FAQ
FAQ
Club volleyball provides boys and girls ages 10-18 with the opportunity to develop their skills through high-level training and competition. As a select sport, players must attend a scheduled tryout and be chosen for a team based on skill, athletic ability, and potential. Unlike recreational league volleyball, where anyone can sign up and play socially, club volleyball offers a more competitive environment for athletes looking to advance their game.
Austin Junior Volleyball is a premier junior volleyball club, sanctioned through the Lone Star Region and USA Volleyball, dedicated to developing elite athletes.
AJV Pathway to Club Volleyball
AJV Lite
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Locations: Central and North
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Schedule: Practices twice a week, starting after Thanksgiving and ending the last week of March
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Tournaments: 1-2 USAV tournaments per month in Central Texas
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Coaching: 1-2 coaches per team
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Overview: Designed for athletes who want to experience club volleyball without the intense demands of a full season.
AJV Futures Program
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Locations: Marble Falls, Manor, LBJ High School, and Williamson County
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Schedule: Practices twice a week, starting after Thanksgiving and ending the last week of March
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Tournaments: 1-2 USAV tournaments per month in Central Texas
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Coaching: 1 coach per team
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Overview: A satellite discount program for athletes ages 15 and younger. Ideal for families receiving government/state assistance.
Austin Junior Volleyball (AJV)
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Schedule: Practices twice a week, competing regionally and nationally
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Coaching: 2 coaches per team
Team Levels
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11-14 Navy/CP: Regional teams with a mix of talent, competing in events within Texas
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15-16 Navy/CP: Travel teams with 1-2 out-of-state qualifiers
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adidas/Molten/Helix: National travel teams competing in 1-3 out-of-state qualifiers/national events, plus GJNC or AAUs (2-3 coaches per team)
Tryouts
Austin Juniors requires all players to tryout within their predetermined age groups. In some cases, athletes may be allowed to play up based on their school grade, but only at the discretion of Austin Junior Volleyball. If you are unsure about your correct age group, please register based on your birthdate and contact Michael Garcia at mike@austinjuniors.com for further guidance.
Age Classification for the 2025-2026 Season
18 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2007 OR Players who were born on or after July 1, 2006 and a high school student in the twelfth (12th) grade or below during some part of the current academic year
17 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2008 OR Players who were born on or after July 1, 2007 (18 years or younger) who shall neither have completed nor are in a grade higher than the eleventh grade (11th) during the current academic year will be allowed to participate at the USA Junior National Championships on 17 and under teams.
16 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2009
15 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2010
14 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2011
13 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2012
12 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2013
11 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2014
The tryout fee is $80 which covers court time, evaluations and a tryout shirt. After the early registration period ends- one month before the first day of tryouts- the fee increases to $120.
Please note: Tryout registration fees are non-refundable and cannot be credited toward future registrations. If you do not attend tryouts or choose to stay with another club after trying out, your registration fee will be forfeited.
See our tryout dates on the Tryouts Page.
We hold our tryouts in the summer, with sessions taking place throughout June and July.
If spots remain available, we will offer supplemental tryouts at the beginning of the fall.
17s and 18s: (1 day tryout)
ASC Central
11s, 12s: (1 day tryout)
ASC Cedar Park
13s, 14s, 15s, 16s: (1 day tryout process)
ASC Cedar Park
Libero/Defensive Specialist Evaluation Clinic: Click on link to view details, dates and requirement for this position within the 13s through 16s age groups.
Visit our Tryouts Page to view dates and times for your age group. Tryouts registration remains open until the day of the event. We accept walk-ins; however, we cannot guarantee that a tryout shirt in your size will be available.
If the tryout dates have passed, there may still be opportunities to join a team. Occasionally, we have open roster spots to fill. You can check for available spots and register for a supplemental tryout on the Tryouts Page.
If you are unable to attend your designated tryout date, you can still be considered for a team. However, please note that missing your schedule tryout may limit your opportunity to compete against others in your age group and to be evaluated by all AJV staff.
If you know you will miss your tryout date, you must email Michael Garcia at mike@austinjuniors.com before May 15, 2025, to discuss potential makeup options. If it is after May 15, please still reach out, as there may be alternative opportunities available.
Teams typically consist of 9-12 players. The final roster size is determined by several factors, including (but not limited to) the age group, overall talent level, and the positional needs of each team.
Shortly after the conclusion of tryouts for your age group, you will receive an email from Austin Juniors with team placement information and an invitation to accept your spot. To secure your place, you must accept the offer and pay the deposit by the deadline listed in the email. If you do not respond in time, your spot may be offered to another athlete.
If you are named an alternate, you will receive a separate email with that information.
Please note that the timing of these emails may vary due to several factors, but we will do our best to communicate with all families in a timely manner.
Once you are placed on a team, you will receive an email with an invitation to accept your spot. To secure your place, you must complete the registration and submit the non-refundable first payment of $800 (for athletes selected to an 11s through 18s team).
Please note: Credits cannot be applied toward this first payments.
The remaining balance of your club dues will be divided into monthly payments. Once you accept a spot on a team, the full balance becomes non-refundable, regardless of circumstances.
Some players may be selected as alternates, which means that at the time of the tryouts, there is no available position on a team. However, If player declines their offer, a spot may open up, and athletes on the alternate list could be contacted to fill that vacancy.
Athletes who are offered a spot on a team are required to make their decision on the final night of tryouts. If someone declines at that time, we will begin contacting alternates immediately to fill the open position.
If you have not been contacted within 72 hours following your tryout session, it is likely that all open positions have been filled.
No! While we offer teams from 11 & under to 18 & under, athletes are welcome to start at any age.
Athlete under the age of 10 are eligible to try out for the 11 & under division.
Athletes should arrive in appropriate volleyball attire and bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout tryouts.
Parents are welcome to assist their athlete with check-in; however, we ask that only athletes remain inside the building during the tryout process.
In certain situations, an AJV staff member may need to discuss options for your athlete. Please ensure you are available by phone during tryouts so these conversations do not delay the process.
We understand that tryouts can be a stressful time for both athletes and families. Our goal is to make the experience as positive, supportive, and educational as possible.
Libero Tryout
Anyone interested in being considered for the libero position must attend the Libero Tryout clinic.
If you would also like to be considered for another position- such as outside hitter- you should still attend the Libero Tryout clinic first. Based, on our evaluation, if we believe your athlete should be considered for a different position, they will be invited to attend the appropriate tryout session.
If your athlete is selected to move forward as a libero in the 2025 tryouts, there is no need to re- register - AJV will handle the registration internally.
If trying out for a position other than libero, your athlete will be invited to the tryout after attending the libero tryout clinic. If your athlete is selected to move forward to the 2025 main tryouts, there is no need to re-register for the tryout, AJV will handle your registration internally.
Important Note:
If you wish to be evaluated as a libero and for another position (even if libero is not your primary), you must register for the Libero Tryout Clinic.
If you want to be considered for a different position as well, please inform AJV staff the day of the Libero Clinic to ensure you're evaluated appropriately and to avoid an additional registration fee.
All Libero Tryout clinic participants will receive notification via the email address used to register through LeagueApps. Please ensure that your contact information is accurate and up to date to avoid missing important updates.
Once selected to move forward in the AJV 2025 tryouts, there is no need to re-register - AJV will handle your registration internally.
Please remember to bring the tryout shirt you received at the Libero Tryout Clinic to the 2025 tryout session.
If you are unable to attend the 2025 tryout date for your age group- after being selected as a libero or invited to the try out for another position-- you must email mike@austinjuniors.com to discuss alternate scheduling options.
We will do our best to accommodate your situation whenever possible.
We will not be evaluating any libero at the 2025 tryouts who did not attend the Libero Tryout Clinic. If you are unable to attend the scheduled clinic, you must email mike@austinjuniors.com to arrange an alternate evaluation time prior to the Libero Clinic date.
Fees/payments
TBD for the 2025-2026 season..
The cost of player dues varies by team. You can view the 2024-2025 Club Fees via our tryout page.
These fees cover:
- Gym Rental
- Equipment
- USAV Registration
- Tournament entry fees
- Coaches' salaries
- Administrative and printing costs
- Access to two full-time college recruiting coordinators
Fees do not include:
Uniforms, practice gear, airfare, hotels, meals, ground transportation to and from practice or out-of-town tournaments, or any personal expenses such as shopping. Hotels for teams will not be included in your club fees.
A non-refundable first payment of $800 is due immediately following tryouts for athletes selected to an 11s through 18s team.
Credits may not be applied toward this initial payment.
The remaining balance will be spread out in monthly installments. Once athlete accepts a spot on a team, the full balance becomes non-refundable, and any unpaid amount will be due in the event of a breach of contract.
At Austin Junior Volleyball, we believes that athletes should participate based on their ability to play, not their ability to pay.
If the cost of club volleyball may be a barrier for your daughter or son, please visit the Financial Assistance section of our website to learn more about available support options, once you accept a spot with Austin Junior Volleyball.
At Austin Junior Volleyball, we believes that athletes should participate based on their ability to play, not their ability to pay.
If the cost of club volleyball may be a barrier for your daughter or son, please visit the Financial Assistance section of our website to learn more about available support options, once you accept a spot with Austin Junior Volleyball.
Tournaments
Schedules for the 2024 -2025 season are available on our tryout page.
A tentative 2025-2026 tournament schedule will be released by September.
Once schedules are finalized, you can view your team's specific schedule by logging into Leagueapps via browser or app.
2025- 2026 Travel Overview
Tournament schedule TBD
Each of our AJV teams have unique schedule based on the age group, season length, and player dues. Once finalized, each team’s specific schedule can be found under the TOURNAMENTS section of the FAQ page and/or the AJV Tryout page. For now, please prefer to the 2024-2025 tournament schedule for a general idea of travel expectations.
Below is a general travel outline for AJV teams during the 2024-2025 season. More information regarding the 2025-2026 season will be available once details are finalized.
11s and 12s:
Most tournaments for our 11s and 12s teams take place in the Central Texas area. However most teams (excluding Lite teams) travel to Dallas in April for the Lone Star Classic National Qualifier
Seasons generally end between mid-April and late May.
Exception: The 12 adidas team will have an extended season through late June, including flights to an out-of-state national qualifier in March or April and a final event at USA Junior Nationals or AAUs National Championships.
13s
The 13 & Under age group includes teams with varying travel schedules--some stay mostly local or regional, while others compete nationally.
13 adidas and 13 Molten teams compete in tournaments across Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, including the Lone Star Class National Qualifier in Dallas.
- 13 Molten will also fly to one out-of-state national qualifier.
- 13 adidas will travel to two out-of-state national qualifiers.
- Both teams will conclude their season in late June with a flight to USA Junior Nationals or AAU National Championships.
13 Navy and 13 Cedar Park will play mostly in the Austin area with a few events in Houston and San Antonio, including the Lone Star Classic in Dallas.
- Their season will conclude in early May at Regional Championships.
All other 13s teams will have a tournament schedule focused on Central Texas, ending their season in mid-April at the Lone Star Classic in Dallas.
- Note: AJV Lite teams will not attend the Lone Star Classic Dallas and will end their season in March at a local tournament.
14s
The 14 & Under age group also includes teams with local, regional, and national travel schedules. 14 adidas ,14 Molten and 14 Helix teams will compete in tournaments throughout Austin, Houston, and Dallas including the Lone Star Classic National Qualifier in Dallas.
- 14 adidas and 14 Molten will each fly to two out-of-state national qualifiers and wrap up their season in late June at USA Junior Nationals or AAUs Nationals.
- 14 Helix will fly to one national qualifier and may attend AAU Nationals and/or fly to USA Junior Nationals ending in late June.
14 Navy and 14 Cedar Park will play mostly in Central Texas with a few events in Houston and San Antonio, plus the Lone Star Classic in Dallas.
- Their season ends in early May at Regional Championships.
All other 14s teams will have a Central Texas-based schedule, ending in mid-April at the Lone Star Classic in Dallas.
- Note: AJV Lite teams will not attend Lone Star Classic in Dallas and will conclude their season in March at a local event.
15s
The 15 & Under age group included a mix of local, regional and nationally traveling teams.
15 adidas, 15 Molten and 15 Helix will compete in events across Austin, Houston and Dallas, including the Lone Star Classic National Qualifier in Dallas.
- 15 adidas and 15 Molten will each travel to two out-of-state national qualifiers.
- 15 adidas will also attend an additional President's Day tournament in February.
- Both 15 adidas and 15 Molten will end their season in late June at USA Junior Nationals or AAU National Championships.
- 15 Helix will end its season in late June with a flight to AAU Nationals
15 Navy and 15 Cedar Park will play tournaments in Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas including the Lone Star Classic in Dallas.
- They will also fly to one out-of-state national qualifier.
- Their season concludes in early May at the Regional Championships.
All other 15s teams will primarily compete in Central Texas, ending their season in mid-April.
16s
All 16 & Under teams have national travel schedules.
16 adidas, 16 Molten and 16 Helix will play tournaments in Austin, Houston and Dallas, including the Lone Star Classic in Dallas.
- 16 adidas will fly to two out-of-state national qualifiers and attend one President's Day event.
- Their season concludes in late June at USA Junior Nationals or AAU Nationals.
- 16 Molten and 16 Helix will each travel to three national qualifiers.
- 16 Molten ends the season at USA Junior Nationals or AAU Nationals and 16 Helix will end AAU Nationals.
16 Navy and 16 Cedar Park will compete in tournaments across Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas including the Lone Star Classic in Dallas.
- They will also fly to two out-of-state national qualifiers.
- Their season concludes in early May at the Regional Championships.
17s
All 17 & Under teams will travel nationally.
17 adidas, 17 Molten and 17 Helix will compete in tournaments across Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, including the Lone Star Classic National Qualifier in Dallas.
- All three teams will fly to two national qualifiers and one President's Day event.
- 17 adidas and 17 Molten will end their seasons in late June at USA Junior Nationals or AAU National Championships.
- 17 Helix will conclude its season at AAU Nationals.
18s
All 18 & Under teams will all travel nationally.
Teams will play tournaments in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, including both the Lone Star Classic National Qualifier and the AVC National Qualifier in Dallas.
- They will also fly to one additional national qualifier.
- The season concludes in early May with a flight to USA Junior Nationals Championships.
Travel Assistance Options
If you are unable to travel with your athlete, there are two options to ensure they get to their tournament safely:
1. Coach Travel Companion
You may opt to book your athlete on the same flight as their coach. The coach will ensure your athlete gets to appropriate destination. Please notify your coach in advance so they are aware they are serving as your athlete's travel companion.
2. Team Parent Assistance
You can also coordinate with another team parent to assist with your athlete's travel. Many families are willing to help- just be sure to communicate early and clearly to make arrangements.
All teams attending any National Qualifiers - including Lone Star Classic in April, Sunshine, PNQ, MEQ, NEQ, Show Me, Salt Lake or Big South - should expect to miss one day of school to participate. Depending on your team's flight schedule, you may miss an additional day for travel.
Practices
Practice schedules for the 2024-2025 season can be found on our tryout page to be used as reference. The 2025- 2026 Tentative Practice schedule TBD.
Practice typically begins in November for most teams. However, 11s and 12s usually start with optional training sessions in late September.
National Travel (14s-18s: adidas/ Molten/ Helix)
- November- December: 2 practices and/or positional training per week
- January- June: 2 practices per week, with the possibly of a 3rd day during the summer for positional training.
Regional & National Teams (11s-14s Regional, 12s-13s National, 15s-16s CP/Navy Travel)
- Minimum of 2 practices per week (totaling 4 hours)
- Practices held at:
Austin Sports Center- Central, Austin Sports Center- Cedar Park, and the possibly of another Central Austin location.
- Practice times may range from:
Sundays: 10am-9pm
Mon- Thurs: 4:30pm-9:30pm
Lite Teams (11s-15s)
- Minimum of 2 practices per week (totaling 4 hours)
- Practices begin after Thanksgiving Break
We use several facilities in the Austin area to reach as many families as possible.
Austin Sports Center - Central
http://425 Woodward St, Austin, TX 78704
Austin Sports Center - Cedar Park
http://1420 Toro Grande Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Team Name (Age Group) (Practice Locations):
Adidas (12s-18s) (ASC Central and ASC Cedar Park location)
Molten (13s-18s) (ASC Central and ASC Cedar Park location)
Helix (14s-18s) (ASC Central and ASC Cedar Park location)
Cedar Park (11s-16s) (ASC Cedar Park location only)/ Navy (11s-16s) (ASC Central and potential Central Austin location)
Lite North(11s-15s) (ASC Cedar Park location only)/ Lite Central (11s-15s) (ASC Central and a potential Central Austin Location )
If you're unable to attend a practice, please notify your coach as far in advance as possible. Communication is key and helps with planning team sessions effectively.
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- At Austin Junior Volleyball, we encourage multi-sport athletes and believe it contributes to becoming a more well-rounded player. However, it's your responsibility to communicate any scheduling conflicts with your coach. We recommend giving at least two weeks' notice for missed practices and a minimum of one month's notice for missed tournaments whenever possible.
issues
Playing Time Philosophy
At Austin Junior Volleyball, playing time is important to us — it’s a key opportunity for athletes to apply the skills and fundamentals they learn in practice. Only in a match setting can coaches and players clearly evaluate which areas are strong and which still need development.
However, it’s important to understand that nearly every tournament AJV teams participate in carries significant weight — whether it’s an in-region event (where results impact seeding) or an out-of-region tournament (which often serves as a national qualifier or recruiting showcase). Because of this, club membership fees go toward coaching, training, and development — not guaranteed playing time.
We strive to ensure that all players receive a fair amount of playing time — not necessarily an equal amount. When evaluating playing time, comparisons should be made between players in the same position. For example, if a team has three outside hitters but only two can play at once, one will need to sit out, whereas a team with only two middle hitters may see both playing more consistently.
Playing time is earned through consistent attendance, hard work in practice, and effective performance during game opportunities. Coaches are encouraged to involve all athletes during pool play, allowing them to contribute in different ways — whether that’s hitting, serving, or playing defense. As the team advances into bracket play, coaches may reward those players who have demonstrated strong performance earlier in the tournament.
Ultimately, playing time is at the coach’s discretion, and it will differ depending on the team’s level (Regional vs. Travel/National).
Conflict Resolution Process
We understand that conflicts may arise during the season. At Austin Junior Volleyball, we believe in teaching our athletes accountability and communication skills — both on and off the court. If an issue comes up, we ask that families follow this process:
Step 1: Encourage your athlete to speak directly with their coach. This is an important opportunity for them to advocate for themselves and build confidence in resolving challenges.
Step 2: If the issue is not resolved, the next step is to schedule a meeting with the coach, player, and parent.
Step 3: If further discussion is needed, a final meeting may be scheduled with the club director, coach, player, and parent.
Please note:
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Meetings will not be held without the player present.
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The club director will only be involved after both Step 1 and Step 2 have taken place.
uniforms / equipment
Missing or Damaged Uniform Items
If you are missing or have damaged jerseys or practice t-shirts, please contact your coach first. Your coach will then notify the club director to coordinate next steps.
If you are missing or need to replace equipment purchased through 431 Sports (such as shoes, kneepads, spandex, etc.), you will need to contact 431 Sports directly or place a replacement order through their site. Please note, the club no longer keeps extra inventory in our warehouse.
Uniform Policy & Gear Package Information
Yes — Austin Junior Volleyball is proud to be one of the few clubs in the nation with sponsorship support. Our sponsors go to great lengths to provide high-quality gear and equipment for our athletes, and we take that partnership seriously.
As such, no competitor logos are allowed during any team activities, including practices and tournaments.
You will receive a uniform gear package link from 431 Sports, and all required items must be purchased directly through that link. If you choose to purchase any gear items from outside sources, you will still be required to purchase them again through the 431 Sports package in order to meet club and sponsorship standards.
The cost of the gear package will range from $250–$500, depending on the age group and level of the team.