Club volleyball is designed for players that truly enjoy the sport and want to take their volleyball skills to a higher level. It is an organized, controlled, and fun way for volleyball players of varying abilities to be introduced to, continue to develop, or be challenged at the game of volleyball beyond the fall school season. New friendships, learning the game, opportunities for your daughter to expand their horizons in a safe and controlled environment, developing teamwork and communication skills, an opportunity to travel…… as you can see, club volleyball means many different things to different people, but its potential to positively impact your children are clearly evident! And depending on your commitment, goals, and level of play, there is a spot for everyone!

Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy was established with the support of countless Southeastern Michigan area families who believed in the mission of developing young female athletes. Over the past several years, we have become the largest and most successful club in Michigan; consistently developing players at the highest levels of amateur volleyball competition. Our U-10 to U-18 teams compete locally, regionally, and nationally. Our club provides an opportunity for young individuals (elementary through high school age girls and boys) to further their experience and training in volleyball through instruction from qualified coaches in practice and increased competition in tournaments throughout the state, region, and nation. Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy is dedicated to serving our student-athletes and parents in all aspects of club volleyball. 

Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy is proud to offer the finest coaching staff in the region, where all of our national and regional team coaches have competitive volleyball experience and are required to pursue certification and ongoing advanced education through the various governing bodies Junior Volleyball. Our staff is committed to developing young women into ethical competitors. 

Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy will operate our business and volleyball operations with the highest level of ethics and integrity. Our coaches will embrace our volleyball curriculum in their coaching and training.  They will be fair and equitable to their players and be honest in all circumstances.  They will be prepared and professional and act as a role model to their players.

We have 4 different levels of play offered to the players at Michigan Elite: National, National Select, State, and Regional.

National (Mizuno, Elite, & Location Based) teams are our highest-level commitment program. These teams are trained and coached by our most experienced staff members. It is expected that team members make this team their highest sports priority.

National Select teams are advanced level teams that offer a convenient travel schedule with high-level competition. This level is ideal for players who play other high school sports but want to compete and train at a high level.

State teams are very competitive and are a good option for athletes who play a second sport or have travel and financial constraints, but also want to commit to playing a six-month club volleyball season.

Regional teams are fielded as needed and are designed for beginning to intermediate players to learn the game and gain more experience.

In general, tournaments are throughout the Midwest (i.e., IL, IN, KY, MI). The season concludes with either the AAU or USAV National Tournament. A play date is considered a 1-day event that begins approximately at 7:30am-2pm (morning wave) or from 2pm-9pm (afternoon wave). Most non-local tournaments are 2-day or 3-day events; the National Tournaments are 4-day events.

Please talk to Michigan Elite staff at tryouts for assistance in determining your commitment level and the best fit.  In general, we like to evaluate players for the highest level they are willing to play, so we ask that they list the highest level of interest.

• 10 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2015
• 11 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2014
• 12 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2013
• 13 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2012
• 14 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2011
• 15 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2010
• 16 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2009
• 17 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2008, OR players who were born on or after July 1, 2007 and are in the 11th grade during the current academic year.
• 18 & Under – Must be born on or after July 1, 2007, OR players who were born on or after July 1, 2006 and be high school students during some part of the current academic year.

PLAYERS SHOULD TRYOUT FOR THEIR GRADE YEAR.

We ask that players tryout according to their GRADE.  If you are able to play "up" or "down" based on your birthday, a notation will be made.  Final roster decisions are made by Age Group Coordinators based on the ability of the player and best fit.

The purpose of tryouts at Michigan Elite is to assess an individual player’s abilities to place the player on the appropriate level team so they may have fun, improve and excel during the upcoming volleyball season. ALL players must tryout every year. No player will be placed on a team until they have completed the tryout process.

To accomplish this goal, our top-level coaches evaluate players as they participate in drills designed to test their basic volleyball skills. Players are evaluated by multiple coaches throughout the course of the tryout session; the coaches then work together on the team placement process.

1. Arrive 30-60 minutes early to complete the check-in process.
2. When registering, please indicate the highest level of play preferred (National, Select, State or Regional) and coaches will evaluate from there. **It is not guaranteed you will play at this level - Age Group Coordinators may ask you to play at a level higher or lower than desired based on skill. 
3. Check in at the grade appropriate table (see right for descriptions)The appropriate age for your daughter to tryout will automatically populate based on her birthday. You will receive your tryout t-shirt and number here. **Age group changes to move up are rare but may be made by the evaluators and Age Group Coordinators based on skill. 
4. Players can then change into their volleyball gear, including their tryout t-shirt, rack their bags, and report to the courts. Players are invited to warm-up on their own prior to the start of the tryout.
5. Next, the actual tryout takes place. The coaching staff will circulate during the session to evaluate the skill level of the players.
6. At the end of the session, the coaching staff will address the players to discuss the team placement process, future tryouts, general Q&A, etc.

Tips for Parents:

1. Register online ahead of time.
2. Arrive early.
3. If you’d like to watch the tryout session, sit on the bleachers only.
4. Do not “coach” your child during the tryout session.
5. If you do not stay for the tryout session, be sure to return to the gym 15 minutes prior to the completion of the session to listen to coach instructions regarding the team placement process, future tryouts, general Q&A, etc.

At the  Regional level, we do our best to honor such requests. But the request must be made by all parties requested for it to be valid.

Michigan Elite makes every effort to match every player with an appropriate team.  Tryouts are a time for coaches to concentrate on the evaluation of players. 

Individual placement information will be communicated by Age Group Coordinators during the week following each tryout. Roster spots are offered beginning after the July tryout but not held unless a deposit is given.  Team formation continues with each tryout and the majority of rosters are finalized after the November tryout.  Adjustments to rosters will be made up until the start of team practices in January.

To officially accept this spot, a non-refundable $500 (State, National Select, National) or $300 (Regional) deposit, which goes toward your club season tuition, must be made for a roster spot to be filled.

Please 1) contact your Age Group Coordinator to notify them of acceptance and 2) go to the website under "Payments & Resources" to make your deposit.

To officially accept this spot, a non-refundable $500 (State, National Select, National) or $300 (Regional) deposit, which goes toward your club season tuition, must be made for a roster spot to be filled.

Please 1) contact your Age Group Coordinator to notify them of acceptance and 2) go to the website under "Payments & Resources" to make your deposit.

Parent meetings will be conducted in early December after all tryouts have been completed. 

• Times & Dates to TBD

We have created a pre-set practice grid for the Pontiac & Schoolcraft locations. All other locations are TBD. We will do our best to have all teams' practices solidified within our grid by early December - primarily based on coach availability. 

Mizuno & Elite Teams will practice Tuesdays @ Schoolcraft & Thursdays at Pontiac.

National Location Based teams will practice Tuesdays & Thursdays

Select and State teams in Pontiac & Schoolcraft will practice either Monday/Wednesday 7:00pm-9:00pm

Regional teams in Pontiac & Schoolcraft will practice either Monday/Wednesday 5:30pm-7:00pm

Finalized schedules and rosters will be announced via email and on our website after final tryouts. 

Dues may be paid in full or on a payment schedule of 1-6 payments. There are no refunds,  payment is expected in full by the first week of December unless you have submitted a signed and executed payment plan agreement.  Failure to do so will result in removal from the team.

Yes! Included in your Tuition are MiElite Mizuno jerseys and spandex for National, National Select, State & Regional teams. Other Mizuno gear is available a la carte at the Motor City VolleyShop. All players are required to wear Mizuno socks, Mizuno kneepads, and MiElite  practice shirts. 

All travel expenses and lodging are the responsibility of the player/parent. Michigan Elite partners with hotels to secure room blocks for team tournaments.  Families are expected to stay at club designated hotels.  This helps keep costs down and provides coach accommodations at little or no extra cost. 

We have an open door policy with our parents and encourage them to communicate with our staff.   This policy does not exist during tournaments and practices; we ask that all parents observe a 24 hour rule during and after tournaments to allow for a "cooling off" period before approaching a coach with any staff/parent discussions/issues.

At Michigan Elite, we believe playing time is earned, not given. Playing time is determined by the coach based on several criteria including attendance, practice, attitude, game performance and skill. Michigan Elite is a competitive volleyball environment and the teams are administered that way.  The exception to this is for local level teams where all players will receive meaningful playing time. 

*Playing time and related issues are encouraged to be resolved between player and coach. After such meetings, if the issue still remains then a formal meeting with the player, coach and age group director will be held.*

No Refunds: All registration fees are non-refundable. Once payment is received, there will be no refunds issued
for any reason, including, but not limited to, Program cancellation, injury, absence, or non-participation.  

Program Insurance: We strongly encourage you to consider purchasing insurance for participation in any 3STEP
Program. Insurance can provide protection if an athlete or team is unable to attend a Program due to unforeseen
circumstances such as illness, injury, or emergencies, and may help recoup registration costs. While 3STEP does
not provide cancellation insurance, we have facilitated an opportunity for you to do so through US Sports Club
Insurance (“USSCI”). You can purchase insurance coverage through USSCI during Program registration or by
visiting https://threestep.com/sportsinsurance/.