2025-2026 Club Team: Pre-Season Information
Important Dates
Uniform Fitting
Players should plan to attend one of the uniform fittings to try on the jersey, complete the uniform order form and new players can select their number. Not all numbers will be available.
Fees for uniforms will be due at or before the parent meeting.
Payment is preferred at the time of the uniform fitting.
Order form with pricing is below.
Uniform Fitting Dates
Sunday, 9/28 - 12:30-3 pm
Sunday, 10/5 - 3:30-6 pm
Monday, 10/6 - 5:30-7 pm
In order to receive uniforms before the first tournaments in December, the club must order by October 20th.
We will also have previous seasons t-shirts and jerseys available for purchase at a discount. Cash only, limited sizes and while supplies.
T-shirts: $10
Jerseys: $25
Players are required to wear a T4 Volleyball top at all practices.
Jersey #'s
Returning players will keep their number from previous seasons.
New players including all 12U and 13U should email us with their top 3 choices for #'s. The current list of available numbers is below. If the square is blacked out or has an "X" the number is not available.
Parent & Player Meeting
We will hold one parent/player meeting to review and collect the commitment packet, expectations, practice and tournament schedule and answer questions.
Players and at least one (1) parent/guardian should plan to attend.
Sunday, October 19
4-6 pm
Some chairs will be available but please bring a folding or camping chair.
(We do not expect it to be longer than 2 hours and most likely 1.5 hours depending on questions.)
Practices Start
Practices are scheduled to start on Sunday, November 2nd. Please see the schedule below and the Crossbar app for your specific age group's times.
Club Pictures & Media Day
Friday, December 12th
Teams will be assigned a picture time as early as 6 pm. We will also be taking a club photo. More information about picture packages will be provided as we get closer.
Teams can also use this time for bonding and we will have tables set up for making hair ties and decorating clothes pins.
Practice and Tournament Schedules
We have been able to finalize the practice schedule for November-March for all age groups. The tournament schedule is about 90% done for the entire season. We still need to register for a few tournaments that do not open until October 1st. Links to the general practice and tournament schedules are below.
15U/16U Family Survey
Please complete the survey to help us finalize practices. We are trying to determine if we can hold practices beginning at 4:30 pm during January, February and March at least once a week for these teams. If we can, practices will be held at DuPage Training Academy.
Also included in the survey are questions for the 15U team and if your player is interested in competing on a National or Regional team. To be considered for the 15U Navy (National team) players must commit to playing the Full season. They will need to make the decision prior to November 9th and inform Eric Tripp, Club Director, that they will be changing from Winter Only to Full season.
Practice Schedules
Notes:
- November/December: All age groups will be at DuPage Training Academy (DTA).
- January-March: 15U/16U will practice at the Sports Hub in Glendale Heights. 12U-14U will practice at DTA.
- April-June: All teams will practice at DTA.
- Times for 15U/16U are later than we wanted. We will find out in November if we can move them earlier as well as use the survey to adjust times if possible.
- Please complete the survey by September 28th.
- Practice schedules for November & December will be added to Crossbar app by September 20th.
Tournament Schedules
Tournament schedule for all local tournaments will be final by October 15th. Travel tournament dates are listed and will be discussed with families once teams are formed.
Practice Schedules - Detail
12U
Nov./Dec.
- Su (2:30-4:30 pm)
- M/W (6:30-8:30 pm)
Jan.-Mar.
- M/W (6:30-8:30 pm)
Apr.-Jun. (Tentative)
- M/W (6:30-8:30 pm)
13U/14U
Nov./Dec.
- Su (12:30-2:30 pm)
- M (6:30-8:30 pm)
- Th (6:30-8:30 pm)
Jan.-Mar.
- Tu/Th (6:30-8:30 pm)
Apr.-Jun. (Tentative)
- Tu/Th (6:30-8:30 pm)
15U
Nov./Dec.
- Su (10 am-12:30 pm)
- Tu (6-8:30 pm)
- W (5:30-8:30 pm)
- F (7-9:30 pm)
Jan.-Mar. (Sports Hub)
- M/W/F (8-10 pm)
- Depends on practice survey and court availability.
Apr.-Jun. (Tentative)
- M (7-9:30 pm)
- W (5:30-8:30 pm)
- Th (6-8:30 pm)
16U
Nov./Dec.
- Su (2:30-5 pm)
- Tu (4:30-6:30 pm)
- W (5:30-8:30 pm)
- F (7-9:30 pm)
Jan.-Mar. (Sports Hub)
- M/W/F (8-10 pm)
- Depends on practice survey and court availability.
Apr.-Jun. (Tentative)
- M (4:30-7 pm)
- W (5:30-8:30 pm)
- TH (6-8:30 pm)
Fundraising
We will be offering opportunities for families to fundraise to help pay for club and/or uniform fees. All fundraising is optional and any money earned through fundraising will be applied directly towards a players fees. Example: If the player sells $300 of product and it is a 50% profit, they earn $150 and it will be applied to their account however they choose. The club does not take any part of what the player earns.
Robin Solomon (12U) and Kathy Hovlid (15U) will be coordinating the fundraising activities this year. A quick introduction letter is attached below and a separate email will be sent later this week. The first fundraiser will be offered from 9/26-10/10.
Training Opportunities
We understand there may be girls not playing on their school teams this season. Our club wants to support them as well. There are a variety of training opportunities available this Fall for multiple age groups.
- All Skills Clinics (Gr. 7-12)
- Volley Juniors (Gr. 1-8)
- Fall Developmental League (Gr. 3-8)
- Private/Group Lessons
Use the link below or visit our website for more information and to register.
Discount Code
A new benefit for our team members, we are providing you with a discount code that can be used on any instructional program, league or lessons purchased throughout the entire years. The discount code was sent earlier to families in a separate email. If you need the code, please contact Dan Tripp.
The code is active for all programs and lessons.
Please contact Dan Tripp with questions.
2025-2026 Teams, Team Formations and National vs. Regional
Teams
Below is the age level and number of teams we will offer for the 2025-2026 season. These could change for the Spring starting in April.
- 12U: 1 team (Regional)
- 13U: 1 team (Regional)
- 14U: 1 team (Regional)
- 15U: 2 teams (Navy-National, Red-Regional)
- 16U: 1 team (Regional)
Team Formation
For age groups with more than 1 team, coaches will evaluate players during the first 2 weeks of the season. Players will then be split into teams with the following distinctions: Navy (top team), Red (2nd highest), White (3rd highest).
When multiple teams are created for an age group, only players that will be playing the full season will be considered for the Navy team. This team will also be our National team that will attend larger, qualifier type tournaments and USAV or AAU nationals. Out of state travel for this team will be required.
If only 1 team will be formed for an age group, the team may be made up of both Full and Short season players. This will be our top team for the age group but out of state travel to qualifiers and/or national tournaments will be optional.
National vs. Regional
National Teams
Players are full season players and are committed to playing volleyball. They may be multi sport athletes or have other activities but when there is a conflict, especially with tournaments, the player will make every effort to attend volleyball practice or tournaments based on the hierarchy of commitments listed in the Player Commitment Packet. Coaches will always work with players when they have conflicts but being on a National team is a a little more of a commitment.
National teams will be traveling out of state to attend National Qualifier Tournaments. The goal of this team is to earn a bid to USAV Nationals and compete for a National title. If the team does not earn a bid, they will attend the USAV Girls Club Championships.
Regional Teams
Players can be full or short season and scheduled tournaments are local to the Chicago area. Teams will be given an option if they would like to attend a larger, out state tournament in February or March. Typically, regional teams will end their season in early June by attending the Asics Jr. National Championships held at Navy Pier in Chicago.
Crossbar App/Club Communication
Please make sure to download the Crossbar app for your iPhone or Android. The app is the best way to communicate with coaches and other team members, see your player's team calendar and be notified changes and updates to schedules.
Once you have downloaded the app or for help, use the link below to an article to help you understand and use the app.
https://help.crossbar.org/en/articles/6492581-getting-started-on-the-mobile-app
USAV Memberships
All players will need to purchase a 25-26 Great Lakes Junior Player Membership ($60). You will need to first create a SportsEngine account if you do not have one. Use the link below for help and more information.
T4 Volleyball will send you a link to use in order to purchase the membership and be assigned to our Club through USAV. The membership will need to be completed before December 1, 2025.
Start Membership process through Great Lakes Region Volleyball: https://greatlakesvolleyball.org/membership/
How to Create a SportsEngine Account: https://help.sportsengine.com/en/articles/6304287-how-to-create-an-account
Create a new SportsEngine account: https://user.sportngin.com/setup/household/who
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