August - All paperwork (including completed physical exam) are due in to the coach.

August - First day of tryouts, including returning players, incoming freshman and other players who were not members of last years team.

August - Final Varsity and Junior Varsity teams announced.

Tryout sessions are in the Baker High gym. Experienced volleyball players always arrive early: you must be dressed and completely ready to play at the starting time. Therefore, you should plan to arrive fifteen minutes early.

Any girl officially enrolled at Baldwinsville for the upcoming school year may try out for the volleyball team, as long as she meets school district academic eligibility requirements and has completed the necessary paperwork BEFORE coming to the gym. Parent permission card and player participation form is required.

Baldwinsville District Athletic Registration packets are in the Athletic Office during regular school hours (8am-4pm).

You must visit your health care provider and have him/her complete the physical examination form in the packet.

When all your paperwork is complete, your name will be printed. When the volleyball coaches see your name on that list, you may attend this years tryouts.

Prospective Bville Bees who wish to earn a spot on the team must attend every tryout session. If an injury or illness prevents you from participating, you must call the coaches IN ADVANCE to try to make other arrangements.

YOU MUST BRING A WATER BOTTLE AND A SNACK EACH DAY.

Wear comfortable clothes: t-shirt, shorts/spandex, socks and court shoes. DO NOT WEAR spaghetti-strap tops or shirts exposing a bare midriff. DO NOT bring jewelry (including earrings) to the gym.

Kneepads are recommended, but not required. Ankle braces are recommended for those who make the team, but are not required for tryouts.

The varsity and junior varsity teams will each have twelve players, for a total of 24. The JV team will not include any juniors or seniors.

Each of the 24 available spots will be filled during tryouts. We anticipate players from last year's team will compete for positions on this year's team; no one is guaranteed a spot. We also anticipate that sophomores, juniors and seniors who were not on last year's team - including transfer students - will attend tryouts!.

There is a modified Freshman Volleyball team in Baldwinsville. It is not only for Freshman athletes. We also have a Modified Red and a Modified White seventh and eighth grade team.

The coaching staff will be looking for coachable athletes who have a great work ethic and want to learn to be better players and teammates.

Prior volleyball experience or skill helps, but is not required. Prospective student athletes will be tested and evaluated for their overall athletic ability and level of volleyball skill. Coaches will apply the following criteria (in this order):

1. ATTITUDE - Players who are positive, competitive and eager to learn.

2. ATHLETIC ABILITY - Players with advanced skills, and/or players with the demonstrated ability to learn and perform complex new skills.

3. POSITION - Players whose skills fit a specific need for the team's overall balance.

Expect to work hard. You will be asked to perform all physical testing and drills at full speed. You should run when shagging balls, when moving from drill to drill and when going to and from water breaks. You will not sit down during tryouts, except during water breaks and the daily snack break.

Expect to improve your volleyball skills. At tryouts, coaches will both teach and evaluate. Even if you are not selected to the team, you should be a better volleyball player by the end of the week.

Expect to enjoy yourself. Tryouts are a normal part of the Baldwinsville Bees experience. Whether you are competing for a seat in the orchestra or jazz band, or for a role in the school play or musical, or for a spot on the basketball or tennis team, you will have plenty of opportunities to show your stuff and try your best. We suggest you stay loose, make new friends, and decide that you will have a good time, no matter what the end result.

Our season is short and very busy! Attendance at in-season practices is mandatory.

During the tryout process, it is not unusual for some girls to decide they would rather not continue trying out. If you think you'd like to withdraw from consideration for a spot on the team, please talk it over first with one of the coaches; it is possible you may be underestimating your chances. Do not simply stop attending tryouts without telling us first.

We all have the occasional bad day. Don't let yourself become easily discouraged.

The Baldwinsville Bees Volleyball coaching staff strives to make all decisions fairly, without bias, and after extended deliberation and evaluation of each prospective student athlete.

If you are not selected this season, and would like to try out again in the future, there are other options available to you that may help you in the future.

1. Apply to become a team manager. Volleyball managers have a chance to learn leadership and organizational skills and fill a valuable role on the team. Managers also work with Baldwinsville Bees athletic trainer, learning basic training and first aid skills.

2. Play another sport for the Bees.

3. Attend open gyms and/or volleyball camps. There is an active recreational volleyball community year-round here in central NY. Most volleyball camps are offered during the summer months.

4. Tryout for club volleyball. Hundreds of girls from central NY play in tournaments in the area.

Emphatically, NO!

Some players who are not selected on a team may try out again the following year and are chosen.

Many players are still growing, and we all develop at different rates. Girls who are among the best in their class early on are occasionally overtaken by late bloomers.

For most, an interest in volleyball grows stronger each year. For a few, the interest fades as other activities become more important. On average, five girls per class play volleyball at Bville for all four years. (Some who don't play as seniors sometimes play again in college!)

Have a goal.

For a few players, the goal may be to make the team. But for most girls, a better goal might be to simply try your best, learn a lot, and have fun. If you make it, great (and there will be plenty of hard work ahead). If you don't make it this time, the sounds you hear are other door of opportunity opening at one of the best high schools in America.

Either way, you can't lose!