There are many options for volleyball clubs in the Bay Area. What makes Peninsula Juniors special?
Peninsula Juniors Volleyball Club has been in business since 1997 and has set the standard for organized non-profit volleyball training on the Peninsula. We pride ourselves on making PJV a home away from home with an almost tangible family atmosphere, where parents and players feel welcome and comfortable within the club. Our coaches are chosen for their enthusiasm and ability to teach the game of volleyball, but also for their desire to help develop young girls into independent, responsible, disciplined, self-confident young women who love the game of volleyball. Peninsula Juniors is also a California non-profit organization. Your club dues pay only for what the club needs to fulfill our mission, not for anyone’s personal gain. Because of that, you know that your money is being spent responsibly on what is important – your daughter.
Can my daughter try out for more than one PJV team?
Yes. However, it is highly encouraged that each player plays within her own grade level. Choosing to play for a younger age group, when a spot has been offered on a team within one's own grade level, is not beneficial to a player, offers little challenge, and will not sufficiently prepare a player for their next high school or club season. Please note that teams in the 15 and under level (high school) and older play at a significantly higher level than is offered at the 14 and under level (junior high school).
In addition, players who try out for but do not make a Gold team may be offered a position on a Blue team, but they also may not. Players are encouraged to attend both days of tryouts. Players who return do not need to pay another tryout fee.
If my daughter cannot make the tryout for the team on which she would like to play, and she tries out on the other tryout day or during another tryout time, will she be at a disadvantage?
Possibly. Understand that is very difficult for coaches to evaluate players at tryouts when they are not competing with the age group or team group (Power or Area) in which the player is interested. While coaches make their very best determination as to where a player fits in that situation, the incongruence of abilities may result in a disadvantage to that player. IT IS MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO TRYOUT ON THE CORRECT DAY AND DURING THE CORRECT TIME.
My daughter has never played for PJV before. Does that mean that she is at a disadvantage because the coaches do not already know her or because some of the spots are already filled?
Tryouts for Peninsula Juniors signify a completely fresh start for our teams each year. Every player must try out and exhibit the skills required to earn a position on the team on which she wishes to play. We offer no team spots to any individuals prior to tryouts, so everyone is on a level playing field at the beginning of the tryout.
It is always a good idea to attend open gyms and clinics in the weeks before the tryout weekend. Attending clinics allows the players the opportunity to get to know the coaches of the teams on which they are interested in playing and allows the coaches the opportunity to know the players and their abilities before the tryout. This can also help with a player’s nervousness at the tryout – if she already has met the coaches and feels comfortable, she will probably have a better tryout. In general, the more exposure a player has to the coaches who will be choosing the team in the weeks before the tryout, the better the chance that the coach will have an accurate idea of the player’s ability level, personality and leadership skills, and potential.
When will my daughter know if she has made a team?
Coaches may offer spots to players at the tryout or they may call immediately after the tryout is over. Some initial calls may not be made until the evening of the day of the tryout. However, offers will still be made up until our signing date of November 15. On occasion, a player that has been offered a spot on a PJV team may opt to play for another club. This would then create a vacancy on that team, and another player would be offered that spot. Please try to be patient, as some spots for teams will not be offered until later in the week for any number of reasons. Coaches will do their best to make their offers as quickly as possible.
What happens after we accept a spot on a team?
Players and their parents will be required to log onto the website and complete paperwork online, print it out and bring it with their non-refundable deposit to Commitment Night. Players will be fitted for uniforms this evening and will also have the opportunity to meet with their coaches. A parent or guardian must attend with the player. For more information, please visit the Commitment Night page.
How many players make up each area league and power league team?
Our Blue teams carry a roster of 12 girls and our Gold teams carry a roster of 10-12 players.
When do practices begin?
Gold teams will begin practicing in December, Blue teams will have a few practices in December but will begin in earnest in January, and White teams will begin in January.
Where are practices held?
Our practice sites are located as far south as Redwood City and north as San Mateo.
San Mateo High School (San Mateo)
Ralston Middle School (Belmont)
San Carlos Youth Center (San Carlos)
Red Morton Community Center (Redwood City)
Kennedy Middle School (Redwood City)
Other practice sites may also be added.
Practice locations, dates, and times for each team will be available by the tryout weekend.
When are practices held?
Practices are held either Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Practices may be held from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, or 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Players will have at least 3 hours before or after practice to do homework and still get to bed by 10:00pm. Should one of our practices be canceled for circumstances beyond our control, a make-up day may be scheduled on a weekend day.
My daughter is hoping to earn an athletic scholarship to college for volleyball. How can we maximize her chances of being seen by college coaches?
College coaches typically recruit at Power League tournaments, Junior National Qualifiers, and other national tournaments (i.e., Las Vegas Classic). If your daughter is interested in being seen by college recruiters, she should try out for a Gold team.
Peninsula Juniors will also provide valuable information and assistance with the college recruiting process.
Will Peninsula Juniors be going to Junior Nationals this year?
The only answer that any responsible club can provide to this question is, “Hopefully!” USA Volleyball’s Junior Nationals (previously called Junior Olympics, or JO’s) can only be attended by qualifying by finishing at the top of a National Qualifier or by outstanding achievement in the Power League. Achievement is based on the success of the combination of players on a team while instructed and guided by its coaching staff. Every year is a new year with a fresh team, so no one can predict who will and will not attend Junior Nationals.
