Welcome to Westwood Volleyball

The Westwood Warriors are looking for dedicated student-athletes who take pride in their school and are willing to make a maximum effort in both the classroom and on the volleyball court. Wearing a Westwood uniform is a privilege, one that carries both responsibilities and rewards.

Preseason tryouts begin MONDAY, AUGUST 3 --your opportunity to learn more about the philosophy and expectations of the Westwood program, and to make your best impression on the Westwood coaching staff.t you should know:

Athletic Paperwork

You can only attend tryouts if you have completed your physical. Your physical must be dated May 23rd or after to be valid for this school year.  After you have completed the necessary physical paperwork, turn it into the Westwood HS trainers. You must be on their "cleared" list to be eligible for tryouts.  In addition, you must have completed the Tryout Information Card (e-mail Coach Zora if you have not completed this form). All information must be completed and submitted no later than July 31st to participate in tryouts for the 2009 season.

Tryout Schedule

Tryouts begin for the 2009 Season in the Westwood Field House gym. All athletes should meet in the Field House foyer for check-in. Check-in begins at 6:00am. Tryouts will begin promptly at 6:30am. DO NOT BE LATE! You must attend every tryout session; do not schedule conflicting appointments.

Experienced volleyball players arrive 15 minutes early.  Please be prepared!

Tryouts last 2 days, so please be prepared to show the coaches everything that you got.  Teams will be announced at the conclusion of the Tuesday, August 4, night workout. Practices with each team will begin Wednesday. Friday and Saturday players will attend scrimmages. Following the Saturday scrimmage, there will be a Westwood Volleyball Kick-off Party for all players and their families.

What to Bring and What to Wear

At the morning workouts, tennis shoes comfortable clothes will be required.  Do not wear spaghetti strap tops or shirts that expose your midriff. Do not wear jewelry including earrings.

At the evening workouts, please wear tennis shoes, kneepads, shorts/spandex, and t-shirt.   Do not wear spaghetti strap tops or shirts that expose your midriff. Do not wear jewelry including earrings.

Ankle braces are recommended for those players that make the team but are not required for tryouts.

You should also bring your own water bottle and snacks each day.  Please make sure that you are properly hydrating yourself and eating the proper foods during tryouts.

Tryout Criteria

The coaching staff will be looking for coachable athletes who have a great work ethic and want to learn to be better players and teammates.

Prospective student athletes will be tested and evaluated for their overall athletic ability and level of volleyball skill.  Coaches will apply the following skill (in this order):

Attitude: Players who are positive, competitive, and eager to learn.

Athletic Ability: Players with the ability to learn and perform complex skills.

Position: Players whose skills fit a specific need for the team's overall balance.

What to Expect at Tryouts

Expect to work hard. You will be asked to perform all physical testing and drills at full speed. You should run when shagging balls, when moving from drill to drill and when going to and from water breaks. You will not sit down during tryouts, except during water breaks.

ATHLETIC TESTING: Prospective student-athletes will be put through a series of volleyball-related physical testing including, but not limited to, standing reach, vertical jump, sprints, shuttle runs, etc.

ATTITUDE EVALUATION: Prospective Westwood Volleyball players should be willing to try hard, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and keep trying. Coaches will take note of those players who listen, follow directions, and ask questions when necessary.

SKILL/COMPETITION EVALUATION: Prospective players will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of basic volleyball skills (serving, setting, passing, hitting, blocking) in competitive situations. Coaches will take note of those players who demonstrate progress while learning new skills.

As with most team sports, coaches will evaluate players for their ability and potential to fill specific positional needs (setter, outside hitter, middle blocker, opposite hitter, defensive specialist and/or libero).

How to Impress the Coaches

1. Be among the first to arrive in the gym and among the first to help set up nets and equipment.

2. Be among the first to line up for drills.

3. Look the coach in the eye when she/he speaks to you or to the team.

4. Be a champion ball shagger.

5. Be among the first to help take down the nets and put away equipment.

Options for Players Not Selected

Tryouts are a difficult time.

One of the toughest jobs for any coach is the final decision about which players make the team, and those who do not. The Westwood Volleyball coaching staff strives to make all decisions fairly, without bias, and after extended deliberation and evaluation of each prospective student-athlete. During the tryout process, it is not unusual for some girls to decide they would rather not continue trying out. If you think you’d like to withdraw from consideration for a spot on the team, please talk it over first with one of the coaches; it is possible you may be underestimating your chances.

If you are not selected this season, and would like to try out again in the future, there are other options available to you that may help you in the future.

1. Be a team manager. Volleyball managers have a chance to learn leadership and organizational skills and fill a valuable role on the team.

2. Play another sport for the Warriors. Fall sports at Westwood include  tennis, swimming and cross-country; winter sports are basketball and soccer; in spring you can run track, or play tennis, golf or softball.

3. Attend open gyms and/or volleyball camps. There is an active recreational volleyball community year-round in Austin. Most universities in Texas offer volleyball camps during July.

4. Try out for club volleyball. Hundreds of girls in the Lone Star  region play in tournaments around the Texas; tryouts are held in August and September.