Interest in volleyball saw a significant increase in 2024, jumping from 6.9 to 7.4 million participants in just one year. Club teams and youth leagues are an important part of this sports ecosystem, creating training opportunities and community support for young players.
If you want to know how to start a club volleyball team of your own, gearUP has resources to get you started. Let’s look at what it takes.
1. Set a Goal and Make a Plan
As excited as you may be to think about potential players, game-day plays, and coaching strategies, don’t forget the basic building blocks of success. Set goals for yourself and make a plan to follow through.
At this stage, you should decide on what kind of team you want to put together. Perhaps you want to introduce the sport to especially young players, or maybe you want to nurture the developing skills of teens.
With your goal in mind, think through the logistics. Consider questions like:
- Who will you recruit?
- Where will you practice?
- Who will you play against?
- What will the schedule be?
You don’t need to have all the answers yet, but make sure you’re considering the right questions.
2. Recruit Players and Personnel
When putting together a team, you’ll need to recruit two types of people. First, you’ll want to find coaches, assistants, and other support staff.
You may want to coach the team yourself, or you may want to find a trusted and knowledgeable person to take over coaching duties. Depending on the size of your team and the age of your players, additional or assistant coaches can provide extra support.
Of course, you’ll also need to recruit players. Local schools or community groups can be great organizations to partner with for holding tryouts. Keep your eye out for potential in young players—while they may not all have top volleyball skills yet, coachable individuals can make strong team members.
Related Reading: Volleyball Tryout Plan for Coaches
3. Establish a Budget
The cost of starting a club volleyball team can be intimidating at first, but a budget will help you understand your needs and your resources. When it comes to finances, running a club team is actually a lot like running a small business.
First, you must determine which expenses your team will need to pay for and estimate their costs. For a volleyball team, this might include things like:
- Gym rentals
- Coaching salaries
- Tournament fees
- Insurance
- Equipment and uniforms
- Travel costs
Then, you’ll have to determine how to bring in money to cover these costs. Most teams rely on a combination of player fees, fundraisers, and sponsorships. Your players and your community can be great resources as you’re searching for funding opportunities.
Related Reading: 40 Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams
4. Partner with Trusted Vendors
Now that you have money, it’s time to spend it. Equipping your volleyball team with the right gear and apparel isn’t just about looking good—it’s about performance, safety, and team unity.
Partnering with gearUP for your volleyball uniforms can give you peace of mind about these factors. Our specialized knowledge, consistent quality, and reliable service make it easy for you to focus on the game.
5. Invest in Marketing Efforts
Promotion can be a valuable way to support your team off the court and you don’t have to invest large amounts of money in these efforts.
A simple web page, social media platform, or even old-school fliers can help you spread the word about game schedules to community members and potential fans. A newsletter or email list can also be an inexpensive and efficient way to distribute information.
As you engage in marketing efforts, you can recruit new players, keep parents engaged, and find future sponsors.
Outfit Your Team with gearUP
Now that you know how to start a volleyball club team, we’re ready to help you with the next steps. gearUP provides quality uniforms and apparel for volleyball teams across the country. We make it easy with custom team shops and direct-to-athlete shipping.
Read reviews from volleyball coaches who love working with us, or contact us today to get started on your own designs.
