Frequently Asked Questions
What can my son learn from Adversity?
How much experience does the coaching staff have?
Does Adversity have alumni playing NCAA Volleyball?
When are Adversity tryouts held?
Where are the Adversity tryouts held at?
Is a deposit required at tryouts if my son is picked?
When does Adversity Boys elite teams practice?
If I play volleyball for Adversity, can I play other school sports?
How much does it cost to play for Adversity?
What do the Adversity fees pay for?
Does Adversity offer video taping opportunities for its Athletes?
What does Adversity South offer?
What are the fees for Adversity South?
Where are the tryouts for Adversity South?
If I missed the Adversity Elite tryouts, can I still tryout at Adversity South?
Do I have to fill out paper work for both clubs?
The Adversity Volleyball Club is a Non-Profit youth organization founded by Mike Hulett, (USA Women’s National Sitting Volleyball & USA Volleyball CAP Level 4 Head Coach) in 1997 for boys volleyball players ranging in ages from 15 to 18 in the north shore suburbs of Chicago. Adversity added its girls program in 1998 and has now grown to include more than 140 athletes each year. Due to the limited opportunities for Boys, Adversity now focuses on just Boys, offering multiple teams per age group.
What can my son learn from Adversity?
Adversity Volleyball focuses on teaching advance techniques that college and national team coaches want, as well as providing numerous opportunities for boys on the north shore to compete. Adversity trains some of the best high school players to compete locally, regionally, and nationally in USA Volleyball and Great Lakes Region sanctioned tournaments.
The program itself is a vehicle for young athletes to improve their skills and to be seen by college coaches in hopes of being recruited and receive a college athletic scholarship. Adversity athletes are recognized as some of the best players in the local high schools earning recognition by local and national media outlets.
How much experience does the coaching staff have?
Adversity’s coaching staff is one of the most consistent and accredited coaching staffs in the area.
Mike Hulett - USA Volleyball CAP Level IV Accreditation, Silver Medal winning Head Coach-2008 Paralympics Beijing, China, Bronze Medal Winning Head Coach - 2004 Paralympics Athens, Greece, US National Women's Sitting Team Head Coach 2002-2009, 2004 US Olympic Committee's Paralympic Coach of the Year, over 20 years of coaching experience, Member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Years of service on the Great Lakes Board of Directors, USA Volleyballs Grassroots Commission, Boys Committee and award winning Impact Clinician
Steve Wolf - 2006 USA Volleyball Men's Junior National Team Camp Coach, over 20 years of coaching experience including a Medal at the Girls National Championships. Steve has been involved with Adversity since it's inception.
Roger Ozima - Former College of Lake County Women's Volleyball Head Coach, USA Volleyball National Certified Referee, Qualified International Score Keeper, Member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), over 20 years of coaching experience
Jeremy Desiron - Adversity Alumni, former standout player at Rutgers University, 5 seasons coaching Boys 18 Elite at Adversity with Mike Hulett
Ed Wrather - IHSA Varsity Volleyball Head Coach, Boys and Girls at North Chicago High School with over seven seasons coaching IHSA Volleyball, four seasons coaching at Adversity with the 16 Elite team
FORMER COACHES
Chris Livatino - Over 10 years of coaching IHSA Volleyball, over 10 years of coaching USA Volleyball, IHSA Final Four Head Varsity Coach, Director of Jump-A-Head Volleyball Camps, Director of Adversity South VBC.
Randy Tiller - Girls Varsity Head Coach Maine West High School, over eight years at Adversity as a head coach for both girls and boys, USA Volleyball CAP Level I Accreditation, Member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
Scott Doig - Over 11 years of coaching experience including 4th and 5th grade volleyball clinics, boys and girls middle school volleyball teams, assisted in two different NCAA Division II collegiate volleyball programs, two different NCAA Division III programs, four different New York high school programs as well as assisting with the Russell Sage College Women's Volleyball program.
Archie Alhambra - Over 10 years of coaching experiencing at Adversity, 10 years of coaching experience in IHSA Volleyball at Evanston Township and Regina.
Dan Pawlikowski - Current NCAA Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach at Loyola University in Chicago, former varsity assistant coach at Glenbrook North and Evanston Township, Adversity coach for four seasons for both Boys and Girls.
Erin Whitehead - Adversity Alumni, All American, former standout player at Elmhurst College, three seasons coaching girls at Adversity.
Mary Welk - Former standout player at Dominican University, Over five years coaching for Adversity.
Alex Laama - Adversity Alumni, former standout player at Mercyhurst College which competes in the MIVA Conference, second season coaching the Boys 15 Elite Team
Hyunsoo Shin-two years with Adversity, Hyunsoo lead his Select 18 team to the Open Division of the Boys Junior National Championships this summer.
Bobby Bull-three years of coaching club, attended George Mason University and played volleyball until shelved by a shoulder injury.
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Does Adversity have alumni playing NCAA Volleyball?
Yes. We have many players from both the Boys and the Girls team's that have played College Volleyball on varsity programs. Many others have continued to play Collegiate club. Many recent graduates are currently playing Volleyball (all levels). Schools such as UCLA, Pepperdine, MIT, Cornell, Michigan Tech, UIC, Rutgers, George Mason, Pacific, Brown, Northwestern, Long Beach State, University of Houston, Ball State, Penn State, U.C. San Diego, IP-FW, Emory University, Carthage College, Cardinal Strich University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, etc to name a few.
We have also had many players earn places in USA Volleyball's High Performance program including, Youth and Junior National Teams as well as the developmental camp program.
Several Alumni that have or are playing professional volleyball in various European Professional Indoor Volleyball leagues.
See the Alumni page
When are Adversity tryouts held?
Adversity Boy's Elite team tryouts will be held the day after Labor Day. All tryout information, specific times, for Boys will be posted on our web site in hen available.
Where are the Adversity tryouts held at?
Adversity Volleyball Center
700 Corporate Woods Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
847-793-0900
Yes, there is a $20 tryout fee, payable at tryouts.
Is a deposit required at tryouts if my son / daughter is picked?
A first payment will be required once selected. A contract detailing the payment schedule will be provided. A credit card will be required to insure timely payment.
Athletes will be told they have made the program. Athletes will be placed on a team based on their performance during the first few weeks of practice,based on attendence, performance in practice and including frequent inter squad competition.
When does Adversity Boy's elite teams practice?
To be determined. In the past, practice has been Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays. When we add teams, that may change due to court/time restrictions.
If I play volleyball for Adversity, can I play other school sports?
Adversity has no restrictions on playing other sports, but there is an attendance policy. You need to review your schedules and determine if you will be able to consistently attend practices and tournaments. Attendance is just one of several factors that go into a coach's decision on playing time at a tournament. Many Adversity players in the past have been able to play other sports and Adversity volleyball.
How much does it cost to play for Adversity?
We will provide parents and players the total estimated fee for the upcoming season on our tryout flyer. The fee listed is a total estimated fee for the season that includes hotel expenses for out of state events during the Winter and Summer seasons., All travel must be provided by the Family during the Winter season.
All flight arrangements for the Summer must be made and paid for by the Family
We include these expenses to our club's fees to aid and assist parents with budgeting. We have found that parents are more appreciative when we present the total estimated fee up front. Typically fees are paid over five to six billing periods however, parents can make arrangements with the club's director if they need to spread out the payments over more periods.
What do the Adversity fees pay for?
Along with paying for gym rental time and coaches fees, player fees also include the following: jerseys, shorts, Active Ankles, knee pads, team sweats, team back bag/pack, Great Lakes Region membership, Great Lakes Region team membership fee, and tournament entry fees.
Although we train hard and compete on a regional and national level, Adversity VBC is committed to the total development of our athletes and helping our athletes meet their athletic goals.
Does Adversity offer video taping opportunities for its Athletes?
Yes. You can arrange an opportunity with the club director for any Adversity athlete to come in and put together a tape to send off to colleges.
Club tryout flyers will be posted and available for everyone to access on our web site, both in the front page and in the tryout section.
Boys tryout flyers usually are posted in late July of each year.
Girls tryout flyers are usually posted in late September of each year.
Tryout flyers will include tryout dates and times, club information, equipment, fees, and coaching information for the Adversity Program.