When prospective male student athletes think about playing volleyball at the college level, images of competing under the bright lights at a powerhouse volleyball school often come to mind. On the other hand, many boys are not aware of the options to play at the next level. The truth is that there are several different factors to consider in order to find your best college fit—and level of athletic competition is just one of them.
Here is a map of all Men’s Collegiate Volleyball Programs to widen your search. The colleges are color coded by division.
College fit matters for academic and athletic success, and overall happiness. The below criteria can help families decide if a school is worth considering.
Athletic fit:
This is less about knowing how good you need to be to play at a certain level and more about knowing what level is right for you. Would you rather be a starter and get significant playing time or compete at the highest level you can, even if you don’t see much court time?
Academic fit:
Having good grades ensures you will have more opportunities at the next level. But you also want to make sure you pick a school that has the major you might want and a manageable academic workload. It is okay if you don’t know these answers initially—like everything in the college search process, they can change.
Social fit:
Even before you have the opportunity to get to know a coach or the team, you should consider location, school size, weather, distance from home and other important factors that may be important to you. Once you get the opportunity to meet the coach and team, ask questions about coaching style, practice philosophies and how playing time is determined. Also, spend time with the underclassmen, since they are potentially your future teammates and friends.
Financial fit:
Getting a full-ride athletic scholarship is far from the norm in men’s collegiate volleyball, as most DI programs only have 4.5 scholarships for an entire roster of 14-18 athletes. Families should expect to cover most if not all of the cost of college, but should also look into grants and financial aid opportunities. Rather than focus on just the sticker price of colleges, learn to evaluate schools on your expected contribution. You should know what you are prepared to pay. Realize that it takes time to understand what your final costs might actually be once you talk to a coach.
When picking the right college you should consider more than just the success of the volleyball program. Consider the points above to help you make the right decision for you and your family. As always, be pro-active and take control of your recruiting process.
For more related reading for boys volleyball athletes and coaches click HERE. For more recruiting education click HERE.
This article was written in collaboration with the JVA Boys Committee.
