Club volleyball (sanctioned by organizations like USA Volleyball and AAU) is an intensive, specialized sport played primarily in the Winter and Spring, after the Fall high school season. The key differences are:
Focus: Club ball offers a higher level of skill development and technical instruction, often necessary for collegiate play.
Duration: The club season is much longer, running from late Fall/early Winter until Spring or early Summer (5-7 months).
Cost: Club teams are not school-funded, so fees cover professional coaching, facility rental, extensive tournament travel, and administrative costs.

Tryouts/Commitment: Usually held in late Summer/early Fall.
Practices Begin: Middle school players (14U and under) typically start in early/mid-November. High school players (15U and up) begin practice after their school season ends (late November/early December).
Competition: Tournaments begin in January and run through the end of the season.
Season End: Teams conclude their seasons based on the level of play: Regional teams generally finish in late April, while National/Elite teams can compete through late June or early July (National/AAU Championships).

National/Elite teams represent the highest level, demanding the most significant time and financial commitment. These teams engage in extensive travel, including multiple multi-day national qualifiers, with a primary focus on maximizing collegiate recruiting exposure and competing for national championship bids.
Regional/Area teams require a moderate commitment and focus on developing advanced skills and preparing athletes for high school varsity-level play. Their competition schedule involves limited travel, consisting primarily of local or regional tournaments.
The Developmental/Rec division requires the lowest time and financial commitment, with teams typically participating only in local, single-day tournaments or internal scrimmages. The primary focus at this level is building fundamental skills and providing a solid introduction to competitive volleyball.

Beyond accelerated skill development from high-level coaching, the greatest benefit is the acquisition of life skills:
Resilience: Learning to succeed through failure in a high-pressure environment.
Time Management: Juggling a rigorous practice/tournament schedule with school and other commitments.
Teamwork and Leadership: Developing a strong collaborative mindset over a long season.

Playing time is not guaranteed and is earned through performance in practice, commitment to the team, attitude, and how the athlete fits into the coach’s strategy for a specific match.
The H2 Philosophy: We focus on development first. Coaches are encouraged to provide meaningful opportunities for all our athletes.

A player is allowed to “play up” based on skill, maturity, and potential if the club leadership deems it beneficial for her long-term development. However, an athlete cannot “play down” below their USAV/AAU age eligibility date.

Club fees can be substantial because they cover costs that school sports do not, making it a professional, high-level training experience. The largest component of the fee is Coaching compensation, which ensures we hire and retain highly qualified, experienced, and certified professionals who are dedicated to the sport as a paid job, not a volunteer role. Another major expense is Facility Rental, as gym time is the largest operational expense; fees cover court time for 2-3 practices per week over the entire 5–7 month season. Additionally, fees cover Tournaments and Travel, including all tournament entry fees (which range from $100 for a single-day event to over $1,000 for a national event) and the necessary Coach expenses for travel (mileage, lodging, meals, and airfare for all travel tournaments). Finally, fees cover Administrative costs such as insurance, equipment (balls, carts), governing body registration fees (USAV/AAU), website maintenance, and other necessary operational overhead.

Families are typically responsible for (not an exhaustive list):
Player Travel: Lodging, meals, and transportation for the athlete and family at away tournaments.
Uniform/Gear: While a package is included, extra gear (shoes, specific knee pads) may be needed.
Spectator Entry: Daily gate fees charged by tournament venues.

Yes. We understand the financial commitment is significant. Families can inquire about:
Payment Plans: We offer flexible installment plans for fees.
Fundraising: The club organizes fundraising efforts, and teams may engage in individual or team concession activities to help offset costs.

Your primary role is to be your daughter’s safe space and greatest supporter.
Support the Coach: Trust the H2 System and the coach’s decisions. The coach’s job is instruction; your job is unconditional love and support.
Maintain Boundaries: Do not coach from the sidelines. Avoid giving your daughter tactical breakdowns immediately after a match.
Time/Travel: Ensure timely and reliable transportation to practices and tournaments.
Communication: Follow the 24-Hour Rule for communication (see below).

Tournaments are long, demanding events. Parents are expected to:
Ref/Line Judge Duties: Understand that players are required to officiate (ref/line judge) when they are not playing. They must be present and focused for these assignments.
Campsite: Coordinate with other parents to create a relaxing, designated “team camp” away from the courts for breaks, hydration, and meals.
Sportsmanship: Cheer loud, but remain classy and positive toward players, coaches, and officials at all times.

We enforce a 24-hour cooling-off period for discussing sensitive issues:
If a parent or athlete has a concern about playing time, strategy, or coaching decisions, they must wait 24 hours before contacting the coach or club director.
The Athlete Leads: The player should first attempt to address concerns with the coach in a private, respectful manner. Parents should only step in if the athlete is unable to resolve the issue or if the concern is about player safety/well-being.

No, club volleyball does not guarantee a college scholarship, but it is almost essential for players seeking to compete at the collegiate level.
Exposure: Club tournaments, especially national qualifiers, are the primary recruiting grounds where college coaches evaluate talent.
Preparation: The club’s rigorous schedule and technical training prepare athletes for the demands of the college game.
H2 Success: H2 has a strong track record, with over 185 H2 athletes going on to play collegiately—a testament to the effectiveness of our training system and commitment to player exposure.

The club and the coaching staff act as a facilitator and advocate:
Guidance: Coaches will advise on which level of play (DI, DII, DIII, etc.) might be the best fit.
Recruiting Profile: They help players develop highlight videos and online recruiting profiles.
Advocacy: Coaches communicate directly with college recruiters, offering direct evaluations and recommending players who fit the college’s needs and culture.

THE TRUTH: False. H2 tryouts are open across the board to any junior girl within the age divisions set forth by our governing bodies (USAV/AAU). We actively recruit, evaluate, and welcome athletes who have never played for H2 or any other club before. Our goal is to find the best talent and character, regardless of where they played last season.

THE TRUTH: False. While our coaching staff is aware of returning players, no team is finalized until the tryout process is complete. Every athlete is evaluated on their current skill, athleticism, potential for growth, and attitude. Our system requires coaches to make difficult, merit-based decisions on the final day of tryouts.

THE TRUTH: False. At H2, the commitment to coaching development is the same across every team, regardless of tier. All coaches utilize the proven H2 System and receive mentorship directly from our National Club Director. The difference between teams is the competitive schedule and travel, not the quality of instruction. We expect a high degree of commitment and professionalism from every coach on every roster.

THE TRUTH: False. Our philosophy is based on “Success in life through volleyball.” While we are competitive, our core objective is to mentor the whole athlete, emphasizing resilience, discipline, and character development. We teach athletes how to achieve through failure as well as success, preparing them for the rigors of life and college athletics.

THE TRUTH: False. We support the multi-sport athlete! We believe our philosophies and coaching staff provide excellent support for participants managing multiple commitments. As long as the athlete and parents communicate conflicts with their coach, participants are excused for essential family and school-related activities. We encourage commitment, not rigid exclusivity.

THE TRUTH: False. The integrity of our college recruiting success (over 185 collegiate athletes) is built on our commitment to youth development (11U–14U). We utilize our H2 System with precision at every age level, focusing on mastering foundational technical skills so that athletes are prepared to compete at the elite level when they reach high school.

THE TRUTH: False. We hire passionate individuals with strong character, experience, and a desire to mentor. More importantly, we develop our staff. Every coach is integrated into the H2 System and receives direct, ongoing mentorship and position-specific training from our club leadership, ensuring a unified, high-level approach to coaching.

THE TRUTH: False. Our fees are transparently itemized to cover the high costs of professional coaching compensation, gym rental, mandatory tournament entry fees, and travel expenses for coaches. We offer financial assistance based on need or through fundraising opportunities to ensure our program is reachable by many families, not just a few.