St. Louis Powerhitters VBC

Here are the Top 10 questions most frequently asked about the St. Louis Powerhitters or volleyball generally in the Gateway Region, based upon Club Director Kevin Nelson's perspective as a parent (who had two daughters play on teams that each went to Nationals), as a coach that has led a team to Nationals, as a Club Director, as a Regional Mentor assisting younger players with officiating and scorekeeping, as a member of the Gateway Region Board of Directors, and as a receipient of the Dennis Lafata Meritorious Service Award from the Region for outstanding contributions and service to the sport.

Q: What do you look for when you select players?
A: The younger the player, the focus is more on who is the "best athlete" as opposed to the "best volleyball player." We are looking for "athleticism" - jumping ability, speed, agility. etc. We believe that we can teach volleyball skills. We also look for players who have great attitudes, as a passion for the game and your teammates are an important part of the tryout.

Q: How many players will you have on a team, and how many teams will you have?
A: We choose to be a small, select, and elite Club, sponsoring one team at each level for ages 11-18. As such, we occupy a specific niche among Clubs in the Gateway Region. Accordingly, we do not believe that being a "bigger" club necessarily means being a "better" club. 

We require that each team have at least nine players. The coach has the option of selecting additonal players. Generally, throughout the Region, most teams have 9-10. Several of our teams have had ten.  

Q: How often will teams practice; when; and where?
A: Teams generally practice twice per week, for an hour and half to two hours per session, at local gyms. Specific dates/times/locations may be found on our "Calendar" link. Practices begin on/about December 1 of each year. In the event that the facilities that we are using are closed due to inclement weather, the cancellations are posted and updated promptly on the Calendar. Further, players are required to become certified in scorekeeping and officiating by attending clinics in addition to practices. 

Q: How competitve is your program?
A: We are not a "developmental" program. We expect our teams to be be among the best in the Region. There is no guarantee that because you played for us last year that you will on a team this season. Like other "premier" teams in the Region, a roster turnover rate of 50% from one year to the next is not uncommon. Playing time is not guaranteed, and there is no effort to play all players an equal amount of time, as is done in elementary school programs - playing time is earned based on a player's performance and team needs. We expect teams age 14 and up to play in the St. Louis Power League, which is a premier in-season invitational league comprised of the better teams in the Region. Players and parents seeking a more "social" atmosphere should consider other Clubs. Our teams have historically played one of the most difficult schedules within their age groups and done well.

Further, approximately 90% of our players have made their high school teams. We do not accept waivered players. Unlike some Clubs which advertise themselves as a "north," "south," or "west" county team, we have historically drawn players from all over the St. Louis metropolitan area. For the 2010-11 season, we attracted players from such diverse areas as Bridgeton, Ferguson, Ballwin, Crystal City and Dittmer, Missouri, as well as Columbia, Illinois. Coaches came from Desoto, Arnold, Webster Groves, and both the County and City of St. Louis.

Q: What is a "waivered" player, and why is it important?
A: A waivered player is one who does not qualify, by age, to be on a team with a lower age limit. The age cut-off date is September 1. As an example for the 2011-12 season, for 12's, players born on or after September 1, 1999 are "12's." A player born on August 31, 1999 (or any date earlier as far back as September 1, 1998) is a "13." A 13 can play on a 12's team, but the effect is to disqualify the 12's team from playing in the Gold/Silver Division at Regionals, and makes the team ineligible to compete for a bid to the USAV Junior National Championships. The team can play in the 12's Bronze/Copper Division at Regionals, or Gold/Silver 13's.

Q: How competitive is club volleyball in the Gateway Region?
A: It is very competitive, and often is a surprise to many first-time players and parents. Many parents envision their child winning a college athletic scholarship after several years of club volleyball; unfortunately, they often push their child unnecessarily to try out for teams that are beyond their child's ability or interest. Parents need to be realistic regarding these factors and the costs associated with a select sport. They also need to remember that those four year college athletic scholarships to a major university are limited and go to the very, very best players. Please remember - volleyball is supposed to be fun - and many players simply drop out after a few years because their interests change and/or other players abilities surpass their own.

Q: What is the Club fee, and where does the money go?
A: The 2011-12 fee is $900.00. The fee is all-inclusive. The fee covers USAV and Regional memberships, tournament entry fees, gym rentals, volleyball equipment, pylometric fitness training, supplies, and other administrative expenses. The fee does cover the travel expenses incurred by coaches for out-of-town tournaments. The Club has a travel policy which places limits on the amounts and types of expenses for which the Club will pay. Our coach expense policy is significantly different than many teams. Many teams charge a base Club fee and then have players pay extra to cover a coaches' travel expenses, partcipate in fund-raising activities, or donate goods or services to reduce their costs. We choose not to do so. We believe that not requiring fund-raising or requiring parents to donate goods or services benefits parents and players in these unsettled economic times. We choose not to "nickel and dime" parents to death. Our travel also places limits on the amount and types of expenses incurred by players and parents. The Club fee does not cover the cost of uniforms. The Club fee does not include a player's own travel expenses to out-of-town tournaments. For a more detailed explanation, see the "Club Comparisons" or "Fees & Uniforms" links.

Q: How many tournament will you enter, and do teams travel?
A: Teams generally enter 9-10 tournaments, beginning in mid-January, and going through April. Players can expect to play 70-90 games over the course of the regular season, a minimum of 10 games at Regionals, and 10-20 games if entered into end-of-season tournaments in May and June. Each coach decides when they will play - with a few mandated exceptions. Because we aspire to be an elite program, teams are required to play in the Gateway Region-sponsored Girl's Festival, seeding tournaments, and Gold/Silver Regionals. This is so because these events attract the better teams, and in order to be the best, players need to compete against quality competition. We expect teams age 14 and up to play in the St. Louis Power League as noted above. As for travel, you may visit our "Tournaments" link to view last season's schedule.  We do expect teams age 12 and up to play in either the USAV Girl's National Championships, the JVA/AAU National Championships, or the Asics National Championships following the Regional tournament. In 2007-08 our Girl's 13's went to Louisville for the Memorial Day tournament; the Girl's 12's went to Dallas for the USAV National's. In 2008-09 the 12's, 13's and 14's traveled to Chicago for the Asics National Championships, and the 12's and 14's went to Louisville for the JVA Championships. In 2009-10 the 13's-15's went to the JVA/AAU Championships in Orlando. In 2010-11 the 12's-16's went to the Asics tournament on Navy Pier in Chicago. In 2011-12 the 13's-16's all went to Chicago. Most importantly, we do not travel "in season" (Janaury-May) as it is too expensive for parents and disruptive of family routines. As noted above, a player is responsible for their own travel expenses for out-of-town travel.

Q: How do you notify players if they have made a team, and how do players handle offers the weekend of tryouts?
A: We immediately notify players at the end of the tryout if they have made the team, are an alternate, or are not be offered either of those options. We do not have a second "call back" session. We do not do so because if a players attends a second  tryout and is unsuccessful in making that team, they may be prevented from making another club's team because they have had to attend our tryout. By not having a second tryout we provide the opportunity for player to make teams for other clubs. We have confidence in our player evaluation process, and believe that a second tryout is unnecessary. According to the Gateway Region policy, a player may only have two "open" offers from different teams at one time. If they receive a third offer, they must notify one of the teams that they are declining the offer. Further, a player has until 7 p.m. on October 23, 2011 to definitively commit to a team (ages 11-14), and to 7 pm on November 20, 2011 (15's-18's). A player may accept an offer before that time and sign the Region's Binding Commitment Letter if they choose to do so, but cannot otherwise be bound until the commitment date/time. Up until that time they may tell a coach that they accept the offer, reject the offer, or want time to think about it. Accordingly, a team official may not require or pressure a player into a definitive commitment; they may not make "excessive" phone calls, text, or e-mail contacts in this regard. Team officials are not to speak with the player if a parent or legal guardian is not present or available by phone so as to minimize this pressure. Further, a team official cannot promise that a player is guaranteed a certain amount of playing time, play a speciifc position, or similiar matters (play for us and I guarantee you will be on the "A" team; play for us and I guarantee that you will get a college volleyball scholarship). If any of these inappropriate issues arise, parents should contact Chris Clauss, Junior Development Coordinator, at the Gateway Region office.

Q: How can I find out how good or bad another team was last year?
A: The Gateway Region office has archived rankings; further, I retain this information as well.

In addition, the Gateway Region has developed a FAQ document that addresses many issues to assist players and parents. It may be found at our "Documents" link.