November 5, 2026

Heading to Tryouts? 6 Qualities Volleyball Coaches in Calgary Look For

Skills alone rarely decide a roster spot. A veteran club coach explains six qualities Calgary volleyball coaches watch for at tryouts and how to show them.

Author: Luc Tremblay

Tags: Tryouts, Club volleyball, Parents

After years of running tryouts, I can tell you something that surprises a lot of parents: by the end of the first session, coaches usually have a group of players who are almost equal in skill. What moves one of them onto the roster is rarely a bigger spike. It is how they carry themselves in the gym.

Here are my best volleyball tryout tips: the six qualities coaches watch for, how your athlete can show each one, and what to do before the first session.

Start with research, not drills

Smart families get to know a club before tryout day. Spend some time on the club’s website and look for answers to these questions:

• What do current families say about the program?
• How many teams will the club run in my child’s age group, and roughly how many new players will it take?
• Is the club short on any position, such as setters or middles?
• How often do teams practise, what are the fees and how much travel is involved?

A well-run club will post most of this. If something is missing, email them and ask.

The tough math of making a club roster

Picking a team is one of the hardest jobs a coach has. When so many athletes are close in ability, coaches start comparing things other than skill. Two realities shape every tryout:

• Returning athletes come in with an advantage. A newcomer usually has to be noticeably better than a returning player to earn that spot.
• Open spots are limited. Clubs often bring back most of last season’s roster, so there may be only a few places available, even at U13.

That is why preparation should start weeks ahead. Come out to open gyms and camps in the fall. Athletes who already know the coaches and a few teammates play looser and more confident at tryouts.

Six qualities that win a roster spot

Let me give you a real example. Say I am looking for one setter and six setters in the gym are nearly identical. I will choose based on the qualities below. Each one is something any player can show, no matter their skill level.

1. Confidence: introduce yourself

Walk up to the coaches before the session starts, tell them your name and let them know you are excited to be there. Most players stay quiet, so this small step gets you noticed for the right reasons.

2. Humility: chase your own ball

Never hit a ball and walk back to the line. Go get it. It tells coaches you will do the small jobs a team needs, and it keeps loose balls off the court so nobody gets hurt.

3. Coachability: look and listen

Face the coach when they explain a drill and keep your eyes on them. Then try to do exactly what they asked. Coaches want players they can teach.

4. Resilience: next ball, every time

Mistakes happen to every player, every session. What coaches remember is the reaction. Skip the eye-rolls and slumped shoulders, reset quickly and get ready for the next ball.

5. Work ethic: never walk

Jog between stations, be at the front of the line, and bring energy to every drill. Effort is the easiest thing to control, and coaches notice it immediately.

6. Respect: thank the coaches

Before you leave, find each coach, offer a handshake and say thanks for the session. Two players may look the same on paper, but this is the one coaches will remember.

Coaches have their own priorities

Every coach sees players a little differently. When I look at setters and middle blockers, quick feet are near the top of my list. Given the choice, I will often take the setter who moves faster over the one with slightly better hands, because hands are easier to improve than footwork.

I also lean toward raw athletes over polished players, because I am thinking about how far a player can grow over several seasons. I should be clear that many coaches see it differently and pick the players who can help them win right away. Whatever a coach’s style, effort and attitude always count.

When the answer is not yes

Missing out on a team hurts, for players and parents. As a general rule, asking a club to explain why your child was not chosen will not get you far, since coaches cannot discuss how one child compared with another.

At Skyline, families see the team placement in their family account after tryouts. Tryouts do not include a written assessment, so if your athlete wants to keep improving, our camps are a good next step.

If club volleyball is new to your family, attending some fall open gyms or camps first takes a lot of the stress out of tryout day.

Your tryout day checklist

• Your Volleyball Alberta tryout membership, completed before the first session (see the steps)
• Indoor court shoes and knee pads
• A water bottle and a snack for after
• Athletic clothes, with long hair tied back
• A good attitude, which coaches notice from the first minute

Skyline tryouts in Calgary

Skyline Volleyball Club Alberta holds 2027 tryouts on November 29, December 5 and December 6 for girls in the U13/U14, U15 and U16/U17 divisions and for U16 boys. A single $50 fee covers all three sessions. Find your division and session times on our tryouts page, and get to know our coaches before you arrive.

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