Tryout Q&A

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Do I have to go to all the tryout dates (or can I show up late to a tryout?

We do not require athletes to be at all the tryouts (the more the better) and we welcome athletes that may need to come late (better than not at all) as we understand that other conflicts might exist.

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Is the $40 Tryout Fee Included in the athletes Team fee?

No. The $40 tryout fee is separate from the athlete’s team fee and is non-refundable.

However, the full $40 will be applied to the athlete’s account as a credit toward future Kingston Volleyball Academy (KVA) programming.

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Can I tryout for more than one club?

Yes. Eligible athletes may attend tryouts with more than one club while deciding which program is the best fit for them.

However, an athlete may not attend September tryouts if they have:

• Re-signed with another club using an official OVA Re-Signing Form;

• Entered into an active Open Commitment with another club; or

• Accepted a position by returning an official OVA Offer Form.

Athletes must accurately indicate during registration whether they participated in OVA club volleyball during the previous season.

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How will I know if I make the APEX team?

We will do our best to highlight the process here.

If Kingston Volleyball APEX would like to invite an athlete to join one of our teams, the athlete’s family will receive an official OVA Offer Form by email.

OVA Offer Forms may be issued beginning September 8, 2026. We expect most of our offers to be sent following our final scheduled tryout, although some offers may be issued earlier.

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Formal offers must remain available until the applicable OVA deadline:

• U14/TLS and U16 offers: September 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

• U15 offers: September 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

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Families may accept or decline an offer before the deadline. Once an athlete accepts and returns an official OVA Offer Form, the athlete is committed to that club for the season and may no longer attend tryouts with other clubs unless an official release is granted.

We understand that waiting for an offer can be stressful. We will communicate decisions as clearly and promptly as possible throughout the process

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What happens after the initial offer deadlines?

Once the applicable OVA offer deadlines have passed, we will review our remaining roster needs.

If positions are still available, we may:

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• Extend additional offers to athletes who attended our tryouts; or

• Hold additional tryout sessions for athletes who have not yet found a team.

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We expect most APEX rosters to be finalized during the third or fourth week of September. However, athletes may still be added later if positions remain available. The OVA permits clubs to continue holding tryouts after the initial offer deadlines to fill open roster positions.

 

 

What happens if I receive offers from more than one club?

Athletes have the right to choose the club and team that best fit their goals and needs.

Each official OVA offer must remain available until its applicable deadline unless the athlete accepts or declines it earlier. Once an athlete returns an accepted OVA Offer Form, they are committed to that club for the season and may not continue attending other clubs’ tryouts.

 

 

Do I have to register for different age groups?

No. For the 2026–2027 season, Kingston Volleyball APEX will hold combined tryouts for girls and boys in the U14 through U16 age categories.

Athletes only need to complete one tryout registration and do not need to request a specific team or age category when registering. Based on registration numbers, athlete development, skill level and roster needs, some younger athletes may be considered for an older age category.

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The eligible birthdate ranges are:

• U14: September 1, 2012–December 31, 2013

• U15: September 1, 2011–December 31, 2012

• U16: September 1, 2010–December 31, 2011

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Do I need to register with the OVA before attending tryouts?

Yes. All athletes must be registered as a Tryout Player in the OVA Membership Registration System before participating in an OVA club tryout.

Families should bring or have access to the registration confirmation they receive from the OVA.

 

 

What will tryouts look  like?  

Each tryout session will use two courts and will be led by several APEX coaches. Sessions will begin with athlete check-in, followed by warm-ups, skill-based drills and game-play activities.

Athletes may be moved between courts or groups throughout the session so that different coaches can evaluate them.

We understand that tryouts can feel intimidating. Our coaches will do their best to create a positive and welcoming environment while still conducting a fair and thorough evaluation. All eligible athletes are welcome to attend each of the three tryout sessions

 

What will coaches be evaluating?

Selecting a team is a difficult responsibility, and coaches will consider several factors when evaluating athletes, including:

• Volleyball skills and overall athletic ability;

• Volleyball IQ and game awareness;

• Attitude, effort and work ethic;

• Coachability and willingness to learn;

• Communication and teamwork;

• Positional skills and versatility; and

• The positional and roster needs of each team.

No single skill or evaluation category will determine whether an athlete is selected.

 

 

Does APEX have athlete restrictions?

Yes.   Being a new club in Ontario, operating in our first year, our goal is to attract as many new athletes to club volleyball as possible.   Our teams will be formed mostly (but not entirely) by athletes who did not play club volleyball last season.     These same restrictions are not in place for our 2nd year of operation.  

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Why doesn’t APEX have teams at every age level?

Building a strong and sustainable volleyball club requires considerable planning, organization and support.

For our first season, we have chosen to begin with a limited number of teams so that we can provide a high-quality experience for every athlete, coach and family involved. Our priority is to operate a smaller number of teams successfully rather than expanding before we are ready.