Midwest Elite Volleyball Club Club History Midwest Elite Volleyball Club began its operations in 2003 in order to replace a vacancy in the area and to provide a valuable service to the local community. Mission Statement Midwest Elite Volleyball Club is committed to providing its members with the opportunities to enhance their individual physical, mental and team related skills. MEVC s staff is charged with the responsibility of assisting players to reach their potential and to expose them to new forms of thought and styles of play. General Information Only three players from the same school can be on the same team for grades 7-12 in Ohio per OHSAA guidelines. A high school coach cannot coach players from his / her own school. These rules no longer apply to outgoing seniors. USA Volleyball rules have some differences to high school rules. 18 and under division: Players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1988. 17 and under division: Players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1989. 16 and under division: Players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1990. 15 and under division: Players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1991. 14 and under division: Players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1992. 13 and under division: Players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1993. Club Teams The number of teams will be determined based on the quality of players that tryout for the club, in consideration of the levels offered for that particular season, as well as the availability of quality coaches. The decision of competing in a bid tournament to gain entry into one of the two national tournaments will be up to the respective coach and club director. Any teams accepted to either of these tournaments will then be charged additionally for subsequent tournament entries, travel, accommodations, etc.
Fundraising, through Matchpoint VBC, as per selling advertisements in their players guide, will be discussed with teams in timely manner, in order to offset the cost for their overall club experience. Tryout Dates and Tryout Policy Tryouts will take place on Sunday, November 5 at Shawnee High School for: 13 and under / 14 and under: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm Tryouts will take place on Sunday, November 12 at Shawnee High School for: 15 and under / 16 and under /17 and under / 18 and under: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm An informational meeting will take place at Shawnee High School at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1. Parents and players are encouraged to attend this meeting; this is the time to have questions answered, not on the day of tryouts. Prior to participating in tryout sessions a player must bring with them the following documentation: 1. player profile sheet 2. signed waiver of liability 3. signed USA waiver form 4. completed USA medical form 5. self-addressed stamped envelope 6. $10.00 tryout fee If you have more than one child from the same family trying out, the total fee is reduced to $15.00. Please make sure to list the full name of the athlete(s) trying out in the memorandum section of any check. Successful athletes will be placed in an age group, and within the first two to four practices, will then be placed either on an open or club team (this is per the discretion of the club director and coaching staff). This is not a negotiable process! The tryouts will compromise both individual skill and game situation drills. Selection of players will be based on observable performances at tryouts and the individual s evaluated potential. Furthermore, the coaching staff will observe closely for athletic ability, skill potential, determination, desire, work ethic, positive attitude, competitiveness and the ability to work as a team member. Following tryouts the coaching staff will meet for player evaluation and potential team selection. The players who participated in tryouts will be informed within seventy-two hours of their potential status with the club. Any player who is offered a position with MEVC will have ten days in which to positively reply with their signed form and nonrefundable deposit. Athletes trying out for MEVC do so knowing they might be asked to play on an open team or move to a higher age group. Once a player has entered into the signed contract, she may not play for any other club program without the release of the
said player by the club director per OVR and USA volleyball rules. MEVC will make every possible attempt to limit the number of players per team to no more than ten. Beginning in 2005, tryouts will be closed to parents and spectators. The purpose for closed tryouts will be to create a more productive environment, free from as many distractions as possible. Previous MEVC Players Every athlete in the club will be evaluated each year. Each athlete must come to the tryouts ready to compete for a position on one of our teams. An athlete who cannot participate in tryouts because of limiting physical or medical condition or absence should speak with the Club Director, Dennis Dahlberg, prior to the start of the tryout period to determine the status of their ability to play on one of the teams. Players should never assume because they were on a previous MEVC team that they will automatically be on a future team. Payment of Club Fees DO NOT give your payments to club coaches. MEVC coaches have been instructed not to accept any fees. All fees (checks only) should be sent to: Dennis Dahlberg Head Women s Volleyball Coach 1675 East Possum Road Springfield, Ohio 45502 Fees include the following items: spandex, uniform shirts, practice T-shirts, warm-ups, socks, OVR membership fees, registration fees, facility hire / donations costs, tournament entry fees, coaches salary w/ some expenses, volleyball, stationary and administration costs. Fees DO NOT include the cost of travel or accommodation at any tournament or club event. It is anticipated, but not expected, that most teams will play in seven tournaments with the last tournament taking place near the end of April. The cost of entering bid tournaments or power tournaments may affect the number of tournaments in which a team may be entered. Any player delinquent on payments will not be permitted to participate in any practice, competition, or club event until their account has been updated per the club director. All fees must be paid by the first tournament. Please contact the club director if an installment payment plan would better fit the needs of your family. If the club director is not contacted, then athletes will be responsible to pay their fees as outlined below.
Payments are to be made as follows: *First Payment: a non-refundable $100.00 deposit is due immediately with the acceptance of invitation to participate. *Second Payment of $350.00 is due on or before January 3, 2007. *Third Payment of $350.00 is due on or before February 1, 2007. Any bounced checks will be charged an additional $30.00 to their respective athlete s account. Any payment arriving greater than seven days late will also be charged $30.00 per each week it is delinquent. Playing of Other Sports / Attendance Policy School sports and activities are an integral part of the scholastic experience and they are permitted by MEVC. We make every effort to produce schedules that will conflict as little as possible with these activities. However, it is recommended that if an athlete is going to miss more than 15% of practices and tournaments, those families should reconsider participation in our program. Missing such a significant amount of time does not make it cost effective for a family, and it also makes it very difficult to build team chemistry and cohesion at a competitive level. In regard to the attendance policy, if an athlete will be late to a practice or cannot attend a practice, the athlete is expected to call the coach with a minimum of twenty-four hours notice. It is an athlete s responsibility, not the parent s, to reach the coach before the practice starts. Furthermore, if an athlete has a potential conflict with a tournament and will miss it, the athlete must notify the coach three weeks prior to the scheduled event. All athletes are expected to make every effort to attend every practice and tournament. Only an illness serious enough to keep the athlete home from school, or a genuine family emergency (ie death in the family), are legitimate excuses for missing practices or tournaments. Regardless of the reason, if an athlete does miss practice, her playing time may be affected. Previously arranged late arrivals will not be held against the athlete. An athlete missing more than four practices and / or one tournament, due to any of the aforementioned reasons, will result in an athlete s forfeiture of the remainder of her season and will enter into a no refund policy per the discretion of the club director. Playing Time / Player Expectations We do not guarantee equal playing time on any team or at any event. MEVC has the philosophy that what an athlete pays for is instruction time during practices. Playing time for athletes is determined by attendance, attitude, effort, performance, potential, the team s needs at the moment and in the future, and is left solely to the discretion of the coach. Coaching decisions are not debatable or open to question. Athletes are encouraged to ask what skills, mental or physical, they need to improve in order to earn more playing time.
General Rules and Regulations MEVC has the philosophy that it is important to always behave as an athlete in all phases of pre-competition, competitive events, and post-competition. All athletes will behave as models and stewards of their sport. All practice shirts, warm-up shirts and uniforms will be tucked in at all times. Furthermore, to be early is to be on time. Make it a fundamental principle to arrive a minimum of fifteen minutes early for all team functions. Kneepads will always be worn as protective devices. The moment an athlete dresses for practice, her kneepads will be on and up covering her knees. MEVC also strongly encourages the use of active ankles to further ensure against potential injury. Any athlete who causes damage to MEVC equipment, or that of any facility, will be charged for that equipment and immediately dismissed from the club if the manner by which the damage occurred was decidedly inappropriate according to the club director. In case of inclement weather, call the coach and check for any cancellations to practices or tournaments. A coach, or someone from a telephone chain, should call your home to notify you of any cancellations. MEVC strongly encourages athletes and parents to share their cellular telephone numbers with the coach in order to facilitate a greater ease of providing information. Practice Schedules and Conduct Coaches will determine whether practices are open or closed to the public. Coaches may also determine their own team rules above and beyond the general rules set forth by MEVC. Most practices will typically occur once during the week and once on Sunday. Arrive fifteen minutes early for any scheduled practice time. Depending upon court availability, practices should always begin within fifteen minutes of their assigned times. All practices will end within fifteen minutes of their scheduled time. Make sure that your ride is waiting at the end of practice. Volleyball shoes are to be carried into and worn only at practices and tournaments. Our facilities stay much cleaner and safer in this manner. The chewing of gum is not permitted during practices or competitive events. Athletes are encouraged to bring their own water or sports drinks, in clearly marked unbreakable containers, to all events. Horseplay by athletes at practices or events is strictly prohibited.
It is an athlete s responsibility to notify the coach if she will be late or unable to attend a practice. Tournament Schedules and Conduct All athletes should be in the facility and ready to warm-up within the scheduled arrival time for any event. Proper conduct is expected for all club members at all time. This includes athletes, coaches, parents and fans. This also means treating fans and athletes from other teams, other parents, and officials with dignity and respect. If an athlete becomes aware that they will not be able to attend a tournament, the athlete is expected to contact her coach as soon as possible. Athletes are not to leave any tournament site until excused by the coach. Except in the case of a true emergency, any athlete, with or without any officiating duty will not be dismissed until the entire team is dismissed. Officiating duties are to be shared by the entire team and assigned at the coach s discretion. Athletes and / or parents are expected to provide transportation for their athlete to and from tournament sites. Tournaments can last from one to four days. Teams will begin with pool play where they will then determine their ability to advance to an appropriate bracket. Most matches will be played on a two out of three game basis utilizing rally scoring. Expect to be at the tournament site for the entire day. Typically, but not always, most tournaments will be within a three hour drive of Springfield, Ohio. Seating is sparse at the sites. MEVC recommends that parents and athletes bring their own chairs. We also strongly recommend that your athlete pack nutritious food, homework, books, sleeping bags, pillows, etc., in order to efficiently utilize any downtime between matches. Hotel bookings will be the responsibility of the families participating in each individual tournament. MEVC is not responsible for making any travel arrangements.
Grievance Procedure Competitive team athletics, by its very nature, creates situations where everyone may not be happy all the time. Knowing when to communicate and how to communicate with your athlete s coach is a concern for almost every parent at some point in time during the season. Most often the concern is how to inquire about issues surrounding playing time. At MEVC, we encourage the athlete to take responsibility for her participation. For this reason we expect the athlete to speak with the coach first when she has a problem concerning her playing time, or if she is unclear about what the coach expects from her in either practices or tournaments. The appropriate way to accomplish this is for the athlete to ask the coach what she needs to do in order to improve her skills and to receive more opportunities for playing time in matches. Most of the time, the athlete knows why they may not be playing as much as other teammates when the parents may not. Parents can best assist their athlete by helping to her set achievable goals in order to earn more opportunities. If a coach is approached by a parent at any tournament, the coach has been instructed to refuse to discuss any matter at that point in time, walk away from the situation, and to refer the offending parent immediately to the club director. When a parent has a problem that is specific to their own athlete, not the status of another team member, the parent must first speak with the athlete s coach. Coaches have been instructed not to discuss team related coaching decisions with a parent. These team related coaching decisions include, but are not limited to specific match decisions, substitution patterns, etc. The coach will not be required to defend his / her thought process or conclusions in the determination of playing time, and it is improper for a parent to request it. If a parent has a valid concern that needs discussion with a coach, then that parent needs to call the coach to set an appropriate time for a meeting. Meetings are to be set at times and locations other than tournaments. If the matter remains unsolved, or if the parent has a reasonable concern that speaking with a coach will not resolve a matter, the parent may then make an appointment to meet with the club director. In certain situations, MEVC may require that the athlete also attend the meeting. All meetings will be previously prearranged and will not be open to discussion concerning coaching decisions. Please refrain from negative comments around your athlete or other athletes. Consider your words and the impact they may have on your athlete and the team. Repetitive complaining to the athlete(s), coaches, or other third parties that interfere with the efforts of MEVC to pursue its goals, will result in the dismissal of the athlete without refund.
Commitment to the Club The parents and athletes need to be committed to Midwest Elite Volleyball Club throughout the entire season. All athletes are expected to notify coaches during the first two weeks of practice of any potential conflicts that may occur during the season (ie ACT or SAT testing, scholastic winter or spring sports contests, family vacations, etc.); this will greatly assist the scheduling process. Also, any athlete who notifies a coach within three weeks of a tournament that she will not be able to attend may be subjected to the charge of the cost of the tournament for the team. Athletes are encouraged to take care of themselves physically and mentally to ensure they reach their potential performance level.