FAQ

Club volleyball provides athletes of all skill levels the opportunity to develop their game through structured training and competitive play above and beyond what school programs can offer. Empire Volleyball Club offers a variety of competitive team options designed to help players reach their individual goals while fostering a love for the sport. Empire teams compete in events sanctioned by USA Volleyball (USAV), the Junior Volleyball Association (JVA), and the West Coast Volleyball Association (WCVBA). USAV and JVA are the nation's leading organizers of junior volleyball competitions, each culminating in prestigious national championship events. WCVBA serves as Northern California’s premier regional league, featuring many of the areas top clubs and providing consistent, high-level competition throughout the season.

Experience. Stability. Family. Strength.

Empire is built on a foundation that goes beyond wins and losses. We have a long history of developing athletes and building teams, and that experience matters. Families can trust that our program is established, consistent, and committed to doing things the right way year after year.

At Empire, you are never just a number. We know our athletes, we know our families, and we take pride in helping each player grow—not only as an athlete, but as a person. Every athlete receives the attention, coaching, and support they need to reach their potential. Our coaching staff is one of our greatest strengths. 

We have more experience coaching these age groups than virtually any program in the North Bay, with coaches who understand the technical, physical, and emotional development that comes with each stage of a young athletes journey. That depth of experience creates a level of coaching and player development that is difficult to match. And at the heart of Empire is our family atmosphere. We believe in creating a place where athletes feel known, supported, challenged, and proud to belong. Our families become part of something bigger than a team—a community that supports one another on and off the court.

Empire is about developing athletes, building character, and creating a program families can believe in for the long term.

Practices are held at the Empire Gym at Epicenter in Santa Rosa and at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.

Practice frequency varies by team level:

National: 3 practices per week, January through the end of the season
Power: 2–3 practices per week, January through the end of the season
Premier: 2 practices per week, January through the end of the season
Juniors: 2 practices per week, January - May

Optional practices are available in November and December for those on a Juniors Team.

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We understand that life happens! Athletes may occasionally need to miss practice because of school activities, illness, family commitments, or other important obligations.

We don’t expect athletes to choose between Empire and the other important parts of their lives. All we ask is that families communicate openly and stay in good contact with their coach. Advance notice is always appreciated whenever possible.

Our goal is to maintain a strong commitment to the team while also understanding that our athletes are students, family members, and kids first.

Team fees will be announced at tryouts. This year, we’ve made some changes to what is included in the club fee to make our pricing more of an all-in cost, with fewer unexpected charges throughout the season.

What’s Included:

• All facility and court costs
• Coaching salaries
• NCVA and WCVBA team registration fees
• Power League and Premier League tournament fees
• All travel tournament team registration fees
• Coach hotels, per diem, and transportation expenses for travel tournaments
• General club operations and administration
• Equipment
• Hudl analytics for participating teams

Our goal is to make the club fee as comprehensive and predictable as possible, so families have a clearer understanding of their total season investment from the beginning.

What’s Not Included

The following costs are not included in club fees:

• Individual player travel and housing expenses
• Individual NCVA/USAV and AAU memberships, if applicable
• Additional costs associated with teams attending National Championship events
• Uniforms

We believe this approach provides families with greater transparency and helps minimize surprise billing as the season progresses.

This is a dilemma for every club. Out of respect for our athletes—and their parents—we will begin forming teams at tryouts and making offers immediately afterward.

We understand how stressful it can be to wait days for a phone call after tryouts. To help families feel prepared, we encourage you to do your homework ahead of time so you’re ready to make an informed decision.

Before tryout day, please:

• Review the club FAQs.
• Pick up the team information sheets at the pre-tryout clinics for details about schedules and costs.
• Get your questions answered during the Q&A at the end of the clinics.

Our goal is for families to feel fully informed by tryout day, so you can make the decision that is best for your athlete and your family.

Juniors will participate in one-day tournaments and Premier Teams will primarily participate in one or two-day tournaments throughout the Bay Area.

Power Teams will compete primarily in league tournaments throughout the Bay Area and Sacramento area, with at least one National Qualifier each season. League tournaments are typically one or two-day events, while National Qualifiers are three-day events.

National Teams will travel farther for league competition and participate in a greater number of National Qualifying events.

15s-18s Girls Teams Tryouts take place near the end of July. All athletes in or about to start High School should try out then.

10s-14s Girls Teams Tryouts are in Mid October

Boys Regular Season Tryouts are in Mid August 

Boys Summer Season Tryouts are in early May.

National and Power Travel teams are designed for athletes who are passionate about volleyball and committed to competing at the highest level available to them. These teams require a significant investment of time, effort, and dedication, making volleyball a primary extracurricular activity.

Premier Travel teams (previously Regional) are an excellent option for athletes seeking a competitive club experience with a more balanced time commitment. These teams provide quality training and competition while allowing players to maintain greater flexibility for other activities.