Frequently Asked Questions
General Club Questions
Q: What is club volleyball?
Club volleyball is much like select soccer and softball. There are open tryouts for team selections after which teams will practice 2-3 times a week and play a tournament about every other weekend for 4 - 6 months.
Q: What are the age group definitions for the 2010 season?
U18 - Players born on or after September 1st, 1991
U17 - Players born on or after September 1st, 1992
U16 - Players born on or after September 1st, 1993
U15 - Players born on or after September 1st, 1994
U14 - Players born on or after September 1st, 1995
U13 - Players born on or after September 1st, 1996
U12 - Players born on or after September 1st, 1997
Q: How old do I have to be to start playing club volleyball?
It is never too early to start! We have had players as young as nine years old playing on our 12's team in past years. The earlier athletes are introduced to the sport of volleyball the more likely they are to develop the correct technique.
Q: When and where are games played?
Club volleyball is arranged by age groups and tournaments are held on weekends. Most local tournaments are one day events and most regional or national tournaments are either two or three day events. Each day of a tournament is an all day affair typically starting about 8:00am and ending around 6:00pm with teams playing multiple matches in a day.
Q: I've heard of "JO's" and the "Volleyball Festival". What are they?
JO's is an acronym for Junior Olympic and stands for USA Volleyball's Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships. JO's is held at the conclusion of the club season for teams who have earned qualifying positions at one of the ten national qualifying events held throughout the country and want to test themselves against the best teams from around the country.
The Volleyball Festival is a week long volleyball tournament held in Phoenix, Arizona during the last week of June. The festival also features many of the country's top teams that chose for various reasons not to attempt to qualify for JO's. It has been dubbed the largest women's sporting event in the United States. Nearly 800 teams in seven age groups attend the festival. That equates to nearly 9000 athletes, 1000 coaches, 200 refs and countless numbers of volunteers who make the tournament run. On average teams will play 14-17 matches over 5 days. About 1 out of every 6 teams goes home with trophies for their playoff brackets. At the festival there are booths, games, coaching clinics, and contests. The best part about the festival is the friends you make with other teams.
Q: How much does it cost to go to JO's or the Volleyball Festival?
The approximate cost is $900 per player depending on the location of the tournament, the number of players attending, and the method of travel to get to the host City. In 2009, JO's were held in Miami, Florida and the Festival in Phoneix, Arizona. The location for the 2010 JO Championships has not been determined yet.
Sudden Impact Questions
What kind of organization is Sudden Impact?
SUDDEN IMPACT VOLLEYBALL CLUB is a registered Non-Profit Corporation in the State of Washington with 501c(3) status, and is a member in good standing within the Puget Sound Region of USA Volleyball. SIVBC'S main purpose is to provide quality training and competitive playing opportunities for young athletes at the U12 through U18 levels of development. We believe this competitive athletic experience will enhance social development, contribute to mental and physical health, and teach the values of teamwork, responsibility, self-discipline, self-motivation and to take each player to a higher level of competitiveness while maintaining her love for the game.
What are your 2010 plans?
Seven teams total, with one team in each of the following ages; 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s, 17s, 18s. Each of these teams (except 12s) will play a competitive five or six month season beginning in December and ending in late June or early July with either the Junior National Championship tournament or perhaps the Volleyball Festival. Each of these teams will participate in approximately two tournaments per month including at least two (one for 13's) national qualifying tournaments during the course of the season plus the region's Primetime event, attempting to qualify for JO's. Our 12's team will begin in December and end at the Puget Sournd Regional Championships in May.
Q: Where do you practice?
Our practice sites are solely on the Eastside. This year we will use the Bear Creek School in Redmond, Tillicum Middle School in Bellevue, Newport High School in Factoria, and the Forest Ridge School in Bellevue as well as other gym facilities on the eastside if made available to us.
Q: What are your fees?
Approximate club dues for the 2009 season were a $500 initiation fee plus $200 per month for five or six months for our 14s, 15s, 16s, 17s and 18s teams. Club dues for the 13s team included a $500 initiation fee plus $175 per month for five or six months. Club dues for the 12s team included a $500 initiation fee plus $150 per month for four months.
Q: What do your dues cover?
The initiation fee and monthly dues cover player and coach required registration with USA Volleyball, tournament entry fees, equipment, uniforms (jerseys, spandex, warm-ups, practice t-shirts, gym bag, etc.), gym rental costs, coach's expenses, club administration, and a season ending banquet for all our teams.
Q: Do you have teams that travel?
All our teams (except 12's and 13's) travel to out of state tournaments. Our teams annually participate at various national qualifying tournaments. In 2008 our teams participated in the Las Vegas Invitational (17's and 18's only) as well as national qualifying tournaments in Spokane, Denver, and Reno, and season ending tournaments in Dallas and Reno.
Q: Are travel costs covered in the monthly payments?
NO. Tournament expenses for out of state tournaments (and national qualifying tournaments) are in addition to the club's base fees (initiation and monthly dues). Additional costs for national qualifying tournament for our 14's-18's and the Las Vegas Invitiational (17's & 18's only) are NOT included in club dues. The approximate cost for each 3 day tournament (Spokane, Las Vegas, Reno, Denver) is $250-$800 depending on the tournament. Approximate cost for the season ending national tournaments (Junior Nationals or Volleyball Festival) is $900.