South Dakota Volleyball Club

Handbook

SDVC

2010 Season

INTRODUCTION

The South Dakota Junior Olympic Volleyball Club was created over 8 years ago by former South Dakota State University head volleyball coach Andrew Palileo. SDVC was created with the intention to give interested volleyball athletes an opportunity to play volleyball at a high level. Over the years, our program has helped in the development of hundreds of athletes.

SDVC is a developmental program designed for high school and middle school athletes. Our purpose is to improve the volleyball skills of all athletes through participation in structured practices and competitive tournaments. SDVC will attempt to field AT LEAST ONE team in each age classification sanctioned by USA Volleyball with respect to the commitment availability of qualified coaches. The South Dakota Volleyball Club is a member of North Country Region and USA Volleyball.

The purpose of this publication is to inform all prospective members and parents or guardians of the services, guidelines, regulations and requirements of SDVC. It is required that ALL ATHLETES and their PARENTS/GUARDIANS read this publication in its entirety before attending tryouts and participating in our program.

SDVC GOALS

1. To help each athlete reach her goals to becoming a better volleyball player.

2. To help each athlete to become a better team player.

3. To help each athlete approach the game of volleyball with good sportsmanship and high

motivation.

4. To have fun and successfully work with great teammates and staff members!

JUNIOR OLYMPIC VOLLEYBALL AGE DIVISION DEFINITIONS for 2010

18 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1991 or players who were born on or after September 1, 1989 and a high school student in the twelfth (12th) grade or below during some part of the current academic year.

17 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1992

16 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1993

15 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1994

14 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1995

13 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1996

12 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1, 1997

*North Country Region Team Transfer Rule:

Once a player has committed to a team and has played in a USA Volleyball sanctioned event, they are not allowed to transfer teams. All transfers must be done before the first sanctioned event. SDVC, through this handbook, notifies you of this rule as required by North Country Region USA Volleyball.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE

All athletes will be notified of their status with SDVC Volleyball within a week following tryouts.

Coaches will make phone calls to club participants to notify them of their status. In addition, teams will be posted on the club website on Monday, December 14th.

COMMITMENT

The 2010 season will start in January after the 15th of the month. Each team will receive their own practice schedule. Practices are held on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday evenings between 6:30-9:00pm, usually twice a week. Each practice will be 1.5 hours to 2 hours in length. Practices may be held on Sundays, depending on the schedules of athletes, staff and facilities.

Practices will be held at facilities in or near Brookings, SD. A practice schedule will be posted on our web site and passed out at practices once it is developed. Practice locations are listed on the club’s website under the “overview” section. Practice schedules are available on each team’s webpage.

SDVC teams will participate in 5-6 tournaments per season depending on availability. Some of these tournaments are multiple day tournaments (Friday-Sunday) and may require hotel stays. As a part of committing to SDVC, we ask that you find a way to participate in each tournament, each day.

We recognize that many of our athletes are involved in many activities and athletic programs while participating in our program. Like those other activities, SDVC Volleyball is a commitment and we ask that you try your absolute best to keep that commitment the entire season. To get the most out of our program, it is recommended that you make a solid commitment to this program. Attendance will be kept by coaches for record keeping purposes, but please recognize that your coaches and teammates will be counting on you to make the best effort to be at each practice.

A part of the commitment to SDVC is to completely read this handbook in its entirety.

SDVC CONTACT INFORMATION

South Dakota Volleyball Club

PO Box 8068

Brookings, SD 57006

Club Phone: 605-697-5055

Website: www.southdakotavolleyballclub.com

Club Director

Beth Clarke

E-mail -

Coaching Director

Nanabah Allison-Brewer

Email -

Board at Large

Connie Bridges- Treasurer

Email -

Belinda Miller- U14 Board Representative, Home Tournament Coordinator

Email -

Terry Nemitz- U16 Board Representative, Business Coordinator

Email -

JoLynn Rowbotham – U12 Board Representative, Secretary

Email -

Kris Seas- U18 Board Representative, Jersey Coordinator

Email -

OUR TRAINING PROGRAM

The SDVC training program will be developed and conducted by SDVC staff members led by Nanabah Allison-Brewer, head volleyball coach at South Dakota State University. We feel that this program will best suit those who have participated in our program in the past, as well as those joining the program for the first time at any age. With consistency in practice and tournament attendance, we feel we can enhance the performance level of each athlete.

12s, 13s, and 14s Teams - Developmental Program

Emphasis is on fundamentals. Staff members will focus attention on skill development. Staff members will develop a training program for the season based on the assessments of each player. Team rotations, formations, and individual skills will advance throughout the season to prepare for high caliber competition at the conclusion of the season.

15s, 16s Teams - Intermediate Developmental Program

Emphasis will be on refining skill development and begin to train advance skills. Following tryouts, staff members will develop a training program for the season based on assessments of each player. Our intention is to get these teams playing against elite competition as the season advances. By the end of the season, these athletes should be prepared for our advanced developmental program.

17s, 18s Teams - Advanced Developmental Program

Emphasis will be on refining skill development and implementation of advanced skills. Staff members will break down techniques of players with the intention to improve their individual abilities. Offensive and defensive team systems will be introduced and consistently worked on as the season continues.

Once tryouts are finished and teams are selected, the SDVC coaching will analyze the abilities of each player and develop a schedule based upon projected level of play. These teams will play elite competition based upon the assessments of the SDVC coaching staff.

Practice Attendance & Absence Notification

Attendance will be taken by the coaches at each practice and tournament for record keeping purposes. It is the sole responsibility of the athlete and/or parent to notify the coach concerning an illness, upcoming absence or if the athlete will be late to practice. As mentioned earlier, what you want to get out of this program may also depend on your attendance. Remember, your absence not only affects you, but also your team and both of your development. Attendance may play a role in the playing time an athlete receives.

TOURNAMENTS

The SDVC Volleyball Committee will develop a proposed tournament schedule for each team. This schedule may change, depending on evaluation of teams at tryouts, finances and availability to enter the designated tournament. Our goal in schedule development is to find competitive tournaments, while keeping the opportunity for success in mind. At times, SDVC teams may play in older age divisions. It is an expectation of each SDVC player to try their best to attend each day of each tournament. A tournament schedule will be completed in January.

Note: SDVC participants are expected to attend school the following school day after competitions. SDVC participants not attending school without extenuating circumstances (such as illness, etc.) will be considered a Level One Offense, see page 8.

TOURNAMENT TRAVEL

Travel to all tournaments will be at the responsibility of the parents. Athletes cannot drive themselves to tournaments as this may lead to situations like, getting lost, fatigue after playing or other circumstances. Athletes may not have their boyfriends or friends drive them to tournaments. It is recommended that the parent/guardian, an adult (+23 yrs) family member/relative or another SDVC parent drive the player to the hotel and tournament site. SDVC coaching staff and advisory board members will be keeping a close eye on this activity. SDVC will not give or be expected to provide any athletes a ride to tournament sites or hotels. If there is a unique situation, the coach must receive written permission from the athlete’s parent/guardian, releasing the coach of ALL LIABILITY. Players will be given information about the tournament location and what time to arrive on a daily basis.

HOTEL STAY

SDVC tournament schedules require our athletes to travel outside our area for tournaments. Team Tournament Coordinators will provide hotel & playing facility information. It is an expectation that all athletes stay at the team hotel with their teammates on nights booked by the club. If a player cannot stay at the hotel, they must notify the coach and team representative; and provide information as to where they will be staying and provide cell phone contact information.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

SDVC is a parent-run organization that depends on the volunteer efforts of people and many hours of time. It is very important that all participants share the necessary duties. Parents are needed to help organized teams, run concessions, and provide a source of communication. To ensure that all parents of SDVC athletes are involved in the program, the SDVC Board developed a volunteer program. The purpose of the volunteer program is to increase parental awareness of the need for volunteers in the South Dakota Volleyball Club. Each participant’s family will write a $25 check to SDVC. Throughout the season, there will be opportunities for parents to get involved and volunteer with the club. Parent volunteers will have their checks destroyed at the conclusion of the club season.

Handout #3 contains a list of volunteer positions and brief description of job duties. There may be additional ways to volunteer than what is listed but they must be approved by the Board.

CLUB COMMUNICATION

SDVC understands the important of communication. In our efforts to provide constant communication, our website is the primary source of club information, weather announcements, team listings, practice schedules, and away tournament information. Please save our website in your favorites and access it often.

In additional to the website as a form of communication, emails and phone calls are important components of club correspondence. Anytime there are practice schedule changes, practice cancellations, or other team updates, SDVC coaches are required to contact parents by email; and follow-up phone call if necessary. It is important that Handout #2 is filled out to its entirety and that the emails listed are those that are checked frequently.

Pre-tournament information is often delayed and vague. The club director will release the information to the coaches and team tournament coordinators as soon as it becomes available. As a parent/guardian, please familiarize yourself with any information that comes home with your athlete. Please ask your daughters on a continual basis if they brought any information home with them. As you know, sometimes you may not see it unless you ask. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated. If you have any questions, don’t refrain from asking at any time. Typically, local tournament information is available between Monday-Wednesday the week of the tournament. Regional tournament information is usually available seven days prior to the tournament.

WEATHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

South Dakota is known for great winter weather. In the event of severe weather or heavy fog, practice will be cancelled. If your school has been closed or if you hear that Brookings schools have been closed, or South Dakota State University has been closed, we will not hold practice.

Announcements and cancellations will be posted on the homepage of our website. www.southdakotavolleyballclub.com

DO NOT TRAVEL IF YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING TO PRACTICE! JUST NOTIFY YOUR COACH!

PLAYING TIME & POSITIONS

The biggest challenge for any coach is assigning playing time and positions to athletes. SDVC gives complete discretion to the coaches in regards to playing time. The coach will evaluate the athlete’s attitude, ability, practice attendance, needs of the team, competition of opponent and other individual philosophies when it comes to playing time. It is important that each athlete understand that she may not receive all the playing time that she believes she deserves.

In regards to positions on the floor, the coach will put athletes in a position that he or she feels best suits the team. It may or may not be the same position that the athlete plays in high school or junior high. The athlete is welcomed to train at multiple positions, but this will be at the discretion of the coach.

SDVC coaches may hold team and/or individual meetings to discuss this subject and other coaching philosophies. It is an expectation that the athletes respect the coaches’ decisions and give 100% effort towards the success of the team.

CONFLICTS & COMPLAINTS

SDVC would like to handle any conflicts and complaints in a professional manner. Keep in mind, we are a club team with high expectations and the way we conduct our club may be different than local Junior Olympic programs.

It is an expectation that all players and parents read the SDVC Handbook before beginning a complaint process.

SDVC has adopted a 24-hour rest period in regards to conflict communication. Any parent/player may not approach a coach within 24 hours of the situation. A parent may not approach a coach to discuss issues at tournaments. After the rest period, issues must be discussed during a scheduled coach/parent & player meeting to be held before or after a weekday practice.