Northern Lights Tryouts

For the 2023-2024 season, Northern Lights will be sanctioned JVA, AAU and USAV.  You do not need to be North Country Region (NCR) or USA Volleyball (USAV)-registered to participate in the Northern Lights tryout.

Tryout Dates for 2024 Teams

Age Divisions

Players should register for the age group their grade indicates so long as the birthday requirement is met. 

If you do not meet the birthday requirement listed for your grade, please email the Northern Lights office for additional guidance. (northernlights@midwestvolleyball.com)  Basically, the only reason not to register for the division corresponding with your grade is if you are born on or before June 30 of that year.  In this case alone, a player will need to play up a year.  This situation historically affects less than 10 players per year.

Example 1 – if you are born on 7-15-2009 and are in the 9th grade, you should register for 15’s because you meet both requirements of being in grade 8 and born after 7-1-2008.  You should not register for 14’s because your birthday also meets the requirement for 14’s.  You still do not meet the grade requirement for 14’s which states you must be in the 8th grade.

Example 2 – if you are born on 6-23-2009 and are in the 8th grade, you should register for 15’s because you do not meet the birthday requirement listed for 14’s/Grade 8.  The birthday requirement is born on or after 7-1-2009.

You can also click here to see a graphical version of the age groups but keep in mind that grade is the first deciding factor and birthday is the second.  99% of all players will be required to play with their grade.

The Youth Development Team (YDT) is entering its 6th year as a Northern Lights program in 2024!  Please see the Youth Development Team webpage for more information.  Players who tryout for the YDT may do so outright, or may still tryout for a Northern Lights club team at the 9:00am tryout first.  Please follow the registration instructions on the Youth Development Team webpage.

Location

Midwest Volleyball Warehouse (click here for a map)
14050 Judicial Road
Burnsville, MN 55337

Cost to Tryout

Please refer to the tryout registration site www.signuptoplay.com to see the cost to tryout (17’s and younger).

There are no refunds once you have registered and paid for the tryout.

** Potential 18’s players should e-mail us at northernlights@midwestvolleyball.com by October 1 stating your interest.  We can then e-mail you with information about the 2023-2024 club year including cost to tryout and senior meeting date.  This year commitment forms can be signed as early at August 1.  The amount due is 100% refundable if not selected to join the club for 2024.

Registration

All Players must pre-register online and printout the Tryout Registration Form.  Bring the form with you to the tryout.

The tryout process will take approximately 2 – 3 hours and will consist of:

• Registration
• Physical Testing
• Skill Evaluation
• Team Play
• Player Selections

By the conclusion of the tryouts we will have selected all players for each age division.

Parents will not be permitted to view the tryouts.  Parents will need to wait outside in their car until called by their daughter to come in and sign forms.

At the time of selection each player & their parent will be required to sign a binding USA Volleyball letter of commitment and submit a non-refundable down payment (checks preferred).

Pre-Tryout Skills Sessions

For those players wishing to brush up on their skills Northern Lights is offering single day skill sessions one day each weekend starting September 30, and going through tryouts. This is a great way for you to get to know some of our staff and see exactly how we train our players to be the best in Minnesota! For more information on these skills sessions, you can click here.

If you have not played in Northern Lights before we strongly urge you to attend at least one of the skills sessions. This gives the staff a chance to get to know you and your skills prior to tryouts.

Please read the details on the Fall Skills Sessions page to ensure you can attend the Fall Skills sessions per the MSHSL rules before registering.

Pre-Tryout Open Gym

Because of MSHSL restrictions, any player who is an active member of their Varsity, JV or 10th/B-/C-Squad teams may not attend an open house without risking their eligibility.  As such, Northern Lights will not be holding an open gym.

Any questions you may have can be directed to northernlights@midwestvolleyball.com.

First Practices

10’s – 14’s first practice will be October 30, 2023.

15’s – 18’s first practice will be on November 13, 2023.