Tryouts

All players interested in being considered for a team during the 2024-2025 season are expected to attend the tryout for their age group.
If a player cannot attend for a valid reason, then the player should schedule an early tryout or contact the club directly to discuss other options.

On occasion, some athletes “play up” in another age group. The club does not encourage this, but there are instances where this does occur. These could include circumstances such as

An athlete has been competing at that level in the past and still maintains the capability to do so, or an athlete new to the club with previous experience playing at high levels is clearly skilled enough to be considered for an older team.
Playing-up could also occur if an athlete:
Did not make the "A" team in her designated age group, and the director determines she has the talent and capability to make the "A" or "B" team in a higher age group OR
Offered a positional advantage to a coach who is looking to fill an available roster spot with her skillset.

Please understand that the decision to allow an athlete to play up is at the discretion of club director and/or administrators.

All evaluations are subjective – It is possible that coaches from different clubs, and even within the same club, may disagree on the potential of any given athlete. At Renegades, coaches understand this and generally try to seek out the opinions of their colleagues within the club when making final roster choices.

While volleyball experience and skill levels are clearly the greatest indicator of an athlete making a team, there are other factors that come into play. During a tryout, we consider attitude, work ethic, and the ability of the athlete to listen and apply directions from a coach ("coachability") in addition to experience and skill.

We encourage all athletes to come prepared to demonstrate the best play within their skillset in order to gain the best possible outcome. We do not evaluate players on their previous play/performance at tournaments, camps clinincs, etc. but based on what we are presented with at the time of tryouts.

Renegades Volleyball Club's teams levels are Adidas, National, Black, Teal, and White. In some cases, there is roster movement from year to year – athletes may have improved a skill set over the previous year, or a coach may be looking to fill a specific position with a new player. Movement between “A” and “B” teams (i.e, between “Adidas” and “National”), where appropriate, is necessary to inhibit players and/or their parents from believing that they have a “right” to stay on “their” team even if the player does not possess the requisite skill level to play on the team. Also, holding on to an unqualified “A” team player is unfair to the “B” team player or new player that deserves to make an “A” team.

Immediately after the tryouts, coaches make a preliminary assessment and player allocation. No team parents or players take part in this meeting. Generally, head coaches of the older age groups make their team choices first (e.g. evaluating a talented athlete wishing to “play up.”) Head coaches of all the “A” teams, in conference with “B” team coaches, have first selection. Based on the “A” team selections, the “B” team follows.