Looking for a club volleyball team in Tucson for your child or teen? Tucson has ten volleyball clubs throughout the metro area and in the surrounding suburbs.
Volleyball clubs offer a wide range of classes, camps, and teams for beginning, intermediate, or advanced players.
As far as we know, there are seven clubs in the Tucson area:
Five of the ten volleyball clubs listed above practice at Sporting Chance Center, near Curtis Park.
Go to the Arizona Region website and use the age finder to determine USA Volleyball age (which is determined by the athlete's date of birth).
Age divisions are as follows:
In special circumstances, players can play "down" or "up" an age level, but this is generally not recommended. Contact the club you are interested in for more information.
It is rare to find 8U club volleyball teams.
12U tends to be the lowest age range offered, although it seems that more clubs are offering 10U clubs in recent years.
Younger children (ages 8 and under) who are interested in playing volleyball can join developmental teams, academies, or clinics.
Practices for most club teams begin in December or January and the season runs through April or May. National Travel teams may continue all the way through June or July.
Most Tucson-area club volleyball teams practice two or three evenings a week for two to three hours. There are also seven or eight full-day tournaments on weekends. Most of these tournaments are in Phoenix and parents are responsible for transportation for their child, including all associated costs.
Teams in ALL divisions travel to Phoenix (at minimum). There are no club teams that have games/tournaments exclusively in Tucson.
Families who wish to avoid traveling outside of Tucson can consider developmental options through volleyball clubs or other local recreational teams.
Each volleyball club is different and the cost will depend on the experience of the coaches, the location and appeal of the facility, the frequency of practices, the number of tournaments, and the level of travel.
Most volleyball clubs will require a one time try-out fee of $20-$60. After that, expect to pay approximately $1000-$5300+ per child per season. You will usually have the option to pay monthly or quarterly, depending on your preference. You may also be able to receive a small discount if you pay upfront and in full at the beginning of the season.
Some clubs also offer sibling discounts and fundraising opportunities.
Note that more affordable volleyball teams can typically be found through Tucson Parks & Rec, YMCA, NYS, local schools, etc.
In order to find a club volleyball program that is a strong match, it is important to ask good questions.
Here are questions you may want to ask prospective clubs:
Another way to "try" a volleyball club before committing to the club season is to register your child for a fall, winter, spring, or summer camp or clinic (sometimes called "youth academy" or "developmental clinics").
Great question! It’s hard to pinpoint just one. Each club has a unique community and focus.
The best way to find a volleyball club in Tucson is to ask friends and family members for feedback about their past experiences.
Most local clubs offer open houses prior to official try-outs. Open Houses are typically held in early November - one to two weeks before tryouts - and each open house typically costs between $5-$20. At an open house, players will do the same thing that they will at the try-outs. They will participate in various drills that involve setting, serving, hitting, and passing. Open Houses allow players and families to "get to know" various clubs and to meet coaches. Additionally, open houses give clubs a better idea of how many players will come to try-outs in various age groups.
Attending an information meeting or open house is NOT required and is not a prerequisite for coming out for try-outs.
You are, however, REQUIRED to become a member of Arizona Region Volleyball before attending any open house or try-out. Membership is $55 and non-refundable. If, for example, you attend an open house or try-out and then decide not to join a club volleyball team, you can not recoup that $55.
Try-outs are typically held in November.
On the day of tryouts, players are asked to come to the gym on a designated date based on their age group. Club try-outs are structured very much like a practice and typically last from ninety minutes to three hours. Players participate in various drills that involve setting, serving, hitting, and passing. In general, the younger the age division, the more basic instruction the players will receive. Even players who have little or minimal experience may try-out since club teams are developmental in nature.
At the end of the try-out, there is a brief waiting period as final placements are made and then team rosters are posted. Players are typically expected to commit on-the-spot (same day) and provide a down-payment of a portion of the club fees. If they do not "accept," their spot is eligible to be given to another player.
Unless there are coaching or facility constraints, most players that try-out will be placed on a team. There are typically one to five teams per age division, depending on the club. Players are put on teams based on athletic ability, attitude, skill level, aggressiveness, etc. All clubs have some way of "ranking" their teams - A, B, C or 1, 2, 3 or Silver, Bronze, Gold, or Navy, Red, White, etc.
Expect to pay $20-$60 to participate in club volleyball try-outs. There may also be a $5-$20 fee to attend open houses.
Yes. Note, however, that players are placed on teams based on their athletic ability and potential. As such, your child may not end up on the same team as their friend(s). If your child would like to play with a friend, both families should contact the club ahead of time to make the request. If the friends make two different teams, they will both be placed on the lower team.
Volleyball players should come dressed in:
This is the same outfit that players will wear to practice.
While it is possible to find volleyball clothing and shoes at Walmart and Target, coaches may have specific recommendations or requirements related to brand or material. Volleyball clubs often will sell their own apparel also - sometimes at a discounted price, sometimes not.
Your best bet for local athletic purchases is probably Dick's Sporting Goods since they offer a decent selection of sport-specific gear, along with a price-match guarantee.
* Note that some - but not all - volleyball clubs include jerseys, spandex, practice tees, volleyball socks, and/or volleyball shoes as part of their season club fees.
Looking for a way for your child to improve their skills without committing to traveling to Phoenix on the weekends? All Tucson volleyball clubs offer programs to help kids and teens develop their skills. These programs are typically referred to as one of the following: developmental clinic, youth academy, youth program, pre-competitive team, etc.
Some clubs may also offer advanced academies that allow for strong growth for teens who have played previously (perhaps even on a club team), but who desire a lesser commitment due to other extracurricular activities or family commitments.
Volleyball camps, classes, clinics, and teams can be found through Tucson Parks & Recreation, National Youth Sports (NYS), and YMCA. While these teams may not offer the same level of coaching, they can be a great option for beginners or for having fun with a group of friends.
***Watch this page for new and updated information about volleyball clubs in Tucson.
