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The Types of
Volleyball
There are two
types of volleyball indoor and outdoor. Outdoor volleyball is also
known as beach volleyball and is a very popular sport, especially in warm
climates. There are two
types of Indoor volleyball:
select/club teams and house/recreation teams.
The majority of
clubs are only concerned with the development of their select or club
teams, which are the competitive divisions for volleyball. There
are however some clubs that do a recreation or instructional division,
sometimes known as the house league |
Recreational/House
Non-Competitive Teams
Recreational
leagues are developmental, non-competitive volleyball teams for both
boys and girls usually starting in grade 5 or around 9 years old. There
are some clubs that will start kids as young as 6 years old but they are
difficult to find. This type of league will teach the rules of the
game, basic fundamental skills, and techniques while competing against
each other in matches. Their goal is to teach volleyball in a fun
environment while instilling the love for volleyball in each player.
There are no tryouts for this league and no experience is required.
Coaches are volunteers. Teams usually meet two times per week. One day
is for practices while the other day is for games (two 25-minute games).
Practice days are during the week and game days are typically on
Saturday morning. Cost is approximately $100.
Club Volleyball
-- Competitive Teams – Select Teams
The objective
of clubs is to have at least one highly competitive team at each age
level for both boys and girls in a club. A select team is for players
with more advanced skills, similar to travel teams in soccer and
lacrosse. There are open tryouts that are held for team selections
Teams will
usually practice 2-3 times a week and play a tournament about every
other weekend for 4 - 6 months. Practice is during the week and
tournaments are held on weekends. Most local tournaments are one day
events and most regional or national tournaments are either two or three
day events. Each day of a tournament is an all day affair typically
starting about 8:00am and ending around 6:00pm
with teams playing multiple matches in a day.
Approximate club dues include an
initiation fee, USA Volleyball Registration, and season dues.
Initiation fees can be between $295 – $495. Registration is
approximately $60. Season dues can be $800 - $1700 depending on the team
and age group. Travel cost can be an additional $800 – $2000 for select
teams. This really depends on how many tournaments the team participates
in and where they are located. Clubs have payment plans to help disperse payment throughout the
season.
Tryouts are typically in November and
then there could be training camps in December. The season runs from
December through June with February, March, and April being the busiest
months.
Teams compete in tournaments from
January through June. Travel could be extensive throughout the season
and the season normally ends with a Championship Level Tournament.
Many teams participate in The Volleyball
Festival which is the largest volleyball tournament in the world. Over
900 teams from across the entire USA, and some foreign countries,
participate in the 4 age divisions. A minimum of 13 matches are
guaranteed for each team, and the tournament format ensures that teams
will compete against other teams of similar ability. The Festival is
usually held in late June/early July, with competition lasting for an
entire week.
Practice makes perfect...
As with
any other sport if your child
wants to improve their volleyball skills they need to practice. Aerobic
endurance is an important part of being a good volleyball
player. Aerobic classes or running is a great way to improve your
child's aerobic endurance and thus their game.
Volleyball can
be played all over the world both indoors and outside so you can
easily find a location for practice. Practice can be done in your own
back yard by simply putting up a net or using a wall.
Encouragement verbally, physically and emotionally is the key to your
child’s success in any sport. Parents can promote an interest in
volleyball by
spending time with their children playing before and after their regular lessons
or setting it up with a volleyball friend to come over and practice.
Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball is
a popular recreational activity on many beaches around the world, and is
generally played in areas with wide sandy beaches.
This type of volleyball evolved from regular team volleyball, and
like the indoor sport, it’s all about teams serving and returning a
lightweight ball over a tall net. It’s the perfect team sport for
people who love the beach but get bored just lying on a towel all day!
For details on Beach Volleyball click here:
BEACH VOLLEYBALL. |
