Tryouts
2017-18 Tryout Information
Signing up for a Powerhitters tryout is an easy process. Please use the above on-line registration links for the primary and make-up tryouts.
The deadlines for ON-LINE registration for the 2017-18 tryouts are as follows:
12's, 13's & 14's Primary tryout on (Friday) October 27 = 5:30 p.m. on (Friday) October 27
12's, 13's & 14's Make-up Tryout on (Sunday) October 29 =11:59 p.m. on (Saturday) October 28
15's, 16's & 17s Primary Tryout on (Saturday) November 18= 11:59 p.m. on (Friday) November 17
15's, 16's & 17's Make-up Tryout on (Sunday) November 19 = 11:59 p.m. on (Saturday) November 18
There is a $10.00 per player tryout fee for those who register on-line by the above deadlines. For those who arrive at a tryout without having done so on-line (WALK-IN), they will have to complete a Tryout Information form that requests the same personal and volleyball information as the on-line system. The "walk-in" fee is $15.00. We encourage players to register on-line in order to simplify the registration process for themselves. Fees are payable at the tryout. All players must bring the Gateway Region 2017-18 Try-Out Registration & Waiver form to their tryout; the form is available above and at our Documents link. For players age 17 and under, the Tryout Registration & Waiver form must be signed by a parent or guardian.
The 12's-14's and 15's-17's Primary Tryouts will be held at Bernard Middle School. The School is located at 1054 Forder Road, St. Louis, Mo 63125. Specific tryout times for each age group are as follows:
Friday, October 27: 7-9 p.m. = 12's - 14's
Saturday, November 18: 10:30 a.m. - Noon = 15's
Noon - 1:30 p.m. = 17's
1:30- 3 p.m. = 16's
Make-up tryouts for the 12's-14's and 15's-17's will be held at Washington Middle School. The School is located at 5165 Ambs Road, St. Louis, Mo 63128. All age groups will have their tryout from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.. The 12's-14's will have their Make-up Tryout on October 29. The 15's-17's will have their Make-up Tryout on November 19.
To determine the correct age group (team) for which you should try out, the following USA Volleyball rules apply:
(1) If you were born on or after September 1, 1999 or born on/after September 1, 1998 and a high school student in 12th grade or below: (there are no waivered players):18's
(2) If you were born on or after September 1, 2000: 17's
(3) If you were born on or after September 1, 2001: 16's
(4) If you were born on or after September 1, 2002: 15's
(5) If you were born on or after September 1, 2003: 14's
(6) If you were born on or after September 1, 2004: 13's
(7) If you were born on or after September 1, 2005: 12's
(8) If you were born on or after September 1, 2006: 11's
Players are assigned a tryout number, which is based solely on the order for which they register for tryouts, whether on-line or in person. Tryouts consist of a variety of serving, passing, setting, and hitting drills led by the coaching staff.
Following the tryout, players are immediately told whether or not they are being offered a place on the team, are an alternate, or not being offered either of those options. They do not have to wait to know which team they are on, unlike clubs with multiple teams, who may wait until just before the tournament schedule begins before determining who is on what team. We believe that this certainty is an advantage for players. Players being offered a spot on a team may immediately commit to that team by signing a Binding Commitment Letter. Players have to respond to club offers by 7 p.m. Sunday of the initial tryout period.
We do not accept "waivered" players because we play in Regional and USA Volleyball Gold Division events, such as the Gateway League and National Qualifiers. We encourage players and parents to consider the consequences of playing on a team that will not be in the Gateway League, does not play in National Qualifiers, or will be "waivered," and suggest that they ask the coach or club director of that other team if that is to be the case.
On Commitment Nights we will require players to provide a birth certificate establishing that they are age-eligible for the team involved; offers are contingent upon proof of age-eligibility, and a player will be disqualified from playing for the Club by providing misleading information regarding their age eligibility - so we urge players to carefully check the age-eligibility chart above in order to attend the proper tryout.
Players who receive an invitation to play for the Club will receive at the end of their tryout both a Binding Commitment Letter and a Commitment Night Checklist. The Checklist contains instructions on completing their registration through the Gateway Region's Webpoint system, attending their Commitment Night meeting, and describes the documents that they are expected to bring to their meeting. All Powerhitters documents for the 2017-18 season are available at our Documents link.
The 12's-14's will have their "Commitment Night" from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on October 30, 2017 at Bernard Middle School in the cafeteria.
The 15's-17's will have their "Commitment Night" from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on November 20, 2017 at Bernard Middle School in the cafeteria.
At this meeting players will complete the registration process, pay Club fees, and order and pay for uniforms. They may also order and pay for Powerhitters clothing. Uniform and clothing information, and order forms will be found at our Documents link.
