When Does Club Volleyball Season Start? (Complete Timeline)
If you are preparing for the club volleyball season or thinking of enrolling in one, it’s important to know when these seasons start and end. And what is the general timeline of the complete volleyball club season?
Club volleyball season mostly starts in late December and runs through mid-April, aligning with the off-season of school volleyball seasons. Players usually participate in club tryouts in October and November. But volleyball clubs even offer different programs in off-seasons.
When Does Club Volleyball Season Start?
Club volleyball offers an exciting avenue for young athletes to strengthen their skills, compete at a higher level, and gain valuable experience.
Here is the timeline of when the club volleyball season starts, how it proceeds, and when it ends.
But this club volleyball season timeline is not true for all levels.
The junior volleyball club season ends in June, after which many players participate in USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships. This championship provides a great spectacle for a volleyball lover when a majority of courts in the country see young and energetic players leaving no stone unturned to reach glory.
Why Does Club Volleyball Season Start in Winter?
Club volleyball seasons are often scheduled to align with the off-season of school volleyball seasons.
Mostly, you will see that school volleyball seasons last from August to October. So once players are done with their school seasons, they can participate in club volleyball seasons.
From January until the end of April, clubs typically schedule 1-2 tournaments per month, providing ample opportunities for competitive play and skill development. The specific training and schedule vary from one club to another, so you must research what your volleyball club has to offer.
It is important to note that club volleyball programs come in various formats, with clubs of different sizes offering programs throughout the year.
Usually, the length of the club volleyball season is three and a half months, while some clubs may run programs that last for as long as six months. Such clubs often travel extensively and compete in prestigious tournaments, drawing in top-level athletes to form competitive teams.
During the club volleyball season, teams engage in regular practices, typically once or twice a week. Alongside local tournaments and leagues, teams may have opportunities to qualify for larger tournaments.
When Do Players Start Preparing for Club Volleyball Season?
Most people start preparing for the upcoming volleyball club season in late October and early November.
Check this official data of Google Trends, for example:
Here you can search queries about “club volleyball” jumps every October and November and then nosedive.
This is because most people are searching for different volleyball clubs and weighing their pros and cons to make a decision about the upcoming season.
What to Do Before the Start of Club Volleyball Season?
Until or unless money is not a problem for you, you have to admit that club volleyball is expensive. In fact, many people are worried about what makes club volleyball so expensive.
So once you have made up your mind to spend money on club volleyball and spend time to master the skills, here are the things you can do in the time leading up to club volleyball.
- Focus on your physical Conditioning (This is important since you need to do it anyways after joining the club).
- Review volleyball rules and regulations.
- Learn about different volleyball positions (like Defense Specialist, hitter, libero, and others to see which style fits you the best). Don’t worry too much about it; you will get to know it in the club anyways.
- Prepare yourself mentally for the upcoming training.
- Carry out the urgent tasks that need to be done in the upcoming months (as you will need to travel for tournaments)
- Prepare all the volleyball logistics and kit (provided it will not be given by the club).
What Do Volleyball Clubs Do in Off Seasons?
Volleyball clubs do not sit idle in summer. They have a lot of people to train even during peak summer times.
Different Training Programs to Keep Players Engaged (And to Make Money)
In any summer, volleyball clubs offer some or all of the following programs to keep players engaged (or get the money out of your pockets, as this kid describes.)
Here are the things you can see in club volleyball seasons in different times of the year
- Volleyball camps
- High-performance camps for juniors players
- High-performance camps for senior players
- Volleyball clinics
- Technique tutoring
- Getting started with volleyball programs
In fact, there are many more custom-made programs that volleyball clubs introduce in their summer seasons.
And honestly speaking, not all of them are worth joining. They just changed some course content of the program to launch it under a new name.
College Recruiting Support
Nowadays, I have seen a rising trend in volleyball clubs. They provide assistance and guidance to players who aspire to play volleyball at the collegiate level. This support includes workshops on the college recruiting process, assistance with creating highlight videos and player profiles, and connections with college coaches.
These programs help players navigate the complex college recruitment landscape and increase their chances of securing scholarships or spots on college teams.
Individual Training Programs to Offer Specialized Training
You will find many volleyball managers and coaches free during off-seasons. In this free time, many clubs offer individual training programs to players who want to have rigorous training before the upcoming season.
These one-on-one or small group sessions allow players to receive personalized attention and guidance to improve their technique, tactical understanding, and overall performance. Individual training can be particularly beneficial for players looking to refine specific skills or address specific areas of improvement.
It will also help you to understand your specific role in the volleyball game.
Offseason Conditioning
To maintain fitness and prepare for the upcoming club season, some clubs offer off-season conditioning programs. These programs focus on maintaining or improving players’ physical fitness levels through workouts, agility drills, and conditioning exercises. Offseason conditioning helps players stay in shape and reduces the risk of injuries when the club season resumes.
Having a proper knowledge about the timeline of club volleyball season help you to prepare yourself in a better manner. It helps you to understand which level of club volleyball you want to play and how can you plan your upcoming time better to get the best results from the club volleyball season.
Ahmed is the founder of Ball and Net Sports, a platform where he writes about volleyball.
As a professional volleyball player who has participated in various national and international level volleyball competitions, he loves to teach other volleyball enthusiasts about the game.
He is now a professional volleyball coach who organizes volleyball camps and social events for talent hunting for top volleyball teams.
As a volleyball talent-hunting specialist, he loves to teach people how they can make their game better in the fast-paced volleyball environment where it is extremely difficult to get quality content free of cost.
