The size of the club will not break your success; a small mindset will.
The increase in junior volleyball participation has fueled significant growth in the number of clubs nationwide. New clubs continue to enter the market, established programs are acquiring smaller organizations, and many clubs now field 20 to 25 indoor teams as a standard operating model.
Junior volleyball is a growing industry made up of thousands of businesses. Some organizations field more than 60 teams across multiple locations. Others operate with fewer than 10 teams, training in a single high school gym.
Club Directors of smaller clubs often manage tight budgets, balance club operations with full-time careers, and carry multiple responsibilities across administration, coaching oversight, and communication.
Despite these challenges, small clubs hold distinct advantages. When structured intentionally, they can deliver meaningful benefits to athletes and families while maintaining operational flexibility and strong community relationships.
Here are five ways a Club Director can position a small club to stand out and thrive in a competitive market:
Create and Maintain a Culture Built on Family and Trust
Establish a culture where every athlete and parent feels known, valued, and connected. Learn every athlete’s name. Know the families. Build trust by maintaining open communication and reinforcing that everyone is working toward a shared purpose. When athletes feel genuinely supported, retention and loyalty follow.
“I know every kid, every kid knows me. I know all the families, all the families know me. That type of experience works for many people.”
Julie Thelen Lee, KY Synergy Volleyball Club
“For us, this is about more than wins and losses, bids, and medals. We are shaping young athletes into young women, and the lessons they learn at Virginia Elite will stay with them. Coaches and staff often spend as much time with athletes as their parents do. They need a caring and competitive environment that feels like family. Being a smaller club allows us to accomplish this. As the late Dr. Greg Dale shared with our staff, ‘Culture eats strategy for lunch every time.”
Lexi Patton, Virginia Elite
“We were a small club only a few years ago. We have grown more than 30 percent each year, and I attribute that growth to the small-club feel we work hard to maintain. Our strongest recruitment and retention tool is making each player feel personally known. All players wear practice shirts with their names on the back so staff can consistently address them by name. That simple step strengthens relationships between Coaches and athletes.”
Alexz Smith, Matchbox Volleyball Club
Provide Individual Attention and Remain Flexible
Smaller clubs can offer a hands-on experience that larger organizations often cannot. Encourage Coaches to engage every athlete on and off the court. Understand their academic demands, extracurricular interests, and long-term goals.
Flexibility is also a competitive advantage. Supporting multi-sport athletes by adjusting practice schedules or supplementing rosters when needed demonstrates commitment to the athlete’s overall development.
“Being a smaller club allows us to be involved in our players’ lives outside of volleyball. We attend their extracurricular events and support them academically. If one athlete is struggling in school, we connect them with a teammate who can help. That level of connection strengthens the player-Coach bond.”
Missi Tate, Digtown Volleyball
“With fewer teams, we can tailor the season to meet each team’s needs. We encourage athletes to participate in high school sports such as basketball, swimming, soccer, or track. We adjust schedules or supplement rosters when necessary to make it work.”
Alyssa LeGrand, Nebraska Juniors
“The biggest advantage of being a smaller club is the ability to give each player full attention through a hands-on experience. Most families prefer an individualized approach rather than feeling like part of a crowd.”
Jodi Schramm, Premier Academy
Leverage Resources Instead of Wearing Every Hat
Small clubs often operate with lean leadership. To maintain quality, Club Directors must build support systems. Utilize fitness trainers, sports psychologists, parent volunteers, recruiting services, and technology platforms. Provide continuing education for Coaches through clinics, mentorship, and professional development.
“We bring in speakers for referee training, concussion education, and nutrition seminars to ensure our families and athletes are informed and supported.”
Julie Thelen Lee, KY Synergy Volleyball Club
“In each practice session, a lead Coach develops the training plan and mentors other Coaches. I intentionally hire aspiring Coaches who want to learn. This creates a learning environment for both Coaches and athletes. We cannot grow the game without developing Coaches.”
Alexz Smith, Matchbox Volleyball Club
Identify and Build on Your Strengths
Survey families and athletes to understand what they value most about your club. Refine and elevate those strengths rather than attempting to mirror larger organizations.
If affordability and regional play are your strengths, become the best at delivering that model. If year-round accessibility is your differentiator, lean into it.
“We accept players on a rolling basis. If an athlete is a strong fit, we bring them into the program regardless of the time of year. That allows us to serve athletes year-round.”
Jodi Schramm, Premier Academy
“Figure out what makes you different and tell your story. Stay true to your mission and values. Find players and Coaches who align with your model.”
Lexi Patton, Virginia Elite
“Know who you are. Do not try to replicate larger clubs. Do what is right for your athletes and families. Build your own brand of volleyball.”
Brian Carason, Imperial Intensity Volleyball Club
Stay the Course
In a small club, changes in roster numbers, staffing, or parent perception can have a significant impact. Adversity is inevitable. Leadership stability and clarity of mission are critical.
“When the success of our club is measured by the quality of service we provide our athletes, we can make a meaningful impact in our communities.”
Alexz Smith, Matchbox Volleyball Club
“Do not focus on what others are doing. Own your journey. Adjust when necessary, but stand firm in your values.”
Missi Tate, Digtown Volleyball
“You must have the right people on your bus, including Coaches, athletes, and parents. That may require difficult conversations or hard decisions. When the right people are aligned, culture and engagement improve immediately.”
Lexi Patton, Virginia Elite
“Big does not mean better. More athletes can mean more distractions from your primary goal of training players. If you can serve athletes effectively in a smaller environment, remain consistent with your mission and values.”
Jodi Schramm, Premier Academy
Digtown Volleyball, KY Synergy Volleyball Club, Virginia Elite, Premier Academy, Matchbox Volleyball Club, Imperial Intensity Volleyball Club and Nebraska Juniors are all members of the Junior Volleyball Association. For more education for Club Directors click HERE. For related reading
About the Author
Briana has been with the JVA since August 2011. Bri enjoys interacting with passionate junior volleyball club directors and coaches on a daily basis, as well as building relationships with partners who share the same vision and goals of the JVA, and are all about giving back to the juniors. Bri has 12 years of coaching experience at the grade school level all the way through the college level. She was a four year starting setter at Ohio University from 2001 to 2004, where she garnered an All-American and Conference Player of the Year honors. She then continued her career competing professionally in Paris, France.
