Tryouts
2025-2026 TRYOUTS
Please visit this page often for information regarding upcoming evaluations, clinics and process.
We will have positions open for the upcoming 2025-2026 season...including on our top National teams. Please do not feel pressured into making a quick and rushed decision elsewhere. We encourage you to check us out first before making this important decision for your athlete. Please note that the North Texas Region's policy does not allow or acknowledge the signing of any kind of paper work (if provided to you) by a club prior to the official North Texas Region signing/acceptance day (Tuesday, July 8, 2025 for 9s-18s).
Tryouts will continue post the official signing date until all teams are completed!
The Areté tryout evaluation schedule for our 2025-2026 season for all age groups will be posted soon. We may also add additional tryout evaluations as deemed necessary. We highly encourage athletes to attend as many evaluation, tryout and training clinics as possible with an emphasis on attending the first sessions offered starting on May 5, 2025 for all ages 9s-18s.
Evaluation Window - Age Groups: 9s-18s begins May 5, 2025 (Acceptance Day: July 8, 2025)
We look forward to seeing your athlete(s) on the court!
Please note that we may schedule additional pre-tryout clinics leading up to the official signing/commitment day for each age group. All other offered skills clinics may also serve as an evaluation opportunity as desired.
In effort to help slow this process, many of the major clubs within our region will wait to post their head coaches for 2025-2026 club teams allowing efforts and attention to be focused on this current season.
**Registration links for upcoming evaluations, College Camp, Nike Volleyball Camp & our summer training clinics will be provided and "live" soon**.
PLAYER EVALUATIONS (All Skills Clinics)
2025-2026 TEAM FULFILLMENT SESSIONS
2025-2026 USAV AGE DEFINITIONS
Clinic schedule for all age groups is subject to change. For any potential changes and/or updates, we will communicate accordingly.
Please choose the incoming age group that your athlete will be according to the 2025-2026 USAV Age Definition Chart.
Experience Levels: Our Clinics and Camps are designed to provide the most value to each athlete during training sessions. Please note the following guidance related to experience level so that we can serve each athlete to their highest potential and plan effectively.
Elite: Very Experienced. Open to athletes who have played in the OPEN, NATIONAL or USA Division at Qualifiers in the 2025-2026 season.
Premier: Experienced. Open to athletes who have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of the position being offered. Recommended level of play would be American division or higher at qualifiers.
Club: Beginner to club level introduction to skill. Complete focus on skill and technique during clinics and camps. Recommended level of play would be 3+ years recreational play to American Division at qualifiers.
Novice: Beginner level – 1-2 years recreational play or less. Little to no club experience.
2025-2026 TRYOUT INFORMATION & EVALUATION CLINICS PROCESS
As of March 26, 2025: The North Texas Region Board recently convened a special meeting to review and revise the Offer and Acceptance Policy. Please see below the updated language regarding the Evaluation Window, which was approved during this meeting.
Previous Policy Language (from the 2024-2025 season) – Evaluation Window:
The Evaluation Window (tryouts) starts the day after NTR Bid Regionals. Verbal or written non-binding offers without signature(s) may begin to be made by any club to any player in the region at this time. Official binding written offers and exchange of money is not allowed until the acceptance date.
Clubs may accept payments during this period for clinics, leagues, camps, lessons, beach, and performance training. All fees must meet the criteria of being reasonable charges for reasonable items, whether or not they relate to the upcoming USA Volleyball season.
Newly Approved Policy Language (for the upcoming 2025-2026 season) – Evaluation Window:
The Evaluation Window starts the day after NTR Bid Regionals. Verbal and non-binding offers without a signature may begin to be made by any club to any player in the region two weeks after the start of the Evaluation Window.
Note: For the 2025–2026 season, the date two weeks after the start of the Evaluation Window is May 19th, 2025. This is when clubs can make verbal offers. The rational was this hopefully would slow down the process and not make players commit on Day1 of the Evaluation Window and allow them the opportunity to visit other clubs of interest.
Official binding written offers and the exchange of money are not permitted until the acceptance date. Note: For the 2025–2026 season, the Acceptance Date is July 8th, 2025. There are no other updates to the policy, so the Acceptance date remains the same. The Tuesday after the last day of competition for all age groups at the USA Volleyball Girls National Championships.
Clubs may continue to accept payments during this period for clinics, leagues, camps, lessons, beach, and performance training, provided all fees remain reasonable and appropriate for the activity.
Key Points – 2025-2026 Season Tryout & Evaluation Process to make an Areté club team per the North Texas Region:
- In effort to help slow this process, many of the major clubs within our region will wait to post their head coaches for 2025-2026 club teams allowing efforts and attention to be focused on this current season.
- The Tryout Evaluation period for all Club Teams in the North Texas Region (NTR) begins May 5, 2025. Pre-tryout clinics are allowed, but non-binding verbal or written offers are not permitted until May 19, 2025, and thereafter. For current season Areté athletes, verbal or written offers can be made at any time prior to May 19, 2025.
- Begin attending clinics starting in May for your respective USAV age group to get to know our Areté coaches.
- Official Acceptance/Signing Day: Tuesday, July 8, 2025, for all ages 9s - 18s.
- Areté and non-Areté Athletes may attend our camps, clinics, lessons, 4x4 tournaments/games and performance training sessions prior to, during and after the evaluation window. Player and club-initiated discussions about a specific team or joining an organization are now acceptable staring May 19, 2025, per the North Texas Region if the athlete is outside of her/his current club.
For the club to be aware of your interest and to help answer any questions you may have, please let the Areté Director and/or Coaches know you are interested in being a part of the Areté organization and making a team for the upcoming season.
When are the NTR Player/Team Tryouts & Evaluations?
- The 2025 Tryout & Evaluation period is:
- 9s - 18s: begins May 5, 2025 / non-binding verbal or written are acceptable starting May 19, 2025 (Official Acceptance Day via OCS: July 8, 2025)
- Areté may offer extended tryout evaluation opportunities post July 8th for athletes who haven’t committed yet until every Areté team is full. Ideally, our teams carry 12 players on the roster.
How to be evaluated for a 2025-2026 Areté Team:
- Attend as many Areté Clinics as possible. Areté will offer specific tryout evaluation dates/times for each age group, as well as opportunities to be evaluated during regular occurring clinics and camps.
- Please view the latest clinics and camps schedule under Training & Programs to register!
- We encourage you to connect with our Areté Head Coaches in your age group!
- Please do not assume or rely on hearsay that any Areté team is “full”. We encourage you to be active and proactive in this process...to fully understand first-hand the situation for your athlete and opportunities at Areté. We promise to always be transparent and honestly help guide your athlete and family every step of the way!
- Please connect directly with Krista Gibson or any of our Areté Coaches to inquire about the actual status of each team prior to making any decisions as Areté could be the best club home for you!
- The Areté website (under Teams) will be updated often (starting after May 19th) showing the status of each team based on player interest in Areté, providing team information, coaching alignments, etc.
For Areté Team descriptions, please click here. Additional information regarding our 2025-2026 teams will be released at the appropriate time. Our website and social media outlets will reflect updates accordingly.
Should you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to email us.
For all other Training Clinics and Camps this summer please refer to our Clinics and Camps page
FAQS
Over the last several years, there has been a lot of activity and buzz about the early pressures in our region’s tryout process, which has caused some confusion, stress and panic about what is and isn't acceptable.
Please know that there is always time prior to the official region signing/acceptance date each season to find the right club home for your athlete(s) and family. Please do not feel pressured into making a quick, rushed decision – especially too early. We encourage you to ensure that all your questions are answered, information is transparently and proactively shared with you, and you understand the plan for your daughter and the team she is trying out for and being offered.
9s-18s = Evaluation Window = begins May 5, 2025 (Acceptance Date: July 8, 2025). Any offers made during the summer prior to the official region signing dates are non-binding as the North Texas Region does not recognize any verbal or written offers or club contracts made prior to these official dates. It is against the NTR policy (released in 2018) to sign anything prior to the official signing/acceptance dates, however non-binding verbal/written offers may be provided starting May 19, 2025.
Organizations may pull their verbal offers during the evaluation window and athletes may also change their mind.
Organizations may offer clinics and various training sessions leading up to the official evaluation/tryout dates, however participation in these offerings does not lock you into any club until the prescribed dates. We highly recommend exploring various options prior to signing with any club. We encourage you to check out Areté and experience for yourself our differentiating positive energy & inviting culture that also provides your athlete(s) a high level and challenging training ground led by experienced coaches.
Being that we had a very successful inaugural 2015-2016 season, and subsequent seasons since our launch, it is very important to us that we continue to provide a level of excellence, quality coaching and training, an amazing, unique experience and more like no other organization – for our athletes, families, coaches and staff.
We started with 9 teams and grew successfully to 22 teams in our 2nd year (plus opening the AAC). Since, we've consistently had 23-32 teams. We have a long-term vision of growing at a steady pace and are continuing to build additional Areté Club Prep teams (having 7 teams during the 2024-2025 season), and enhance our Academy program further as well.
For the 2025-2026 season, we plan to have 28-30 girls teams and 8 club prep teams.
We welcome you to come check us out and be a part of Areté!
We want your volleyball club process and experience to be positive, motivating, exciting and results-oriented for you and your family. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or additional information you may need regarding our organization, program offerings, the tryout process, etc.