FAQ’s

No. Just one is fine if you are confident in your abilities. Typically, the more the coaches see you, the better chance you have of making an impression. And the more you make an impression the better chance you have of getting selected for a team. Our coaches have been conducting tryouts for years, it is easy to pick the top athletes (estimate 20%) and it is easy to dismiss the bottom 20%. The real skill lies in picking the right 60% in the middle. If you are in the 60% category you should come to both tryout dates.

Each player will be notified immediately upon being selected. In addition, we will post each team’s roster on our web site: www.platformelite.com

Offer Period for 14u and younger. I understand that if I try out for a 14u or younger club team that I have until 4 PM on the Monday following the first weekend in November to make my final commitment to a club. For tryouts which occur after that date, I have until 4 PM on the Monday following the tryout to inform the club if I accept the offer. The club will have to hold that position available for me, once the offer is made until the above named deadlines.

Offer Period for 15u and older. I understand that if I try out for a 15u or older club team that I have until 4 PM on the Monday following the State of Iowa Girls High School Volleyball Tournament to make my final commitment to a club. For tryouts which occur after that date, I have until 4 PM on the Monday following the tryout to inform the club if I accept the offer. The club will have to hold that position available for me, once the offer is made until the above named deadlines.

No, just pay once and you can attend all or one of the tryouts for your age level. Pre-Registration: $30 (club director needs to receive registration at least two days prior to tryout date). Registration at the door: $40.

It all depends on how many girls try out. Last year we had teams at age levels 13u, 14u, 15u, 16u, 17u, and 18u. We expect to continue with those teams and add a 12u team. However, this will be determined by the number of players that come to tryouts.

We try to keep the teams in the 9-12 player range.

We had about 130 girls at our tryouts last season.

We had around 95 players in the club last year.

We are always limited by the number of qualified coaches we can attract as well as court space (for practice). Without coaches, we couldn’t have teams, and without the teams, we couldn’t bring in as many players as we would like.

Given that most of our players plan on trying out again, and given that many of them plan on bringing their friends and junior high school and/or high school teammates… who knows?

Yes. Though we know you pretty well, we don’t know who else will be trying out in your age group. Like everyone else, you need to wait for the notification upon being selected.

Maybe, but probably not. It all depends on how many kids in each age group are at tryouts and which team they make.

It is important to come to our tryouts with a passion to learn the sport of volleyball and the spirit of having fun. We want all players that tryout for Platform Elite to have a great time and to show us their best effort.

We need you to bring a calendar of events that are on your current radar from January to July of 2012. This is very important so we are well informed of a player’s ability to practice and play in tournaments during the season. Our teams success relies upon the commitment each player is able to make up front and stick with!

It is always helpful if you wear a t-shirt with your last name on the back.

12u, 13u & all Blue teams = $800
All 1s teams = $1150
All National teams = $1350

The dues include equipment, practice space, coaches’ expenses, tournament entry fees and weekly plyometric training. The $30 tryout fee does not go toward the player’s dues.

All players will be required to purchase two jerseys and one pair of shorts. We recommend purchasing a warm up jacket and at least one extra pair of shorts. Warm up pants will also be available for purchase, along with some other optional uniform items. Mandatory uniform costs are as follows and is due by December 1st in addition to the first installment of player dues.

12u &13u teams: $90 (subject to change)
All other teams: $110 (subject to change)

Warm up jacket will be approximately $55 and an extra pair of shorts will be $17 

Dues can be prepaid in advance or financed over a four month basis. The first installment is due December 1st with remaining payments due on the first of each month beginning in January.
Payment Amounts:
12u, 13u & all Blue teams = $200
All 1s teams = $287.50
All National teams = $337.50

Yes, player dues have increased from last season. We purchased club management software to help the club run more efficiently. We gave a general increase in coaches’ compensation.  Additionally, there were a few increases in expenses; hourly practice court fees have increased as well as Iowa Region coaches registration fees and tournament entry fees.

We offer fundraising opportunities to bring the out-of-pocket cost down. Last year we had some players have almost half of their dues paid for through fundraising! The fundraisers we have used are Butter Braids, Coupon Books, Cookie Dough, Yankee Candle sales, etc… We are open to all new ideas for fundraising. If you have fundraising ideas PLEASE e-mail them to platformelite@yahoo.com!

This meeting is MANDATORY for all players and at least one parent or guardian. We are still working on the specifics and will announce this at a later date.

Each team will have at least three to five hours of practice per week beginning in December and running through mid-April. Some teams may have longer practices once or twice a week and other teams may have shorter practices two to three times a week. This will depend on what works for your team and coaches. If your team qualifies for USA Nationals, your team will practice through mid to late June. We will have concurrent practices on multiple courts to improve instruction with multiple coaches and allow for scrimmaging and club cohesiveness.

YES! Once a week you will be required to attend a plyometric training. We provide these classes for injury prevention and to help increase each players foot-speed, vertical jump, agility and strength. Each workout will also strengthen each player’s cardiovascular muscles.

12u and 13u will play 5-7 tournaments each season, including Iowa Regionals (nonqualifying) and other tournaments within the Iowa region.
All blue teams will play 6-8 tournaments each season, including Iowa Regionals (nonqualifying) and other tournaments within the Iowa region.  All 1s teams will play 7-9 tournaments each season, including President’s Day Classic, Iowa Regionals (qualifying), one national qualifier and the remainder of their schedules will be more localized. National teams will attend Great Lakes Power League, President’s Day Classic, Iowa Regionals (qualifying), and one national qualifier.  Our National teams will play in a post-season tournament: USAV Nationals if qualify or AAU Nationals.

*If a team decides to attend an additional national qualifier or tournament the entry fee and expenses will split between the number of players and added to each player’s dues.

**Please note that the President’s Day Classic and all national qualifiers are three day events. Please understand that your daughter will miss one day of school in order to attend these events.

Parents are responsible for all travel expenses and getting their daughter to and from the tournaments. We, of course, will help out if the player needs a ride or needs to stay with another player if it’s an overnight trip.

Platform Elite is entering it’s sixth season and has helped place 30 student-athletes! Our alumni worked very hard both on and off the volleyball court to achieve their ultimate goal of playing volleyball in college. We will do our due diligence in networking with college coaches to help find a good fit for you. We will give you the opportunity to create a video that features your individual skills as well as game footage. This video can be distributed by mail, email, or even You Tube to college coaches. However, the best way to for a college coach to see you in action is on the court at a tournament. College coaches heavily attend the President’s Day Classic, Great Lakes Power League, and all national qualifiers.  Find more information on our recruiting services from our main menu on this website.

Please e-mail or call Melissa Pavelka at melissa@platformelite.com or 563-505-8646.