The Sports Performance volleyball program is completely dedicated to providing its athletes with the technical, tactical and physical training to reach their highest possible potential. We will strive to help each and every player regardless of age or ability to achieve maximum performance. “COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE”
The Sports Performance volleyball program is completely dedicated to providing its athletes with the technical, tactical and physical training to reach their highest possible potential. We will strive to help each and every player regardless of age or ability to achieve maximum performance. The Sports Performance Boys Program, established in 1991, is for male volleyball players ranging in ages from 12 to 18 in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Does Sports Performance have alumni playing collegiate indoor volleyball or professional indoor and outdoor volleyball?
Yes, we have many players from Sports Performance that have played NCAA I, II, III and NAIA college volleyball on varsity programs. Other athletes have continued to play collegiate club volleyball. Schools such as Ohio State, Lewis, Loyola, Ball State, IPFW, Pepperdine, Pacific, UCLA, Cal State-Northridge, UC San Diego, BYU, Penn State, George Mason, New York, Quincy, Grand Canyon, Carthage, Juniata, Medaille, Clarke, St. Ambrose, Graceland, Lindenwood-Belleville, Lakeland, Hannibal-LaGrange, Cardinal Strich, Hope International, Belmont Abbey, Mount Olive, Coker, Nazareth, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Pierce, etc. In addition, we have had many players earn places in USA Volleyball's High Performance program including, Olympic, Men’s, Youth and Junior National Teams as well as the developmental camp program. Several Alumni have or are playing professional volleyball in various European, Asian, and Caribbean Professional Indoor Volleyball leagues.
When does the High School boys’ volleyball club season run?
The high school club season for Sports Performance begins in mid-September and continues through mid-February. The boys return to club volleyball in June following their spring high school season. The boys’ club season concludes with the Boys Junior National Championship in early July. We have a Regional Program option for the high school boys that begins in mid-September and continues through mid-February without returning in the summer.
When does the Middle School boys’ volleyball club season run?
The middle school club season for Sports Performance will have 3 seasons. The Fall Season (September-November), Winter Season (January-March), and Spring Season (March-May). Athletes are encouraged to participate in multiple seasons. There will be no tryouts.
How does Sports Performance view participation in other sports?
Sports Performance has no restrictions on playing other sports. Many of our athletes participate in high school and middle school football, soccer, basketball, golf, cross country, etc. Our athletes are able to attend most practices and tournaments while in their high school or middle school season. Communication of any school sport conflicts with the coaching staff is important. We do have an attendance policy for practice and tournaments, which factors into playing time at tournaments and team selection.
Where are the Sports Performance practices held at?
Great Lakes Center 579 North Oakhurst Drive Aurora, IL 60502 630-898-6400
What is a Master Coach and why are they important?
An experienced Master Coach oversees the entire training environment including the writing of each practice plan and the implementation of that plan. A skilled Master Coach also ensures that all techniques are taught in a proper and systematic manner. Only by having “Elite Level” Master Coaches can any program guarantee that all athletes regardless of the team they are playing on will receive the same high quality instruction. Otherwise, each player is at the mercy of the level of their individual team coach who may or may not have the ability to teach at the highest levels and bring out the best in each athlete.
How often does the High School Program practice during a week?
The high school Elite (Full Season) program has three training cycles.
I - From mid-September to the end of November, our teams practice three times a week. They will also have a fourth position-specific training day every other week. There will be two to three practices during the weekdays and one practice on Sunday. Time of day varies depending on other facility schedules, but range from afternoon and/or evening.
II - From December to mid-February, our teams practice three times a week between Monday and Friday. Time of day varies depending on other facility schedules, but range from afternoon and/or evening.
III - In June, our teams practice three to four times a week between Monday and Friday. Time of day varies depending on other facility schedules, but range from afternoon and/or evening.
The high school Regional Program follows the above training cycles with practice two times a week from mid-September to mid-February with June being an additional option.
How often does the Middle School Program practice during a week?
The middle school program practices two times per week between Monday and Friday. Time of day varies depending on other facility schedules, but range from afternoon and/or evening.
Does the Sports Performance Volleyball Club include a strength and conditioning program?
Yes, Sports Performance High School athletes will participate in a supervised strength and conditioning program 1 – 2 times a week before or after their scheduled practices. The program includes speed and agility training, plyometrics (jump training), core and balance training, and functional strength training. These exercises are performed in our weight room and/or court space. The programs are age-specific based on physiological development. This is included in the cost of your membership.
Do the Sports Performance athletes have access to the facility outside of practice time and season?
Yes, members of the Sports Performance Volleyball Club have access to Great Lakes Center’s volleyball courts and weight room throughout the year.
Does Sports Performance have an athletic trainer in their facility?
Yes, we have an athletic training room courtside that is staffed by a certified and licensed athletic trainer. The trainers are present at tryouts and practice and assist our athletes with injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Do you have an attendance policy for practices and tournaments?
Yes, we have an attendance policy for practices and tournaments.
How many tournaments a month does the Sports Performance High School Program participate in?
Club volleyball consists of tournaments on the weekends. Our programs participate in 2 tournaments a month, and occasionally a third in November and January. Many events are one day only, Saturday or Sunday. A typical one-day tournament would begin around 8:00am and conclude play late afternoon or early evening. Some of the bigger events would cover both Saturday and Sunday. These events will either have an AM wave (8:00am – 3:00pm) or PM wave (3:00pm – 9:00pm). The High School Program’s tournament season begins in late-October.
How many tournaments a month does the Sports Performance Middle School Program participate in?
Information coming soon!
Where are the volleyball tournaments located?
The High School Program tournaments are held at the Great Lakes Center and around the Chicagoland area. Like many clubs in the area, we enter our teams into USA Volleyball National Qualifiers as well. We anticipate our 18s, 17s, and 16 Mizuno teams traveling to St. Louis in February. The entire program will participate in an overnight weekend tournament in the Milwaukee area in early February. In December/January, our 18 Mizuno team may attend a SCVA Event in Anaheim, CA. Teams will participate in the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships in July.
The High School Regional Program tournaments are held around the Chicagoland area. There will be no out-of-state travel.
The Middle School Program tournaments are held around the Chicagoland area.
What is included in the Sports Performance Uniform Package?
We are sponsored by Mizuno, who is the official sponsor of the USA Men’s National Team. The High School Program’s uniform package currently includes 3 practice t-shirts, 3 practice/match shorts, 3-4 match jerseys, a pair of Mizuno shoes, a warm-up top, a hoodie, sweatpants, 3 pairs of socks, kneepads, and a team bag. The High School Regional and Middle School Programs' uniform packages are similar, but smaller in size. The cost of the uniform package for the 2012 – 2013 season for the High School Program was $420 and Middle School Program was $190 for 7th/8th grade and $120 5th/6th grade. Our players also receive a discount in the Great Lakes Center Volleyshop.
What are the membership costs?
The membership costs will be provided to the players that are selected to our program following the tryout process. The cost includes court rental fees, tournament entry fees, coach region registration, equipment, administration costs, professional fees, etc. The cost of the membership for the 2012 – 2013 season for the High School Program (7-8 month season) was $1550. The High School Regional Program (Sept-Feb season) will be approximately $1000. The Middle School Program (10 week season) will be approximately $320 for 5th/6th grade and $400 for 7th/8th grade per season.
What are the travel costs?
The Sports Performance High School Program travels as a team to all out of town overnight tournaments. We handle all the travel arrangements for the players and coaching staff. Travel costs vary from year to year and are determined a few weeks before the trip. The cost of travel usually includes flight, van rental, hotel, gas, tolls, parking, coach expenses, etc.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes.
Are their opportunities for families to work off their account?
Yes, we offer some options for players (officiating youth volleyball, deli work) and parents (deli work, door admission collectors) to work of their payments. Players in our program eventually can work coaching youth clinics or camps to help pay for the club.
When are the Fall/Winter High School season tryouts held?
High school program tryouts will be held the first Tuesday after Labor Day in September.
All tryout information, including times and registration process, will be posted on our website in Late July or early August.
When are the Fall/Winter/Spring Middle School season Informational Meetings held?
Middle school program informational meetings and sign-up will take place in early September (Fall Season), middle December (Winter Season), and early March (Spring Season).
When are the Summer session Sports Performance Boys tryouts held?
Athletes that are members from the fall/winter season continue in the summer with no additional cost. New athletes interested in our club participate in the June Training Camp. Informational meetings and registration are held in May. All tryout information, including times and registration process, will be posted on our website in April. This camp will include individual skill development and team competition. The players will practice 2-3 days per week in June and will have 2 tournaments. It is open to all 7th-12th graders interested in improving their skills. If you come with a high school teammate, we will do our best to place you on a team together. If you come on your own, we will place you on the appropriate team for your level and position. The players who join for the one month program will train two days per week on individual development and the third day will be a competition night. The competition night will consist of game like situations. The coaching staff will be current SPVB coaches and alumni from our program, who are currently collegiate level players. We will be taking all players into the training camp. If you played for any club in the fall/winter, you must have a letter of release from that club director. This training camp is a great opportunity to meet our staff, our players and go through our training program to see if you might be interested in joining the full club program that starts the first week of September.
Where are the Sports Performance tryouts held at?
Great Lakes Center 579 North Oakhurst Drive Aurora, IL 60502 630-898-6400
Is there a fee for the fall (September) tryout?
Yes, there is a $15 tryout fee.
What should I do if I missed the Sports Performance tryouts?
Middle School - Contact Matt Joniak, SPVB Boys Director, at 630-898-6400 or matt@greatlakescenter.com
How many teams does Sports Performance field per age group?
In the past, we have registered 2 – 4 teams at the 18s, 17s, 16s, 15s, 14s, and 13s age groups for the full club season. In the summer, we tend to add an additional 9-10 teams between the 17s, 16s, 15s, 14s, and 13s following the high school season.
When are player commitments made and teams selected at Sports Performance?
The deadline to commit to Sports Performance is at the Parent & Player Meeting, which is the Thursday or Friday following tryouts.
At tryouts, athletes will be told they have made the Sports Performance program. Athletes will be placed on a team based on their performance during the first few weeks of practice, based on attendance, and performance in practice and competition.
How many athletes do you take on a team?
We normally have 9 - 12 players on a team.
Does Sports Performance assist with the college recruiting process?
Yes, we will assist our athletes with the college recruiting process by providing information to our parents and players. We are also readily available to contact college coaches per your request. In addition, our program will assist with filming, editing, and production of skills and match videos.
How can I get more information about the Sports Performance Boys Program?
High School - Contact Bryan Johnwick, SPVB Boys Director, at 630-898-6400 or bryan@greatlakescenter.com for more information.
Middle School - Contact Matt Joniak, SPVB Boys Director, at 630-898-6400 or matt@greatlakescenter.com for more information.
