Should My Daughter Play JO Club Volleyball?

A Discussion About JO Volleyball

 1.    Is it a requirement that my daughter needs to play JO volleyball in order to play on a high school team next fall?

No! I encourage our players to try out for a team this winter to keep building on their skills and improve their chances of making a team next season.  Coon Rapids athletes are not required to participate in JO clubs, but a JO team can build the skills and improve their chances of making a team next season.

 2.    How much does JO volleyball cost?

JO volleyball is not cheap. The fee structures are set within each volleyball club. The fees cover paying coaches, renting gym space, buying uniforms and entering tournaments.  Most JO teams have 2 coaches and 10 athletes, so there is a tremendous amount of skill building.  

 3.    How do I pay for the fees?

Most clubs have fundraising and work options to offset a portion of the fee.  Some clubs do offer payment plans and scholarship opportunities. You will need to check with each club.

 4.    Does paying more money guarantee better skill development?

NO! Paying more money does not guarantee more skill development. Many of the top teams in the area do receive some of the best coaching, but you need to be very careful if you are selected for the second, third, or fourth team at a club. Sometimes you can pay a lot of money for par to subpar coaching.

 5.    What is the schedule for a JO team?

Teams usually practice 1-3 times per week in the evening.  The fun begins in January when weekend tournaments begin. Most teams try to go to tournaments every other weekend.  

 6.    Do you recommend a specific club for my daughter?

No! We are very fortunate to have many clubs available in our area. The choice of a club is best left to the parent and athlete. Here are some of the clubs in the area:

Anoka Ramsey Volleyball Club

Armstrong Juniors

Blaine Juniors

Centennial Volleyball Club

Crossfire Volleyball Club

Elk River Juniors

Kokoro Volleyball

Minnesota Select VBC

MN Premier Volleyball Club

Mounds View-Northern Impact

White Bear Lake VBA

Wicked Moose Inc

The clubs above are not an exhausted list. If you want to research other options in different locations please go to http://www.ncrusav.org/jr_girls/contacts_tryouts.html.

 7.      What kinds of questions should I ask a potential coach?

a.      What is your coaching philosophy?

b.      Why are you coaching?

c.       How do handle conflicts with high school sports participation?

d.      What is your greatest strength as a coach?

e.       What is your greatest weakness as a coach?