FAQ

Q: When and where are tryouts?
A: Tryouts take place in late November/early December. Check the Tryouts page for exact dates, times, and locations.

Q: When does registration for tryouts start?
A: As mandated by Volleyball BC, registration for tryouts may not begin prior to October 15.  

Q: How much do tryouts cost?
A: Pre-registering for tryouts online costs $40 (non-refundable, payable by credit card).  Walk up registration on-site during tryouts is $50 (cash, cheque, or credit card). Some age categories show extra tryout dates. These tryout sessions are invite-only sessions set by the selection committee. There is no charge for the invite-only session(s).

Q: Why do we have to pay for tryouts?
A: The majority of clubs in BC charge for tryouts. Volleyball BC advises that clubs charge for tryouts to ensure that there is commitment from interested athletes. We also charge a fee to build a bank balance for emergencies and for facility rentals for tryouts.

Q: What age groups do you serve?
A: We try to accommodate all athletes that express interest in our club to the best of our capabilities. in our competitive club stream, we have 12U, 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U, and 18U teams (note: there are no competitions for just 12U Boys team.  12U Boys will compete against 13U Boys). 

Q: What team should I try out for?
A: This is dependent on your birthdate.  The 2025-2026 season age classes are as follows:

12U: Sept. 1, 2013 and later
13U: Sept. 1, 2012 – Dec. 31, 2013
14U: Sept. 1, 2011 – Dec. 31, 2012
15U: Sept. 1, 2010 – Dec. 31, 2011
16U: Sept. 1, 2009 – Dec. 31, 2010
17U: Sept. 1, 2008 – Dec. 31, 2009
18U: Sept. 1, 2007 – Dec. 31, 2008

This means that by these  rules established by Volleyball Canada, an athlete born September 1 or later can play at 2 different age classes.

Note: There may be a maximum of 2 “overage” athletes on an 18U roster.  This means that an athlete that has a birthday anytime in the 2007 calendar year still has eligibility so long as they are not members of a post-secondary school team and therefore, can be selected for our 18U teams.

Q: What if I want to try out for 2 different age classes (i.e. “playing up”)?
A: You may do so, but you will have to pay a tryout fee for each age class you are trying out for.

Q: How many teams do you have per age group?
A: Each season is different, but we try to have at least 2 teams per age group from 12U-16U (girls) and 13-16U (boys).  Some years, we have had up to 3 teams in some age groups.  There are some exceptions, but it depends on the availability of qualified coaches and facility availability.

Q: Do I have to be at every tryout?
A: No, but it is to your advantage to be at every tryout so that you are not only exposed to the coaches more, but you also gain more knowledge and more touches on the ball. If you must miss a tryout, let your coach know as soon as possible and hopefully, something can be worked out. 

Q: How do I know if I’ve been selected to a callback tryout or been selected to a team?

A: Some of our tryouts are heavily attended by interested athletes.  To make tryouts more manageable, some age groups will have callback tryouts after the first, initial tryout.  We try to e-mail families using contact information provided during tryout registration, but sometimes, these e-mails are not received for a variety of reasons (e.g. typos, e-mail clients sending our communications, to junk mail folders, etc….)  Because of this, we also post tryout results on our website (by ID number, which will be assigned at tryouts).

If you have been given an offer by a coach to a team (congratulations!), you have until the Monday after the last tryout (AKA “signing day”) at 6:00PM to accept or reject your offer in writing (by e-mail response).  No member of our club (or any other club) can pressure you into making a decision prior to the signing date (this is against Volleyball BC policy), so if you need time to make your decision, you have until the Monday at 6:00PM.  That being said, if your decision has been made (either way), our coaches would appreciate a response as soon as possible prior to signing date to facilitate the building of the team’s roster, which can be a stressful time for not just athletes and their families, but our coaches and selection committee as well.  

Q: Why should I try out for Apex?
A: Being selected for one of our club teams allows athletes to train and compete with teammates under certified coaches, travel to out-of-town tournaments, and participate in high-level athletics.  We pride ourselves on being a family and we strive to make the club experience the best that it can be for our athletes. Our club is more than just a volleyball club and we try to make each member feel like they’ve joined a family that delivers a great experience each season.

Q: What should I do to prepare for tryouts?
A: Just be ready to be coached and to show our coaches what you’ve got! Make sure you’re hydrated and have had a proper meal beforehand so that you are at your peak performance level.  Try to get some touches in prior to tryouts to be at your optimal level.  We also have Club Tryout Prep Camps that we offer through our Developmental Programs stream.

Q: What do I need to bring to tryouts?
A: First, please pre-register online. All athletes are required to pay a registration fee prior to the first tryout. Athletes will not be permitted to try out without the registration fee paid.  Tryouts can be a stressful situation, so on the day of your tryout, arrive with time to spare so you can soak in the atmosphere and prepare to give it your best.  Bring your volleyball gear (if you have them; they are not mandatory), such as court shoes, knee pads, ankle braces, arm sleeves, athletic tape, etc…, a water bottle, and a smile!

Q: Does Apex pre-sign athletes?
A: Apex’s policy is that we do not pre-sign athletes and believe in an open tryout process.

Q: Where is the Apex Volleyball Club located?
A: Apex is primarily based out of East Vancouver and West Burnaby, with tryouts and practices taking place at (but not limited to) the Harry Jerome Sports Centre, Vancouver Technical, Britannia, Windermere, and Moscrop Secondary Schools, and Hastings, L’Ecole Bilingue, Laura Secord, Lord Nelson, Renfrew, Sir Sandford Fleming, and wək̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm (formerly Sir Matthew Begbie) Elementary Schools (all pending availability).

Q: If I make the team, how much would I have to pay in fees?
A: Team fees depend on the team and age, but typically range from $1500-3000. This includes registration with Apex, coaches’ fees, equipment, facility rentals, club uniform kit (2 jerseys, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of socks, 2 warm-up shirts, a hoodie, sweatpants, a pair of knee pads, and a backpack), and registration for at least 4 tournaments (including the Provincial Championships). Some teams may decide to include strength and conditioning training with a certified coach, which would add to team fees.

Travel to out-of-town tournaments that require overnight stays are extra. Teams also have the opportunity to travel to compete in the Volleyball Canada National Championships (locations vary year-by-year and therefore, so do costs). If a team chooses not to go to Nationals, the cost drops significantly, especially if they are outside the Lower Mainland.  Some teams may also decide to attend tournaments in the United States, and of course, this would be extra.

A list of expected team fee amounts for each team are released in November before tryouts start.

Q: When are fees expected to be paid?
A: A $500 non-refundable deposit must be paid by the signing date to secure and confirm acceptance of an offer made to an athlete by the club after tryouts.  After this, families are required to pay the season’s team fees approximately 1-2 weeks later, depending on the age group and when the Parent Informational Meetings occur.

Q: Are there any other costs?
A: Families are required to register with Volleyball BC (which includes insurance and registration with Volleyball Canada) through SportLomo.  Instructions on how to do this will be sent to families when teams have been formed after tryouts.  Teams may attend extra tournaments that are not budgeted at the start of the season.

The club also sells other club apparel like hoodies, sweatpants, jackets, and other gear, including shoes, bags, ankle braces, and kneepads online through our clothing and equipment supplier.  These items are all optional.

Q: I may have challenges paying my fees. Is there anything that can be done to help ease the financial burden?
A: The club offers bursaries, payment plans, as well as opportunities to fundraise. KidSport BC offers grants to those in need as well.  There are also other organizations, such as Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program, and Athletics 4 Kids, which may be able to help. Please visit our Bursaries page for more information.

Q: How long is the season?
A: The club volleyball season starts with tryouts in late November/early December, and ends with our last tournaments occurring in late April, May, or June, depending on the age group.

Q: When do you practice and when are games?
A: We establish our practice schedule when we meet with our coaches in late October/early November. Our practice schedule is dependent on our coaches’ availabilities and the availabilities of facilities.  Our 15-18U 1st teams practice 3x per week and our 15-18U 2nd/3rd teams, and all 12-14U teams 2x per week for 1.5-2 hours each session, with at least one being on a Friday or Monday night, or a Sunday.  Practices may occur on any day of the week, with practices taking place from 4:00PM onward with the latest potential end time at 10:00PM on weekdays, and 8:00AM onwards on weekends (latest end time is 10:00PM).  Each team establishes practice schedules to cater to the needs of the team, so for example, a team may have an extra practice on a week prior to an important tournament.  We try to prioritize the earlier times for our younger teams, but this is dependent on the availability of the team’s coaches.

“Games” take place in a tournament format with Volleyball BC in the club system. Volleyball BC tournaments all take place on weekends, either on Saturday, Sunday, or both days.  Exceptions are the provincial championships and the national championships. These events may take place on a Friday preceding a weekend or a Monday following a weekend. Exhibition or friendly matches may take place against other teams during the week as well.

The Volleyball BC event schedule can be found on their website.

Some clubs host their own private tournaments. These usually take place on weekends as well. Coaches will determine which events they plan on attending and will establish a tournament schedule with the team at the introductory team meeting in December once tryouts have been completed.

Q: What is your policy on playing time?
A: Each coach has different  philosophies regarding playing time, so please contact your coach for more information. Volleyball BC has a mandated “fair play” rule at 12, 13 and 14U tournaments. This means that players who did not play in set 1 must play in set 2 of a match. This allows for more athletes to play in every match. This rule is not in place in 15-18U competitions.

Q: My child participates in other school or club teams in other sports. Can they still play for Apex?
A: Absolutely.  Apex fully supports the development of multi-sport athletes.  Our teams practice two or three times a week and our coaches try to schedule practices so that all team members can be present as much as possible.    However, we do expect a minimum level of participation to ensure that the team can work together and thrive.

At minimum, our 1st teams require attendance at 90% of practices and all tournaments.  Our 2nd and 3rd teams require attendance at 75% of all practices and tournaments.

Different coaches will have different demands for attendance at practices and tournaments, so please contact your coach to find out what their expectations are.

Q: What is your policy for tournaments in the United States?
A: If Apex teams decide to participate in tournaments in the United States, athletes must have proper travel documents (e.g. a valid passport and other required travel documents) to enter the U.S. and return to Canada. The club is not responsible for any issues or charged costs that may arise at ports of entry, including but not limited to customs and immigration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Q: Are the coaches certified?
A: All our head coaches are certified by the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and follow the Volleyball BC Coaches’ Code of Conduct. All Apex staff members have also undergone a Criminal Record Check.

Q: When is this year’s Apex general meeting?
A: TBA.  Please watch for a post on our website and on our Instagram account.

Q: I have more questions! Who can I contact?
A: Please contact us at info@apexvolleyball.com an

Q: What is a “Development Program”?
A: Development Programs offer more opportunities for interested athletes to participate in volleyball, no matter the skill or experience level.

Q: Do you only offer indoor development programs?
A: We offer development programs both indoor and outdoor (on grass and sand). 

Q: What indoor Development Programs do you offer?
A:  Our indoor programs can be split into three streams: Smashball, Train and Play, and Club Season Prep.

Smashball is for our elementary school-aged athletes (grades 3-6) who are starting to learn volleyball.  Smashball is offered in the fall, winter, and spring, and over one week in the summer.

Train and Play programs are for athletes  in grades 7-10 working on developing their skills.  We offer 3 pathways with our Train and Play: Novice (for beginners), Intermediate (for younger players with experience), and Elite (for higher level players).  

All 3 of these pathways are offered in the fall.  We only offer Train and Play Novice and Intermediate in the winter and spring.

Club Season Prep programs take place only in the fall in preparation for club tryouts in November and December.

We also have an Adult Train and Play for adults wanting to be coached and receive training from certified coaches! 

More information regarding our Development Programs can be found here.

Q: What about beach and grass volleyball?
A:  Our outdoor programs run only in the late spring and summer months.  Our beach program starts in May and goes into August.  Our grass program runs as a Train and Play for athletes aged 10-15 from June to July.  We also host a competitive grass league for older athletes wanting more opportunties to compete.

More information regarding our Summer Outdoor Programs can be found here.

Q: When do the indoor programs take place and how long do they last?
A:  Our Development Programs take place in each of the four seasons of the year.  Each set takes place over 2 hours on a specific evening of the week for 6-8 weeks.  Our start dates are in October, January, and March.

In the summer, our indoor programs run in a camp-style, with each week having a specific theme (weekday mornings and early afternoons only), lasting 1.5-2.5 hours per session each day.

More information regarding our Summer Indoor Programs can be found here.

Q: What is your refund policy?

A:  Details about our refund policy can be found here.