Tryouts Aren’t a Test: What We’re Really Looking For

6 days ago

3 min read

Every club season, the gym door swings open and dozens of nervous players walk in, shoes laced tightly, clutching water bottles like lifelines. We see the tension in shoulders, the quiet side-eye at players warming up nearby, and the silent question hanging in the air: Am I good enough to pass this test?

Here is the secret we wish every player understood before they set foot on our court: Tryouts are not an exam. We aren't standing there with clipboards grading every missed serve or shanked pass on a pass/fail scale.

If tryouts aren't a test, what are they? They are a blueprint session. We aren't trying to see who is perfect right now; we are trying to see who will build a great team over the next six months.

Here is what our coaching staff is actually looking for when evaluation day arrives.

1. Response to Mistakes (Resilience Over Perfection)

Every single player will miss a hit or misserve during tryouts. Even elite players make errors under pressure. What separates players isn’t whether they make a mistake, but what happens five seconds after it occurs.

What we look for: Does the player hang their head, pull their jersey over their face, or walk away from the huddle? Or do they shake it off, call for the next ball, and reset their posture?
Why it matters: In a tight 24–24 match in March, we don't need players who spiral when things go wrong. We need teammates who reset instantly.

2. Court Voice and Communication

Volleyball is impossible to play in silence. A team with slightly less technical skill that communicates relentlessly will almost always beat a team of quiet, isolated superstars.

What we look for: Calling "mine" loudly and early, shouting out freeballs, calling hitters in system, and cheering on a teammate who just made a great play.
Why it matters: Loud communication prevents collisions, builds trust, and creates momentum. If you bring energy to the floor, you elevate all five people playing alongside you.

3. Effort Between the Whistles

Skill shows up during the point, but character shows up between points and during transitions.

What we look for: Are you hustling to get balls during drills? Are you running into the huddle when the coach calls time? Are you shanking a pass and chasing it down to the wall, or giving up once it's out of reach?
Why it matters: Work ethic is non-negotiable. We can coach platform angles and footwork, but we cannot coach effort.

4. Coachability and Adaptability

When a coach stops a drill to give you a piece of feedback, how do you receive it?

What we look for: Making eye contact, nodding, saying "got it coach," and—most importantly—immediately trying to implement that feedback on the next rep, even if it feels awkward at first.
Why it matters: A player who is eager to learn and willing to change habits will outgrow a stubborn, talented player by mid-season every single time.

5. Positivity and Teammate Energy

Volleyball is a game of emotional momentum. Body language speaks far louder than words ever could.

What we look for: High-fives coming out of a play, encouraging words after a shank, and genuine joy when a peer executes a tough play.
Why it matters: Toxic or disengaged body language can drain an entire squad's energy in minutes. Positive, encouraging teammates make the sport fun and create a environment where everyone plays better.

The Takeaway for Tryout Day

If you take one piece of advice into tryouts this year, let it be this: Focus on what you can control.

You cannot control whether your set is a foot off the net, or if the ball takes a weird bounce off the block. But you can 100% control your voice, your effort, your attitude, and your support for the players around you.

Take a deep breath, leave the fear of failure in the parking lot, and show us who you are as a competitor and a teammate. We can’t wait to see you on the court.