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1. Introduction2. General2.1. What is the Ohio Valley Region?2.2. Why join the Ohio Valley Region?3. Registration3.1. Can I register online?3.2. What forms of payment are accepted?4. Juniors4.1. How do I start a Juniors Club?4.2. What resources exist for new coaches?4.3. How can I find a juniors' club in the Ohio Valley Region?4.4. What is the birthday cutoff date for age group competition?4.5. What about age waivers?4.6. Can junior girls teams compete in adult tournaments?4.7. What is the difference between "Open" and "Club" teams?4.8. How many scholastic players can play together on a juniors' team?5. Adults5.1. How can I find an Adults' team in the Ohio Valley Region?5.2. How do I start a team?5.3. What are the restrictions on player movement within a club?5.4. Can a player play both days of a large tournament?6. Officiating and Rules6.1. Where can I find USAV Rules?6.2. How do I become a USAV Certified Official?6.3. What are the the official volleyballs for OVR competition? 

 

4.3. How can I find a juniors' club in the Ohio Valley Region?

First, welcome to the Ohio Valley Region! As the largest regional association of USA Volleyball with 1,466 girls' teams and 61 boys' teams registered last season (2008-2009), there's a place for junior players of all ages and abilities. The OVR offers numerous resources to benefit both players and clubs, increasing opportunities to compete at all levels.

• Juniors' Clubs and Teams in the Ohio Valley Region provides a comprehensive listing of clubs registered for the current season. Early in the season this includes clubs' names, locations, and club directors' contact information. Later, as club directors register their teams, those teams appear with their clubs' listings. Juniors' Clubs and Teams in the Ohio Valley Region includes links to clubs' sanctioned tryouts, rosters, and to their own websites.

• Complementing the current season's list, the OVR Archives retain complete information about clubs registered last year. Use the Archives if the club for which you're looking is not yet registered or if you want to see the team ages and divisions registered by each club. This is most useful from approximately September through December. By early March, the current season's list of registered teams should be nearly complete.

• If you'd like to see how teams fared last season, that information is available in our archived juniors' team seeding and juniors' tournament results. Also available are results from the Ohio Valley Region-Kaepa® USA 2009 Girls' Volleyball Championships, Ohio Valley Region 2009 Boys' Volleyball Championships, 2009 USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championships, and 2009 USA Junior Olympic Boys' Volleyball Championships.

• Tryouts in Ohio and Pennsylvania begin on the last weekend in October for 8th grade and under, and after the State High School Championships (Ohio) for 9th grade and older. Those dates, reflecting conclusion of state high school and middle school volleyball programs, are set to protect athletes' scholastic eligibility. Sanctioned tryouts, including dates, times, sites with links to directions, and fees are listed on the Juniors' Tryouts page. The Athletes' Bill of Rights which describes tryout policies and what clubs may ask of participants.

• The Juniors' Divisions page defines date of birth cutoffs for each age group and also provides information on grade-level teams and the distinction between National and Regional (formerly Open and Club) divisions. Boys can play in the 10-and-Under division on either co-ed or boys' teams.

• The OVR Players' Connection offers listings for teams needing players and for players needing teams.

• Juniors' Camps and Clinics are typically offered in the fall and summer, although some clubs offer training as part of their tryouts.

• Occasionally, the OVR receives inquiries about "winter" and "spring" seasons. USA Volleyball and the Ohio Valley Region itself do not have separate seasons: the girls' season runs from through tryouts in October-November through the Ohio Valley Region-Kaepa USA Girls' Volleyball Championships in April-May (and for elite teams, through the USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championships). Certain clubs offer teams which participate for only part of the OVR season, ending early or beginning late. Each club has its own schedule, so check with clubs individually to determine their particular arrangements.

• Each club is an independent business. The OVR publishes lists of contacts, sanctioned tryouts, etc., as indicated above, but beyond these, OVR staff do not have information on clubs' fees, practice schedules, plans, or related issues. Contact clubs individually to determine their particular arrangements.

• Prices for the season vary widely, generally starting at several hundred dollars per season for Regional-level teams and higher for National-level teams. Some clubs may offer fundraisers to help defray costs. Fees cover OVR/USAV membership with secondary insurance ($50), tournament entry fees, uniforms, other materials (e.g. balls), practice facility rental, coaches' and staff stipends or expenses, etc.

• View each club's offerings as a product: shop for what you and your family want, understanding that commitment to a club lasts for the whole season (i.e. though August 31). USA Volleyball prohibits player transfers from club to club, which is necessary to protect players, their teammates, and their clubs. In choosing a club, carefully consider your goals and potential clubs' emphasis on elite teams vs. development, teams offered, cost, practice quantity and quality, number coaches and their qualifications, distance to tournaments, length of season, playing time, participation in the OVR Girls' Championships at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (worthwhile!), and possible participation in post-season tournaments.