- Improve Your Volleyball with Coach April
- High School Varsity Volleyball
- Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Dear Volleyball Mom,
Do You Know What Sets My Private Volleyball Training Apart From Anyone In Vegas?
I invite You to read what my private volleyball training mission says before considering hiring me as a private volleyball coach because I'm not available for everyone.15 Club Volleyball Tryout Tips: How To Stand Out And Make The Team
15 club volleyball tryout tips from a Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee and elite club coach who's helped hundreds of athletes navigate tryouts successfully.
Every year, a large percentage of club volleyball hopefuls get cut—not because they lack talent, but because they don't understand what coaches are really evaluating.
The harsh truth? Your high school success means nothing at club tryouts.
While you were dominating against local competition, the girl next to you was training with Olympic-level coaches and competing nationally. The playing field just got exponentially harder.
But here's what most players don't realize:
Club coaches aren't just looking for the best players in the room—
- they're looking for players who can handle their system,
- grow under pressure, and
- contribute to team chemistry.
This means you have a real shot, regardless of your current skill level, if you understand exactly what they're evaluating and how to showcase it.
Club Volleyball Tryout Timeline:
When and What to Expect
Southern California Region (including Las Vegas) Timeline:
- - Ages 15-18: Tryouts occur during the last weekend of July (just completed July 26th weekend)
- - Ages 11-14: Tryouts typically happens in October
The Financial Reality Check
Before you step into tryouts, understand the investment.
The most expensive clubs can exceed $7,400, while quality programs like Squad VBC offer exceptional coaching at more reasonable rates.
Why mention cost now?
Because coaches can sense when players and families aren't fully committed to the financial reality. Going in with clear expectations shows you're serious about the commitment.
Ready to stop getting overlooked at club volleyball tryouts?
Understanding Club Volleyball Tryouts: What Makes Them Different?
Club volleyball tryouts are more intense than high school tryouts.
You're competing with dedicated athletes from multiple schools, and coaches are evaluating not just your current skills, but your potential for rapid improvement over a demanding season.
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What Club Coaches Really Look For:
- - Coachability and growth mindset
- - Consistency under pressure
- - Communication and leadership potential
- - Technical skills with room for development
- - Mental toughness and resilience
- - Family commitment to the full season** (Coaches know when families haven't considered the complete investment)
Before Tryouts: Mental and Physical Preparation
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
1. Reframe Your Mindset About Competition
What's Your Fear?
"Everyone else looks better than me"
The Reality:
Coaches need different types of players. Your job isn't to be the best player there—it's to be the best version of yourself.
Action Step:
Write down 3 unique strengths you bring to a team. Reference these when doubt creeps in.
2. Create a Pre-Tryout Routine
Your Fear:
"What if I freeze up?"
The Solution:
Develop a consistent warm-up routine you can do anywhere.
My Recommended Routine:
- 10 minutes dynamic stretching
- 50 wall passes (focus on form)
- Visualization of successful plays
- 3 deep breaths with positive affirmations
3. Research the Club's Playing Style
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Your Frustration:
"Coaches don't notice what I do well"
The Strategy:
Understand what each club values most.
Visit their website and social media sites, watch their teams play, talk to current players. Adapt your tryout strategy accordingly.
During Tryouts: The 7 Core Principles (Enhanced)
4. Think Aggressively Positive (But Make It Specific)
Don't just think "I can do this."
Instead:
- "I've prepared for this moment" - "My passing has improved 50% this summer" - "I belong here just as much as anyone"
5. Don't Overthink—Trust Your Training
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Your Fear:
"What if I mess up something basic?"
The Truth:
Overthinking creates the mistakes you're trying to avoid.
When you catch yourself overthinking, return to fundamentals: platform angle, footwork, follow-through.
6. Stay Present by Using the "Next Ball" Mentality
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Your Secret Wish:
"I want to prove I can handle pressure"
How to Show It:
After every contact, immediately prepare for the next ball.
This demonstrates resilience and focus—two qualities every club coach values.
7. Channel Adrenaline Into Explosive Movement
Your Challenge:
Nervous energy making you jittery
The Solution:
Use that energy for explosive first steps, powerfully aggressive spike and jump serve approaches, and quick defensive reactions.
Meet former Brazilian Men's National team member and like me..a former world class outside hitter...
SQUAD VBC club director and Nike Boys Las Vegas Summer Volleyball Camp Director
(and my brother from another mother)
8. Follow Instructions Like Your Spot Depends On It
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Why Does This Matter?
Coaches give simple instructions to see who's coachable.
My Pro Tip Suggestion
Be the first to adjust when coaches give feedback, even if it wasn't directed at you.
9. Master the Art of "Bettering the Ball"
Every touch should improve the ball's trajectory, speed, or placement for your teammate.
This helps to show your volleyball IQ.
10. Communicate Like a Leader
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Your Frustration:
"I'm naturally quiet"
The Reality:
Leadership can be learned.
Start with these phrases:
- "Mine!" (call every ball in your area)
- "Good pass!" (encourage teammates)
- "I got help!" (show court awareness)
- "Next one!" (after teammate errors)
Here's the truth:
Following these tips will help, but if you're serious about making your dream team, you need more than generic advice.
Advanced Club Tryout Tips and Strategies
11. Show Versatility Without Losing Your Focus
Your Fear:
"What if they don't need my position?"
The Strategy:
Excel at your primary position first, then show you can adapt.
If you're a setter, show great setting first, then demonstrate you can pass and play defense.
12. Handle Mistakes Like a Pro
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Your Fear:
"One mistake will ruin everything"
The Truth:
How you respond to mistakes matters more than the mistake itself.
The Formula:
1. Quick acknowledgment (nod, "my bad") 2. Immediate refocus (get in ready position) 3. Make the next play
13. Stand Out in Scrimmages
Your Secret Want:
"I want to be noticed for the right reasons"
How to Shine:
- Take smart risks (aggressive serves, going for difficult digs)
- Celebrate teammates' successes
- Stay engaged even when not in the play
14. Show Your Volleyball IQ
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
What Coaches Notice:
- Anticipating where the ball will go
- Adjusting positioning based on hitters
- Understanding rotations and transitions
- Communicating nonstop
15. End Strong, Regardless of How You Started
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Your Fear:
"I started badly, so it's over"
The Reality:
Coaches remember how you finish.
If you struggle early, use it as fuel. Show them you can bounce back—that's exactly what they need during tough matches.
16. What to Do If You Don't Make Your First Choice Team
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Your Fear:
"Not making the team means I'm not good enough"
The Truth:
Club volleyball has multiple levels for a reason.
Options to Consider:
1. Accept a lower team within the club
- Many players move up mid-season
2. Ask for specific feedback
- Use it to improve for next season
3. Consider other clubs
- Different clubs value different skills
4. Focus on high school season
- Use it as preparation for next club season
17. The ROI Mindset: Why This Process Matters
Club Volleyball Tryout Tips
Every hour you spend preparing for tryouts—physical training, mental preparation, skill development—is an investment in your future. Whether you make your dream team or not, you're building:
- Mental toughness
- Work ethic
- Resilience
- Leadership skills
- Athletic ability
These qualities will serve you long after volleyball ends.
18. Final Thoughts: Trust Your Journey
Your Secret Wish:
"I want this to be my year"
My Promise:
Remember: The goal isn't just to make a team—it's to become the type of player and person who deserves to be there.
19. Research Club Costs and Commitment Levels
Your Fear:
"What if I make a team I can't afford?"
The Strategy:
Have honest family discussions about budget before tryouts. Clubs respect families who ask direct questions about costs, payment plans, and what's included.
Pro Tip:
Some clubs offer scholarships or work-study or fundraising opportunities—but you have to ask. Coaches would rather keep a dedicated player than lose them to financial constraints.
Your Call to Action
Ready to stop getting overlooked at tryouts?
Ready to stop getting overlooked at tryouts?
I help dedicated high school volleyball players make their dream club team without wasting months on generic group training through personalized 1-on-1 coaching that targets exactly what Vegas club coaches evaluate.
Ready to take your tryout preparation to the next level? My private training sessions focus specifically on the skills and mental game that club coaches value most.
What sets my training apart?:
- Personalized skill development based on your position
- Mental performance coaching for high-pressure situations
- Insider knowledge of what Vegas club coaches really want
- Proven track record of getting players onto their dream teams and meeting their goals
Limited spots available. I'm not available for everyone—only athletes committed to excellence.
Contact me at
info@improveyourvolley.com or april@improveyourvolley.com
Do You Follow Me on Pinterest?
Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!
I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.
Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.
If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list.
18 Club Volleyball Tryout Tips: How To Stand Out And Make The Team
Where Do You Go From Here?
Good times! Where do you need to go now? Here are three options:
Learn more about Club Volleyball Tryout Tips.
Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
Or visit the pages in the Volleyball Tips section in the drop down menu at the top of the page.
Overhand Jump Serve Volleyball Tips To Score Many More Points and Aces
My "Coach April Overhand Jump Serve Volleyball Tips" designed to help you increase your serving accuracy, power and the ability to serve more aces in volleyball.
Volleyball Serving Tips and Strategies To Create Powerful Serves
Master the art of serving with these essential volleyball serving tips. Learn overhand serves, short serve strategies, and how to exploit opponent weak zones.
10 Volleyball Serve Receive Tips: A Guide To What Happens On Offense
This page explains what happens when a team is on offense along with a reprint of my 10 Volleyball Serve Receive tips article that appeared on Active.com
A Setter Volleyball Checklist With Tips To Improve How To Set A Ball
Learn how to improve your setting technique with these setter volleyball checklist tips that breakdown what to do with each body part from head to toe.
Your Serve in Volleyball: 10 Tips To Get You From Bench to Starter
I hold Tennessee's #2 career aces record (244 aces). Last month I coached 7 players to state finals. These 10 serving tips separate legends from bench players.
Need To Hit A Volleyball With Power? First Improve Your Spike Approach
These tips for how to hit a volleyball focus on improving your three or four step spike approach techniques which creates the power for your hitting attacks.
Middle Blocker Tips! Hey Middle Blockers Who Are You Gonna Block?
These middle blocker tips help you decide if you need to block certain hitters cross court or down the line and what team blocking strategies are going to be.
One Volleyball Blocking Tip For Players On Defense In The Front Row
This volleyball blocking tip describes the importance of watching the hitter when you are at the net about to block the opposing spiker in front of you.
Four Blocking in Volleyball Tips To Improve Your Defensive Skills Fast
An important blocking in volleyball tip is to watch the hitter you are going to block in order to pick up important clues that'll help you block the hitter.
Digs in Volleyball: Fundamental Techniques for Successful Defense
This guide is designed to help players learn how to use their forearms to create a strong platform that deflects an attack and improves your digs in volleyball.
How To Hit Harder Volleyball Attacks In Order To Score More Points
Learning how to hit harder volleyball attacks with the imperfect set and high off blocker's hands are two effective hitting tactics used to score points.
14 Spiking in Volleyball Tips That Quickly Improve Your Spike Skills
Improve your spiking in volleyball by mixing up your shots, aim for the block two ways for hitters looking for ways to score against a big opposing block.
Four Volleyball Blocking Tips These're Basic Rules for Better Blocking
Beginners should learn these four basic volleyball blocking tips and rules, common fouls and faults allowed in the game about what is volleyball blocking.
Improve Your Forearm Pass in Volleyball With My Two Receiving Tips
The forearm pass in volleyball describes how a player on the receiving team contacts the first ball served over the net by the serving team on defense.
3 Volleyball Player Passing Tips To Quickly Fix Serve Receive Skills
3 volleyball player passing tips like keep arms straight, feet on the ground and move your feet quickly to the ball when you need to improve your serve receive.
Volleyball Tipping 3 Attack Strategies Outside Hitters Use To Score
The hard volleyball hit is not the only point scoring option a hitter has. Volleyball tipping is an offensive strategy you can use to vary your attack hits.
Volleyball Tips on Playing Better and Improving Your Basic Skills
Use these volleyball tips as helpful hints and lessons on how to play better volleyball starting with passing, setting, spiking, digging, blocking and serving.
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend
Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.
- the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
- named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
- former USA National team member
- one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist
April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match
Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training
Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!
Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.
Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.
Email me right now to register or for more information.
info@improveyourvolley.com
Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.
Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2
There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with
- the same toss height and same toss location
- the same armswing speed
- the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
- the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
- getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
- and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.
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Thank you!
Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?
Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!
A-1 Vegas Volley VBC
In It To Win It Tournament
May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament
Gold Medalists
18s Premier Division
Making A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament,
May 2-4, 2025 Tournament,
A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club
Gold Medalists, 18s Premier DivisionWhat Are You Looking For?
Hi there!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.
Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you can learn more each week!
Stay strong! Stay motivated!
-Coach April
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Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts
Ready to energize your volleyball mom journey?
Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list above on ImproveYourVolley.com.
You'll receive energy-boosting tips, exclusive insights from me, Coach April Chapple on maintaining momentum in volleyball.
Let's power up the Vegas volleyball scene together!
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