Mission statement:

Mission statement

Respect- Equality- Communication

Our mission is to bridge the gap between traditional recreational volleyball and elite club programs by giving athletes the strongest possible start in their first two years of playing. We are a club feeder program built for beginners and developing players who want more than generic “same drills every season” rec instruction, but aren’t ready—or don’t need the cost, pressure, and year-long commitment of an elite club.

​We believe every athlete deserves to be coached like they have real potential. That’s why our classes follow structured lesson plans for every level and are led by trained coaches—current competitive high school club athletes, collegiate players, and experienced adults—supported by an ownership team that designs the curriculum. With 2–3 coaches on the court, athletes get more touches, more feedback, and more chances to connect with a coach who helps them learn confidently. As players improve, they move into new content when they’re ready, not when their age says they should—so late starters and older beginners still have an age-appropriate path to progress.

​We also create competition experiences that support learning. Our modified tournaments remove the “win-now” pressure and instead emphasize executing skills correctly in game-like moments. This helps athletes build confidence, decision-making, and composure in loud, chaotic environments—while reducing anxiety around tryouts and playing with new teammates. With new programs every six weeks and flexible scheduling that fits middle school and high school sports seasons, athletes can train, take time off for other sports, and return without being locked into a year-long contract.

​Above all, we are committed to providing a safe, fun environment that promotes independence, confidence, and long-term love for volleyball—so athletes stay motivated, avoid burnout, and grow into players who are prepared for the next level

TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT TO US!

Transparency matters to us, so we don’t pretend youth volleyball is perfect—there are real gaps in coaching quality, development pathways, cost, and the pressure placed on young athletes. This page breaks down the most common challenges we see in the volleyball world and clearly explains the specific steps we take as a company to reduce those issues for our athletes and families. Below, you’ll find the obstacles and how we adjust our programs to address them.

Are the coaches qualified?

Some recreational programs rely on volunteer coaches who care a lot but don’t always have the resources or support to teach at a higher level. At REC It Volleyball, our staff includes former club athletes, current or past collegiate players, and experienced adults who still compete in intermediate/advanced open gyms and indoor or beach tournaments. Our owners create the lesson plans for every level, so athletes get consistent, intentional training no matter which location or coach they’re with. That experience and structure allows us to coach with modern methods and clear standards, and we typically keep 2–3 coaches on the court each session.

Why we don't offer leagues

Some programs run weekly leagues to give athletes more playing time and a consistent dose of competition, and for some players that’s all they need. But many athletes benefit most when they have structured instruction and clear goals to focus on while they play. We don’t prioritize leagues because teams are often large, which can mean too many kids standing on the sidelines instead of getting meaningful reps. While in theory you can mix kids together because  high schools teach rotations and some groups register as a team,  in reality schools have different and very creative rotations, which often creates extra stress for both athletes and coaches. Everyone tries to adjust on the fly without enough time for questions, feedback, or proper repetitions. Additionally, athletes who are "free agents" because they can't provide a team may feel like they are at a disadvantage because they are playing against teams who already have chemistry from their team season.

Why we offer Tournaments

REC It Volleyball gives athletes a “club-style” experience without the full-time club commitment. Our tournament programs include 5–6 practices and one tournament with five guaranteed games. Athletes compete against REC It teams from our other locations at the same level. We make small game adjustments so players can actually apply what they’ve learned—especially rotations and transitional movements for setting and defense—in a way that builds confidence before they move up. Uniforms are rented and our staff handles coaching, refereeing, and tournament operations to keep costs reasonable, and the environment still looks and feels like a local club tournament (uniforms, scoreboards, refs, cheering parents) minus the win-at-all-costs pressure, playtime based on performance, or getting yelled at for mistakes.

Tournament modifications explained

We run tournaments with modified rules that keep the focus on execution and development, not just winning. Serving can click quickly for some athletes while others struggle, and either way it can slow down the learning—endless missed serves or getting aced off the court both lead to standing around instead of improving. One example from Rotations level 1, is that after a second serve, a coach throws in a controlled free ball, typically to an athlete who hasn't touched the ball in a while, so the receiving team can still run their rotational pathways and execute in live gameplay. This creates more true “game-like” touches, instead of a stop-and-start serve fest where athletes would rotate after a missed serve and not get the chance to practice a skill.  It also gives athletes a chance to ask quick questions, get immediate feedback, and then try again right away. By the end of the tournament, athletes understand movement and rotations better, rallies are longer, and everyone performs more confidently off real serves.

Keeping instruction consistent

In many local clubs, individual coaches are responsible for creating their own lesson plans, which often leads to inconsistent training—even within the same age group, you can have multiple 14’s teams teaching completely different concepts and styles. While directors may guide the program, families can still end up with a coach who’s a strong player but brand new to coaching, and you usually don’t find out until after you’ve signed a contract and can’t switch teams. REC It Volleyball solves this by having specific concepts for each level, with lesson plans created by an owner with a teaching degree using prompts, videos, diagrams, and reminders. Coaches still bring their own personality and management style, but the training stays consistent, and we keep 2–3 coaches on the court so every athlete can connect with a coach who fits them.

Multi-sport athletes and club contracts

Many club teams require a one-year contract that limits athletes from participating in other sports (including other volleyball programs), and families are still responsible for the full tuition even if an athlete gets injured playing other sports. We have heard stories of players committing to a club team in the summer, playing for their high school in the fall, getting hurt, and the families still having to pay even though their daughter needed surgery and couldn't play or practice during the club season.  If payments stop,  USA Volleyball will block them from joining another club until the previous balance is paid. This structure can put families in a tough spot and create unnecessary pressure for athletes to “push through” when they should be recovering. It can also make it hard to balance school seasons, other sports, and normal family schedules. REC It Volleyball follows the high school sports calendar, so athletes can train around other sports, school seasons, and activities. Players can progress levels when they’re ready and have the flexibility to pause or adjust during injury, and we’ll work with you to keep them developing safely.

Clubs having a coach shortage

Many clubs struggle to hire and retain fully trained, high-quality coaches because coaches are typically required to sign a season-long contract. That contract often means committing to the same 10–12 athletes, spending long holiday weekends at multi-day tournaments, and dealing with limited last-minute coverage if they’re sick or unavailable. With the coaching shortage, teams may run with only 1–2 coaches, and some clubs even require coaches to split pay to bring on an assistant, which discourages extra support. REC It Volleyball uses a more flexible model with coaches of varying experience levels, and we prioritize our staff’s quality of life—life happens, and we want to support our coaches too. That means parents can balance family responsibilities, active players can still compete in their own tournaments, and collegiate coaches can step away when practices or events fall during exam weeks. When coaches feel supported and rested, they show up more present, prepared, and patient—creating a better experience for every athlete on the court.