Boys Club FAQs
Every year many people discover club volleyball and have many questions. While this will not answer all of them, we hope we can address many of the common questions below.
Sky High Volleyball – 38th Season (Est. 1989)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Boys' Programs does Sky High offer?
A:
Junior Olympic (JO): National Team / Travel Team
Boys 13s & 14s (7th & 8th Grade)
- Program: Junior Olympic (JO) only
- Club Location: Libertyville Facility
- 1450 Harris Road, Libertyville, IL
- Practices: 2 per week
- One 2.5-hour practice
- One 2-hour practice
- Season:Begins the first week of October
- 13s: Ends in late May
- 14s: Ends in mid-June or early July
- Tournaments:Typically within a 90-minute drive of our Libertyville facility
- One or two tournaments may require longer travel
Boys 15s–18s (9th–12th Grade)
- Club Location: Libertyville Facility
- 1450 Harris Road, Libertyville, IL
- Practices: 3 per week
- First two months: 2.5 hours each
- Beginning in November: 2.25 hours each
- Season:Begins the first week of September
- Ends at the National Championship in late June or early July
- Teams pause their season at the beginning of March and resume in June
- Tournaments:Previous seasons have included events in Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis
- Teams participate in 2–3 three-day tournaments
Regional (REG)
Regional Level • Local Events Program
Boys 15s–18s (9th–12th Grade)
- Club Location: Libertyville Facility
- 1450 Harris Road, Libertyville, IL
- Practices: 2 per week (2 hours each)
- Season:Begins the first week of October
- Ends at the end of February
- Tournaments:Typically within a 90-minute drive of our Libertyville facility
Q: How often do teams practice?
A:
13s JO and 14s JOs Teams practice twice per week. 2.5hrs and 2.0hrs
All Regional Teams practice twice per week. 2.0hrs / 2.0hrs
15s-18s JO Teams practice three times per week.
For the first 2 months each practice is 2.5hrs long
Starting in November each practice will switch to 2.25hrs long
Q: How long is the season?
A:
13 & 14 JO and all Regional teams:
- Practices begin the week of October 5, 2026.
- The Regional teams will end their season before IHSA tryouts.
- 13 JO will run through late-May with a significant amount of time off during the Spring unless they qualify for nationals.
- 14 JO will run through mid-June or early July, also with a significant amount of time off during the Spring unless they qualify for nationals.
- The Regional teams that start in October end late February.
15-18 JO teams:
- Practices begin September 8, 2026.
- All teams have breaks during Thanksgiving (Nov. 24-Nov.29), winter break (December 18 - January 3), and specific dates will be provided for potential additional breaks.
- The 15-18 JO teams pause during the boys' IHSA season, resuming in early June.
Q: How much travel is involved?
A:
15–18 JO teams:
- Attend multiple events, including the Chicago Point Series (Chicago) , JVA Chi-Town (Chicago), Boys Winter Invitational (Louisville, KY)
- May also participate in the Dennis Lafata Bid Classic (St. Louis, MO) JVA Brew City (Milwaukee, WI)
- Participate at AAU Nationals (Orlando, FL) or USAV Nationals (Anaheim, CA)
- All travel and related costs are invoiced separately
Q: How do coaches evaluate each athlete?
A: Coaches assess players based on athleticism, work ethic, and attitude for younger age groups (12-14). For older age groups (15-18), skills are also evaluated.
Q: How many athletes will Sky High select?
A: Due to space and coaching limitations, typically ten to twelve athletes are selected per team.
Q: Where does Sky High find its coaches?
A: Our coaches are highly experienced, with many having coached at the collegiate and/or high school level. All are Impact certified by USA Volleyball, with some also holding ASEP and/or CAP certifications.
Q: What do fees (dues) include?
A: Fees cover fixed cost such as court rental, equipment, coaches, and local tournament entry fees. Uniform costs are additional.
Q: How will I know if my athlete was selected to compete with Sky High?
A: Results will be posted after tryouts, and instructions will be provided for accessing required paperwork online. A parent meeting will be scheduled before or shortly after the season begins.
Q: Is a deposit required?
A: A $35 registration fee is required for tryouts. If selected to a program, a $600 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot on the roster. This deposit and contract signature commits the athlete to the club for the season.
Q: What paperwork is involved and when is it due?
A: All necessary paperwork, including the contract, will be provided online after tryouts. Complete and submit all documents by the deadline stated in your welcome email. A Parent/Player Handbook will be emailed within a couple of weeks after tryouts.
Q: How much will the uniforms cost?
A:
JO athletes: Three jerseys, two practice t-shirts, crew socks, one pair of shorts, a full warm-up, backpack, and a Molten Flistatec volleyball. Additional accessories are available for purchase. Approximate cost: $460.00
Regional athletes: Two jerseys, two practice t-shirts, one pair of shorts, crew socks, full warm-up, backpack, and a Molten Flistatec volleyball. Approximate cost: $400.00
All players must wear black socks, black kneepads (required for 14u athlete), and predominantly black or red shoes at practices and competitions. ADIDAS brand socks, kneepads, and shorts are required for all competitions.
Q: What if my athlete plays another sport?
A: Sky High supports multi-sport athletes for athletes who play in a school sport only. Other club teams are excluded from this exemption. Provide your practice and competition schedule to your coach and keep them informed of any changes. Conflicts will be excused if these terms are met.
If the athlete plays a Winter season High School sport, it is unlikely they will be able to participate in our JO program. Please call our office with questions.
Q: What if I have questions not covered in the FAQ
A: Please call Walter Paiz, at 224-513-5240 or the main office at 815-356-0006. You may also send an email using the contact button on the Boys Program General Info page.
updated for clarity on 8/7/2026