How to Try Out for or Join Saddleback Volleyball Club

Updated

Saddleback Volleyball Club lists several entry points rather than a single sign-up path: club tryouts split by age group (9U–14U and 15U–18U, plus make-up club tryouts), and non-club options such as Jr. Spikers, the Saddleback Youth League, Fall Volleyhigh, a High School Fall Clinic, and a Youth Boys Clinic. The site names these programs but does not publish tryout dates, fees, or a registration form in the material available here, so the practical next step is to check the site's news/announcements area and the club's Instagram for current dates and sign-up details.

Club tryouts: the main route for competitive players

The homepage lists tryouts in two age bands:

  • 9U–14U Tryouts — for younger athletes entering the club pathway.
  • 15U–18U Make up Club Tryouts — a make-up session for the older age group.

The club describes itself as a competitive environment: founded in 1993, it says its training system prepares athletes for regional and national competitions and that more than 400 athletes have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. That context is useful for setting expectations — tryouts are the entry point to a competitive program, not a recreational one.

What the site does not state: exact tryout dates, locations, eligibility rules (such as residency or school boundaries), fees, or what to bring. Treat any specific date you see elsewhere as unverified until it appears on the club's own channels.

If club tryouts aren't the right fit yet

The site also lists programs that serve as lower-commitment or developmental entry points:

Program listed Likely purpose (based on name and site context)
Jr. Spikers Introductory youth program; marked "NEW!" on the site
Saddleback Youth League Youth league play
Fall Volleyhigh Fall program for high school-age players
High School Fall Clinic Clinic format for high school players
Youth Boys Clinic Clinic for boys

These are named on the homepage but not described in detail in the available material. For a player who is new to volleyball or not ready for a club commitment, a clinic or youth league is the more natural first step; for a player aiming at regional/national competition, the age-group tryout is the direct route.

How to get current dates and registration details

Because the site's homepage functions as a news hub ("What's Going On at Saddleback"), the reliable approach is:

  1. Check the homepage announcements area for tryout and program posts — the page already surfaces items like tryout listings and "Commitment Day" updates.
  2. Follow the club's Instagram, linked from the homepage's social wall, where the club posts current items (for example, coaching features and event recaps).
  3. Use the "Learn More" links attached to each program name on the homepage; these are the site's own pointers to further detail.
  4. Reach out through the club's contact channel listed on the site if a program page doesn't answer your question about eligibility or dates.

A realistic example

Suppose a parent has a 12-year-old who has played recreationally and wants to join. The direct path is the 9U–14U tryout listing; the lower-pressure path is Jr. Spikers or the Youth League, then tryouts in a later cycle. Either way, the decision hinges on dates and registration windows that the club publishes on its own channels — confirm those before planning around a specific session.

What to verify before committing

  • Confirmed tryout date, time, and venue from the club directly.
  • Whether a make-up session (as listed for 15U–18U) applies to your age group.
  • Any cost or registration requirement — the available site material contains no pricing information, so do not assume programs are free.
  • Whether the program you're considering is a season-long club commitment or a short clinic/league.