CLUB SEASON FAQ

OUR MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What days will teams practice?

Lakeway/Morristown teams will practice every Tuesday and Thursday at Morristown Landing. Exact practice times will be announced after tryouts once teams and rosters are finalized.

For Knoxville teams, we are currently finalizing the practice days, times, and locations for each age group and division. This information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Because Club Unite offers multiple age groups and team levels, Knoxville practice schedules may vary by team.

What are the approximate costs?

Costs will vary depending on whether the athlete is placed on a Local, Premier, or National team. The number of tournaments, the amount of travel, the length of the season, and other team-specific expenses affect the total cost.

Families will be provided with an estimated cost range before their tryout dates. We will provide complete financial information and the payment schedule before families are required to accept a team position.

Travel-related expenses, including hotels, transportation, and meals, are separate from club dues and will vary according to the team’s schedule.

When does the club season begin and end?

Club Unite practices begin in November, and tournament competition begins in January. The ending date depends on the athlete’s age group and team level.

• Local teams: Generally finish in early to mid to late April based on age (younger ones end earlier)
• Premier teams: Generally finish in mid-April through the first weekend of May.
• National teams: Generally compete through May, with a possible postseason or national event in June. National teams will be given the option to compete in postseason.

A more specific season schedule will be provided for each team before families are required to accept a roster position.

Please note: Season lengths vary by age group. Our 12U program early April and teams may play that 2nd weekend of April while our 18U program ends earlier than our other high-school age divisions to accommodate senior-year activities, including prom, graduation, and other school commitments.

When will the tournament schedules be available?

We understand that tournament schedules are an important part of a family’s decision. At this time, we can provide a general idea of the number of tournaments, expected travel, and types of events for each team level. Club Directors are working diligently to provide a tentative tournament schedule.

However, many tournament hosts are still finalizing and posting their 2027 events. Because event dates, locations, age divisions, and availability may change, we cannot provide a fully accurate team schedule yet.

Multi Sport Athletes

We do not discourage multi-sport athletes. A conversation with Parent/Guardian + Director initially will be helpful and moving forward Parent/Guardian + Athlete + Coach so everyone is in the loop.

Positional Training

When are positional training sessions and what are they?

Club Unite takes positional training very seriously, and many families who have played with us identify it as one of the most valuable aspects of our club.

Approximately every three to four weeks, Club Unite will offer specialized positional training in place of a regularly scheduled team practice. Athletes may select the position they would like to focus on and attend the training location offering that session.

This training allows athletes to receive focused instruction based on their position, individual needs, and areas they would like to develop. Available positions, training locations, and session times will be communicated to families in advance.

Do all divisions receive positional training?

Yes

Who is responsible for booking tournament hotels?

Parents and guardians are responsible for making and paying for their athlete’s hotel arrangements.

For tournaments without a housing requirement, families may choose and book their own hotel.

What is a Stay-to-Play tournament?

A Stay-to-Play tournament requires participating teams to reserve rooms through designated hotels or an approved housing service.

Club Unite will email the required reservation information to families. When a tournament is designated as Stay-to-Play, families must follow the provided booking instructions. Failure to meet the event’s housing requirements could affect the team’s eligibility to participate.

Do all athletes have to stay at the same hotel?

For non-Stay-to-Play events, athletes are not required to stay at the same hotel. However, many families enjoy staying together because it creates opportunities for team bonding and makes tournament logistics easier.

For Stay-to-Play events, families must use the hotels or housing options approved by the tournament.

TERMINOLOGY

Register: Registering for Club Unite volleyball is a critical step that all players must take in order to participate. Club Unite is using CROSSBAR (new this year). The Crossbar registration process serves as the gateway into the club's sports management system, This player profile is used for the tryout process is only accessible to the club directors. Club Directors will pull pertinent information necessary for the tryout evaluators but do not share sensitive information. 

Tryout: Consider this term more as an EVALUATION or ASSESSMENT. The goal is to ensure that each athlete is matched with the team that will challenge them appropriately, play to their strengths, and help them continue developing their skills in a supportive, constructive environment. It's a thorough, multi-faceted process that allows the club to assemble rosters where everyone can thrive. The on-court evaluation is the most important however the answers provided on the registration give the directors and evaluators a deeper understanding of the desired goals for the upcoming season. 

Roster Release: Rosters will be emailed on the date assigned. 

Commitment: Athletes will commit to Club Unite via a Crossbar invitation (emailed) proclaiming their roster spot.