FAQs
Nope! However, all of our events take place in Caltech's Braun Athletic Center, which requires a membership. Guests are welcome to join, but the gym requires they must be accompanied by a membership holder and pay a guest fee ($10) for entry into the gym. Reach out to Stefan Hansel if you are a guest and need help getting into the gym!
Great! Come to our Open Gym on Thursdays and subscribe to our mailing list. To improve your skills, find a buddy to practice hitting, serving, or passing. You can borrow volleyballs from the front desk. If the basketball court is not being used, then you can practice in there. Otherwise, a racquetball court is a great place to practice.
No! If you feel comfortable with the rules of volleyball and have prior experience, please feel free to come to both Intermediate and Open Gym. We may ask people to come to open gym instead for safety reasons if needed.
We divide our open gym into different sections so that people of all levels have a fun place to play. Additionally, safety is a big concern when mixing less experienced players with fast-paced volleyball. The Advanced time is for people who have substantial volleyball experience, such as many years of high school, college, or equivalent. There's no exact definition, but generally advanced players are people who are comfortable passing, setting, and hitting in any position, and are fluent in the rotations (5-1 or 6-2).
Practice, practice, practice, outside of intermediate and open gym. Maintain a positive attitude and good sportsmanship. Put some time into learning the rotations and positioning. Ask questions to more experienced players. Watch professional players and understand their play. It is very difficult to learn all of these things solely through playing games at open gym!
This website is a good resource for learning the rotations and different offensive strategies.
As of 10/3/22, masks are optional in the Braun Athletic Center. Entry into the gym requires vaccination consistent with Caltech's current policy. If you do not feel well, don't come to volleyball.