What is HOA Volleyball? A Kansas City Parent's Guide

HOA stands for Heart of America Region Volleyball. It's the regional branch of USA Volleyball (USAV) that governs club volleyball in the Kansas City area and surrounding region (covering most of Missouri and Kansas).

If your daughter plays club volleyball in KC, her club is almost certainly HOA-sanctioned. HOA sets the rules for tryouts, establishes competitive divisions, organizes regional tournaments, and manages player registration.

Think of HOA as the league office for KC club volleyball. Individual clubs are the teams. HOA provides the structure that makes the whole system work.

Yes. Every player competing in HOA-sanctioned events needs a USAV membership through the HOA region. The membership covers insurance, player registration, and access to sanctioned tournaments.

The cost is approximately $75 per season for a full membership. There's also a less expensive tryout-only membership ($15-$20) that lets a player attend tryouts before committing to a full membership. Once your player commits to a team, the tryout membership can be upgraded to a full membership.

Your club will guide you through the registration process. You don't need to figure this out on your own.

HOA divides club teams into competitive divisions so that teams play against other teams of similar ability. The two main divisions you'll hear about:

Premier

Premier is the highest competitive level. Premier teams are made up of the most skilled and experienced players. These teams typically practice more, travel more, and compete in larger tournaments, including national qualifiers. If your daughter aspires to play college volleyball, Premier is the track that provides the most exposure to college coaches. Premier fees are higher because of the additional coaching, travel, and tournament costs.

Select

Select is a competitive division designed for players who want a serious club volleyball experience without the intensity and cost of Premier. Select teams compete in regional tournaments, travel less, and generally have lower fees. Select is not "lesser" volleyball. It's a different level of commitment and investment. Many excellent players compete at the Select level, and it's a great fit for families who want competitive play balanced with other activities.

Some clubs offer both Premier and Select teams at each age group. Others specialize in one level or the other. Knowing which level is right for your player is one of the most important decisions you'll make.

HOA establishes a tryout framework each year that includes:

Designated tryout periods: HOA sets dates for when formal tryouts can begin, so clubs aren't pressuring players to commit before they've had a chance to explore options.

Offer and commitment rules: After tryouts, there are specific rules about when clubs can make offers and how long families have to respond. These rules are designed to protect players and families from high-pressure tactics.

Player commitment: Once a player accepts an offer and commits to a club, she's generally committed to that club for the season. HOA tracks player registrations to prevent conflicts.

The specific dates and rules can change from year to year, so check with your club or the HOA region website for the current season's guidelines.

You may see some KC clubs that compete in AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) events instead of, or in addition to, HOA/USAV events.

HOA/USAV is the more established pathway in Kansas City. The majority of competitive clubs in the KC area are HOA-sanctioned, and HOA tournaments make up the bulk of the competitive schedule. If your player is interested in college volleyball recruiting, the USAV pathway (through HOA) generally provides more exposure.

AAU offers an alternative structure with its own tournaments and membership. Some clubs compete in both. AAU tends to have fewer restrictions around player commitment and tryout timelines.

For most KC families, HOA is the default pathway. But if you're exploring clubs that compete in AAU events, the volleyball is still competitive and valuable, just a different organizational structure.

The HOA Region website has the most current information on tryout rules, tournament schedules, and membership registration. Your club director is also a great resource. They deal with HOA every season and can answer specific questions about how the rules apply to your player.

→ Find a KC volleyball club to explore your options.