Welcome to the Maryland Volleyball Program (MVP) Boys Volleyball Club! We’re excited for the upcoming season and the positive changes we’re implementing to better support our athletes, families, and coaches. Below, we’ve compiled answers to frequently asked questions about our program, including details on the earlier start, season structure, travel policies, clinics, and age group adjustments. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@mvpvolleyball.net.

Season Structure and Schedule Changes

Why August Tryouts?

It is important to note that several other regions of the country already held tryouts in July. This season, in order to facilitate better preparation for national qualifier events and to allow boys club programs in our area to better align their calendars with the national Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and USA Volleyball (USAV) calendars, the Chesapeake Region Volleyball Association (CHRVA) has allowed boys clubs to start tryouts in August. The first AAU qualifier event will be held in Chicago, IL on November 1st. If our region had held to the late September/early October tryout timeframe, all CHRVA boys clubs would have been at a severe disadvantage.

• Major national tournaments, like USAV Nationals and AAU Nationals, are scheduled for late June or early July.
• The most competitive club events now occur from November through February, with another wave of tournaments in May and June leading to Nationals.
• For 15U–18U teams aiming for Open-level seeding at AAU Nationals, participation in key qualifiers between November and February (starting as early as November 1st) is required.

Bottom line, this earlier start will allow MVP to better prepare for critical qualifier events.

What are the key dates for the 2025–2026 season?

• CHRVA Boys Open Tryout Period: August 22nd-26th, 2025
• Teams Finalized: Last week of August
• Parent Meeting: Early September.
• Practices Begin: Early September.
• Season Part 1: September through late February – Full training and tournaments.
• Club Shutdown/High School Break: March–April (aligns with Montgomery County high school season; see below for details).
• Season Part 2: May–June/July – Practices and tournaments resume for teams heading to Nationals, with potential roster adjustments.
• Nationals: Late June/early July (USAV or AAU, depending on team qualification).

How will the season be structured with the high school break?

We’re dividing the season into two parts for better balance:

• Part 1 (September–February): 6 months of intensive training and competition. All teams (12U–18U) will participate in a mix of regional, national qualifiers, and local events. Our top teams (15U–18U) will target AAU qualifiers and high-level competitions to earn bids for Nationals.
• High School Break (March–April): For 15U–18U teams, we plan a complete club shutdown during the Montgomery County high school season to allow players to focus on high school volleyball, rest, and recover. This reduces injury risk, manages physical stress, and supports academic priorities.
  • We are still investigating whether 12U – 14U teams will continue limited practices during this period to maintain skill development, as these age groups are less likely to participate in high school play.
    • A final decision will be shared at the parent meeting.
• Part 2 (May–Nationals): Teams seeking to compete at Nationals resume practices and play in lead-up events. This phase is shorter and more targeted, making the overall season more sustainable than a continuous 10+ month grind. All Open-level (Black) teams will compete through Nationals in late June/early July, while Red teams may opt to end their season at the conclusion of Part 1 (late February) based on team goals and player commitments. This provides flexibility for families while ensuring our top teams pursue national-level competition.

What are the benefits of this earlier start and high school break?

This structure offers multiple advantages:

• Competitive Edge: Early preparation positions our teams for key November–February events, improving seeding and exposure at Nationals.
• Player Well-Being: The break allows athletes to compete at peak levels in high school while avoiding burnout and overuse injuries.
• Family-Friendly: A more condensed club commitment (with built-in rest) is cost-effective and easier to manage alongside school and other activities.
• Development Focus: We can baseline skills early and build stronger teams, while still providing high-level national and regional play.

Alignment with Growth: Like other clubs in the region, this adapts to CHRVA’s rapid expansion and the national calendar, ensuring MVP remains a top program.

Age Group Adjustments

Why are we combining the 13U and 14U age groups?

Due to the limited availability of dedicated 13U tournaments in the Chesapeake Region and nationally, we are combining our 13U and 14U players into a single pool to compete in 14U tournaments. This change allows us to:

• Provide more competitive opportunities for 13U players by exposing them to higher-level play in the 14U division.
• Build stronger, more versatile teams by combining talent across these age groups.
• Maximize coaching resources and practice time, ensuring all players receive adequate development opportunities.

The 13U–14U group will include up to 28 players who will train together across two courts. For tournaments, they will be divided into three teams to maximize playing time and competitive experience.

This structure is designed to support the long-term development of our younger athletes by fostering well-rounded volleyball skills. Our goal is to prepare them to compete at a high level as they advance to the 15U and older age groups.

Travel and Tournament Policies

Will the club still handle travel bookings?

Based on overwhelming feedback from our end-of-year survey, we’re giving families more flexibility. We will no longer book travel accommodations for parents and players—you can choose your preferred options for flights, hotels, and more.

The only exception is tournaments with a “stay-and-play” policy (primarily USAV events). In those cases, we’ll provide the required hotel block details, and families must book through it to meet our quota and avoid penalties. We’ll communicate these early to help with planning.

Why do we travel for tournaments, and what types can we expect?

Travel is key to our program’s success for several reasons:

• Elite Level Competition: National events offer matchups against the best teams, accelerating skill development.
• College Exposure: With men’s collegiate volleyball expanding (DI, DII, DIII, NAIA), large tournaments are prime recruiting grounds.
• Team Building and Fun: Travel fosters bonds, independence, and memorable experiences that deepen players’ love for the sport.

Expect a balanced mix:

• Local/regional CHRVA and Mens 6s (UMD club) events for all teams.
• Travel tournaments (e.g., Chi-Town in November, qualifiers November–February) for competitive teams.
• Post-break events leading to Nationals for qualified teams.

This approach keeps costs in check while maximizing value.

Clinics and Training

Are position clinics returning this season?

Yes! We’re bringing back clinics, but only through Thanksgiving. This allows us to:

• Baseline players’ skill sets early in the season.
• Provide extra development opportunities at the start.

After Thanksgiving, we’ll revert to our standard three* practices per week for the rest of Part 1, ensuring focused team training without overload.

Clinics will be optional, with details on dates, times, and registration shared at the parent meeting.We’re thrilled about these changes and how they’ll elevate MVP. Let’s make 2025–2026 our best season yet—Go MVP! If you need more info, email info@mvpvolleyball.net or follow us on social media.

* U12 will only practice twice per week but will practice through the high school season.

Projected Tournaments and Dues

Tournament	Date	MVP 12 Black	MVP 14 Black	MVP 14 Red	MVP 14 Gold	MVP 15 Black	MVP 16 Red	MVP 16 Black	MVP 17 Black	MVP 18 Black
2025 AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge Chicago, IL	11/1-11/3/2025	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
2025 Rust Bucket AAU Volleyball Harrisburg, PA	12/13-12/14/2025		X	X	X		X
Boys Winter Invitational Louisville, KY	12/12-12/14/2025					X		X	X	X
7th Annual AAU AC Invitational G Premier/B Open Atlantic City, NJ	1/10-1/11/2026		X	X	X		X
2026 Southwest Boys Classic NQ by First Pt Phoenix, AZ	1/17-1/19/2026					X		X	X	X
2026 AAU Blizzard Blast & Boys ECPL Grand Prix VA Beach, VA	1/24-1/25/2026		X	X	X		X
2026 Nike Steel City Boys Championships Pittsburgh, PA	2/6-2/8/2026	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
2026 The St. James & Boys ECPL AAU Grand Prix	2/21-2/22/2026		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
2026 CHRVA Boys Regional Championships	2/28/2026						X
Boys East Coast Championships (U13-U18)/South Atlantic Championships (U12)	5/23-5/25/2026	X				X		X	X	X
2026 AAU Boys National Championships	Last week of June/1st week of July (Waves not yet announced)	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X
Team Notes		Will add local CHRVA tournaments to target 8 total tournaments	Will add local CHRVA tournaments to target 8 total tournaments	Will add local CHRVA tournaments to target 8 total tournaments	Will add local CHRVA tournaments to target 8 total tournaments	Will add local Men's tournaments to target 8-10 tournaments	Will add one local CHRVA tournament for a total of 8 tournaments	Will add local Men's tournaments to target 8-10 tournaments	Will add local Men's tournaments to target 8-10 tournaments	Will add local Men's tournaments to target 8-10 tournaments
Dues		$3600	$4200	$4200	$4200	$4600	$3200	$4600	$4600	$4600