When One of Our Club Players Was Not Going to Get to Try out for the High School Team

When one of our club players was not going to get to try out for the high school team, she felt like it was a huge blow to her chances at playing in college. I belong to a network of volleyball enthusiasts from all over. I generally just listen to what they have to say – to pick up tips, drills, opinions on various things. This was my first post:

Hello guys --- need some help from the college coaches out there. I have a high school freshman who did not make her high school team due to non-volleyball related reasons. She is feeling her college chances are gone now. She plays club ball. I'm looking for specific statements that excelling in club ball is as likely (or more?) to get you into a college as excelling in high school ball. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. I was hoping for evidence that clubs were weighted at least on par with high school teams, in the eyes of the recruiters. What I was told was surprising to me, and good to hear. And I wanted to share what I learned. Read below for several of the responses, and note – I did not receive a SINGLE response that was the other way around from these:

From Coach Jason Gleason – of SUNY Buffalo:

The reason we scout clubs and not high schools (I have never, not once in my career, gone to a high school game) is simply exposure. Why would a coach go see 2 teams play each with only a few players that are truly dedicated, when at a club tournament they could see 20-200 teams where every player is dedicated. Every single player I’ve recruited came from me seeing them with their club teams.

Hi Mike,

I saw your post. Make sure you reinforce to your athlete how difficult it is for college coaches to see high school matches. Because the high school and collegiate seasons coincide, the club season is when the majority of the recruiting is done. Tell her to stay motivated, and while she may not be playing high school ball this year, there are always opportunities for private lessons to help her improve her game before the club season starts. As long as she keeps improving, she will still have a chance at her high school team in the future.

Hope this helps her.

Zach Weinberg Northwestern State University Zach Weinberg Graduate Assistant Coach-Northwestern State University Women's Volleyball

[email protected] (O) (318) 357-5857 (C) (609) 330-5174

Hey Mike,

My name is Bridget Yates and I am the women's volleyball coach at Spalding University in Louisville. Louisville is a big volleyball community and several of the best high school teams in the country are here in Louisville. The result is that many very, very good players get cut from their high school teams, but would have been the stars at other schools. One such high school is Assumption High School. I always recruit their "former players" who no longer play for their high school team, but still play club. Several years ago, we won a national championship with 4 Assumption players--none of whom played for their high school beyond their sophomore year. It was very eye opening for me in terms of recruiting. I realized that the value of being on a high school team was far less than I believed.

In all honesty, I do more recruiting from club than from high school teams. Generally high school teams play during my season so my ability to go watch a high school match is limited. At club tournaments in the spring I have far more time for recruiting--and it's efficient because I can see several recruits at one tournament.

I would tell your player not to worry too much. If her club markets her, she won't have trouble being recruited if she is still playing club.

-- Bridget Yates Spalding University

From Ray Villanueva, assistant head coach at Valdosta State…

College recruiters can’t recruit as much during the high school season because the seasons are at the same time. We don’t even think about hitting the road until December. We tell potential players not to wear themselves out playing high school ball and concentrate on their clubs. High school ball is conditioning work, that’s all … and most of the high school coaches teach systems that no college team uses – they just want to win to keep their jobs and don’t care about getting the players ready for college ball. Make sure when she’s a junior to contact the schools she’s interested in via emails and giving them her club schedule and invite them (don’t invite them to their high school games, they won’t attend). Also, be aware of combines and ask what college coaches are coming when you sign up for those. Mike,

As a current college coach at a DIII Community College, and a former DII NCAA Coach, this is what I have to say her; Michael Jordan was CUT from his high school basketball, and still got to UNC-Chapel Hill, where he won a National Title and became (possibly) the greatest basketball player of all time. She has MANY years to gain enough volleyball knowledge to go further, than just her high school (no knock on the high school team). Now, as for learning the game and getting better, CLUB is the way to go. Many more touches and greater opportunity to see high level play on a consistent basis. You don't have to worry about too many drill killers and drills are highly productive. Show her the number of coaches that attend each tournament even, especially in Texas! Have her see the ratio of how many players get recruited through clubs as compared to just their high school teams. If that doesn't, well, she is really stubborn and you will not be able to change her mind until she sees it for herself or hears it from her friends. Hope this helps.

Sincerely, Patrick Dietz Head Coach of Volleyball Hostos Community College New York City, NY

As an collegiate athlete at Erskine college nothing is more important than exposure. I help coach the girls team there and if she keeps playing club and if she makes sure to keep her name out there it will not be a problem getting recruited. High school is so they can play with their friends. Club is for getting better and getting seen.

From Amanda Alayon –

Hi Mike!

I coach for a small division 3 college in NY. My starting setter is from Hawaii, did not play high school ball (apparently this situation is normal there because of politics), but played for a very good club team. One of the best setters I've ever coached/seen. Wouldn't trade her for any kid who played both high school and club ball. If I had to choose if a recruit were to play one or the other, I would choose the club-only kid. The high school only kids don't understand the commitment to the sport in college, as much as the kids who play club and know what's it's like to travel and compete at high levels while being a student. All the kids who I've had quit were the kids who didn't play club.

Our club runs a 'fall club team' our meeting isn't until 12 days after the high school season starts. We don’t include anyone who made their high schools. We are looking to give them the touches that they won't get by missing their HS season. Or kids that are home educated and can't play on a HS team. We have had MANY kids go on to play college. It's the drive and determination.

Hi Mike,

I saw your message.

For starters, that player needs to play club if she wants to play in college. We all know how playing that much will develop any athlete. I've seen duds go to studs because they got way more touches due to club ball.

This is also a good learning lesson for this player. Life doesn't always work out and who knows why? Maybe God, or the cosmos, have something else in store for her. I went to the police academy and graduated, but never got picked up by an agency. I've learned to bounce back, gather myself, and figure out where I can be the most productive contributor to life as possible.

And, a classic example always given is Michael Jordan was cut from his freshman team. It's cliche by now, but it does put things in perspective.

So, advice from a college coach... play play play. Get in your touches. Also, if the athlete wants to play college she needs to: 1. Know her caliber. Is she UCLA, Texas, or BYU ready or is a D-2 or NAIA caliber? 2. What is her priority. Is it playing volleyball at a school or going to a school where she can play volleyball. 3. She needs to contact coaches of schools she wants to attend. She is young, but you never know. Gabby, the libero from Stanford lived in Nebraska and John Dunning had never heard of her. She reached out to him with a letter giving her stats, GPA, and interests in Stanford. She also included that her club would be headed out to CA to play in San Diego and invited coach Dunning to scout her.

Well Mike, I hope my words have helped. I have spent the last 14 years coaching the high school game and I am now at the college level. It's a kick to finally arrive in this atmosphere. Simpson is a small NAIA D1 school, but we are darn competitive. So, if you have any players who are wanting to play at a small Christian college in California, I'd love to be in contact.

Have a great day.

Dave Radford Admission Recruiter JV Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Hi Mike – I coach D3 womens. I am the assistant, so 90% of the recruiting duties fall on me. I can tell you that to date, I have been to 1 high school match to scout a player. That was actually a nightmare too. I drove 5 hours to Long Island New York to see a setter (who is actually an incoming Freshman for us this year now). Her team won 25-1, 25-2, 25-3. I literally drove 5 hours to see a setter never set a ball. High school matches can be so lopsided that they typically do not give us an accurate picture of the players. We also have limited budgets. So we prefer to see as many teams as possible and on the same level. That is why club volleyball is a much bigger draw for college coaches to see. I hope this helps.

Dan Mickle

Dear Mike, Personally, I as a DIII head coach at SUNY Purchase, almost never see players during high school season as it coincides with my season mirroring the times almost exactly. I rely most heavily on seeing players during club season. The club season is longer and tends to be more competitive. She should continue to work out on her own so that she will be in the best shape possible when try-outs for club season begin. Use this minor setback as motivation in making the club team she wants to play for and also for making the high school squad next year.

There are many collegiate and professional athletes out there that didn’t make their high school teams freshman year, but their personal drive and determination made them that much better in the long run. Keep her head up and push forward. She also now knows what she needs to do for next year.

I hope this helps. Sincerely,

Marc Solondz Head Coach Women's Volleyball Purchase College SUNY [email protected] GO PANTHERS!

Coach,

In my opinion, it is possible to still play in college without playing high school ball if an athlete is committed and works hard.

The critical factors will be the athlete’s work ethic and academics. The better the grades, the better the chances for an athlete to find a fit. But to me—that’s all stuff to worry about once they are juniors and seniors. As 14-16 yr olds, they should focus on having fun, learning, and if possible, playing lots of sports/being involved in multiple activities.

Jim Dietz Head Coach Lincoln Land Volleyball O: 217-786-2485 C: 217-821-4448