Frequently Asked Questions

JO Volleyball is open to Pillager athletes only. Athletes from other schools are not eligible to try out.

Registration opened November 1 and is open now. Please submit your tryout application by Wednesday, November 18.

• Your athlete’s tryout group: 10U–12U, 13U–14U or 15U–17U
• A current photo of your athlete
• Your athlete’s top two positions: DS, Libero, Setter or Hitter
• Whether your athlete is in any other club sports, and if so, which one(s)
• Your acknowledgment that you have read the Tryout Evaluation Process, the Tryout Skill Ladder, and the Player & Parent Handbook

You choose the tryout group on the application. Evaluators then place athletes on teams. Athletes are placed in their age division. Playing up is rare and follows the Play Up Guidelines below.

At Pillager JO Volleyball, athletes are placed in age-appropriate divisions to support healthy development, confidence, and long-term success. In some cases, an athlete may be considered to “play up” in a higher age division(s). This decision is based on team need and athlete readiness, not preference or convenience.

How play-up decisions are made:

1. Team Need. A play-up evaluation only occurs if the older team has a roster or positional need, or if the younger team has an excess of players.
2. Skill Level. The athlete must demonstrate skills above their current age group and comparable to the older group.
3. Developmental Fit. Playing up must benefit the athlete socially, emotionally and developmentally.

Important notes for families:

• Playing up is not guaranteed, even for highly skilled athletes.
• Evaluations are based on objective criteria, not parent request.
• Pillager JO may revoke play-up status if development or team fit changes.
• Athletes who remain in their age group are still fully supported and valued.

Athletes may not play down.

The 2026–27 season fee is $250. It includes a $25 registration fee that you pay when you register. The remaining $225 is due within one week after you are notified that your athlete has been placed on a team.

Fees went up $50 this season. This year the program must provide its own insurance, and we are raising coach pay, since coaches were underpaid in the past. Tournament costs could also go up depending on which tournaments we attend.

All fees are non-refundable. Refunds because of an injury are decided case by case by a board vote, depending on when in the season the injury happened.

Yes. Every hour you volunteer at a Pillager JO fundraiser earns $10 toward the program fee, up to $50 per player per season. Parents may volunteer on behalf of their player, and unused credits from last season carry over to this season. Volunteer credit hours will be taken into account when making final JO registration payment.

Please arrive 30 minutes early on day one and 15 minutes early on day two, dressed and ready to be on the court at the start time. Parents of 10U–12U athletes, please be back by 2:30 PM in case the session ends early.

Yes. Both days include skill stations and scrimmage play, and athletes are evaluated each day, so one tough day does not decide a placement. On Day 2, evaluators begin placing athletes and identifying anyone who should move up.

Two evaluators recruited from outside the Pillager community lead the 13U–17U tryouts, with input from established JO coaches. Coaches do not evaluate their own children. Pillager School volleyball coaches are not able to be a part of team selection.

Evaluators look at ball control (arm swing, passing, setting), blocking, serving and passing, hitting, and live play in sixes and scrimmages. Coachability and attitude count at every station. The Tryout Skill Ladder, linked from the tryout application, shows what evaluators expect to see at each age level, so new families can see the skills needed to make a team.

For 13U–17U, cuts are possible. It is anticipated one team per age level, with rosters capped at about 10. Should the number of athletes in attendance warrant a second team at an age level, the evaluators and board of directors reserve the right to add additional teams. There are no cuts at 10U, 11U and 12U.

We know cuts are hard. Other programs use them, and capping rosters helps us build cohesive teams where every athlete can grow and our program gets stronger.

For 13U–17U, it is anticipated there will be one team at each age level, with rosters capped at about 10 players. Should the number of athletes in attendance warrant a second team at an age level, the evaluators and board of directors reserve the right to add additional teams.

For 10U–12U, we expect two teams at each level, depending on registration.

That team will play with eight.

At 10U–12U, the Travel team is more competitive, travels farther for tournaments, and bases roster spots and playing time on skill level. The Local team plays in tournaments closer to Pillager and may carry a larger roster so more athletes get to play. On the application, choose Local only or Local and Travel.

If an athlete must miss because of illness and can provide medical documentation, the board will work with the family to arrange an evaluation. Absences for other reasons will be considered as part of an athlete’s commitment to the team.

Families will be notified of team placements by email once evaluators, coaches and the board have finalized rosters.

Feedback is provided upon request of the parent or player. Evaluators use a rating form for every athlete. If you request feedback, we will share the evaluators’ notes along with clinic options your athlete can attend to keep improving. To request feedback, email the board at pillagerjovolleyball@gmail.com.

Yes. Open gym runs Sundays in November through January, 6:00–7:30 PM at Pillager School. The pre-tryout open gym on Sunday, Nov 15 runs 4:30–6:00 PM. It is not required, but it is highly recommended.

Team practices start in late February, after the basketball season ends. Teams practice twice a week, and gym space is reserved on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Practice times are shared with team placements.

No. School sports and activities come first, with no consequences.

Absences for anything other than school activities, including family vacations, are unexcused and affect playing time. For each unexcused practice missed, the athlete sits out one set at the next tournament.

Please list the club team on your application and send us the club schedule as soon as you have it, so we can try to avoid conflicts when we choose tournaments. Practices and tournaments missed for club sports fall under the missed-practice policy above.

Every team will play in at least five tournaments.

Locations will be announced once we know how many teams we have, and families will be notified in advance. The board is considering multiple locations such as Pierz, Little Falls, Pequot Lakes, Fargo, Mora and Becker, along with our own Pillager tournament.

Some families didn’t like the travel distance last year, so we are looking at more options. We still plan to attend some MSF tournaments, such as Mora and Becker.

13U–17U teams will not referee. Some tournaments for younger teams may ask teams to referee.

We know it can be tough. Younger teams usually play on Saturdays, so families with more than one athlete may need to divide and conquer.

When opportunities come up and gyms are available, coaches may arrange scrimmages, but we can’t promise them.

April 10–11, 2027. Save the date!

The program is meant to grow every athlete’s skills so they can compete and succeed at a higher level. We work to align with the Pillager School volleyball program.

Coaches aim to play every athlete in each match, though not necessarily in every set or for equal time.

We budgeted for two coaches per team, a head coach and an assistant. All coaches apply, interview with the board, complete a background check, and complete required coach training.

Preferred qualifications include prior playing or coaching experience, background check clearance, and the ability to commit to the full season schedule. The board feels increased compensation will help to find those right candidates, as well as recognize that historically coaches were underpaid.

Coaches and the board of directors will work together to align the best coach for each team.

The coach application is open on our website. Please help spread the word — we are looking for coaches.

Email the board respectfully at pillagerjovolleyball@gmail.com. The board will talk with the coach, then respond or set up a meeting. Please wait 24 hours after a practice, match or tournament before raising a concern about playing time, positions or game decisions, and never confront a coach before, during or right after a tournament.

Watch for email from the board, follow Pillager Huskies JO Volleyball on Facebook, and join the Heja app (Pillager JO Volleyball, join code VS-690107). You can also visit pillagerjovolleyball.com.