At ProLink Atlanta Volleyball Club, we want to hold ourselves, and our athletes, to the highest standard. For us, that means adopting the principles of the best and most successful teams in the nation and the world, the USA National teams. We are using many of the concepts laid out by Gold Medal Squared Volleyball, which is a collection of some of the greatest volleyball minds in the country including gold medal winning National Team staff and NCAA champion college coaches.

When are tryouts? What can I expect at tryouts?

Tryouts will be divided by the age divisions mandated by USA Volleyball. For 15s thru 18s, tryouts will be the week following the State High School Championships. For 12s through 14s, tryouts will be in mid-October. Please refer to our website, www.plavolleyball.com for the exact tryout schedule.

At tryouts, players will go through a series of drills with coaches evaluating their skills. There will be some group play along with individual skill introduction and evaluation. Players may be moved to different courts during the tryout so different coaches may evaluate the skills in our efforts to find the best fit and team environment. In addition to skill evaluation, players will be evaluated on court play, team play, and enthusiasm and attitude. Due to the limited availability of facilities and coaches, we will only keep the number of players that we can effectively accommodate. This is usually at least one team in each age group but varies from season to season.

What are the age divisions and which age group should I try out for?

Players MUST attend the tryout for their age as defined by USA Volleyball. Please see below:

18 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1991 or Players who were born on or after September 1, 1990 and a high school student in the twelfth (12th) grade or below during some part of the current academic year
17 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1992
16 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1993
15 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1994
14 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1995
13 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1996
12 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1997

Players may be invited back by the club director to tryout for an upper age-level team after attending their age level tryout. There will be no additional fees added for a second tryout. Please let a club director know if you are invited for a second tryout if you are not interested in playing up in age levels.

Is there a fee for tryouts and what do I need to bring?

The tryout fee is $40, cash only and payable at the door on the night of tryouts. Make sure you bring the Tryout Registration and Player Intent forms filled out with the necessary signatures. These can be found on our website. You should also come ready to play with appropriate clothes, shoes, kneepads, water bottle etc.

How are team selections made?

After the tryout process, players will be informed of their tryout results and team placement. Our goal is to place players on teams where they will have the best chance for individual success and will be most capable of making a significant contribution to the team’s success, as well as to meet the needs of the teams and allow for the strongest possible lineup.

How many players will be on a team?

We will place between 10-12 players on a given team. We believe that this number of players will give coaches enough options if a player is unable to attend a tournament or practice and to make necessary substitutions in match play. Having 10-12 players on a team also guarantees that each and every player has an opportunity to make a contribution to the team and will not get lost in the shuffle as happens with larger teams.

Where and how often will we practice?

Most of our training will take place at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cumming, GA. We will occasionally use satellite facilities in the same general geographical location. National teams will practice three times per week and Regional teams will practice two times per week. The majority of training will take place on a schedule from Monday through Thursday.

How long does the season last?

The club season begins with tryouts after the high school season is over. All teams will begin practicing in early November and will begin competing in tournaments in January. Regional teams will compete in approximately 6-8 tournaments through our Regional Championships, which are usually in mid to late April. National teams will compete in 8-10 tournaments to qualify for national championship events such as Junior Olympic Championships, AAU Nationals, and JDVA Nationals, which usually occur in mid-June. The schedules for these championship events vary slightly from year to year.

How is tournament playing-time handled?

Most parents want or expect their child to play all the time during tournament play. This is the number one issue of clubs throughout the United States. We hope the following explanation resolves most concerns. At ProLink, we guarantee that every athlete will receive equal practice time. It is our belief that playing time at tournaments is earned at practice through attitude, hustle, performance and many other factors. We will award fair playing-time based on these factors and on what is best for the team. FAIR DOES NOT MEAN EQUAL. Some players will play more than others in any given match, day, or tournament. Also, what happens in the first tournament of the season is not necessarily what will happen at the end of the season. Everyone will be given the opportunity to contribute. Coaches have an open door policy for players who wish to discuss their playing-time and personal roles and development within the team.

How are the tournaments selected? When will we get tournament information?

Each team will have a custom tournament schedule selected for them based on their competitive needs and schedule requirements. We are fortunate to be in an area where we can get a fairly comprehensive tournament schedule for both National and Regional teams within easy driving distance. There are several nationally recognized tournaments in our own backyard. This allows us to schedule great tournaments without having the expense of flying all over the country to gain exposure and top-level competition.

At the beginning of the season, after tryouts and team selections, we will hold team meetings to go over the specific tournament schedule options. We will set the schedule and know general information by early December. However, specific information, such as the exact playing facility may not be available until much closer to the tournament date.

What is the difference between a National team and a Regional team?

Regional teams will have two mandatory practices per week and will play in approximately 8 tournaments beginning in January and concluding with the Regional Championships in late April. 2-3 of these tournaments will be out-of-town tournaments requiring an overnight stay but within easy driving distance. 12/13s teams will play in approximately 5 local tournaments during this period. National teams will practice three times per week (14 National will have two mandatory practices per week) and will play a similar tournament schedule as the Regional teams. In addition, National teams will compete to qualify for one of the National Championship tournaments. We will play in one of these National tournaments sometime in June.

Who will coach my team?

We will rarely disclose coaching information prior to tryouts. The reason is simple. We wait to finalize our coaching staff until tryouts and we have time to analyze our potential teams. We always try to fit the right coach with the right team based on their make-up, experience and personality. Also, we want to discourage players coming to ProLink solely for the purpose of playing for a particular coach. We want the players to believe in our system and our entire coaching staff, as players will work with several coaches throughout the season and will have many different coaches throughout their career.

What is ProLink’s policy on parent involvement? Are parents asked to volunteer their time for ProLink?

ProLink prides itself on our relationship with our parents. ProLink has an open door policy with our parents and encourages our parents to communicate with our staff. However, the open door is closed during tournaments and practices so that there are no distractions or interruptions. We can set up appropriate times to provide for productive parent/staff discussions. We encourage parents to support their daughter and the athletes on her team.

ProLink does ask parents to volunteer their time as team chaperons and as the team parent. Team parents will be responsible for team communication and concession duties.

How much does it cost to play for ProLink? What are your payment options?

Because there are several different price structures for different club teams, we ask that you contact us directly for fee information. We offer flexible payment plans in an effort to make playing club volleyball as affordable as possible. Don’t let financial concerns be the reason you don’t play club volleyball. Please contact us to come up with a solution that will work for you.

What do club dues cover? Are there any additional costs?

Club dues for the 2009-2010 season will cover all costs associated with playing club volleyball. We have consolidated several different fee areas into one in an effort to make the financial commitment as easy and hassle free as possible. There are no hidden fees or dues to be determined later. This includes but is not limited to registration fees, court and coaching costs, uniform package, tournament registration fees, and all coach tournament fees. The only potential additional expense will be for individual player accommodations at out-of-town tournaments.

Does ProLink offer assistance with college recruiting?

We know that it is a dream of many athletes to play at the collegiate level. There are many opportunities out there, but you must know where to look and how the process works. ProLink has in place a college track for players beginning their Freshman and Sophomore years in high school and continuing through graduation. We have valuable information and a plan to give players the best opportunity to play at the next level. This includes making skills videos, contacting and exposure to college coaches, and NCAA eligibility and clearinghouse information. Contact us for more information.