2008 Charleston High School Volleyball Team

Congratulations, you are now a member of the CHS Volleyball Team! With this comes a lot of hard work, responsibility, and time. As you will see in your lifetime……the more you give, the more you receive. The journey that you have decided to be a part of begins today and as part of that journey, please remember the commitment, as detailed below, that you made to this TEAM!!

As a player of the 2008 CHS Volleyball Team, you understand the COMMITMENT to a TEAM UNIT that you have chosen to accept. Along with this understanding, you agree to abide by all TEAM rules, as well as all TEAM philosophy’s.

1. You promise to always maintain a positive approach when discussing any aspect of the game. (If you can’t say something positive, please refrain from saying anything at all.)

2. You will accept your individual role, which is given to you by the coach, no matter what that role may be.

3. You will support your teammates with positive, constructive reinforcement at all times.

4. You will set aside your individual wants and needs of glory for the betterment of the TEAM.

5. You will not be concerned or jealous about the amount of press coverage individual players receive. You will view all press articles as team coverage, which will therefore benefit the entire TEAM.

6. You will always demonstrate good sportsmanship toward opponents, coaches, and officials.

Signature: ______

Date:______

By signing you pledge to abide by this Player Contract to the best of your ability. You also promise to help one another with a friendly reminder should you notice that one of the above provisions is temporarily being violated. You pledge your love, friendship, concern and loyalty to ALL PLAYERS, as well as, COACHES and you vow to do whatever it takes to make this the best 2008 Charleston High School Volleyball Team that it can possibly be!

Other Rules and Guidelines

Team Goals

Set realistic goals for yourself and the team. Be willing to do the hard work it will take to reach those goals.

Priorities

1. Family2. School3. Volleyball4. Everything else

Alcoho/Drug Policy

See CHS Athletic Code of Conduct

Absence from practice

It is your responsibility to let the coach know if you need to miss practice. If it is an excused absence, 50 crunches and three z’s, will be made up. If it is an unexcused absence, 50 crunches and three z’s will be made up, as well as, sitting out the next match.

Hints regarding playing time

If this needs to be discussed, this is an issue to discuss in private with the coaching staff. Playing time of other team members will not be discussed. I will not speak to any parent or relative about playing time, without discussing it with the player first.

* Our object is to play as a team and win.
* Do not set your personal goals around playing time—develop goals around improving yourself.

* Challenge yourself each day to improve.

* If you don’t give 100% in practice, you will not get the opportunity to give 100% in a game.

* You can lead from the bench as well as on the court—be loud, cheer, high five teammates.

“In a world of give and take, there are few that give what it takes. Winners give, whiners take.”

EVALUATING A WINNER

  1. Are you coachable? Are you willing to listen to criticism and realize it meant to improve your abilities?
  2. Do you want to win? Does losing bother you? Do you want the ball in your hands at game point every time?
  3. Are you mentally tough? Can you play through soreness or being tired? Can you pay attention to little details such as where the weak digger is while the ball is in play?
  4. Do you work as hard in practice as you do in a game? If you loaf in practice, your bad habits will not appear in a game (because you will be on the bench).
  5. Will you make sacrifices for the better of the program?
  6. Are you willing to work on the areas that are your weakest or do you prefer just to work on your strengths?
  7. Can you handle being an athlete and a student at the same time?

THE BENCH: A RESERVE’S ROLE

Paraphrased and adapted to volleyball from comments

by Mike Kryzscewski, Duke University Men’s Basketball Coach

One of the areas a coach has a problem with is the bench and its role. Volleyball teams put six players on the court at a time, yet there are up to 15 players on the roster. Doing the math, this means there are six to nine players on the bench at any one time. In most cases, if you didn’t think you were good enough, you would’ve quit the sport long ago. That causes a problem: everyone wants to play, but the coach’s job is to select a lineup and do everything possible to win. Thus, challenges are created for players AND coaches to deal with.

The bench is vital throughout the season. The bench sees playing time when possible, usually with a large lead or deficit. The bench is also used to alter the tempo of a game so players on the bench MUST be ready to go on a second’s notice and know who they are going in for, where they are on the court, and what is going on.

In summary:
1 – The non-starters challenge starters every day in practice so we are prepared for every match we play.

2 – You are ready to enter a game at any instant. Long-term success comes from the bench’s ability to perform this critical role.

3 – You must strive to improve yourself. This challenges your teammates to get better themselves. This way THE TEAM benefits.

4 – You are not expected to be satisfied not being in the match—no one ever is (and that’s the honest truth). But you have a role and your cheers are vital. We win together, we lose together—AS A TEAM.

SPORTSMANSHIP GUIDELINES

The Player:
She lives clean and plays hard. She plays for the love of the game.

She wins without boasting, loses without excuses, and never, ever quits.

She never forgets she represents CHS at all times, whether on the court or off.

The Coach:

She inspires players to enjoy the game and have a desire to succeed.

She teaches it is better to lose fairly within the spirit of the rules instead of cheating to win.

She strives to be the role model she wants her players to become.

The Official:
She knows the rules.

She is fair and firm. She is consistent.

She treats the players and coaches with respect and demands similar treatment.

She knows the game is for the players and doesn’t take the spotlight from them.

Let’s have a great 2008 Season!!