Great Lakes Region Volleyball

What Great Lakes Region Volleyball does

Great Lakes Region Volleyball is a nonprofit regional chapter of USA Volleyball headquartered at 745 McClintock Drive, Suite 314, Burr Ridge, Illinois, that serves as the official sanctioned governing body for amateur volleyball across the Great Lakes territory. It administers the junior club ecosystem — encompassing 80+ clubs, 600+ teams, and 11,000+ junior members — as well as adult indoor and outdoor programming, beach volleyball through the Midwest Beach Point Series, and officiating and coaching certification pathways. The organization's product portfolio spans membership registration, tournament sanctioning (Windy City Power League, Windy City National Qualifier, Windy City 18's National Qualifier, Girls and Boys Regional Championships), the Junior Officials Training Program (>300 graduates), High Performance elite development with college-recruiter exposure, IMPACT/CAP coaching education, and an annual scholarship program awarding 20 grants of $1,000 each.

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model centered on subscription-style membership fees (junior tryout memberships, adult one-event memberships at $10 and full memberships at $50), club registration and sanctioning fees, and tournament transaction-based fees including per-match official pay at $40-$55. Pricing is publicly disclosed for adult tiers; junior club dues are set by individual clubs rather than the region. Distribution is conducted through SportsEngine for membership self-service, AES for tournament registration, and the 40+ affiliated club network as the primary channel for junior athlete recruitment. Marketing leverages Instagram (@greatlakesvb), Facebook, the regional website, an email newsletter, AVCA coaching content partnerships, and the Art of Coaching Volleyball Premium Membership benefit.

Technically, the organization operates no proprietary platform. Its entire technology infrastructure is outsourced to third-party providers — SportsEngine (NBC Sports) for member lifecycle management and USAV Academy integration, Advanced Event Systems for tournament scheduling, ArbiterPay for official compensation, and Baller TV for live event streaming. The senior leadership team is led by CEO/Commissioner Dan Ames with CFO Lisa Wollersheim and a small staff of approximately eight across region services, finance, and marketing, reporting to a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors. Governance is structured around junior clubs, adult players, outdoor programs, officials, and independent members under the USAV national federation framework.

Name

Great Lakes Region Volleyball

Legal name

Great Lakes Region Volleyball

Website

https://greatlakesvolleyball.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Region Volleyball is a nonprofit USA Volleyball regional governing body headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois that sanctions junior clubs, adult leagues, tournaments, and officials training across Illinois and Indiana. It serves 11,000+ junior members across 80+ clubs and 600+ teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volleyball Sports Governance & League Operations

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAAAL

Volleyball Leagues

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Professional Sports Leagues (Domestic & International)

SECONDARYMPAKAFAD

Regional/Continental Confederations & Associations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Rights Holders & Governing Bodies (Federations, Associations, Sanctioning Bodies)

SECONDARYMPAKACAF

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

Keywords

• Volleyball club governance
• Youth sports sanctioning
• Junior volleyball programs
• Officials certification training
• Coaching education

Headquarters

HQ city

Burr Ridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Adult Memberships: The organization generates revenue through membership fees. Adult members can purchase either a $10 one-event membership for limited participation or a $50 full membership for unlimited event access including championships and nationals.
2. Junior Tryout Memberships: Junior players purchase tryout memberships to participate in club volleyball tryouts. The 26-27 Great Lakes Tryout - Full Season membership allows participation only in Region sanctioned club volleyball tryouts and expires 6/30/27.
3. Club Registration and Sanctioning: Clubs pay to register and receive sanctioning from the Great Lakes Region. The region provides tournament sanctioning, official certification, and access to USAV membership infrastructure.
4. Tournament Entry Fees: Tournament directors pay fees to AES for event registration. Officials are paid per-match fees ranging from $40-$55 depending on certification level, with per diem allowances for championship events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Great Lakes Region Volleyball is a regional governing body that sanctions volleyball competitions, manages membership for players and clubs, and delivers competitive programming including junior and adult leagues, national qualifier tournaments, regional championships, and the Windy City Power League. It provides officiating certification across multiple levels, coaching education (IMPACT, CAP, AVCA), High Performance elite development pathways, and a scholarship program, supported by 80+ affiliated clubs and 11,000+ junior members.

Product overview

Great Lakes Region Volleyball is a regional governing body affiliated with USA Volleyball, managing one of the largest junior volleyball regions with 80+ clubs, 600+ teams, and 11,000+ members. The organization operates as a platform offering interconnected programs including junior and adult volleyball (indoor and outdoor), beach volleyball, officials training and certification, High Performance elite development, and coaches education. Core offerings include competitive event series (Windy City Power League, National Qualifiers, Regional Championships), club network directory, membership management via SportsEngine, and scholarship programs. The organization partners with USAV for national development pathways and provides AVCA coaching resources. Key programs are organized around the competitive pathway from junior development through adult recreation, with supporting services in officiating, coaching education, and member benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Windy City Power League: Regional volleyball league program operated by Great Lakes Region
• Windy City National Qualifier
• Windy City 18's National Qualifier
• Girls Regional Championship
• Boys Regional Championships
• Midwest Beach Point Series
• Great Lakes Volleyball Scholarships

Products and services

• Junior Volleyball Programs Junior volleyball programming for players 18 and under, organized through 80+ affiliated clubs, 600+ teams, and 11,000+ members across the Great Lakes Region.
• Club Network Directory Comprehensive directory of 40+ affiliated volleyball clubs across the Great Lakes Region, providing families with club information such as locations, age groups, coaching details, fees, practice schedules, and contact details.
• Windy City Power League Competitive league program for junior volleyball athletes offering high-level competition and development opportunities within the Great Lakes Region.
• Windy City National Qualifier National qualifier tournament event that provides opportunities for teams to earn bids to USAV Junior National Championships.
• Windy City 18's National Qualifier Dedicated 18-under age group national qualifier tournament for senior-level junior athletes.
• Girls Regional Championship Regional championship event for girls featuring multiple age divisions (12s through 18s) held across two weekends in February/March with competition divisions including Open and Club levels.
• Boys Regional Championships Regional championship event for boys volleyball teams across various age divisions.
• Midwest Beach Point Series Beach volleyball series for junior athletes offering competitive outdoor volleyball opportunities at Montrose beach locations.
• Adult Volleyball Programs Adult volleyball programming including recreational and competitive divisions (A/AA and B/BB), with options for single-event participation or full-season engagement, and access to USAV Adult Nationals.
• Adult Outdoor Volleyball Outdoor volleyball programming and partnerships with organizations including Players Sport and Social, Waupaca Boatride Tournament, and EVP Tour for sand and grass volleyball opportunities.
• Officials Training & Certification Training program for volleyball officials with certification levels including Provisional, Regional, Junior National, and National certifications. Includes scoring and officiating modules through USAV Academy.
• High Performance Program Regional high performance programming for elite junior athletes providing exposure to college recruiters, elite coaching, and competition against all-star caliber athletes from around the region.
• USAV National Development Program Access Partnership with USA Volleyball's National Team Development Program (NTDP) providing pathways for regional athletes to train with national programs in indoor, beach, and sitting volleyball disciplines.
• IMPACT & CAP Coaching Education Coaching certification programs including IMPACT (Increased Mastery and Professional Application of Coaching Theory) as the minimum educational requirement for junior volleyball coaches, and CAP (Coaching Accreditation Program) for professional coaching advancement.
• AVCA Coaching Resources Partnership with American Volleyball Coaches Association providing free coaching materials, weekly training tips, and professional development resources for Great Lakes Region members.
• Great Lakes Region Scholarships Annual scholarship program awarding 20 scholarships of $1,000 each to outstanding regional members, recognizing dedication, leadership, and achievements both on and off the court.
• Junior Officials Training Program Program engaging young talent to bridge the gap between officials and players, having successfully trained over 300 junior athletes with approximately one-third continuing to work in the region as officials.
• Membership Registration USA Volleyball membership through SportsEngine platform providing memberships for junior players, adult players, coaches, officials, and club directors with various membership tiers including one-event ($10) and full membership ($50) options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 11,000 junior members across 80+ clubs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Since 2018, the Great Lakes Region has partnered with the AVCA to offer free coaching materials to members. The AVCA provides weekly coaching tips and drill recommendations featured on the region website.
• USA Volleyball (USAV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreat Lakes Region is one of 40 official regions affiliated with USA Volleyball, the sole nationally recognized governing body for volleyball in the United States, acknowledged by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and FIVB. The partnership provides official sanctioning authority, membership infrastructure, and national competition pathways.
• The Art of Coaching VolleyballminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe region has a partnership with The Art of Coaching Volleyball which provides a limited number of Great Lakes Region Coaches with a FREE Premium Membership ($100 value) including training videos, drills, and coaching certification programs.
• SportsEnginecoreTechnology or IntegrationSportsEngine provides the membership management platform used by Great Lakes Region for all member registrations, profile management, and USAV Academy integration.
• Advanced Event Systems (AES)coreTechnology or IntegrationAES provides tournament management software for event registration, scheduling, and payment processing. Tournament directors work with AES to enable online club payment options.
• Baller TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBaller TV provides live streaming coverage of major Great Lakes Region events including Windy City National Qualifier and Regional Championships, extending event visibility beyond physical attendance.
• Windy City Power LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindy City Power League is a major regional tournament series operated under the Great Lakes Region umbrella, providing competitive play opportunities for club teams.
• Players Sport and SocialminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlayers Sport and Social hosts outdoor volleyball tournaments and leagues, promoted through Great Lakes Region's adult outdoor volleyball programming. No USAV membership required.
• EVP TourminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEVP Tour hosts outdoor volleyball tournaments featured in Great Lakes Region's adult outdoor programming, expanding competitive opportunities for members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• USA Volleyball (USAV): The national governing body for volleyball in the U.S. and GLR's parent organization. Directly comparable as the umbrella federation that establishes rules, sanctioning authority, and national competition pathways that GLR operates within.
• AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): Multi-sport amateur athletic organization that sanctions youth volleyball clubs and tournaments. Comparable as a competing national-level sports membership organization that offers membership, insurance, and tournament sanctioning for youth athletes.
• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): National governing body for collegiate volleyball where GLR athletes matriculate. Comparable as the end-stage of the athlete development pathway that GLR's High Performance and competitive programs feed into.

Direct peers

• Junior Volleyball Association (JVA): National club volleyball organization providing membership, insurance, and competition pathways for junior clubs outside the USAV umbrella. Directly comparable as an alternative governing/membership structure serving similar youth club volleyball customers.
• Southern California Region Volleyball (USAV): Another USAV regional volleyball body, with one of the largest junior volleyball populations in the country. Comparable mission and member services; differs in geography and higher absolute scale.
• Chickasaw Country Region Volleyball (USAV): One of 40 USA Volleyball regional governing bodies similar to GLR. Comparable in mission (sanctioning, membership, tournaments) and operational structure, though serving a different geographic region.

Others

• American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA): National coaches association partnered with GLR since 2018 to provide coaching content and resources. Comparable as a membership-based volleyball organization serving similar coaching and education stakeholders.

Emerging players

• League One Volleyball (LOVB): Pro-affiliated volleyball ecosystem with club-to-pro pathway that is increasingly intersecting with USAV-affiliated clubs (e.g., VC United is LOVB-affiliated and a GLR member). Comparable as a competitive youth volleyball membership/club ecosystem; differs in commercial/pro-am orientation.
• Pro Volleyball Federation (PVL): Professional women's volleyball league in the U.S. with growing visibility. Comparable in audience overlap (volleyball families, college athletes) and potentially competes for attention, coaches, and developmental pathways in GLR's member base.

Regional players

• Players Sport and Social Group: Recreational adult volleyball league operator that hosts outdoor tournaments promoted through GLR's adult programming. Comparable as an adult volleyball event provider in the same geography but operating outside the USAV membership structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/greatlakesvb
• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakesvb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-region-volleyball

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Region Volleyball