Panthers Volleyball Trials 2026–27

U14 to U19 Volleyball Selection Criteria

Panthers Volleyball Trials 2026–27 are designed to provide a clear, fair and measurable selection process. Students will be assessed through structured volleyball tasks that focus on serving, passing, setting, attacking, movement, game understanding and team contribution.

Overview

Students will complete the same number of assessed opportunities across key skill areas. The aim is to identify students who show technical consistency, safe movement, decision-making, communication and readiness to contribute to the Panthers Volleyball team.

🏐 Technical Skills Serving, passing, setting and attacking are assessed using clear target zones and repeated attempts.

🧠 Game Understanding Students are assessed on rally decisions, movement to position, transition and role awareness.

🎯 Measurable Evidence Scores are based on successful serves, accurate passes, controlled sets, attack placement and rally decisions.

Important: Selection is based on recorded evidence from the trial. Students will be assessed against the same standard, using the same scoring system and the same number of opportunities.

Important — Must Read

Each student will complete five assessed volleyball stations.
Each station has 10 opportunities, and each opportunity is scored out of 2 points.
The final trial score is calculated out of 100 points.
A high score supports selection but does not automatically guarantee a place.
Final selection may also consider team balance, position requirements, attitude, communication and coachability.

How the Volleyball Trial Will Run

Station	What Happens	Opportunities	Max Points
1. Serving	Student completes 10 serves aiming into marked service target zones.	10	/20
2. Passing / Serve Receive	Student receives 10 controlled serves or coach feeds and aims to pass to the setter target zone.	10	/20
3. Setting	Student completes 10 setting actions to a marked target zone near the net.	10	/20
4. Attacking	Student completes 10 attack actions from a controlled toss or set, aiming into the court or target zone.	10	/20
5. Game Play	Student completes 10 rally or game-scenario actions, showing decision-making, movement and communication.	10	/20
Total	Each student completes 50 assessed opportunities.	50	/100

Simple Scoring System

Each opportunity is scored out of 2 points. This keeps the process simple, consistent and easy for parents and students to understand.

Score	Meaning	Example Evidence
2 points	Skill performed correctly with control and a successful outcome.	Serve lands in target zone, pass reaches setter zone, set reaches target, attack lands in court, or correct rally decision is made.
1 point	Skill attempted with partial success, but control, timing, accuracy or decision-making needs improvement.	Ball stays in play but misses the target zone, pass is playable but inaccurate, or attack lacks direction.
0 points	Unsuccessful attempt, unsafe action, poor control or incorrect decision.	Serve into net/out, shanked pass, double contact, missed attack, no movement to ball, or poor rally decision.

/20 Serving

/20 Passing

/20 Setting

/20 Attacking

/20 Game Play

The total Volleyball trial score is calculated out of 100 points.

Volleyball Trial Rubric

Area	Skill Tested	Measurable Trial Task	Scoring	Max Points
Serving	Serve accuracy and consistency	Student completes 10 serves from the service line. The court should be marked into target zones. The aim is to serve legally over the net and into the selected target area.	2 points = legal serve lands in target zone 1 point = legal serve lands in court but misses target zone 0 points = serve into net, out, foot fault or unsafe action	/20
Passing / Serve Receive	Forearm pass accuracy	Student receives 10 controlled serves or coach feeds and aims to pass the ball to a marked setter target zone. The setter target can be a hoop, cone box or marked area near the net.	2 points = controlled pass reaches setter target zone 1 point = pass is playable but outside target zone 0 points = shanked pass, ball not playable, missed ball or unsafe platform	/20
Setting	Controlled set to target	Student completes 10 setting actions from a coach toss or pass. The aim is to set the ball to a marked target zone near the net, suitable for an attacker.	2 points = controlled set reaches target zone with suitable height 1 point = set is playable but low, too close/far from net or outside target 0 points = double contact, carried ball, missed set or unplayable set	/20
Attacking	Approach, timing and attack placement	Student completes 10 attack actions from a controlled toss or set. The aim is to use a safe approach, contact the ball above shoulder/head height where possible, and direct it into the court or target zone.	2 points = controlled attack lands in target zone or creates a clear attacking outcome 1 point = ball goes over and stays in court but lacks power, direction or timing 0 points = missed contact, net, out, unsafe action or no attacking intent	/20
Game Play	Rally decision-making and team awareness	Student completes 10 controlled rally or game-scenario actions. The focus is on movement to position, communication, choosing the correct skill and helping the team keep the rally alive.	2 points = correct decision with controlled execution and clear communication/movement 1 point = keeps ball in play but decision, movement or communication needs improvement 0 points = incorrect decision, no movement, poor communication or rally breaks down due to poor action	/20

Target Zones and Set-Up

To make the trial transparent, coaches should mark clear target zones before the trial starts.

Target Zone	Used For	Explanation
Service Target Zone	Serving	Marked deep or side areas of the opposite court where students aim to place the serve.
Setter Target Zone	Passing / Serve Receive	A marked zone near the net where a good pass should travel so the setter can play the next ball.
Setting Target Zone	Setting	A marked zone near the antenna/front court where the set should arrive with suitable height and control.
Attack Target Zone	Attacking	Marked court areas such as deep court, cross-court or open space where the attacker aims to place the ball.
Game Scenario Zone	Game Play	Used to assess movement, court coverage, communication and decision-making in rally situations.

Progression and Expectations

Students should show more than basic contact with the ball. The expectation is that students can perform core volleyball actions with increasing control and begin to understand how their role connects with the team.

Area	Expected Standard	Selection Evidence
Serving	Legal, consistent serve with developing placement.	Serve clears the net regularly and lands inside the court or target zone.
Passing	Stable platform and controlled pass towards setter zone.	Student can receive and direct the ball to a playable area.
Setting	Controlled set with suitable height and direction.	Student can set to a target zone for an attacking opportunity.
Attacking	Safe approach, good timing and purposeful contact.	Student can send the ball over the net with attacking intent and placement.
Game Play	Movement, communication and correct team decision-making.	Student supports the rally by choosing the correct skill and moving into position.

Selection Bands

Final Percentage	Selection Band	Meaning
85–100%	Strong Selection	Student clearly meets the expected U14 to U19 Panthers Volleyball team standard.
70–84%	Selection Consideration	Student meets many criteria and may be selected depending on team balance and positional needs.
55–69%	Development / Reserve	Student shows potential but needs more consistency before regular competitive selection.
Below 55%	Training Group	Student requires further technical development before competitive selection.