Frequently Asked Questions: Teams

What does "Mintonette" mean?
"Mintonette was the original name for volleyball when the sport was created back in 1895. After an observer, Alfred Halstead, noticed the volleying nature of the game at its first exhibition match in 1896, played at the International YMCA Training School (now called Springfield College), the game quickly became known as volleyball (it was originally spelled as two words: "volley ball")."

How do I join a team?
These teams are formed during our tryout/team evaluations. Anyone interested in playing on a Mintonette Sports team (any division) should attend tryouts. Click here to learn more about tryouts.

Who can play on a team?
Our teams are open to girls ages 9-18 of any experience level. If you are 7 or 8 years old, please email katie@mintonettesports.com. We can bring your son/daughter in for an evaluation to make sure he/she would be a good fit on a 10 & under team

What are divisons?
Mintonette Sports offers three divisions/levels of teams: National, American and Regional (Junior Mints). The "National" division teams are the highest commitment level and are geared towards athletes who want to play volleyball at the top level. The "Regional" division teams are a lower commitment level and are a great fit for athletes who are newer to the sport or don't want to travel as much. Click here for more details on each division.

How many players are on a team?
Typically, the average number of players on a team is 10. However, some teams have been known to have as little as 9 or as many as 12. 

How long is a season?
The season length depends on the division. National division teams will play from December through Nationals in July. American teams will play from December to April. Regional teams will play from January to April. Teams vary in the number of times they practice per week and the number of tournaments they play in. Check out the team details on our Team Information Flyers for more information.

How do I know how much each team costs and what their schedule is?
You can learn more about each team on our Team Information Flyers. This information is subject to change, but we will consistently update our website and communicate changes if necessary.

What is the club dues payment schedule?
A deposit is due upon accepting your team offer. National and American division teams have a $1,000 deposit. Regional teams have a $500 deposit. Monthly installments are due until the club dues are paid in full. Each team's specific payment schedule will be included in the team contract presented after tryouts.

What happens if the season is cut short due to a pandemic?
If the season is put on hold or modified due to a pandemic, we will review the situation and release a detailed plan of action at that time. This plan could consist of makeup training options for missed practices, alternate competition schedules to reduce travel and exposure, and/or refunds for canceled tournaments that cannot be replaced/made up. Mintonette Sports is dedicated to providing the highest level of training and is continuously monitoring the situation as a whole. We will make adjustments to ensure everyone is remaining safe, healthy, and informed.

Can my daughter play a winter or spring sport?
Yes! Many of our athletes are multi-sport athletes. The key is COMMUNICATION! We ask you to communicate with our coaches and staff of any potential conflicts as soon as you are aware of them. This allows us to place players on teams that will be a good fit for your schedule, as well as help remedy any scheduling conflicts.

What are practices like?
Our training philosophy includes tier practices. A tier is a group of teams that practice together. All players receive the same fundamental instructions and drills while having the opportunity to scrimmage other teams. The majority of our practices are focused on individual skills, including position-specific breakouts; however, we utilize the tiers to practice game-like situations and problem-solving. Another perk of tier training is athletes will receive training and instruction from all coaches in the gym, not just their team-assigned coach.

When do teams practice?
Review our Team Information Flyers and team pages for more details on when each team will practice.