What to Expect at Tryouts

Tryouts will begin August 9th and are held at our usual practice facilities.

There will be multiple tryout dates throughout the fall, starting August 9th, and tryouts will be held at one of our usual practice facilities. Specific dates and locations will be announced later this summer.

You can get directions to all of our gyms by visiting our Gyms & Locations Page.

Your team eligibility is based on age.

Typically you will be trying out for an age-based team. For example, 16U means all athletes are 16 years-old or younger as of July 1, 2026—this means most athletes on a 16U team are 15 years old at tryouts.

Athletes should sign up for their correct age bracket. On rare occasions, an athlete may be asked to "play up" on an older team. This happens on a case-by-case basis, and cannot be requested.

To understand your age bracket, consult the chart below.

Tryouts run in one-hour waves organized by age group.

Warm-Up: Session opens with a dynamic warm-up to get athletes moving and loose.

Drills: Athletes rotate through skill-based drills covering passing, setting, hitting, and serve receive. This is where coaches evaluate technical ability and coachability — how quickly your child picks up instruction and responds to feedback.

Live Play: Every tryout includes live game play. This is where athleticism, court awareness, and competitive instincts come into view.

We're evaluating the full picture — technical skills, athleticism, and coachability, but attitude and effort matter just as much. We love seeing athletes who compete hard, communicate on the court, and bring energy to every rep. Volleyball is a team sport, and we're building a culture to match.

Show up prepared to play.

Make sure to arrive at the gym at least 10 minutes before your tryout time wave begins, so you can sign in and be ready to play. You should bring:

• Athletic clothes/gym clothes
• Volleyball Shoes/Sneakers
• Kneepads
• Hairbands/headbands (if you have long hair)
• A water bottle
• GEVA Membership Number
  

Parents should plan to drop off their athlete and pick them up after tryouts are finished.

One goal of club volleyball is to provide an opportunity for your athlete to develop skills of self-reliance and perseverance. During tryouts, it is important for coaches to be able to observe and interact with players. Volleyball skills, interactions with other players, and coachability are all important parts of the evaluative process.

Parents are encouraged to sign-in their athlete and then return at the end of the tryout time block. Depending on space at each location, parents can stay and watch the tryout. Parents who interrupt or are consistently distracting their athlete may be asked to wait outside the gym, and their athlete may be asked to leave the tryout.

Offers will be sent within 3 days after your tryout.

If you are selected for a team, you will receive a roster offer within 3 days of your tryout. Offers must be returned within 72 hours with a tuition deposit to secure the roster spot on the team.

If you don't make a team, that doesn't mean your NYC Volleyverse journey is over!

Not all athletes are ready for competitive club-level play. However, we offer options so you can continue to develop toward future seasons.

Second Tryout

If you don't receive an offer after your first tryout, your Tryout Pass allows you to return for one other tryout.

VolleyVerse Rising Stars Program

Our unique practice and play developmental program places you on an intramural-style team that combines a weekly club-style practice and play opportunity for your athlete to gain the experience needed for their next year's tryouts.

Classes, Camps, and Private Lessons

We offer a wide variety of focused classes and seasonal camps so your athlete can focus on sharpening their skills with instruction from NYC VolleyVerse coaches. We also offer 1-on-1 and group private lessons so your athlete can get custom instruction tailored to their specific needs.

A Tryout Pass is just $50, and guarantees 2 tryout opportunities.

Tryout Costs

A tryout for NYC VolleyVerse costs just $50, plus the cost of a USAV tryout membership. The Tryout pass guarantees you two tryout opportunities.

Club Tuition

Club tuition for Girls 12U-18U teams for the 2026-2027 season is $4000. Girls 11U and all Boys teams will be $3500.

Your investment goes directly toward everything that makes the season possible — gym rentals, experienced coaches, uniforms, tournament fees, and equipment. As costs in all of these areas have increased, we've worked hard to keep VolleyVerse among the most affordable options in the region, where club tuition at comparable programs typically runs $7,000–$10,000, with some clubs reaching up to $20,000.

Tuition can be paid in full or spread out through a payment plan.