FAQs

Club volleyball provides athletes of all skill levels the opportunity to develop their game through structured training and competitive play. Empire Volleyball Club offers a variety of team options designed to help players reach their individual goals while fostering a lifelong 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, providing consistent, high-level competition among many of the area's top clubs.

Empire National and Power Travel

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.

Practices begin in November following the conclusion of the high school season. Teams train three times per week and compete in regional and travel tournaments throughout the season, which typically concludes in May or June.

Empire Regional Travel

Regional Travel teams are ideal 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.

Practices begin in November following the high school season. Teams train twice per week beginning in January and compete in one to two tournaments per month through May. Most league events take place within the Bay Area.

Empire Juniors

Juniors teams for U9, U10, and U11 athletes provide an excellent introduction to competitive volleyball. Designed specifically for beginning players, these teams focus on fundamental skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and building confidence in a fun and supportive environment.

Teams practice regularly and compete in monthly or bi-monthly Bay Area tournaments from February through early May.

Empire Volleyball Club has earned a reputation as one of the premier volleyball clubs in the country and is widely recognized by collegiate coaches for developing skilled, well-rounded athletes. Our coaching staff is unmatched in both experience and expertise, featuring some of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the region.

Empire alumni have gone on to compete and coach at colleges and universities across the nation, reflecting the strength of our developmental pathway and commitment to excellence. From our Mighty Mites program for ages 4–7, to Juniors, Middle School, and elite high school travel teams, Empire provides age-appropriate training opportunities for athletes at every stage of development.

Whether a player is just being introduced to the sport or pursuing collegiate aspirations, Empire offers a clear pathway for long-term growth, skill development, and competitive success. Our mission is to help every athlete reach their full potential while fostering a lifelong love for volleyball.

Offers can, and will, be made at tryout sessions. It is impossible for the coaches to speak to all players at a session so our coaches will also make phone calls to potential players on each team beginning immediately after the tryout has concluded.

Please be patient! Every season we are still making phone calls to players well into the week after tryouts to fill all our teams. If you want to play for Empire and have not heard from a coach by Wednesday of the week following tryouts, please email Operations Manager Victoria VanTassell at victoria@empirevolleyball.com to get an update on your status. We understand that tryouts can be stressful to players. We will do our best to contact each player as soon as possible. Timely responses are essential to the flow of information post-tryouts!

• Verbally accept the offer
• Log in to sign the Commitment Form and Liability Releases
• Log in to pay the Deposit

Until these steps are complete, that spot is not guaranteed and may be offered to another player. This process can be done online as soon as an offer is extended.

Teams typically carry 9-12 players.

Travel teams begin training in November. Tournaments begin in December. Teams attending National Championships will continue their season into mid to late June. Teams not attending Nationals will end in either May or June.

Official practices begin in November after the high school season is complete for National and Power teams. National and Power teams practice 2-3 times per week. Regional teams begin in January and have 2 practices per week. Our main practice facilities are the Empire Gym at the Epicenter in Santa Rosa, and Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.

To remain eligible, players must attend practice regularly. All absences must be cleared with the coach, preferably 24 hours in advance. Acceptable absences include illness, academic conflicts, school sport practice or contests, and major school activities.

Fees cover:
Facilities
Coach salaries
Equipment
Hudl Analytics for National teams
Uniforms and Gear
Insurance
Administration
Coach hotels and per diem for WCVBA
League tournaments

Fees do not include:
Special tournament entry fees (outside of league play)
Coach hotel and per diem for non-league events
Player and chaperone hotels if applicable
Airfare for special tournaments if applicable
*These are billed separately. A player who opts not to attend a
tournament is still responsible for their share of the team travel
Expenses.

Yes, we will have fundraising available during pre-season. More information to follow at the parent meeting.

Empire fees are based on the number of players participating at the beginning of the year and they are not variable. If a player no longer plays with her team and decides to leave during the season, the costs are not prorated. Therefore, there are absolutely no refunds.