Can’t Afford Club Volleyball? Do this Instead!

Being a seasoned volleyball observer who has worked closely with the club coaches, I have seen situations where players often ask that they cannot afford to join a club volleyball.

If you cannot afford club volleyball, start with beginner-friendly drills yourself, have a digital presence to showcase your talent to the world for free, join clinic programs, look for sponsored seats, engage in social volleyball, and volunteer in tournaments, among other things to come in the good books of coaches.

Clubs demand thousands of dollars every season. But that is no surprise, as they are the business facilities which are there to make profits.

But you just have to be at the top of your efforts to learn new things, and everything else will fall into place.

Here are the things that will help you get in club volleyball.

Make Your Digital Presence Impenetrable (Clubs Love Famous Athletes)

When you can’t afford club volleyball, the first step in this situation is not to surrender your wish to join the club (yes, even without having enough money).

Now, record your videos of practicing volleyball in different ways.

It will eventually help you gather followers in these digital accounts, and I mean it in the true sense of the word.

I have seen players in different sports having no money to post their videos on these platforms to grab the attention of the coaches.

Send these videos to club coaches via their inboxes. I mean not to spam them with everything you post, but to send them the link to your channel as you brag about your skills in front of them.

Once you have enough eyeballs on your content, it is only a matter of time before you get a sponsored program in some of the top volleyball clubs in your area.

In fact, there is the possibility that you will have a wide variety of options to choose from.

And even before you make enough followers, you can get admission to club volleyball if you manage to impress any coach.

Work on Your Communication

Perhaps the most important thing to do is to make your communication skills super important.

Never hesitate to talk with your local coaches and other players that you cannot afford the expensive programs.

You will find extremely helpful coaches who are ready to help you with finances if you have the skills and willpower to improve your skills.

Get a Good Quality Volleyball

While I do not recommend anything at all to volleyball beginners, particularly ones who cannot afford to join club volleyball, getting top-notch volleyball is a must-have thing to do.

This is because most clubs offer exceptional volleyball that helps attendees train in the most professional way.

Without good-quality volleyball, it becomes increasingly difficult to practice the art of the game correctly.

You are more prone to learn most volleyball skills in the wrong way without a premium volleyball.

That is why getting professional volleyball becomes a no-brainer, even for those who can’t afford to join clubs.

Join the Volleyball Clinic or Camp

While you need to spend $2,000-$4,000 for a volleyball club, there are many cheaper programs that can help you get started with the game without breaking the bank.

Yes, it is true that clinic volleyball and camps will not give you in-depth training, but they will help you get the crux of the idea of how clubs work.

Once you get this idea, it will be easier for you to implement all the other self-learning strategies that I have discussed here.

See Sponsored Position in the Club

Many clubs offer sponsored positions every season.

Finding the sponsor’s program can be quite a task, however.

Firstly, you need to follow all the social media handles of clubs in your area, as most of the time, you will see the announcements there.

Secondly, be in touch with club coaches, as they will help you learn about the upcoming sponsored programs.

Also, periodically google the sponsored programs by tying keywords like “Volleyball Club sponsored program in [your state/city].”

It will help you find the right volleyball programs to groom your skills without paying anything.

Offer Your Services for Clubs

I can’t emphasize this strategy more.

I have personally seen a whole lot of players joining clubs in exchange for their services.

Some were digital marketers, so they marketed the club. Others were writers who helped clubs write their documents and maintain their online content. There are endless possibilities here. You offer your services at the club to get yourself enrolled.

Volunteer in Volleyball Tournaments

Doing this will not directly impact your chances of getting into a club setup, but it will pave your way toward endless possibilities.

You will meet and see different volleyball coaches and organizers in these events who have connections deep inside the volleyball clubs.

In fact, many volleyball club teams will also be participating in these tournaments. So this is your chance for the necessary exposure to break into the club system without worrying about money.

Here are different ideas on how to organize volleyball tournaments that will help you impress tournament organizers and coaches on the big stage.

Apply for Non-Sport Scholarships

This is yet another way that has helped many of my students get into club volleyball.

To start with, see all the areas where you can apply for scholarships. It can be your studies, laundry, grocery, utility bills and all the other things you can think of.

If that is possible, cut your expenses from that area and relocate them to your club volleyball fee.

Or even better, ask clubs to offer you special installment program that will help you clear dues with time.

Live Volleyball (In a Literal Sense)

Be a volleyball lover in every sense.

Live your life associated with sports in every way. Analyze videos of professional players, watch replays, listen to expert analysis and tune in to podcasts to know what experts have to say.

The players that you see on your screen are showing their end product in any game. Any jump, serve, or smash that they perform has a lot of work behind it.

See if you are doing these things exactly the same way that these players are doing.

If not, try to mimic the style of the champion players, as it will help you learn the sport in a much faster way.

With this strategy, you will be familiarized with many terminologies of the game as well as the strategy experts employ when they hit the court.

Start Community Volleyball

When you are short of money, joining social volleyball programs is a great way to hone your skills.

Have a look around you and see if you have players around you with similar interests.

Make a team and start playing with them. Although you need to start with friendly matches in the beginning, increase the competitiveness level among your circle of friends as it will help you sharpen your volleyball skills without joining the club.

Start with Beginner Friendly Drills

Volleyball clubs walk you through all the steps right from the very beginning.

In fact, volleyball clubs are so beginner-friendly that many sports newbies join them every year.

However, with no extra money to chip in, you need to start moving up the trajectory yourself by working on the beginner volleyball skills that will kick off your volleyball journey.

Set up Your Volleyball Goals (Both Short and Long term)

When you are joining a formal club setting, coaches will help you set goals that will help you measure your volleyball progress. But when you are on your own, you need to fix your errors on your own.

That is why measuring your progress against short-term volleyball goals is important to get started with the game.

Once you do that, focus on more visionary and aspiring goals to set yourself for ultimate success.

Start With Beach Volleyball

Starting with beach volleyball is yet another way to be game-ready in indoor volleyball.

Beach volleyball is free to play, as you only need a good net (even DIY hacks can do the job) to play. Once you have it, you can hit the beach daily to master the art of the game.

Final Words

Volleyball clubs are quite expensive which discourages many aspiring players to start the game. After all, even when the club volleyball is for beginners, spending too much money on it comes with its own risk.

That is why joining club volleyball should come after weighing the pros and cons of these programs.

And even then, no one should give up on a competitive club environment just because of the finances.

The only thing you need to do is to do a bit more hustle than others and you will be in the clubs one way or another.