How to make a school or club team is a very common question parents ask. Every volleyball season, thousands of athletes prepare for tryouts hoping to earn a spot on their school or club team. Unfortunately, many players focus on the wrong things during preparation and arrive at tryouts without the skills, confidence, and consistency coaches are looking for.

If making the team is your goal, understanding what coaches value can significantly improve your chances of success.

Coaches Evaluate More Than Talent

One of the biggest misconceptions in youth volleyball is that coaches only select the most naturally talented players.

Talent helps, but coaches also evaluate:

• Consistency
• Effort
• Coachability
• Communication
• Attitude
• Volleyball IQ

Athletes who listen, adjust quickly, and maintain positive energy often stand out even when competing against players with greater athletic ability.

Master The Fundamentals

Every coach wants athletes who can reliably perform the fundamentals.

The most important skills include:

Passing

Good passing creates offensive opportunities. Players who consistently control the first contact become extremely valuable to any team.

Serving

Missed serves immediately cost points.

Athletes who can serve aggressively while maintaining consistency often gain a major advantage during tryouts.

Movement

Coaches notice footwork constantly.

Quick movement, balanced positioning, and hustle often separate players with similar skill levels.

Prepare Before Tryouts Begin

One mistake many athletes make is waiting until the week before tryouts to start preparing.

Successful players often spend months developing:

• Ball control
• Serving percentage
• Conditioning
• Defensive skills
• Volleyball knowledge

The more preparation completed beforehand, the more confident athletes feel when evaluations begin.

Develop Coachability

Coaches love players who can make adjustments.

During tryouts, many coaches intentionally provide feedback to see how athletes respond.

Strong candidates:

• Listen carefully
• Make immediate changes
• Stay positive
• Show effort after correction

Athletes who become frustrated or resistant often hurt their chances.

Stand Out With Energy

Volleyball is a team sport.

Coaches notice athletes who:

• Encourage teammates
• Communicate clearly
• Hustle for every ball
• Maintain positive body language

You don’t have to be the best player in the gym to become one of the most memorable players at tryouts.

Train Under Game-Like Pressure

Many athletes perform well in practice but struggle when evaluators are watching.

The solution is training under pressure.

Private lessons and structured training sessions help athletes:

• Build confidence
• Improve consistency
• Learn how to perform under evaluation
• Develop routines that reduce anxiety

The more repetitions players experience in challenging situations, the more comfortable they become during actual tryouts.

Common Reasons Players Get Cut

Many athletes fail to make teams because of preventable issues:

• Inconsistent serving
• Poor passing mechanics
• Lack of communication
• Negative attitude
• Slow movement
• Failure to respond to coaching

Fortunately, each of these areas can be improved through focused training and deliberate practice.

Create A Development Plan

The athletes who improve the fastest usually have a plan.

Instead of simply hoping to make the team, successful players identify:

• Current strengths
• Areas needing improvement
• Specific skill goals
• Realistic training schedules

A clear roadmap often produces much faster results than random practice.

Discover What Coaches Will See

Before tryouts arrive, wouldn’t it be helpful to know exactly where your athlete stands?

Our free 2-minute Player Evaluation provides insight into current strengths and identifies the skills most likely to impact tryout success.

Complete the 2-Minute Player Evaluation today and begin preparing with purpose instead of guessing.

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