Club Volleyball Tryouts: What to Expect

A North Shore family guide.

If you’re thinking about having your daughter try out for club volleyball this year, you’re making a great decision to help her grow — and this guide can help you navigate the process. Club volleyball around Chicago’s North Shore is growing fast. Communities like Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, Glencoe, and Lake Forest have seen a lot of growth, and tryout season can feel overwhelming with all the emails, dates, and decisions. As a director and a parent with kids in sports clubs, I know how important this is.

Types of clubs and teams: Local, Regional, and Travel

Not every club experience is the same. Around the North Shore, options usually fall into three categories.

• Local teams practice close to home and play mostly on weekends at nearby schools or facilities — a way to transition from park-district or school teams into a more structured club environment without a lot of travel.
• Regional / Club teams train more often and play in stronger tournaments across the Chicago area and sometimes neighboring states. Expect more competition and higher expectations around attendance and training. Typical cost: $2,000–$5,000 per season.
• Travel / National teams are the highest commitment — multiple practices per week, strength training, and multi-day tournaments that may require flights or hotel stays. Usually for athletes serious about long-term development and college recruiting. Costs often run $5,000–$10,000+ including travel.

What happens at club volleyball tryouts?

• Check-in and number assignment — players check in early, receive a shirt or tryout number, and sometimes take a quick photo. Arriving early helps them settle in and warm up.
• Skill and athletic evaluations — coaches run drills to assess serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking, and defense. Most focus on skills, coachability, and effort.
• Game-like play — scrimmages and controlled drills show how athletes move, communicate, and respond in real situations. Coaches watch body language, hustle, and response to feedback.
• Offers and next steps — some clubs make offers on the spot; others email or call later. Be aware that some clubs use high-pressure tactics to get you to sign on the spot.

Parents are sometimes allowed to watch — it’s best to keep a low profile and avoid coaching from the sideline.

How to compare clubs

• How many practices per week, and where are they held?
• What does a typical tournament schedule look like at each level?
• Who is coaching this age group, and what is their experience?
• How does the club handle playing time, multi-sport athletes, and school commitments?
• What support exists for long-term development — skills training, positional work, strength, and mindset?

Signs a club is serious about development

• Coaches talk about process and improvement, not just wins and rankings — even during tryouts.
• Players receive feedback and chances to work on weaknesses, not just generic encouragement.
• The teaching philosophy shows up across all teams, not just the oldest or top groups.
• Communication with families is clear, respectful, and focused on partnership rather than pressure.

Final thoughts: keep your athlete at the center

Tryouts can be emotional for athletes and parents. There will always be another club, another team, another season. What lasts is how your child feels about the sport and about themselves. Focus on fit and development over status, remember that confidence and skills last, and look for a club that communicates clearly, teaches well, and genuinely cares about your child as a person.