How are club teams selected?
Each club holds organized tryouts, usually around the first part of November, as required by the Minnesota State High School League for players who play during a school season. Middle school players are not held to these same tryout rules. This procedure can be a one day session, or consist of multiple days of tryout sessions.
How are teams formed?
We are interested in developing players who have a love for volleyball and a desire to use their God-given athletic abilities on a team that balances character development as well as volleyball skills. Our Developmental and Advanced Teams are geared for players that are looking to advance their game, continue to build new skills, and compete in local tournaments.
We tentatively plan to have four to six teams for the 2022-2023 season. Clubs are organized by age level and skills – not by grade like many school settings. We aim for a team to be 10-11 players. The coaches will determine the team rosters at tryouts and will build teams based on ability.
What possible levels are the teams competing at?
- 12s Team (11s/12s year olds)
This is for players newer to volleyball, or have played simple rotation volleyball who are familiar with the basic rules of the game. At this level, overhand serving and passing skills will be emphasized. Positions and rotations will also be learned. These teams requires a tryout where player evaluations are performed by our experienced coaching staff to determine team selection and positions. The play dates for this team will consist of mini tournaments around 2.5 hours long. - 12s/13s/14s Teams
This team is selected based upon interest, practice performance, and age criteria set out by official rules. These players may be new to club, or returning club level players. At this level, some skills that emerge are: setting, hitting, blocking, digging, serving, and rotation. These teams requires a tryout where player evaluations are performed by our experienced coaching staff to determine team selection and positions. - 15s/16s/17s Teams
This team requires a tryout where player evaluations are performed by our experienced coaching staff to determine team selection and positions. Typically, these players are often have game experience in a school setting as starters at the Junior Varsity and Varsity level or similar club levels. These teams will be traveling to larger sanctioned tournaments (TBA).
Age Classification
Players on teams can play on the basis of age or grade level.
- 18 and under - born on or after July 1, 2002 (or 12th grade for local events only)
- 17 and under - born on or after July 1, 2003 (or 11th grade for local events only)
- 16 and under - born on or after July 1, 2004 (or 10th grade for local events only)
- 15 and under - born on or after July 1, 2005 (or 9th grade for local events only)
- 14 and under - born on or after July 1, 2006 (or 8th grade for local events only)
- 13 and under - born on or after July 1, 2007 (or 7th grade for local events only)
- 12 and under - born on or after July 1, 2008 (or 6th grade for local events only)
- 11 and under - born on or after July 1, 2009 (or 5th grade for local events only)
------------------------------------------------------------------
How are team rosters determined?
Volleyball is a sport played with multiple players forming a team. A successful team must consist of several elements...players with comparable skills and a full roster of position players. Unfortunately, competitive teams cannot be formed based on player friendships.
What are position players?
Like many sports, the players on the floor all have a specific job. Unlike recreation sports, club volleyball, is a higher level of competition and clubs are expected to assemble the best unit of players available. Each roster must consist of a certain number of middle hitters, outside hitters, libero, setters, defensive players, etc. At the club level, most players are position players and they are proficient in their assigned position.
How many players are on a team?
Typically, the best number for a team is between 8 to 12 players. Less than that and you risk not having enough players in the event of an injury or match conflict. Any more and you have too many players standing around or sitting on the bench. Too many players will create stress on a coach with parents asking about playing time. Team morale usually suffers when you have too many players on the roster. This is also unfair to the extra players who could possibly be rostered on another team and see extended playing time.
How are returning players handled?
It is the policy of DIGS that every player, new or returning, register for tryouts each season. This is to properly assess the skill level of every player and avoid any claim of favoritism towards returning players. Volleyball skills can improve or deteriorate during the time in-between club seasons. Additionally, many players may develop faster than others. For example, if two players (teammates) were comparable during the previous season’s tryouts, but are now playing at different levels, it may be necessary to evaluate what team will provide the best growth based upon the unique needs of the player. Because of this, when a team is selected, certain players may become the core of a team, and the tryout procedure will be the tool to adding players of similar ability to the missing positions of that team.
What is the practice commitment?
Plan on 2 practices per week that each last 1 to 2 hours in duration, depending upon gym availability.
How many teams will DIGS have for the 2022-2023 season?
We are opening six-eight teams for the upcoming season. The final number of teams we open up will depend on the number of available qualified coaches, available facilities, and the number of players accepting positions on teams. It has always been our policy to offer as many opportunities as possible each season. We are limited by the previously mentioned elements.
What do the fees cover?
Our club provides a high return on your financial investment. Fees cover rental spaces, coaching stipends, tournament registration, equipment, weight training, and a mental toughness curriculum. We want the tournaments we attend to provide great competition against similar skill-level teams. For comparison, many Minnesota clubs charge between $1,000 for beginners to $6,000 for high school teams that travel further for tournaments. We aim to make this club very affordable.
Are there any other costs?
Spandex shorts, court shoes, and knee pads are required. Other costs include gas/travel expenses and food on tournament days.
Can I still participate in other school activities? Go on vacation? Spring Break?
Yes. We try to schedule our tournaments and practices around the general school calendar and try to find tournaments that work for our players who are involved. Players should communicate early when schedule conflicts exist, as we have some flexibility in the practice and tournaments selected.
What are the tournaments like?
We participate in many local and regional tournaments within approximately a 40-minute drive of Andover, MN. Tournaments are usually held on Saturdays, although if space is an issue, you may play on a Sunday if needed. Time at tournaments varies, but on average players experience 3-5 matches of game-play, and 1-2 referring matches, and 1 match of sitting depending on how many teams are at a tournament. Every player has to go through online training for being a upper referee, scorekeeper, line judge, etc. to help learn the rules of competition.
What do I bring to a tournament?
Most players bring things to keep them comfortable...blanket, pillow, iPods, homework, cell phone, etc. You are going to be at a tournament for some time and there will be downtime to rest.
Under normal situations, parents should bring a comfortable chair, something to read, food/snacks for the players (so you do not have to run out looking for food) and a positive attitude for your daughter and her teammates.
What's next?
Tryouts for the 2021-22 season are now complete. The registration deadline was Tuesday, October 26.
2022-2023 tryouts were held:
Cost: Preregistered Try out fees $35
How are club teams selected?
Each club holds organized tryouts, usually around the first part of November, as required by the Minnesota State High School League for players who play during a school season. Middle school players are not held to these same tryout rules. This procedure can be a one day session, or consist of multiple days of tryout sessions.
How are teams formed?
We are interested in developing players who have a love for volleyball and a desire to use their God-given athletic abilities on a team that balances character development as well as volleyball skills. Our Developmental and Advanced Teams are geared for players that are looking to advance their game, continue to build new skills, and compete in local tournaments.
We tentatively plan to have four to six teams for the 2022-2023 season. Clubs are organized by age level and skills – not by grade like many school settings. We aim for a team to be 10-11 players. The coaches will determine the team rosters at tryouts and will build teams based on ability.
What possible levels are the teams competing at?
- 12s Team (11s/12s year olds)
This is for players newer to volleyball, or have played simple rotation volleyball who are familiar with the basic rules of the game. At this level, overhand serving and passing skills will be emphasized. Positions and rotations will also be learned. These teams requires a tryout where player evaluations are performed by our experienced coaching staff to determine team selection and positions. The play dates for this team will consist of mini tournaments around 2.5 hours long. - 12s/13s/14s Teams
This team is selected based upon interest, practice performance, and age criteria set out by official rules. These players may be new to club, or returning club level players. At this level, some skills that emerge are: setting, hitting, blocking, digging, serving, and rotation. These teams requires a tryout where player evaluations are performed by our experienced coaching staff to determine team selection and positions. - 15s/16s/17s Teams
This team requires a tryout where player evaluations are performed by our experienced coaching staff to determine team selection and positions. Typically, these players are often have game experience in a school setting as starters at the Junior Varsity and Varsity level or similar club levels. These teams will be traveling to larger sanctioned tournaments (TBA).
Age Classification
Players on teams can play on the basis of age or grade level.
- 18 and under - born on or after July 1, 2002 (or 12th grade for local events only)
- 17 and under - born on or after July 1, 2003 (or 11th grade for local events only)
- 16 and under - born on or after July 1, 2004 (or 10th grade for local events only)
- 15 and under - born on or after July 1, 2005 (or 9th grade for local events only)
- 14 and under - born on or after July 1, 2006 (or 8th grade for local events only)
- 13 and under - born on or after July 1, 2007 (or 7th grade for local events only)
- 12 and under - born on or after July 1, 2008 (or 6th grade for local events only)
- 11 and under - born on or after July 1, 2009 (or 5th grade for local events only)
------------------------------------------------------------------
How are team rosters determined?
Volleyball is a sport played with multiple players forming a team. A successful team must consist of several elements...players with comparable skills and a full roster of position players. Unfortunately, competitive teams cannot be formed based on player friendships.
What are position players?
Like many sports, the players on the floor all have a specific job. Unlike recreation sports, club volleyball, is a higher level of competition and clubs are expected to assemble the best unit of players available. Each roster must consist of a certain number of middle hitters, outside hitters, libero, setters, defensive players, etc. At the club level, most players are position players and they are proficient in their assigned position.
How many players are on a team?
Typically, the best number for a team is between 8 to 12 players. Less than that and you risk not having enough players in the event of an injury or match conflict. Any more and you have too many players standing around or sitting on the bench. Too many players will create stress on a coach with parents asking about playing time. Team morale usually suffers when you have too many players on the roster. This is also unfair to the extra players who could possibly be rostered on another team and see extended playing time.
How are returning players handled?
It is the policy of DIGS that every player, new or returning, register for tryouts each season. This is to properly assess the skill level of every player and avoid any claim of favoritism towards returning players. Volleyball skills can improve or deteriorate during the time in-between club seasons. Additionally, many players may develop faster than others. For example, if two players (teammates) were comparable during the previous season’s tryouts, but are now playing at different levels, it may be necessary to evaluate what team will provide the best growth based upon the unique needs of the player. Because of this, when a team is selected, certain players may become the core of a team, and the tryout procedure will be the tool to adding players of similar ability to the missing positions of that team.
What is the practice commitment?
Plan on 2 practices per week that each last 1 to 2 hours in duration, depending upon gym availability.
How many teams will DIGS have for the 2022-2023 season?
We are opening six-eight teams for the upcoming season. The final number of teams we open up will depend on the number of available qualified coaches, available facilities, and the number of players accepting positions on teams. It has always been our policy to offer as many opportunities as possible each season. We are limited by the previously mentioned elements.
What do the fees cover?
Our club provides a high return on your financial investment. Fees cover rental spaces, coaching stipends, tournament registration, equipment, weight training, and a mental toughness curriculum. We want the tournaments we attend to provide great competition against similar skill-level teams. For comparison, many Minnesota clubs charge between $1,000 for beginners to $6,000 for high school teams that travel further for tournaments. We aim to make this club very affordable.
Are there any other costs?
Spandex shorts, court shoes, and knee pads are required. Other costs include gas/travel expenses and food on tournament days.
Can I still participate in other school activities? Go on vacation? Spring Break?
Yes. We try to schedule our tournaments and practices around the general school calendar and try to find tournaments that work for our players who are involved. Players should communicate early when schedule conflicts exist, as we have some flexibility in the practice and tournaments selected.
What are the tournaments like?
We participate in many local and regional tournaments within approximately a 40-minute drive of Andover, MN. Tournaments are usually held on Saturdays, although if space is an issue, you may play on a Sunday if needed. Time at tournaments varies, but on average players experience 3-5 matches of game-play, and 1-2 referring matches, and 1 match of sitting depending on how many teams are at a tournament. Every player has to go through online training for being a upper referee, scorekeeper, line judge, etc. to help learn the rules of competition.
What do I bring to a tournament?
Most players bring things to keep them comfortable...blanket, pillow, iPods, homework, cell phone, etc. You are going to be at a tournament for some time and there will be downtime to rest.
Under normal situations, parents should bring a comfortable chair, something to read, food/snacks for the players (so you do not have to run out looking for food) and a positive attitude for your daughter and her teammates.
What's next?
Tryouts for the 2021-22 season are now complete. The registration deadline was Tuesday, October 26.
2022-2023 tryouts were held: