Volleyball has continued to gain much ground in the US since Athletes Unlimited launched pro volleyball in the country in 2021. Americans are participating in volleyball now more than ever, and according to reports, volleyball membership grew by more than 9.8% in 2023, the highest since 1998.
Interest in volleyball has also led to growth in other sports industries like the volleyball betting industry. Since the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize sports betting in 2018, college and pro volleyball has ranked among the top 10 most wagered sports in the United States. According to this expert guide to volleyball betting by TrustnBet, a reliable resource for sports bettors in America, more than 30 states allow bettors to place a wager on pro volleyball. While betting on college volleyball is restricted in some jurisdictions, interest in the sport has continued to grow rapidly on different campuses as thousands of fans show support for their favorite college teams at local and national competitions.
With the sport continuing to gain much ground, many high school students are seeking to play volleyball in college more than ever. Wondering how to make it to a college volleyball team? This guide provides all the helpful tips on how to earn a spot on a college volleyball roster
How to Become a College Volleyball Player
The college volleyball recruiting process is highly competitive due to the rapid growth of participants across the country and limited roster spots. In fact, only a handful of high school volleyball players get to compete in college.
In this guide, you’ll find all the information you need to kickstart your recruiting process as you hope to fulfill your dreams of playing volleyball in college.
● List out Your Top College Picks
It’s important to create a list of the top colleges you’d love to attend and play volleyball. Some schools don’t offer certain programs so be sure to confirm if these picks meet your academic requirements and offer your major. Also check out other important details like the campus location, and school culture to know if it’s the perfect fit for you.
Since you’d love to become a volleyball player, be sure to do adequate research on these schools’ volleyball programs and athletics history. Do they have a good reputation for nurturing volleyball talents? Have they competed and succeeded in local and nationwide tournaments? Do they have a reputable alumni body of former college volleyball players?
It’s advisable to start out with a broader list of colleges and streamline it to your preferred top 10 schools.
● Enroll in Volleyball Showcase Camps
If there’s one way to greatly increase your visibility as an aspiring college volleyball player, it’s by attending showcase camps. These events usually have D1, D2, and D3 college volleyball coaches from all over the country in attendance as they seek to find the next big talent.
Showing up to these camps will guarantee you a high level of exposure to possibly some of the best volleyball colleges in the country, and could be your ultimate ticket to being recruited. Don’t forget to put on a show and be on your best behavior as you attend these events. You never can tell who is watching!
● Reach out to College Coaches
Training and mentorship are important aspects of athletics you can’t afford to trifle with, especially at this early stage of your volleyball career. You need a college coach to help you develop the right skills and prepare you for potential volleyball life in college. Impressing a good college coach can also improve your chances of being recruited by a school.
Go through your list of college volleyball schools, and reach out to their respective coaches. You can do this by sending an email. You can find coaches’ email addresses online or by contacting the school of your choice.
Ensure to include detailed and accurate information about yourself like your name, high school, listed height and weight, and showcase camps attended.
You can provide coaches with highlight videos that showcase your best performances during a local tournament or training camp. These digital assets can help to catch the attention of coaches and speed up your recruiting process. As a matter of fact, these days, many coaches don’t attend to emails that don’t include an athlete’s highlight videos due to the hundreds of messages they have to review.
Don’t forget to also inform the college coach about upcoming volleyball showcase events and ID camps you are going to attend.
● Have a Dedicated Athlete Social Media Account
Aside from the traditional way of being recognized at training camps, one of the fastest ways to gain traction as an aspiring high school player is through social media. Have a dedicated social media account where you post your highlights, training routine, and key volleyball accomplishments.
Post appropriate content tailored to your athletics aspiration, and be sure to represent yourself well on social media. Sometimes, what you post, like, and comment on matters a lot, so avoid controversial posts as much as possible.
Also, it’s not advisable to reach out to college coaches via social media unless they give you the go-ahead to do so. Some coaches find this informal mode of communication unruly. Stick to communicating with them formally via email or phone but include your social media handles in your message.
