional event to $900 for a multi-day event. Administrative Expenses: These include everyday operational expenses. This includes: production and distribution of brochures, production of handouts, administrator staff salary, website hosting, online registration system, etc. Uniform Package: All Club Stellar athletes will receive a complete uniform package. The package includes: volleyball shoes, 2 game jerseys, 2 pairs of spandex, warm-up pants, warm-up jacket, bag, kneepads and 2 practice t-shirts. Additional items will be available for purchase throughout the season.
Q: What is the payment schedule/method for fee collections?
A: Club Dues and travel payments will all be made online this year through our new website. Payment can be made by online check or credit card. With this online payment system, you will always have access to your account to see upcoming payments and dates and received payments. Club dues will be divided into 3 or 4 payments, depending on age group. $600 is due by check at tryouts for all teams. Depending on your team, payments will be required in January, February and possibly March.
Q: I want to earn a college scholarship to play volleyball. Can Club Stellar help me get recruited?
A: YES! We work hard to prepare our athletes for college volleyball so that they have options. We provide a recruiting seminar for the 16s-18s, where you and your family will learn about the recruiting process. We will help you create a volleyball resume and post it on our website. We have a close relationship with Prep Athletes, a recruiting service, that films skills tapes and offers a recruiting service for a fee. Our coaches are trained to promote our players in an honest way to help you find the best college fit. Since Club Stellar began in 2004, 100% of our players have had college scholarship offers! We also send our 15s-18s to qualifiers around the country so that they can be seen by college coaches.
Q: I cannot make a tryout date. What should I do?
A: If you know you can not make a tryout or missed a tryout please contact the Director of the program for a possible alternate tryout. Please note - After the final tryout there is a possibility that there are limited or no opportunities to make a team in that program!
Q: When will I know if I made a team? Will I know what team I made?
A: At the very end of the tryout for your age group, a list will be read and the players who make the team will be asked to accept the position. The team's coach will be there to answer any questions parents and/or players have. Once the position has been accepted, parents will be asked to sign a financial agreement for the season. There will be a few altenates announced, should one of the players decline the position offered.
Q: What is the difference between the National and Regional teams?
A: The Regional teams will not travel outside the state. They will go to two 3-day tournaments- one in Greeley and one in Denver. The focus of these teams is development and everyone will get playing time. The National teams are very competitive, and their goal is to qualify for Nationals. The 15s-18s National teams will travel to two out-of-state qualifiers. Playing time is not guaranteed on these teams!
Q: Does everyone get to play?
A: At Club Stellar we believe playing time is earned, not given. Club Stellar's dues guarantee the athlete quality coaching, practice time, registration, uniforms and training. Playing time is determined by the coach based on several criteria - practice, attitude, commitment, game performance & skill. Every player has the opportunity to prove themselves at practice. Club Stellar is a competitive volleyball environment and the teams are administered that way.
*Playing time and related issues are encouraged to be resolved between player and coach. After such meetings, if the issue still remains, a formal meeting with the player, coach and director will be held.*
Q: How many players are choosen per team?
A: We typically choose between 9-11 players. Final numbers are determined by the team's needs- positions, experience, etc.
Q: I'm coming to the Stellar tryout from another tryout and may be a little late. What should I do?
A: Don't panic! Get there as soon as possible. We'll get the player a shirt and put her right into the tryout while we finish paperwork with Mom or Dad. Being late will not a mark against you. We understand that this is a crazy day and will do our best to accomodate you. If you know in advance that you might be late, please meail Jen at clubstellar@mac.com to give us a heads up!
Q: I was selected to a team; what do I do now? When is the Parents' Night Meeting?
A: Each player that makes a Club Stellar team will be required to attend the player/parent meeting. The player needs to then attend the meeting with at least ONE parent. Parent Night will be at The Colorado Springs School on Monday, November 10 from 7-9pm. Girls will be fitted for their uniforms at this time.
Q: Can multi-sport athletes still play for Club Stellar?
A: YES! We have many players that compete in other sports. We just ask that you communicate early and often with your team's coaches about potential schedule conflicts. On National teams, all players are expected to attend every tournament. So, if you know you will have many conflicts, it might be better to play on the Regional team, if offered.
Q: When and where are the tournaments?
A: Regional tournaments run from January through April. The RMR has split age groups into odds and evens this season. Meaning that the 18, 16, 14,12 play one Sunday, then 17, 15, 13 play the next. The Regional tournaments are always on Sundays. Sites for these tournaments are not posted by the Region until the Wednesday before the tournament. We usually play in COS or Denver, but have traveled to Greeley and Ft. Collins in the past. All teams will complete in the Crossroads National Qualifier in Denver, which runs 3 days.
Q: Does Stellar offer fundraising opportunities?
A: Yes! We have a new fundraising coordinator who will present several fundraising opportunities throughout the season. All fundraising is optional.