Resources

New to Club Volleyball?

Everyone starts somewhere — even our most experienced players once began their first season of club volleyball. If the process feels complicated at first, don’t worry. This guide explains the basics of club volleyball and what families can expect throughout the season.

For additional questions about policies, philosophy, and guidelines, please visit our FAQ page.

What is Club Volleyball?

Club volleyball is a competitive season that typically runs from December through May. The exact length of the season depends on the team and tournament schedule, but most teams begin regular competition shortly after the New Year.

After tryouts, athletes are placed on a team. Each team has:

  • Assigned practice times

  • A coaching staff

  • A tournament schedule

Most teams practice 2–4 times per week and compete in tournaments every other weekend throughout the spring season.

Practices

General Practices

Practice schedules depend on the team your athlete is placed on. Most teams practice 2–4 times per week, with exact times listed on the team’s schedule.

Practices typically run in two-hour blocks, usually:

  • 5:00–7:00 PM, or

  • 7:00–9:00 PM

On some practice days, 30 minutes may include performance training with the Parkview Sports Medicine staff. During this time, athletes work in the weight room on strength, conditioning, and injury prevention.

The remainder of practice takes place on the court and may include:

  • Team drills

  • Game situations

  • Scrimmages

  • Position-specific training

Positional Training

Throughout the season, players may participate in positional training sessions. During these segments, athletes train in smaller groups based on their position (setters, hitters, liberos, middles, etc.).

This allows athletes to focus on position-specific skills with guidance from our master coaches.

Tournaments

Tournaments are where teams compete against other clubs and put their training into action.

Tournament Waves

Most tournaments are divided into two waves of play:

Morning Wave

  • Typically begins around 8:00–9:00 AM

Afternoon Wave

  • Typically begins around 2:00–3:00 PM

Your team will usually play all matches during one wave.

Tournament Responsibilities

During a tournament, teams will rotate through three roles:

Playing

Teams typically play three matches per day. On the final day of a tournament, teams are usually guaranteed at least two matches, though bracket play may allow for more.

Reffing

When your team is not playing, players may be assigned to referee another match. This is a standard responsibility for all teams. Coaches supervise players while they perform reffing duties.

Resting

Between matches or reffing assignments, players may have downtime to rest, eat, and prepare for their next match. It’s important that athletes always know when their next responsibility begins.

Challenge Matches

Some tournaments include challenge matches, which often occur at the end of a wave or even later in the day.

These matches help determine placement in tournament brackets, so players must stay aware of the schedule and confirm with their coach if a challenge match is scheduled.

Teams must remain at the venue until all matches and reffing responsibilities are complete.

Finding Your Tournament Schedule

Tournament schedules are typically posted on Advanced Event Systems (AES).

How to Find Your Schedule

  1. Visit www.advancedeventsystems.com

  2. Search for your tournament name

  3. Select the correct age group or division

  4. Click Schedules & Results

  5. Locate your team under the Clubs tab by selecting your club

AES also offers a mobile app that allows you to view schedules and results easily from your phone.

Travel

Tournament locations vary depending on your team’s age group and competitive level.

Many tournaments take place in Fort Wayne, while others are within a few hours of the city.

Common tournament locations may include:

  • Fort Wayne

  • Muncie

  • Angola

  • Indianapolis

  • Louisville

  • Lexington

  • Detroit

Travel tournaments are a fun part of the club experience and give athletes the opportunity to compete against teams from different regions.

Hotels

Because most tournaments take place over multiple days, many families choose to stay in nearby hotels.

Whenever possible, the club will provide hotel room blocks for teams traveling to tournaments. Families may use these blocks or make their own arrangements.

Some large tournaments require teams to stay in designated hotels as part of tournament policies. If this applies to an event, families will be notified in advance with booking details.

Tournament Divisions

Teams are placed into tournament divisions based on competitive level.

Common divisions may include:

  • Open – highest level of competition

  • Club

  • Patriot

  • Classic

Your team will be entered into the division that best matches its skill level and competitive goals.