Train hard.
Lift each other.
Never quit.
Strong fundamentals. Real teamwork. A fighting spirit that never quits.
SPIKE is a youth volleyball club in Irvine, California, built for young players who are just falling in love with the game — and for the families who cheer them on.
About the club
One team showed up curious — so we built them a club
SPIKE started with a single co-ed 5th-grade team in Irvine: beginners who showed up curious and refused to quit. In 2026 that team became SPIKE Volleyball Club — a home where young players learn the game the right way, from their very first serve.
In volleyball, the spike is the bold play — the one you go for instead of waiting on. That's the spirit behind the name, and it's what we teach: go for the ball, trust your teammates, and play brave. Our founding team trains together as a co-ed 11U group this season, then steps up as SPIKE's 12U team in our first full club season in 2027–28.
- Beginner-friendly, by designNo experience needed — fundamentals are taught correctly from day one, and every player plays.
- Coaching that knows your playerSmall-team coaching where every player is known by name, by strength, and by their next step.
- A real path forwardAAU play this founding season, with USA Volleyball's SCSN region as our club home from 2027–28.
“We build skilled, confident, kind-hearted players — athletes who train hard, lift each other, and never quit — and we let winning take care of itself.”
Our philosophy
Development before winning. Always.
Skill. Confidence. Character. Every player has a plan — and a coach in their corner.
Train hard
Fundamentals first — serve, pass, set, attack — taught in simple steps with maximum ball touches. Nobody stands in long lines at a SPIKE practice.
Lift each other
Teammates celebrate each other's successes louder than their own. Respect — for teammates, opponents, officials, and parents — is non-negotiable.
Never quit
Mistakes are tuition. A player who swings bravely and misses is learning faster than one who plays scared — so we praise aggressive effort, every time.
A plan for every player
Each player sets three goals with the coach — one technical, one tactical, one character — written down and reviewed together mid-season, so progress is visible to the player, not just the coach.
Positive first
We catch players doing things right and say so out loud. Praise is public; corrections are calm, specific, and kind. Connection comes before correction — a player who feels known gives full effort.
Everyone develops, everyone plays
At this age, development outranks trophies. Players rotate through every position, and playing time reflects attendance, effort, and readiness.
Parents are partners
Expectations are written down from day one, questions are always welcome, and on game day parents bring the encouragement while the coaching stays with the coaches.
The founding season
November to May, built in four phases
Our founding team — co-ed current 5th graders, 11U this season — trains twice a week and plays local one-day tournaments around Orange County and LA. The season builds step by step: fundamentals first, then systems, then competition craft.
Phase 1 — Foundations · Nov–Dec
Training focus
Ball control in every session. Underhand serves progressing to overhand, a solid forearm-pass platform, and the habit that wins beginner volleyball: calling the ball, loud and early.
Milestone
Players serve over the net consistently and build their first three-contact rallies — pass, set, attack.
Inside a 90-minute practice
The same rhythm every session, so young players always know what comes next — and water breaks at least every 20 minutes.
- 5–10′Arrive & playSupervised ball handling and mini-games — touches before the whistle.
- 5′Team meetingThe theme of the day, plus a shout-out from last session.
- 10′Dynamic warm-upVolleyball movements: approaches, slides, passing run-throughs.
- 10′Ball control seriesPartner drills and three-player pepper — lots of contacts, call every ball.
- 20′Skill of the dayOne focus only — serve, pass, set, or attack — from simple to game-speed.
- 10′Team introductionServe-receive formation or a three-contact team drill.
- 20′Competitive gamesSmall-sided games and real scoring in every single practice.
- 5–10′Cool-down & closeStretch, one sentence on what we learned, one teammate shout-out, cheer out.
Safety & coaching
Safety is our first drill
Volleyball is a physical sport, and honesty about risk is part of a coach's duty. SPIKE is led by a USA Volleyball Certified Adult Coach for Juniors in the SCSN region — SafeSport trained and background screened — and safety is built into how every session runs.
- The risk talk, every seasonPlayers and parents hear plainly about the sport's risks — ankles, fingers, shoulders, concussions — from the coach directly, before the season starts.
- No paperwork, no practiceA signed participation waiver plus medical and emergency-contact forms are on file for every player before they step on the court.
- A written emergency planOur Emergency Action Plan travels in the coach's bag: who calls 911, who brings the AED, who meets the ambulance, who stays with the team.
- Weather rules outdoorsThunder or lightning stops play immediately; we resume only 30 minutes after the last strike — and heat or poor air quality stops us too.
- Prevention is coaching, tooProper warm-ups, safe landing and falling technique, court checks before play, and age-appropriate injury-prevention habits in every session.
Contact
Be a Founding Family
SPIKE's founding season is forming now in Irvine. If your player is a current 5th grader who wants to learn volleyball the right way — or you're a parent with questions — reach out. We'd love to hear from you.
Follow the club and send us a direct message LinkedIn — SPIKE Volleyball Club
Club news and updates for parents and partners
Coached by Yamen Yanni G., Founder & Head Coach — USA Volleyball Certified Adult Coach for Juniors (SCSN region), USA Volleyball Member ID 5495904, SafeSport trained and background screened.