What volleyball tryouts actually test
Here’s the honest part first. You can’t add three inches to your vertical in two weeks, and you can’t control how many spots are open or which positions a coach needs. What you can control is how clean your basics look, how loud you are and how fast you bounce back. That’s more of the evaluation than most players think.
One high school program’s tryout packet spells it out: selection “is based upon skill level, athletic ability, attitude, and position.” The same packet says coaches “take note of those players who demonstrate progress while learning new skills.” For the full playbook across every sport, start with how to prepare for tryouts, and see what coaches look for at tryouts.
| What coaches watch | What it looks like | How to show it |
|---|---|---|
| Serve | Ball goes in, on purpose, to a spot | Use your most reliable serve, not your fanciest |
| Pass | Serve receive reaches the setter’s area | Low platform, feet to the ball, angle to target |
| Movement | Low and ready before the ball crosses the net | Athletic stance on every rep, even in lines |
| Communication | Calling the ball, calling the seams, calling the hitter | “Mine,” “yours,” “tip,” “out,” every ball |
| Coachability | Trying a correction on the very next rep | Nod, say “got it,” then do it |
| Response to errors | Back in ready position before the coach tosses again | A 10-second reset (see below) |
| Position fit | A team need the coach has to fill | Say your position, then play anywhere you’re asked |
A two-week plan before tryouts
Two weeks is enough to sharpen what you already have. It isn’t enough to rebuild a swing, so don’t try. Keep sessions short and daily, and taper the last two days so your legs are fresh. If you’re a teen, the CDC recommends 8–10 hours of sleep a night for ages 13–17. Start that schedule now, not the night before.
- 01
Days 14–10: pick your serve
Serve 30 balls a day. Track how many go in. Keep the serve you make most, even if it’s underhand or a simple float. A serve that goes in nine of ten times beats one that goes in four.
- 02
Days 10–6: passing and footwork
Pass 50 balls a day off a wall, a partner or a parent tossing. Call “mine” out loud on every one. Add five minutes of shuffle, crossover and approach footwork.
- 03
Days 6–4: pressure reps
Serve five in a row to one zone. Miss one, start over. Do the same for passes to a target. This is how you practice your routine when it counts a little.
- 04
Day 3: logistics
Confirm the time, gym and any forms or physical your school or club requires. Break in new shoes indoors. Pack the bag.
- 05
Day 2: light day
Easy touches for 20 minutes. Walk through your between-reps reset (script below) three times.
- 06
Day 1: rest
Hydrate, eat normal food and go to bed on time. Write your one focus for tryouts on a sticky note.
Volleyball tryout drills with reps and a cue
Every drill below works at home or in an open gym. Each gets one cue: a few words you say in your head so the skill shows up when you’re nervous. Many tryouts test exactly these things. One school packet lists passing to a target, sets into a target from 30 tosses, serving to all six zones, and 4 on 4 to 6 on 6 play.
| Skill | Drill | Reps | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serve | Serve to one zone, then rotate zones | 30 a day, count makes | “Toss, then swing” |
| Pass | Partner or wall passing to a target | 50 a day | “Feet first, quiet arms” |
| Set | Set to self, then to a wall target | 3 sets of 30 | “Shape early, finish high” |
| Footwork | Shuffle, crossover, then approach steps | 5 minutes a day | “Low and ready” |
| Defense | Partner tosses short and deep, you dig to center | 3 sets of 10 | “Stop, then play” |
| Talk | Call every ball during all of the above | Every rep | “Mine, early” |
Setters and liberos: ask the club or school whether your position gets a separate look, and say your position clearly at check-in. Hitters: footwork on the approach matters more than how hard you hit. For more ways to train the head side of the sport, see mental training for volleyball and mental toughness drills for volleyball.
What to wear and bring to volleyball tryouts
Read the packet first. Some schools ask for a team shirt and ban club gear. One program’s packet says knee pads are not required, “but most girls will wear them,” and tells players not to bring jewelry, including earrings, into the gym. Pack the night before.
| Item | Why | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Court shoes (broken in) | Grip on the floor; new shoes can rub | ☐ |
| Knee pads | You will dive; most players wear them | ☐ |
| Athletic shirt, shorts or spandex, socks | Move freely; follow any shirt rule | ☐ |
| Full water bottle, plus a backup | Tryouts are hard work | ☐ |
| Hair ties | Keep hair out of your face on every pass | ☐ |
| Simple snack | Long sessions or two-a-days | ☐ |
| Forms, physical, clearance | Some programs won’t let you on the floor without them | ☐ |
| Ankle braces or tape, if you use them | Wear what you practice in | ☐ |
| Leave home: jewelry, phone in hand, club gear if banned | Coaches notice | ☐ |
On tryout day: what to do, start to finish
- 01
Arrive early
Check in, get your number and warm up without rushing. Help set up nets if you can. Coaches see who shows up ready.
- 02
Be first in line
Hustle to every drill and every shag. Walking to get a ball is the easiest thing to fix and the easiest thing to notice.
- 03
Talk on every ball
If you’re quiet by nature, give yourself one job: call “mine” or “yours” before the ball crosses the net. That’s enough.
- 04
Take corrections fast
When a coach gives you a cue, nod, say “got it” and try it on the very next rep. It doesn’t have to work yet. It has to be visible.
- 05
Play the position you’re handed
Asked to block middle when you’re a setter? Block middle. Flexibility is a selling point.
- 06
Don’t read the coach’s face
A coach writing on a clipboard is not writing about you. Stop guessing and play the next ball.
The mental side: reset after the shanked pass
Everybody shanks a pass at tryouts. Coaches expect it. What they’re watching is the next three seconds: head down and hands on hips, or feet moving back to base. Nerves before tryouts are normal too. A racing heart means your body is getting ready. If nerves are the big problem, read how to calm tryout nerves.
Practice this script in the two weeks before, after every missed serve at home. By tryout day it should feel automatic, not like something you’re remembering. More on this in how to reset after a mistake in sport.
For parents: how to help without adding pressure
After tryouts, whatever the list says
If you made it, ask the coach what to work on first. If you didn’t, it’s fine to be upset. When you’re ready, ask the coach for one or two things to improve, then build your next plan around them. Read didn’t make the team: what to do next.
Either way, the reset you practiced is yours for the season. That’s what reset is built for. It’s the mental training app for athletes: two minutes a day, three steps. Notice. Name. Return. Try a 2-minute reset, or join the waitlist.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear to volleyball tryouts?
Athletic shirt, shorts or spandex, socks, court shoes and knee pads. Check the packet: some schools require a team shirt and ban club gear or jewelry. Bright colors are fine, but clean basics get you noticed more than an outfit.
What do coaches look for at volleyball tryouts?
Ball control first: serves in, passes to target. Then movement, communication, coachability and how you respond to mistakes. One school lists skill, athletic ability, attitude and position as its selection criteria.
Do I need knee pads for volleyball tryouts?
Usually not required, but most players wear them and you’ll be diving. Bring them, and wear them in practice beforehand so they feel normal.
How can I stand out at volleyball tryouts if I’m short?
Win the things height doesn’t decide: a reliable serve, passes to target, loud communication, hustle on every ball and a fast reset after errors. Defensive and setting roles reward exactly those.
How do I calm my nerves before volleyball tryouts?
Expect nerves and give them a job. Practice your 10-second reset at home, sleep on schedule, arrive early and pick one focus, like “call every ball.” See our guide to tryout nerves for more.