High school volleyball tryouts are right around the corner, and every year players make the exact same mistakes.

Some athletes walk into tryouts thinking they need to be the most athletic player in the gym. Others try to impress coaches by swinging hard every ball or acting overly confident.

Most of the time, that stuff backfires.

The truth is, coaches usually notice the small things first:

Effort
Communication
Consistency
Attitude
Coachability

If you want to stand out at tryouts, avoid these major mistakes.

1. Being Quiet

This is probably the biggest mistake players make.

Volleyball is a communication sport. If you are silent during drills, coaches immediately notice.

You should constantly be calling:

“Mine!”
“Free!”
“Out!”
“Help!”
“Short!”
“Line!”

Even if you are nervous, communicate anyway.

Quiet players often look unsure or disconnected from the team. Loud, confident communication instantly makes you look more experienced.

2. Giving Up on Balls

Nothing kills a coach’s impression faster than lazy effort.

If a ball is shanked, chase it.
If there’s a bad pass, go after it.
If you make a mistake, reset immediately.

THE BALL DOESN’T HIT THE GROUND WITHOUT YOU HITTING THE GROUND!

Coaches LOVE players who compete hard every single rep.

You do not need to be perfect. But you absolutely need to show effort.

Hustle stands out fast.

3. Trying Too Hard to Impress

A lot of players panic at tryouts and start playing reckless volleyball.

They:

Swing every ball as hard as possible
Serve way too aggressively
Force difficult plays
Try to look flashy

That usually leads to errors.

Coaches are not searching for chaos. They are searching for reliable players they can trust during matches.

Simple, controlled volleyball wins.

A player who passes consistently and communicates well is often more valuable than a player making random highlight plays.

4. Bad Body Language

This one destroys players without them realizing it.

After mistakes, some players:

Roll their eyes
Throw their hands up
Shut down emotionally
Look angry or frustrated

Coaches notice ALL of it.

Nobody wants negative energy on a team.

The best players recover quickly after mistakes and move on to the next play.

Volleyball is a game of errors. Mental toughness matters.

Think, Gold Fish Mentality!

5. Ignoring Coaching Feedback

If a coach gives you advice during tryouts, apply it immediately.

This is huge.

Coaches want athletes who are:

Coachable
Adaptable
Willing to learn

Even small adjustments matter.

If a coach tells you:

“Move your feet more”
“Start your approach earlier”
“Hold your platform”

…and you instantly try to fix it, that makes a strong impression.

Talent matters. Coachability matters more than most players think.

6. Serving Too Aggressively

Serving is one of the fastest ways coaches evaluate players.

But too many athletes miss multiple serves trying to hit the ball 100 mph.

That’s not helping you.

A smart, controlled serve with good placement is far more valuable than a missed “power” serve.

Get the ball in consistently first.

Then add aggression.

7. Looking Unprepared

Showing up late, exhausted, or disorganized already puts you behind.

Before tryouts:

Hydrate properly
Eat real food
Sleep enough
Arrive early
Warm up seriously

Bring:

Water
Knee pads
Proper shoes
Extra shirt if needed

Preparation shows maturity.

Coaches notice who takes tryouts seriously.

8. Comparing Yourself to Everyone Else

This mistake ruins confidence fast.

At tryouts, there will always be:

Bigger players
Stronger hitters
More experienced athletes

Who cares.

Focus on YOUR job:

Compete hard
Be loud
Be coachable
Control your side of the court

Coaches build teams with many different roles. Not everyone needs to be the star hitter.

Sometimes the player who makes the team is simply the most dependable athlete in the gym.

Final Thoughts

Volleyball tryouts are stressful. That’s normal.

But most players overcomplicate things.

The athletes who stand out are usually the ones who:

Communicate
Hustle
Stay positive
Play under control
Respond well to coaching

That’s what coaches remember.

If you want extra reps before tryouts, consistent training and game-like practice can make a huge difference in confidence and performance heading into the season.

At Santa Ynez Valley Volleyball, we focus heavily on:

Ball control
Communication
Confidence
High school preparation
Game-like training environments

Girls high school volleyball tryouts are coming fast. Start preparing now instead of waiting until the week before tryouts.

Inspired by SYVV’s ongoing player development and volleyball content strategy planning.

The Biggest Mistakes Players Make at Volleyball Tryouts