Introduction:
I have played many volleyball tournaments since school. This game has fascinated me for its finesse, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship. From school to college, or indoors to beach, volleyball has enthralled us due to its exciting tactics, challenges, and opportunities.
Originally called Mintonette, who knew volleyball would become world famous after it was invented in 1895 in Massachusetts, USA by William G Morgan. In this article, I have explained everything about volleyball seasons in detail. Because knowing about a volleyball season is as important as indulging in its rules and techniques to become a fine player!
When Is The Volleyball Season?
It might confuse beginners to know about each season distinctly because of their diverse categories. Each season has its uniqueness, duration, leagues, etc. Here’s the detailed information for each season as follows:
High-school Volleyball Season:
High school volleyball season starts in the Fall. From August onwards, practices are initiated in schools. The dates may vary from region to region according to the school’s coach, athletic department, or the local governing body.
Pre-season starts in late July when high school students prepare themselves mentally and physically for tryouts.
Tryouts happen before the regular season. The high school players attend tryouts to secure their spot on the team.
After successful tryouts, the regular season starts where all high school teams participate, practice, and compete. It initiates in August and lasts till November or early December.
Postseason tournaments are held after the regular season where high-school teams play.
College Volleyball Season:
College volleyball season has three divisions- I, II, and III. You can get all the updates on men’s and women’s volleyball season from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) website. NCAA provides the details about the upcoming season. College volleyball season is divided into pre-season, regular season, conference play, post-season, and recruitment timeline.
The pre-season starts before the regular season when practice, early-season tournaments, exhibitions, etc, happen.
The regular season starts in August or early September and lasts till November or early December. Each USA state starts its regular season around these timespans.
Conference play is done for post-season qualifications. Conference matches are arranged during September. American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVAC) and Big Ten-Pac-12 Challenge present top competing college teams for volleyball enthusiasts.
Postseason play starts in November or December when conference tournaments and NCAA championships happen between qualified students.
Recruitments: College coaches scout and recruit high-school athletes for college volleyball selection.
Along with volleyball skills, all these seasons test players’ leadership skills, judgment, finesse, and athleticism. The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship is one of the most notable competitions in the USA where top collegiate women’s teams compete for national titles.
Beach Volleyball Season:
Beach Volleyball is a global sensation due to its presence in the Olympics since 1996. Its season starts in early spring till late summer. The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships are held biennially and the Olympic Volleyball championship is held every four years in summer.
Selected national Volleyball athlete’s teams gather to compete in breezy summers and warm sand. Huntington Beach and the West Beach of California, Manhattan Beach Open, etc. are popular for volleyball matches.
Snow Volleyball Season:
Being a winter sport, snow volleyball is usually played from December to March in snowy locations. The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball FIVB regulates this game to captivate sporty culture in snowy regions. Europe, North America, and Asia are becoming famous for snow volleyball after its emergence in Austria. The CEV European Snow Volleyball Championships and FIVB Snow Volleyball World Tour are considered prestigious.
Indoor Volleyball Season:
Indoor Volleyball season starts in early September and lasts till early summer. The first professional volleyball league called the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) was established in 1928. Russian Super League players are world-famous for their exquisite competitiveness and talent.
At regional levels, the NCAA handles the collegiate Indoor Volleyball leagues as per their yearly seasons. It happens in early September mostly. The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship is one of the most thrilling matches to attend for volleyball lovers. The higher zest for indoor volleyball season is seen in winter and spring.
National Volleyball Leauge:
According to the AVCA championship calendar, National Volleyball Leagues happen in many regions yearly. Professional teams compete to show their skills and talent to their nation. Here’s a list of some famous national volleyball leagues and their seasons:
| Sr. No. | Name of the famous National Volleyball Leagues | Season |
| 1 | Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC) | June to July |
| 2 | Boys Junior National Championship (BJNC) | June to July |
| 3 | Girls 18s Junior National Championship (GJNC18 | April |
| 4 | USA Volleyball Open National Championship | May |
| 5 | Brazilian Superliga Men and Women | Between October to May |
| 6 | Italian Serie A1 | August to May |
Many collegiate and club teams compete in national leagues to showcase their high-quality skills. These national leagues are the possible chances for teams to open their gates for international leagues,
International Volleyball League:
Volleyball enthusiasts can experience the enthralling sportsmanship among volleyball players in International Volleyball Leagues. Teams from top countries play in these leagues at home or away from home courts. Here’s the season-wise list of some world-famous leagues:
| Sr. No. | Famous International Volleyball Leagues | Season |
| 1 | Volleyball Nations League (VNL) | Annual, May to June |
| 2 | World Championship (Indoors and Beach) | Every four years biennially, From August to September |
| 3 | Olympics Games | In four years, from July to August (may vary) |
| 5 | Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup | Annual, June to July |
These international competitions bring the countries closer in terms of sports. I feel watching and cheering for international volleyball leagues is rooting honor to one’s country!
Conclusion:
Knowing about volleyball season is fascinating. Players from each corner of the world get ready, practice, and compete at school, college, club, national, and international levels to win volleyball leagues with remarkable enthusiasm. I hope this guide on ‘When is Volleyball season?’ has given you a glimpse of overall volleyball schedules. Which volleyball league would you like to watch more often? Do let us know in the comments section!
