Faq’s

Anyone! It doesn’t matter what your skill level is or what school you are from.

 It is strongly encouraged that you attend as many tryout dates as possible. We know this is not always possible due to scheduling, so if you cannot attend two or more of the tryout dates, please email northeastthundervbc@gmail.com.

Coaches will evaluate players based on their technical skills, athleticism, teamwork, leadership, and attitude and select players who meet the needs of their team.

 Please refer to the USAV Age Definition chart.

Yes, players are eligible to play up. Feel free to email northeastthundervbc@gmail.com and let us know what age division you prefer; however, coaches/directors have the final say on team placements.  

Many of our coaches have already accepted positions; however, the team they may coach could change due to what teams we may have after tryouts. Our head coach assignments at this time are below:
12 Lightning - Mia Wood
13 Lightning - Cailin Moskow
14 Force - Katelyn McDonough
15 Force - Ashley Turski
16 Force - April Newman
17 Force - Kelsey Hart
18 Force - Caitlyn Class

Additional travel coaches are: Marc Agel, Jess Eblin, Kevin Eitzmann, Victoria Konicki, Jennifer Mueller, Angela Pastizzo & Sara Pipino.

The Force teams are the more competitive teams that travel to major cities. The Lightning Teams are less competitive, more developmental, and tend to stay more local with tournaments. Traveling is not guaranteed for Lightning teams but we do try to include 1-2 events where possible.  

Ideally, 10 players per team however the younger age groups may have up to 12 players.

The Club Directors will email the player and/or parent to offer them a position. This typically happens within 1-2 weeks post tryouts. Some players may be offered a position after the first tryout.

All players will have 48 hours to accept their position from the time the offer email is sent.  A $500 non-refundable deposit and a completed player/parent contract will be due at the time of acceptance via League Apps only. No extensions or other payment arrangements will be given.

The club fee varies depending on the team, i.e. # of players on a team, tournament schedule, coaches' expenses, etc.  Please note, the club fee is an estimate until we have our teams finalized however it would not drastically increase or decrease.  

Tournament fees, gym rental fees, equipment, coaches expenses, 2 practice shirts (JTs will receive 1 practice shirt even if registered for both sessions), 3 jerseys (12 Lightning and 13 Lightning will receive 2 jerseys), AAU membership and business administration fees.

A $500 deposit will be due at the time of accepting a position in League Apps. The remaining balance will be split between two payments. For 13u-18u, half will be due September 1st and the remaining balance will be due November 1st. For 12u, half will be due October 15th and the remaining balance will be due December 1st.  Please note - players will not be able to practice or attend tournaments if the club fee is not paid.

Yes. USAV registration ~$70 (8yrs-11yrs is ~$30), Impact Athletic Center Access Fee $39 (annual fee that can be used to participate in other Impact programs). More information will be provided as we finalize the tournament schedule.  Additional cost for traveling, i.e. transportation, hotel, food, etc., is each family's responsibility.  Please see our Estimated Travel Expenses for a better idea of additional costs associated with traveling. Each team/level has a separate tab in the spreadsheet.

The transaction fee in League Apps is typically charged to cover the costs of processing payments. For years, NET absorbed these credit card transaction fees, which impacted our overall budget. By moving payments to League Apps, we no longer need to absorb these costs. We strive to offer alternative payment methods throughout the club season, but the non-refundable deposit must be paid through League Apps.

 Impact Athletic Center - 390 NY-146, Halfmoon NY

13u-18u - Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-8:30p starting on December 3rd. 12u is TBD and Junior Thunder will practice Thursdays from 5:30-7p starting December 5th.

Absolutely!  There is a second level that overlooks the courts and a restaurant in the facility. We just ask that no parents are courtside or interrupt practices.

Yes, however, we will be limited to 3 courts. Players will have the ability to sign up for break week practices for an additional cost. We will be limiting the number of players as coaches are working on specialized skill training during break weeks.

The goal is to field at least one team per age division, 12u-18u however it all depends on the number of players who attend tryouts and if we have the staff.  In past years we have had one team at each age division with the exception of 15u and 16u having two teams.

Yes, we offer a scholarship program for those who need financial assistance. The maximum assistance provided will be 50% of the club fee. Please complete our Financial Assistance Form with your request. We will be accepting applications after team offers have been received for one of our teams. The directors will review all applications and reply with the assistance available prior to September 1. If contacted after September 1st, we will review and reply within one week.

Anyone!  To donate, please click on “Shop” on our homepage. Your donation is tax deductible. You will receive a detailed receipt no later than January 31st to the email provided when submitting your donation. Thank you for your support!

The developmental teams (Lightning teams) typically stay within 2 hours of the Capital Region and are not guaranteed travel. The travel teams (Force) traditionally attend events in Boston, MA, Providence, RI, Hartford, CT, Uncasville, CT, Rochester, NY, Syracuse, NY, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Springfield, MA, and a few local events.

This season, we will be registering with USA Volleyball and Amateur Athletic Union “AAU” to provide our teams with more tournament opportunities.

Yes, the coach will survey the team and if players and their families would like to attend any additional event(s), the cost would be determined by the number of players attending and include the registration fee and coaches expenses (travel & lodging).

Typically the tournament schedule will be selected by 11/1-12/1 however, many local events are posted through January so we may add dates as the season gets started. All tournaments are TBD until the Tournament Director accepts the team. If an event has a Stay to Play policy, housing is a requirement for acceptance.

Communicate your availability to your coaches as soon as possible!  No refunds are made for players who cannot attend scheduled practices or tournaments.

It all depends on the team however, we tend to push our players to compete at the highest level possible where they will be challenged. Our teams typically compete at the American (2nd level) and Open (1st level) level with the exception of our Lightning teams, they may play USA (3rd level). There is also a Club division which is the lowest level. Coaches and the Directors will decide which level each team will participate in when levels are an option.

Yes, there is a Stay to Play policy for most events. Stay to Play is defined as a tournament in which the Region/Tournament Director requires athletes to stay in a hotel on a predetermined list. Should the team not meet their hotel requirement, the Tournament Director may remove the team from participating in the event without refunding the tournament fee. Once hotels are booked by families through the provided link(s), no cancellations can be made without approval by the Club Director. Each contract is unique to the event, parents who cancel their reservations may be responsible to pay a fee directly to the housing company the tournament utilizes. 

If you don’t want to travel, we may be able to offer a practice player position that allows you to practice with the team but not attend events. The practice player fee will be $650.

Please stay tuned! Details coming after tryouts!

It can only help but please know it doesn’t matter what club you play for. Players must be proactive in the recruitment process and advocate for themselves. NET coaches and staff will be able to assist you with the recruitment process. 

We have experienced coaches that can assist with the process. Coach Ben Rosenthal is our Recruitment Coordinator and he will be able to help support you throughout the recruitment process; school selection, emails to coaches, videos, etc.

This is determined on a team by team basis. Should families be interested in purchasing Hudl at an additional cost per player, please contact the directors prior to January 1, 2025.

Yes! All players will be required to volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of NorthEastern New York on assigned dates. Our club also participates in a winter food drive and makes dog toys out of old t-shirts for Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of NY in the spring. Additionally, 15u-18u players must sign-up to assist with our Junior Thunder program throughout the season.