When is volleyball season? [All Levels of Play Explained in 2024]

Micah Drews

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Playing in a season, as well as watching and cheering on your team, depends on knowing when it begins. The volleyball seasons can be difficult to place, so I’ll explain them all today.

So, when is volleyball season start? Volleyball seasons vary depending on where you play and what kind of volleyball you play. In the fall and spring, indoor volleyball is played, beach volleyball is played during the summer, and snow volleyball is played in the winter. Volleyball in the fall usually starts in August, while volleyball in the spring usually starts in February.

You could lose your spot on the volleyball team if you don’t know when the season begins. It’s imperative that all players know when tryouts will take place.

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What Season is Volleyball?

When is volleyball season 2024? There are two seasons in volleyball: indoor and beach. Each team has six players for indoor volleyball, while beach volleyball has two players for each team on the sand.

Beach volleyball is typically played in the spring and summer, while indoor volleyball is usually played in the fall and winter. Season timing can differ from region to region, as mentioned earlier.

When Does Volleyball Season Start?

So when does volleyball season start? In order to answer this question, you need to consider a few factors, including the level of play and the region in which you live. But, generally, the season begins at the end of summer or at the beginning of fall. It is common for indoor volleyball to begin in August or September and to last until December or January.

In contrast, beach volleyball has a longer season, which usually begins in March or April and continues into October. The availability of beach volleyball courts can vary depending on your location.

Professional Volleyball Seasons

when is volleyball season

Despite its ability to be played all year long, volleyball does not have a set “start date.” This makes answering the question “When does volleyball start? ” difficult. You can still play volleyball even when one style is out of season if you know where to look.

The indoor season lasts the longest (6-8 months), followed by beach and snow volleyball seasons.

Although, regardless of where you live, there will always be someone to play with, for the diehard player. There is a strong presence of the sport in the Midwest as well as areas such as California, New York, and Texas in the United States.

It’s important to know when the season starts before joining a school team, or club, or entering a tournament. 

You can easily read and scroll through the table I have compiled for you. 

 PlacesTypeSeason StartSeason LengthGames PlayedTournaments PlayedSeason
Middle school (girls)IndoorSeptember2-3 months8-100Fall
Middle School (boys)IndoorFebruary2-3 months8-100Spring
High School (girls)IndoorAugust/September3-4 months100-2Fall
High School (boys)IndoorJanuary/February3-4 months100-2Spring
Club (men/women)IndoorAugust/September6-9 months10-153-5Fall-Spring
College/Uni (women)IndoorAugust4-5 months10-153-5Fall (or annual)
College/Uni (men)IndoorJanuary4-5 months10-153-5Spring (or annual)
Professional VolleyballIndoorSeptember/October (league dependent)8-9 months12 per splitDependent on seasonAnnual
Beach VolleyballBeachMay4-5 monthsN/A5+Summer
Snow VolleyballSnowJanuary2-3 monthsN/A5+Winter

Middle School & High School

when is volleyball season

There is almost no outdoor volleyball played in middle school or high school. Because most schools do not have the budget for building a beach court and most of them aren’t located near the beach, this is done for practical reasons. Exceptions do exist, so you should be quite lucky if you have access to beach volleyball at your school!

Girls and boys have similar seasons, with the exception of winter break. During August or September, girls’ volleyball tryouts begin. The season for boys’ volleyball begins in the spring, with tryouts beginning in February.

I remember when we had volleyball tryouts every Valentine’s Day during high school. Volleyball and I were a match made in heaven.

When is volleyball season in high school?

Most schools in the United States split the year between Fall and Spring, with a few exceptions. It is common for some school districts in Wisconsin, Virginia, and New York to play volleyball year-round: boys play in the fall, and girls play in the spring in those states.

You should check with your school to see which seasons they are part of if you live in one of these states. Once you miss tryouts, it’s often too late, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Once you miss tryouts, it’s often too late, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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Club Volleyball

when is volleyball season

There are usually two or three seasons of club volleyball per year, starting in August or September for middle school, high school, and collegiate players. Women’s volleyball and men’s volleyball run concurrently, with club seasons running concurrently.

Since club coaches are eager to shake things up, you are inevitably going to experience beach or grass volleyball in addition to indoor volleyball.

College Volleyball

when is volleyball season

It follows the sport’s pre-established seasonal division conventions in college and university volleyball in the United States. Women’s volleyball starts in the Fall, usually in August or September, whereas men’s volleyball begins in the Spring, usually in January.

This exception only applies to tournaments still in progress at the end of the season. There are many highlights in volleyball worldwide, including divisional nationals and finals.

There is a change in this seasonal start in countries beyond America. The volleyball season for both men and women in the UK and throughout Europe begins in September. The tournament season follows the normal league season in the Spring for both genders of teams.

As summer approaches, college teams prepare for beach volleyball season (see “Beach Volleyball” below).

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Professional & Olympic Volleyball

when is volleyball season

In most professional volleyball leagues, games are played all year round, but their schedules vary from country to country. Polish and Russian leagues, for example, usually start in October and last until May.

You can find the league’s schedule online on their site, which is the only way you can be sure about scheduling. The league director can assist you with recruiting information up to a year in advance, so if you’re interested, email him or her.

The Volleyball World Cup and Olympics are among the highest-level competitions and tournaments that take place between June and August above and beyond professional play. There’s no better feeling than watching the best of the best battle it out on the biggest stage!

There are many tournaments every year that are great fun to watch and support, even if you don’t follow any teams in their individual leagues. Make sure you check when (and where) the next one takes place so you don’t miss out.

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Beach Volleyball

when is volleyball season

Beach volleyball is popular during the summer. Although beach volleyball can be played whenever the weather warms up (or you can set up a net yourself) the official season usually lasts from May until August.

Although professional beach players train throughout the year, competitions can sometimes take place outside of these normal boundaries. Use common sense when in doubt, however. It’s okay to get a bit cold in the summertime, and as long as they can practice in Norway, you can probably train where you live.

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Snow Volleyball

when is volleyball season

Snow volleyball is exclusively a winter sport that usually starts in December or January, in complete contrast to beach volleyball.

As with any other variant of volleyball, this volleyball relies heavily on the weather to play. The snow is slushier and less firm to play on during the Spring skiing season, although it is ideal to play in the Spring skiing season.

During a snowstorm, however, playing is neither viable nor enjoyable. Snow volleyball’s season is much shorter than other types of volleyball because it depends so heavily on the weather to start and end.

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How Long Does The Volleyball Season Last?

when is volleyball season

When Does Volleyball Season End? During the end of a volleyball season, players celebrate their successes and reflect on how to improve for the following season. A lot of time is spent during the off-season for some levels of volleyball, such as middle school and high school. Other types of play, such as international and professional games, have a shorter off-season with less of a defined end. All levels of a season end differently, as explained in the section below.

Middle School & High School

When Does Middle School Volleyball Season Start? During the middle school volleyball season, a player can expect to play for between 2-3 months, while at the high school level, a player can expect to play for 3-4 months. 

Your team and coach may be willing to include a tournament if your team and coach are interested.

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Club Volleyball

When Does Club Volleyball Season Start and End? There are usually 15 games at least per month and 3-5 tournaments during the club volleyball season, depending on where you play.

During the girls volleyball season, this is ideal because they finish school at the end of October, have club tryouts in November, and then begin practicing either in December or in January, and schedule 1-2 tournaments a month through April, depending on their club.

It isn’t as ideal for boys’ programs, but they can still have a club season where they compete in club tournaments before the school season begins.

There are usually games between your club and other clubs in your district, or against teams of a similar level within your organization – more common for large clubs. It is important to take every opportunity to participate in tournaments, as they are the definite highlight.

College Volleyball

When Does College Volleyball Season Start? It usually takes 4-5 months for college and university volleyball seasons to conclude. In general, your team will play 10-15 regular-season games, depending on the performance of your team.

After the end of a university league season, some leagues (like the UK) hold a “tournament season”. As many as five to six tournaments can be played during this season.

Professional & Olympic Volleyball

Most professional volleyball leagues run year-round, with small breaks (typically three a year) to break up the season and renew contracts.

There can be up to nine months of play in a typical pro season. Weekly or biweekly games are played, as well as regular practice sessions between games to allow the players to recover and practice. 

Check out the website and schedule of the volleyball leagues in your region (or of interest) for the most up-to-date information.

Beach Volleyball

When Does Beach Volleyball Season Start? In the summer, beach volleyball usually lasts for 4-5 months, from May to August. Serious players often train from February through October during this period.

It’s obvious that beach volleyball seasons are longer in climates with warmer temperatures since continuous play is easier without snow, sleet, and storms.

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Snow Volleyball

There is only a 2-3-month season for snow volleyball. Sometimes snowfall can be so bad that this can even be reduced to just a month or nothing at all.

A popular sport throughout the volleyball community, snow volleyball is best played during the spring months and near the end of the ski season due to its unique rules, court size, and number of players (6 total – 3 on each side). You can check it out here if you haven’t already:

Is volleyball played at different times in different countries?

Winter and spring are the seasons for indoor volleyball, whereas summer belongs to beach volleyball and grass volleyball. It can be relied upon that volleyball seasons will follow this schedule around the world.

Certain countries, however, have delayed/faster season starts, or may not have one at all because of climate. A season’s schedule, as well as its accompanying league, may be affected by this. Although there are many minutiae involved, the bottom line is one simple fact: there are differences around the world.

The best way to find out what the rules are in your region is to contact the volleyball governing body in that area, which you can find online. In the case of school purposes, you can ask your educational institution (or your coach, if you know him or her).

In this article, we cannot provide a precise starting date for each season, so you can use it as a starting point for your own research. With this knowledge, you can reasonably determine the start of the season according to the normal conventions.

When Is the International Volleyball Season?

when is volleyball season

Various competitions and tournaments are held throughout the international volleyball season throughout the year.

For both indoor and beach volleyball, the schedule can vary from one year to the next. The FIVB oversees international volleyball leagues and seasons. A volleyball league and a beach volleyball league are organized by the club.

A variety of tournaments are held all around the world during the international volleyball season, which usually runs from May to December.

It is literally a year-round sport in international beach volleyball. World tournaments rotate through parts of the world where the climate is suitable for hosting them.

When Does Professional Volleyball Season Start and End?

Depending on the league and country, professional volleyball seasons start and end at different times. The season may have seemed similar to the international season mentioned above. There are, however, differences between professional and international leagues.

In order to compare it to something familiar, let’s take a look at basketball. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams comprise the professional teams of the United States, whereas Team USA is the international team.

The schedules of professional volleyball leagues usually vary from one league to another. The following general trends can be seen:

  • European Leagues (CEV): Many European leagues start their volleyball season in September or October and finish around the end of April or May. Depending on the country and league, the exact schedule may vary.
  • Brazilian Superliga: Brazilian women’s and men’s volleyball leagues run from October to April or May each year.
  • Italian Serie A1: It is usually between October and May for the Italian men’s and women’s volleyball leagues.
  • Russian Super League: Volleyball matches in this league usually begin in October and end in April.
  • Polish PlusLiga: October is usually the starting date for the Polish men’s volleyball league and the end is usually in April or May.

It is true that professional volleyball is in season somewhere in the world at any given time. Worldwide, there are professional volleyball leagues, but most are located in European countries.

Having the international and professional players’ seasons overlap and their seasons moving around can make it a bit confusing.

Please keep in mind that these are general timelines, and specific dates may vary. FIVB Club World Championships, for example, may be incorporated into the season schedule, adding further variety.

How long is volleyball season?

There is no set length for the high school volleyball season, but it usually lasts a few months. It depends on the rules and regulations of the school itself or the governing athletic association how long a high school sport season may last.

Regular season matches, tournaments, and potentially playoff games are played during this time. If the team qualifies for a postseason event, the season usually includes both practices and competitive games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Volleyball Have A Season?

All year round, volleyball can be played. Men’s volleyball is typically played in the spring, while women’s volleyball is typically played in the fall. In summer, there is beach volleyball, which is played on the beach, and in winter, there is snow volleyball.

When does the high school volleyball season usually start and end?

The high school volleyball season typically starts in the late summer or early fall and ends in the late fall or early winter, depending on the region and specific school.

How many volleyball seasons are in a year?

Depending on your level of play and the type of volleyball you play, there are different volleyball seasons. Fall and spring are the seasons for indoor volleyball, summer is for beach volleyball, and winter is for snow volleyball. In the fall, volleyball begins in August, and in the spring, it begins in February.

How many months does volleyball season last?

April or May marks the end of the professional volleyball season. During playoffs and championship tournaments, it can last longer. In a typical year, they play for about nine months.

Is volleyball a seasonal sport?

Throughout the year, volleyball seasons are available. Lower levels of play will take place between two periods of the year, while professional and international competitions will occur all year long. Volleyball can be played on the beach in the summer, or indoors in the fall and spring.

What is men’s volleyball season?

From January through May, the men’s season runs through most of the spring semester. It is typical for both teams to play 20-30 games a season. There is a much greater prevalence of women’s programs in college. Scholarships and full varsity programs are available at many, many more schools.

How long does a college volleyball season last?

College volleyball seasons typically begin in the late summer or early fall and extend into the winter season, with the championship tournaments held in late fall or early winter.

Are professional volleyball seasons the same worldwide?

No, professional volleyball seasons may vary across countries and leagues. While some follow the traditional fall-to-spring season, others have different schedules.

When do major international volleyball competitions occur?

Major international volleyball competitions such as the Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cup are organized by the FIVB and occur at varying intervals, usually every few years.

What is the peak season for beach volleyball?

Beach volleyball often experiences peak seasons during the summer months when the weather is conducive to outdoor activities, allowing players and spectators to enjoy the sun and sand.

How many weeks is volleyball season?

The duration of a volleyball season is typically around 10 to 14 weeks. It depends on factors such as the school’s or the association’s specific schedule, how many games the team plays during the season, and whether it advances to postseason play.

Who won the volleyball championship 2023?

The 2023 DII women’s volleyball championship was won by Cal State LA by a score of 3-1 over West Texas A&M. The Golden Eagles have won their first national championship.

Where is NCAA volleyball tournament 2023?

This year’s championship will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Conclusion

It is possible to play volleyball at a high school or college level, as well as in professional or international competitions. Depending on your location and organization, the exact volleyball schedule may vary, so it’s important to consult local resources or official websites. This fast-paced, captivating sport is even more rewarding when experienced during the right season, whether you’re a fan or a participant.

Furthermore, using Volleyball Setter Workouts and Volleyball Setter Drills can help improve your skills when it comes to volleyball seasons and team competitions.

About Micah Drews

After playing volleyball at an international level for several years, I now work out and write for Volleyball Blaze. Creating unique and insightful perspectives through my experience and knowledge is one of my top priorities.

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