program info
Information
Organization
Saratoga Volleyball Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are a member club of the Excelsior Empire Regional Volleyball Association of USA Volleyball (USAV).
Season
The club volleyball season runs from mid-November thru early May, starting with tryouts in July. Select teams may compete through July if they qualify for the annual USAV Junior National Championship Tournament.
Tryouts
Tryouts will be held in July for age groups 14u and up for the 2025-26 season. Players are grouped by their USAV age eligibility for evaluation and team placement. All prospective players must be registered for tryouts to participate. 12u -14u age groups will try out in September.
Practice
The club holds team practices twice a week at various Saratoga County locations including the Ballston Area Community Center, Oak Hill School, Gavin Park and Malta Community Center facilities. Additional training opportunities are offered throughout the season in the form of positional or skill-specific clinics. These clinics are offered in shorter 4-6 week sessions and are separate from team practices included in the club fees.
Teams
The club currently runs age divisions from 12U (6th graders) through 18U (12th graders), the number of teams depends on the number of registrants and the capacity of the club (e.g., coaches, gym space, etc.). Players are placed on White, Blue, or Select teams based on their evaluation from tryouts. White teams have slightly larger rosters (10-12) and focus on player development while playing a mostly local tournament schedule (with a few travel events). Blue teams have a more competitive focus with a moderate travel schedule (about half travel, half local). Select teams have slightly smaller rosters (9-10) and focus on competition and a heavier travel schedule (mostly travel with a few local tournament).
Tournaments
Each team is registered for approximately 8-10 tournaments from December through May. Our White teams play a schedule consisting of mostly local Capital District tournaments and 2-3 travel tournaments. Blue teams play a schedule consisting of 4-5 travel tournaments to places like Rhode Island, Boston, Hartford, Penn State, Syracuse, Rochester etc. The remaining schedule is comprised of local tournaments. Select teams play 6-7 travel tournaments with the rest of the schedule comprised of local tournaments. All teams participate in the season-ending Excelsior Empire regional championships at the NYS Fairgrounds and one other all-club travel event.
Cost
The club fee will vary depending on the team a player is assigned to (Select, Blue or White) and the number of players and teams in the club. Total costs typically range from $1750 to $2200. All players are assessed a Base fee that covers practice space, coaches, uniforms, and administration. Once the tournament schedules are set, a Tournament fee will be assessed. All players pay the same Base fee, Select teams will have higher Tournament fees due to a higher cost tournament schedule. Fees do not include travel costs (i.e., hotels, transportation) but team parents assigned to each team will coordinate ride shares and lodging. To apply for Team Parent complete this Team Parent Application
Developmental Players
Players that are not assigned to a team after tryouts may be invited to join the club as Developmental players at a reduced cost, typically $750. Those players will receive the same coaching and training opportunities as the team players but without the tournament competition. Developmental players may be asked to join a team for a tournament as a substitute if needed.