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Tryouts
The schedule for tryouts is still fluid, but will be firmed up very soon.
Tryouts will be August 20th to 22nd or 23rd. Everyone should be dressed, warmed
up and ready to play at the listed start time. Teams
will be
announced at the end of tryouts on Wednesday or Thursday. Practice by team
will start the next day.
Tryouts (and many of the practices before school starts) will be "Two A Days".
That is just like it says - two practices each day. There will usually be
an hour or so break between the practices, but it is possible that one practice
will be in the morning and the other in the evening. Unfortunately practice
times have to conform to Coach Behren's "in service" requirements
as a teacher at Kentlake.
The tryout schedule LAST YEAR was:
- Monday, August 21, 2006
- Tuesday, August 22, 2006
- Wednesday
, August 23, 2006
Again, those were the times LAST YEAR. We do not have the 2007 schedule yet.
Please bring the following forms, filled out, to Falcon Day. You must have all three forms on file
before you will be allowed to tryout. No exceptions. Taking care of this on Falcon Day will ensure maximum
time for tryouts.
Sports Physicals are only required every two years, but all freshmen must
have one (MIddle School physicals don't count for some reason). That means
all freshmen and most juniors will need
a current physical and most sophomores and seniors will not. If you had a physical
for a summer sports camp most likely the doctor can just fill out the sports
physical form without you
having to actually get a new physical.
Information on Low Cost Physical options is available here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tryouts
- Can I try out without having completed a physical?
- No, you cannot. District rules require everyone that tries out for any sports
team to have a current sports physical with medical clearance to play on file
before they can attend tryouts. We are unable to make any exceptions.
- I had a physical last year. Is it still good?
- Most likely. High school physicals are good for two years. However, if you
are entering 9th grade or transferred from another district, you will need
a new physical. Most juniors will need a new physical also, since they probably
had a physical going into
9th grade and their two years would then be up.
- I can't get an appointment until after tryouts are over. Is that OK?
- You will be unable to try out or practice until you have the physical completed. At that time you can attend practice and you
will be evaluated and, if you make the squad, placed on the appropriate team. However, you will not be able to play in a game until
you have completed ten practices. Some teams will be filled when tryouts are over. If that is the case then you
will be placed on a team with spots available, even if you might have been selected for a more competitive team if you had been at
tryouts.
- We are going on vacation during tryouts. Can I try out when we get back?
- Let's not even go there...
- What should I bring to tryouts?
- Normal volleyball attire including shorts/spandex, t-shirt, good socks, etc plus knee pads and good shoes, preferably court shoes not
running shoes. You are encouraged to wear ankle supports and
any other reasonable protective gear that you desire. If you sweat a lot during practice it might be a good idea to wear a headband.
You should also bring a water bottle and something to eat during the break. And, of course, enthusiasm and a desire to be a part of
a winning volleyball team.
- What should I not bring to tryouts?
- Tank tops or tops with spaghetti straps. "Floppy" clothes (loose shorts,
baggy shirts, etc). Jewelry.
Sugary foods or drinks.
A bad attitude.
- Does it cost anything to play volleyball at Kentlake?
- Not directly. There is no "Pay for Play" rule in the Kent School District (some schools in other districts require you pay just to play
volleyball), however you do have to have a valid ASB card to participate in any type of athletics. ASB is, of course, good for many other things
than just volleyball. Also, you may want to buy a sweatshirt or other spirit items, but nothing is required.
- I don't play Club Volleyball. Can I still try out?
- Certainly. Club volleyball is a good way to improve your skills, but participation at Kentlake is based on the skills you have, not
the manner in which you obtained them. We encourage players to play Club volleyball if they ar so inclined (and we are lucky to have
several very good clubs in the area) but you will not be penalized if you don't play club.
- How many teams will there be? How many players on each team?
- The plan is to have four teams: Varsity, Junior Varsity, "C" and Freshman.
However, the SPSL is currenly reviewing this and we may be limited to only
three teams. We should know their decision before tryouts. Only freshman can
be on the Freshman team. The other three teams can have players from any
grade,
but
we
do not
usually
put
seniors
on
anything
other
than Varsity. That is not to say that
all seniors that try out will be on Varsity. They must make the squad like anyone
else. It is Coach Behrens intention to have only 12 players on Varsity. Last
year we had 14 and two players had to be left off the post-season roster. If
there are
insufficient numbers to make four decent sized squads (or if we are limited to
only three teams by the SPSL) then the "C" and
Freshmen squads will be combined. We are one of the few schools in the state
that field
four volleyball teams.
- Why would they limit us to only three teams?
- Last year there were only four schools in the SPSL with four volleyball teams (Kentlake, Kentwood, Kentridge and Auburn Riverside).
Auburn Riverside is a 3A school but their "C" team played in the SPSL 4A North instead of the SPSL 3A. Some schools only had two squads
with little or no prospect of adding a third soon. This is partially due to some of the schools being three year schools, so they
obviously don't have a Freshman team, but many schools just don't have the numbers to field more than three teams. Kent is a relative
"hotbed" of volleyball in the State due in part to the past success of Kentlake (with three State championships this decade) and Kentwood
and our vibrant Club voleyball
scene. Last year Kentlake had the most players tryout for volleyball in the entire 24 school SPSL. With that interest we easily have
enough players turn out for volleyball to field four teams, but other schools don't. There are not enough schools fielding "C" teams,
but some people did not like the expediant used last year of combining the Freshman and "C" team schedules.
- What can I expect if I make the team?
- To play a lot of volleyball in a very short period of time. The high school volleyball
season in Washington is the shortest in the nation (only 11 weeks from tryouts to the State Tournament) but for the Varisty team
we sqeeze in the Jamborree, 14 matches against local teams (all in the SPSL North this year) and two Saturday tournaments (one at
home and one in Spokane). The other three teams play fewer games but still a lot. The JV squad will play in one tournament
and possibly one at home.
On days that you do not have matches you will practice after school for two to three hours. The details of the practice
schedule will be released after the teams are announced.
- I am sort of anxious about this. Any words of wisdom?
- Relax, enjoy it and come with a positive attitude.
Some good articles on tryouts (ignore the school specific stuff):
Dave Cross
Austin Metro Tryouts
Garfield High School
- I have more questions. Who can I talk to?
- Contact Coach Behrens via email or phone at 253.373.4618 x2
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