SoCal Volleyball Club National and Premier Teams attend out-of-state tournaments. See this table for a general overview of which tournaments they attend. By attending these tournaments, players gain experience competing with teams from across the country while also offering on-court college recruiting and opportunities to visit out-of-state college campuses. Additionally, traveling as a team is an excellent bonding opportunity that can mimic the college volleyball travel experience.

What is this guide?

Coordinating out-of-state travel for a dozen busy families is no easy task, so we’ve made this guide to help your team plan. Following the sections outlined in this article will ensure your team meets the tournament’s strict eligibility requirements, like booking hotels through sanctioned “Support the Sport” housing. The tournament organizers don’t release all their criteria at once, so the club will send updates as soon as information is available and reminders to keep things on track.

Of course, each team has unique needs, so don’t treat this guide as the end-all-be-all. Take what is useful; leave out what’s not. Ultimately, we want your team to have a smooth out-of-state tournament experience, which involves having a group plan, communicating that plan, and adapting when necessary. Commit to working together and being flexible, and you’ll have a great time!

What are these tournaments?

If you’re attending an out-of-state tournament during the season, it is likely a Junior Olympic Qualifier (aka Qualifier, Junior National Qualifier, JNQ). Top JNQ finishers earn a “bid” for the prestigious Junior National Championship (Junior Nationals, GJNC, BJNC, Junior Olympics, JOs) at the end of the season. JO bids are available for the American, USA, National, or Open Junior Olympic Divisions. The Patriot Division is a pay-to-play division, i.e., no bid is required.

If you’re attending an out-of-state end-of-year (EOY) tournament, it is either the Festival or the Junior National Championship. These are post-season tournaments; they vary in competitiveness and can be good college recruiting opportunities.

⚠️ Tip! Extra college recruiting opportunities at these out-of-state tournaments.
Many tournaments offer an optional College Showcase add-on. Typically, players are grouped by graduation year and position and go through drills before college coaches. Families register individually for Showcases. Confirm details with the tournament organizers.

Watch Aimee explain why she loves a College Recruiting Showcase →

How to find up-to-date tournament information 

For details on admission and parking, find the tournament organizer’s website on your Team Page. Select the organizer link under the corresponding tournament (see screenshot).

Action Plan

Step 1: Determine Parent Roles & Responsibilities

• Itinerary Coordinator(s) Coordinates with head and assistant coaches, and families to produce team itinerary.
• Meal Coordinator(s) Works with the Itinerary Coordinator to arrange dining options such as meal delivery and restaurant reservations.
• Laundry Coordinator(s) Ensures all team uniforms are clean and ready for the next day.
• Livestreamer(s) are tech-savvy parents who will stream games through SoCal streaming services (email [email protected] to get set up)
• Driver(s) responsible for getting players to events on time.

Step 2: Confirm Tournament Details

Complete this section for a tournament quick reference guide to help with planning.

Tournament Name __________________________________________________________

Tournament Website ________________________________________________________

Tournament Start Date ____/____/____ End Date Date ____/____/____

Tournament Venue Address(es)

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Tournament Spectator Entry/Parking Fees ____________________________________________

Step 3: Make Travel Plans

Tournament days and times are subject to change, so we recommend making flexible reservations. Complete this section to create a quick reference guide for your family’s travel plans.

⚠️ Tip! Book flights with teammates
When possible, teammates often coordinate flying together.

Step 4: Reserve Hotel Room(s)

We strongly encourage teammates to stay in the same hotel. If this is a “Support the Sport” tournament, only book your hotel through the link provided by SoCal Volleyball Club; otherwise, your team may not be eligible to compete. If you’re unsure if this is a “Support the Sport” stay-to-play tournament, email us at [email protected].

Hotel Name ________________________________________________________________

Hotel Address ______________________________________________________________

Check-in date ____/____/____ and time ___:___ AM / PM

Check-out date ____/____/____ and time __:___ AM / PM

Using Google Maps, if we drive/walk, my hotel is _____ minutes from the venue.

Rental Car Plans (Optional)

You may need to rent a car if your hotel is not within walking distance of the venue.

⚠️ Tip! Carpool
Teams sometimes coordinate renting a few large vehicles to travel to and from matches, team meals, and sightseeing together.

Rental Car Company ________________________________________________________

Confirmation Number ________________________________________________________

Vehicle Pick-up Date ____/____/____ and time ___:___ AM / PM

Vehicle Drop-off Date ____/____/____ and time __:___ AM / PM

Step 5: Brainstorm Team Plans

Dining Options

Expect long days, late-night end-times, and HUNGRY athletes for these tournaments. Complete this section to pre-plan your meals.

• If you’re staying at a hotel, check if breakfast is included and the hours.
• Identify quick, healthy local take-out options for PM pools.
• Use Trip Advisor or Yelp to identify the team’s top dining options.
• Have at least one team meal out at a restaurant. Confirm with the restaurant they can accommodate large groups and preferably reservations

Top restaurants for team meal(s)

1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________

Top quick and healthy take-out options

1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________

Local Activities

It may not happen at every tournament, but if the team has a full morning or afternoon off during a tournament, being out of state offers a great opportunity for local sightseeing or college campus visits. These activities can refresh the mind without being too energy-draining, ensuring that players return to the court feeling rejuvenated. List some potential team activity options for tournament downtime.

1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________

Additional Resources

Packing List

Checked bags can get misplaced by airlines. If you’re flying to this tournament, put the following playing equipment in your carry-on luggage.

Carry-on packing list

• All jerseys
• All SoCal warm-ups, sweats, jackets
• Spandex
• Volleyball shoes
• Socks
• Knee pads
• Medical equipment like ankle braces, inhaler, medication, KT tape (if needed)
• Extra cash for parking and spectator fees
• ______________________
• ______________________
• ______________________

Checked bag packing list

• Laundry detergent for playing gear
• Extra shoes/sandals for time off
• Extra clothes for team meals
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________

⚠️ Tip! Have water bottles delivered
Teams sometimes opt to have water bottles delivered to their hotel from Amazon Prime or Instacart.

Itinerary Templates

The following are example itineraries to modify to fit your team’s specific needs.

8:00 AM Pool Itinerary

3:00 PM Pool Itinerary

AM Pool with PM Cross-over Itinerary

Final Day Itinerary

The last day’s pool times will vary based on your team’s performance on the previous days. The competition may start at 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, or 12 PM. This day is usually single elimination.

Finding tournament schedule

Visit socalvbc.com/aes and watch Aimee’s video tutorial.

Questions about your tournament?

Email us at [email protected], and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Conclusion

As you plan for your out-of-state tournaments, embrace the spirit of teamwork both on and off the court. Your dedication to collaboration, communication, and adaptability will undoubtedly contribute to a positive experience for all involved.

Safe travels, best of luck, and see you on the court!