Boys Club FAQs
Coming soon!
Every year many people discover club volleyball and have many questions. While this will not answer all of them, we hope we can address many of the common questions below.
Sky High Volleyball – 36th Season (Est. 1989)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Boys' Programs does Sky High offer?
A:
Junior Olympic (JO): A national-level, travel program.
Boys 13s & 14s (7th & 8th grade)
- Only a JO program is available.
- Club Location: Libertyville & Crystal Lake
- Practice | 3 times per week beginning the first week of October
- Events/Tournaments will typically be within a 90-minute drive from the practice facilities.
Boys 15-18 (9th-12th grades)
- Club Locations: Libertyville and Crystal Lake (new for the 2024-25 season).
- Practice | 3 times per week beginning the week of Labor Day.
- 3-5 major events per season located throughout the country.
- Previous years have included Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Hershey, PA.
- National Championship will be held in late June or early July.
Regional (REG): A regional-level, all-local event program.
Boys 15-18 (9th-12th grades)
- Club Location: Libertyville
- Practice | 2 times per week beginning the first week of October.
- Season will run October late February or early March.
- Events/Tournaments will typically be within a 90-minute drive from the practice facility.
Q: How often do teams practice?
A:
13 JO, 14 JO and all Regional teams: Twice per week.
15–18 JO teams: Three times per week, except following a multi-day event.
Q: How long is the season?
A:
13 & 14 JO and all Regional teams:
- Practices begin the week of October 1, 2024.
- The Regional teams will end their season before IHSA tryouts.
- 13 JO will run through mid-May with a significant amount of time off during the Spring.
- 14 JO will run through mid-May, also with a significant amount of time off during the Spring.
- The Regional teams end their season by March 9, 2024.
15-18 JO teams:
- Practices begin the week of September 2, 2024.
- All teams have breaks during Thanksgiving (Nov. 27-Dec. 1), winter break (December 20 January 1), and specific dates will be provided for potential additional breaks.
- The 15-18 JO teams pause during the boys' IHSA season, resuming in early June.
Q: How much travel is involved?
A:
15–18 JO teams:
- Attend multiple events, including the Brickyard Battle in Indianapolis or the Boys Winter Volleyball Championships in Chicago.
- May also participate in events like the Chi-Town Boys Challenge, Brew City Battle, Dennis Lafata Gateway Festival (St. Louis), and Windy City Round-Up.
- Participate in AAU Nationals in Orlando, FL, or USA Nationals in Minneapolis, MN.
- All travel and related costs are invoiced separately.
Q: How do coaches evaluate each athlete?
A: Coaches assess players based on athleticism, work ethic, and attitude for younger age groups (12-14). For older age groups (15-18), skills are also evaluated.
Q: How many athletes will Sky High select?
A: Due to space and coaching limitations, typically ten to twelve athletes are selected per team.
Q: Where does Sky High find its coaches?
A: Our coaches are highly experienced, with many having coached at the collegiate and/or high school level. All are Impact certified by USA Volleyball, with some also holding ASEP and/or CAP certifications.
Q: What do fees (dues) include?
A: Fees cover fixed costs such as court rental, equipment, coaches, and local tournament entry fees, including Asics Nationals for 14/13's. Uniform costs are additional.
Q: How will I know if my athlete was selected to compete with Sky High?
A: Results will be posted after tryouts, and instructions will be provided for accessing required paperwork online. A parent meeting will be scheduled before or shortly after the season begins.
Q: Is a deposit required?
A: A $35 registration fee is required for tryouts. If selected to a program, a $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot on the roster. This deposit and contract signature commits the athlete to the club for the season.
Q: What paperwork is involved and when is it due?
A: All necessary paperwork, including the contract, will be provided online after tryouts. Complete and submit all documents by the deadline stated in your welcome email. A Parent/Player Handbook will be emailed within a couple of weeks after tryouts.
Q: How much will the uniforms cost?
A:
JO athletes: Three jerseys, two practice t-shirts, crew socks, one pair of shorts, a full warm-up, backpack, and a Molten Flistatec volleyball. Additional accessories are available for purchase. Approximate cost: $460.00
Regional athletes: Two jerseys, two practice t-shirts, one pair of shorts, crew socks, full warm-up, backpack, and a Molten Flistatec volleyball. Approximate cost: $400.00
All players must wear black socks, black kneepads (required for 14u athlete), and predominantly black or red shoes at practices and competitions. ADIDAS brand socks, kneepads, and shorts are required for all competitions.
Q: What if my athlete plays another sport?
A: Sky High supports multi-sport athletes for athletes who play in a school sport only. Other club teams are excluded from this exemption. Provide your practice and competition schedule to your coach and keep them informed of any changes. Conflicts will be excused if these terms are met.
If the athlete plays a Winter season High School sport, it is unlikely they will be able to participate in our JO program. Please call our office with questions.
Q: What if I have questions not covered in the FAQ
A: Please call the Boys Program Director, Miguel De La Rosa, at 224.513.5240 or the main office at 815-356-0006. You may also send an email using the contact button on the Boys Program General Info page.
updated for clarity on 8/27/2024