“You know you’re a volleyball fan when you start marking your calendar, setting countdowns, and secretly hoping your boss doesn’t schedule any meetings during game time. But when is volleyball season, and why does it seem like the best months of the year revolve around bumping, setting, and spiking?”

Understanding Volleyball Seasons

Volleyball is played year-round at various levels, but the official season depends on the league, country, and level of play. Let’s break it down into different categories to see when volleyball dominates the courts worldwide.

1. High School Volleyball Season

For most high school teams, volleyball season takes place in the fall. In the United States, it generally runs from August to November, with state championships occurring toward the end of November. However, some states, such as California and a few others, have boys’ volleyball in the spring season, typically running from March to June.

2. College Volleyball Season

• Women’s College Volleyball (NCAA): The season usually starts in late August or early September, lasting until December, when the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship takes place.
• Men’s College Volleyball (NCAA): Unlike women’s volleyball, the men’s season takes place in spring, running from January to May, culminating in the NCAA Championship.

3. Professional Volleyball Season

Professional volleyball leagues worldwide have different timelines, but here are some of the major ones:

• FIVB and International Competitions: The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) runs from May to July, followed by various continental championships. The FIVB World Championship, held every four years, takes place in September and October.
• Club Volleyball (Europe & Asia): Most professional club leagues, like Italy’s SuperLega, Poland’s PlusLiga, and Brazil’s Superliga, run from October to April, with playoffs occurring in May.

4. Beach Volleyball Season

Beach volleyball season follows a different schedule compared to indoor volleyball:

• AVP (American Volleyball Professionals) Tour: Runs from May to September, with major tournaments in the summer.
• FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour: Spans the entire year, with major events scheduled from March to December.

5. Club and Amateur Volleyball Seasons

For those who don’t play professionally but still want to enjoy the sport, club volleyball offers year-round opportunities. Club seasons for juniors typically run from November to June, with national championships in summer.

So, when is volleyball season? The real answer is: always. Whether it’s fall high school tournaments, winter college matchups, or summer beach volleyball showdowns, there’s never a dull moment in the volleyball world. So, grab your knee pads, set up your calendar, and prepare for another season of epic digs and monster spikes!