Iowa Volleyball Region
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HP Tryouts

GSEL -- Born in 1998, 1999, or later;  GYNT -- Born in 1996 & 1997;  WJNT -- no programming for WJNT for the 2013 season.

2013 Tryout Schedule

Participants pay a one-time tryout fee, and may attend as many tryouts as desired.  Players receive a tryout shirt at the first tryout they attend, and must wear the same shirt and CHECK-IN at all subsequent tryouts.

*Note for Future Select age players (born in 2000 or later): You attend the same tryout as the GSEL, and are trying out for a spot in the regular GSEL division at Iowa HP Camp.  After we select the GSEL players for camp, we will look at the Future Select age players that did not make the regular camp, and choose from those for spots at the one-day Future Select camp. 

Sunday, April 7 in Cedar Rapids 
Site: CR Kennedy HS
4545 Wenig Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 
Check in: 4:00-4:45 pm
Tryout: 5:00-7:00 pm
Girls Only.  
*Boys from 4-5pm by Reservation (simply email:  [email protected])

Friday, April 12 in Des Moines
Site: Drake University Knapp Center
2601 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA
Check in: 6:00-6:45pm
Tryout: 7:00-9:00pm
Girls & Boys

Friday, April 19 in Des Moines
Site: Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds
Check in: 6:00-6:45pm
Tryout: 7:00-9:00pm
Girls & Boys

Friday, April 26 in Des Moines
Site: Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds
Check in: 6:00-6:45pm
Tryout: 7:00-9:00pm
Girls & Boys

Sunday, May 5 in Council Bluffs
Site Lewis Central HS
3504 Harry Langdon Blvd., Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Check in: 6:00-6:45pm
Tryout: 7:00-9:00pm
Girls & Boys

USAV National HP Tryouts

 Click here for the USA HP Site - USAV Web Site - HP Section

Wanted: Adults to Work at HP Tryouts

Are you an adult willing to help out at one or more of our HP tryouts?  We are always looking for coaches to help on court to run drills, toss balls, etc.  Please fill out this form if you want to help out!


 Sunday-April 7-Cedar Rapids
 Friday-April 12-Des Moines
 Friday-April 19-Des Moines
 Friday-April 26-Des Moines
 Sunday-May 5-Council Bluffs
 Check in
 Measurement
 Court Coach to run drills.
 

What We're Looking At During Tryouts

What are we looking at when we are evaluating you at tryouts?

  • Middle Hitters: We watch their range and armspeed when they attack.  We look at their height and athleticism, both vertically and side to side.  We look at their positional IQ and how they are able to transition on both offense and their blocking.  For middles, it is not always important that we look at the result (did they get a kill or a block), but at WHAT they did well (did they close the block or are they able to get a good hit out of transition).
  • Outside Hitters: We are looking at their ability to terminate any set whether they are in system or out of system; do they have good ball control and a live or fast arm swing.  Also looking for overall ball control as a primary passer/defender.  It is important to look at the overall game of the outside hitter as a six rotation player.
  • Setter: We evaluate the location, tempo, and consistency of the sets, in addition to the player's ability to play the game and make good decision on where to set the ball as well as leadership on the court.  The player's ability to get their feet to the ball and be balanced is viewed and evaluated separately from pure athleticism.
  • Libero: We watch ball control on serve receive and defense, while also factoring in hitter coverage.  We look at their ability to set the second ball when out of system, and also their leadership and communication in controlling the court.

Tryout Registration - GYNT & GSEL

Register ONLINE for HP tryouts for GYNT and GSEL

You can pre-register for tryouts and pay your tryout fee online. You only need to register once, and can attend as many of the tryouts as you want to. You will be given a tryout shirt at the first tryout you attend, and must wear the same shirt and check-in at every tryout you attend.

  • Tryout Fee for Online Registration is $25.
  • Instructions for Registering for HP tryouts online
  • Medical Release (required for all participants)
  • NOTE: When registering online, you must log in and register as the person who is trying out.  If as a parent you log in under your own membership, it will either register you for the tryout, or will change your membership id to your daughter's name.
  • Please complete your online registration 24 hours before the first tryout you plan to attend.
  • You do NOT need to turn in a paper tryout form if you register online.
  • You DO need to turn in a medical release form.
  • After you finish your online registration, you will receive a prompt to fill out a form online. Please quickly fill this out so we can have a better idea of how many people to expect at each tryout.

Players may send in a paper registration form, and walk-ins are always welcome at tryouts.

  • Tryout fee for Paper forms or Walk-ins is $35
  • HP Tryout Registration Form (PDF) (WORD)

Emailing the tryout form in is NOT considered online registration. To register online, please read and follow the instructions above.

HP tryout participants must have a current USAV membership. If you are playing on a USAV club team, you have a current membership. Non-members have 2 membership options for HP Tryouts:

  1. $5 Tryout Membership (good for one tryout only, can be used multiple times, and can be upgraded to a full membership for an additional $45)
  2. $50 Full membership

All players who are chosen to attend the HP Camp or are on an HP travel team must be full members.

BOYS register to tryout by emailing [email protected]

What to Bring to Tryouts

  • If possible, register and pay in advance ($25) through the online HP Tryout registration process.
  • Bring a completed medical release form (if you have not already turned one in). If we do not have a medical release for you signed by a parent, you will not be able to take part in HP tryouts.
  • If you are registering at the door, bring the tryout application form, including the medical release, and your $35 fee (cash or check).  
  • We will give you a numbered shirt to wear for tryouts.  You wear your own shorts, shoes, kneepads, etc.  If you attend more than one tryout, you must wear your shirt to every tryout.
  • Everyone must check-in at every tryout they attend.

What to Expect at Tryouts

    • The Iowa HP programs works hard to keep the tryout as neutral and unbiased as possible.  Please don’t feel bad if your club coach or high school coach doesn’t spend a lot of time talking to you as we do not want to give the impression that we are favoring one person over another. Our goal is to choose the best players according to their performance at the Iowa HP tryout. If you feel that you did not perform to your best potential at a tryout, you can attend as many additional HP tryouts as you desire for no additional cost.
    • After check in, there will be fitness testing, including height and reach, and vertical jump testing.
    • On the court, players will be mostly divided by age group, and sometimes split by position.
    • Players will go through a series of drills that demonstrate their proficiency in ball handling, ability to communicate and lead on the court, and their skill in the positions they play. Players will also compete in game-like situations.
    • Evaluators rate players according to the criteria used by USA Volleyball to choose a High Performance athlete.
    • From tryouts, 20-35 players in each age division will be selected to attend the Iowa HP Camp in June. At that camp, 8-10 players in each division will be selected for the travel teams, and will compete at the USAV HP Championships in July!