Mankato West Scarlet Volleyball Athlete Handbook PDF Free Download

Mankato West Scarlet Volleyball Athlete Handbook 2015

Coach Contact Information Sarah Kirby Head Coach sarahkirby2@yahoo.com (507) 380-5712 cell Don Nies Assistant Varsity Coach vbnies@charter.net (507) 351-2428 cell Kevin Kroeber JV Coach kkroeber@hickorytech.net (507) 420-3760 cell Becky Schemmel B-Squad Coach schem29@yahoo.com (507) 317-2511 cell Sydney Remus 9A/9B Coach sydney.remus@mnsu.edu (507) 227-5825 cell

Your West coaches love volleyball. They are committed to you as students, as athletes, and as young women. It is our goal to provide every opportunity for you to become as good as you want to be. More importantly, we strive to help you and your teammates become the best team possible. Team Philosophy The Mankato West Scarlet Volleyball philosophy for success is based upon consistency, teamwork, trust, and fun. Consistency We will be consistent in our teaching, coaching, and disciplining of all athletes in our program. Our goal is to begin to develop varsity athletes at the seventh grade level. Teamwork As a West volleyball player, you agree that the team is paramount. Your individual goals and your team s goals do not necessarily conflict, but when they do, you accept that decisions are made for the good of the team. You must maintain a positive attitude and support your teammates at all times. Anything less will not be tolerated. Trust You must trust your coaches and your teammates, and behave in a way that earns their respect. You must do everything reasonably necessary to make yourself and your team better. There is often more than one way to do things correctly. In some cases, however, your coaches will select a specific strategy for the benefit of the entire team, even if it may not seem to benefit a particular individual. You must trust in your coaches and be willing to make changes according to their suggestions. If a coach seems to be riding you, it is usually because they think you are capable of a higher level of performance. Fun We believe volleyball is the most fun sport in the world! You know you ve chosen the right sport if you simply can't wait to get back in the gym and absolutely love stepping on the court with your teammates every chance you get. Season Information Our regular season will run from Aug. 17 through the end of October. For away games and tournaments all athletes are expected to ride the bus to and from the location we play at. Possible risks volleyball s most common injury is a sprained ankle and we highly encourage ankle braces for those with weak ankles or who have had previous ankle injuries. There is always risk of more serious injuries but through proper training we will teach our athletes the safest way to compete in the sport of volleyball. Athletes will not be able to return to practice after an injury without a doctor note. Varsity stats will be updated weekly at a minimum, but will most often be available the morning after the match. These can be viewed at www.mshsl.org or www.maxpreps.com. Film of our Varsity and JV matches will also be available for the athletes to view through Hudl. Lettering Policy An athlete who plays in a minimum of 4 Varsity matches throughout the season will earn a letter. The coaching staff reserves the right to make special consideration for lettering under special circumstances.

Information Athletes are expected to attend EVERY practice. Only athletes are allowed at practice not friends, family, etc. Athletes should be dressed in appropriate practice attire knee pads, shorts, full t-shirts (not with the sides cut out) and hair should be pulled back. The only events that will be considered excused from practice will be school functions or a funeral. Please try to schedule appointments around practice time. August practices times vary and we tried to keep them as convenient as possible, but they do change so please look closely at the schedule included in this packet. Once the school year begins, JV, B and 9A/9B will practice Monday-Friday 3:15- with the exception of Wednesdays being done at 5:00pm. Once the school year begins, Varsity will practice Mondays-Fridays from 3:30-6:00pm. Athletes are expected to have nets set up and be ready to begin practice at 3:25pm. (shoes on, water filled, etc.) All practices will be held in West gym unless otherwise noted. We will practice Monday-Friday with the exception of no practice on Friday, September 4 th or Homecoming, Friday, Oct. 2. We WILL have practice on Labor Day. s will consist of 2 hours of on court volleyball training and 15-30 minutes of physical or mental training (conditioning, core, vertical, weight room or film/written material). Knowledge of the sport of volleyball will be taught to all athletes through verbal, written, and/or physical instruction through drills and discussion. Expectations Athlete Expectations 100% dedication. To follow all team rules and be respectful at all times. To be open to try new things and willing to take risks. To play volleyball and be on the team because you love the game and want to be here. Parent/Guardian Expectations Respect for all coaches and our role in teaching your children. Positive encouragement to your daughters and to the Volleyball program. Keep winning in perspective and help your daughter to do the same. Help your child meet her responsibilities to the team and the coach. Open communication with the coaches let us know of any medical, physical or emotional issues that may have an effect on performance or health. Remember in the stands that there is always someone s mom/dad/sister, etc. sitting within ear shot Remember everyone is trying to do their best and mistakes are bound to happen be respectful at all times. 24 Hour Rule If you are concerned about a volleyball-related issue that requires you to speak directly with a coach, we ask that you wait at least 24 hours after the triggering event. Cooler heads are inevitably more productive. We always enjoy chatting with parents at the conclusion of matches, but cannot address non-emergency issues at that time. We also cannot interrupt practice sessions. The following day any of the coaches will be more than willing to discuss any concerns. ALL parent discussions will include the athlete too. What You Can Expect From the Coaching Staff We will do everything in our power to keep your daughters safe every moment they are with us. We will be consistent in our teaching, coaching, and disciplining. We will be 100% dedicated from the beginning of the season until the very end. We will respect your child and you as their parent.

Team Rules Each player must buy into our system and be willing to fully commit to this team. Sportsmanship It is mandatory that at all times, parents, athletes, coaches, fans, etc. display good sportsmanship. Comments must be kept positive in the stands and it is important to remember that you are sitting among other parents, siblings, friends, family, etc. of another player/ref/coach - whether from our team or the opponents. A great quote worth thinking about... "There are four positions on an athletic field: spectator, referee, coach, and player. You get to choose one and only one."---bruce Bowen Communicating with coaches: o o o Parents can call/text/email team coach or head coach with questions about game times, bus times, practice schedules or any other issues related to being gone. All other volleyball related issues (playing time, etc.) are to be communicated directly between players and coach first. Follow the proper protocol when dealing with communication: 1. Athlete must talk with team coach first. 2. Parent(s) can schedule meeting with team coach AND athlete. 3. Parent(s) can schedule meeting with team coach, head coach, AND athlete. 4. Parent(s) can schedule meeting with team coach, head coach, AD, AND athlete. 5. Parent(s) can schedule meeting with team coach, head coach, AD, principle AND athlete. Avoid jumping to conclusions. Remember that emotions can cause a situation to be exaggerated and complicated issues like playing time are usually the product of many factors. Absences o Excused The only thing that will be considered excused from practice/game/tournament is a funeral or a school function. o Unexcused with notice Unexcused will be defined as a coach knowing ahead of time that an athlete will be gone (home sick, Dr. appt, drivers ed, etc.) The athlete, at the very minimum, will not START in the first set of the match. It could be more and that will be decided by the team coach. Athlete or a parent needs to call/text/email team coach if she will be gone. Telling a teammate to tell coach is not acceptable. o Unexcused without notice Not coming to a practice without telling your coach, leaving early for a football game, dance, etc. are considered skipping and is not just an unexcused absence. Skipping consequences are detailed in the discipline section of the handbook. o All disciplinary actions related to absences are at the discretion of the head coach. All day attendance The student-athlete needs to be in school the entire day to be eligible to practice or compete in a game. If there is an appointment sometime during the day, a doctor s note needs to go to the Athletic Office so they are aware. This note does not just go to the main office; it also needs to make Mr. Fell or Gail aware of your absence. Captains 9A/9B, B-Squad and JV will each have 2-3 captains and will be chosen by the team coach. Varsity captains will be announced for the following year at the awards banquet at end of season for the following year. Varsity captains will be chosen from current year captains and Varsity and Assistant Varsity coach.

A captain is chosen because of her on and off court work and team ethic. When an athlete is chosen to be a captain, that person is given an honor that must be held in great regard. The captain is an on and off court leader and should maintain being a good student, hard worker, and demonstrate positive social ethics at all times. Captain s Expectations and Responsibilities 1. Support your coaches and program by helping carry out goals, game plans, and rules. 2. Do not complain to the coaches, but discuss issues and concerns with respect to your coaches. 3. Be supportive to your team and be open to all teammate issues. Be a good listener! 4. Be willing to discuss issues on a mature level. 5. You must show bravery when disciplining teammates who do not follow team rules. 6. Keep team on track and focused at all times (during practices, locker room, pregame, etc.). 7. Include all teammates in activities on and off the court. 8. Lead by example Make Good Choices! 9. Help keep team spirit alive. i. Work on team unity 1. Inform coach of any trouble that may arise that might jeopardize the morale of the team. 2. Don t allow bullying or negative talk/gossip among teammates. ii. Invent team rousers (locker decorations, ribbons, etc.) iii. Rally team spirit during a game whether on the court or on the bench. Keep things iv. positive, loud and exciting. Your energy is contagious! Help coordinate team dinners make sure all teammates go and are grateful to the family who is hosting the dinner. 10. Get team to set up net on time (C, B & JV BY 3:25 during the school year) and begin warm up and stretches on time. 11. Lead on-court warm ups and keep the intensity high during pre-game warm ups. 12. Meet with the coach whenever necessary. 13. At games the captains will do the following i. Meet at net to be introduced to the opponent s captain and coach. You must get to the meeting quickly and be focused during the meeting. ii. Listen to any court rules or rule changes 1. Make sure all teammates are aware of the rules or rule changes. 2. Be aware of any obstructions or unusual situations related to the gym we are in. iii. Be ready to call the coin toss. Know ahead of time which captain will call the toss. iv. Choose side and/or serve/receive. Know ahead of time which your coach prefers (and why). v. Always remain respectful to officials no matter what the call and insist your teammates, coaches, and fans do the same. vi. Only the floor captain is allowed to talk with officials once the match begins. This may, or may not be, one of our team captains. 14. Contact all teammates if there are schedule changes, special events, etc. Know if your teammates do not get texts and make sure you get a hold of each teammate. 15. Organize parents night gifts ahead of schedule. 16. When your team is helping to coach Little Reds, help plan or assign a parent to be in charge of bringing in the team meal. 17. Make sure your entire team puts forth effort on the week your squad is in charge of quote. 18. Be proud of being a captain and never forget YOU ARE A LEADER!

Team Discipline/Consequences Each athlete is expected to maintain physical and mental focus on and off the court and make choices that would have a positive impact on one s self and her teammates. MAKE GOOD CHOICES Negative choices (skipping practice, negative attitude, disrespect towards coach, etc.) will be handled as follows First Offense o Second Offense o Athlete will sit out of one match and will not dress. She will still participate in all practices and be on the bench with the team during the match. No warning will be given. Athlete will sit out of one full week of the season. She will not be allowed to practice or dress for any matches/tournaments that occur during that week. She will be expected to sit on the side and watch practice and sit in the stands during the games. Third offense o Athlete will be removed from the team. Drugs/Alcohol/Academic Violations All violations will follow the MSHSL guidelines (2 games/2 weeks) and the use of illegal substances will not be tolerated within the Volleyball program. We truly believe that our athletes are students first and we expect them to make good choices in the classroom, on the court, and in our community. Determining Playing Time As a West volleyball player, it is expected that you maintain the same focus and enthusiasm whether you are between the lines or on the bench. You accept that playing time is decided by the coach for the good of the team in the circumstances of the moment. Lineup decisions are primarily the result of careful consideration about our own team s chemistry and our opponent s strengths and weaknesses. Playing time is earned by hard work, proven performance, and the ability to get the goal accomplished. Strong teams have strong benches. Parents and athletes should resist measuring their volleyball experience solely by the amount of time the athlete is on the court. We strive to inject in each player the love of the game and the importance to be strong and confident in herself and her team whether it is during the game or in the daily occurrences of life. 9A/9B Our goal is that every athlete will get some playing time during each match but there will not be equal playing time. We are teaching our athletes to be competitive while they are still learning and we want them to grow as individuals, but more importantly as a team. B-Squad We want our B-Squad athletes to have the desire to win as a team and progress to become a better team with each match. Our goal is to create varsity players. There will not be equal playing time. Playing time will be determined by positional needs, work ethic, and skill level. Every athlete may not play in every match. JV We are preparing our JV athletes to compete at the Varsity level and playing time will be based on the strongest combination of players being on the court. Every athlete may not play in every match. Varsity We play to win and we will make our decision on whom is on the court based on who we believe gives us the best opportunity to get the win. We expect the Varsity athletes to set a high standard for their younger fellow athletes on the bench and on the court. ALL playing time is subject to be terminated if an athlete chooses to break any of the team rules. Once you have made a squad, you will not be allowed to move to a lower level squad just because you are not getting playing time that was anticipated. You must earn playing time. Your previous team, level, experience, etc. makes no difference when it comes to this season. Your attitude, work ethic, and skill will determine your place on this team.

August 2015 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Capt. Outdoor? Capt. Outdoor? Capt. Outdoor? 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Capt. Capt. Capt. Capt. Capt. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 TRYOUTS 8 th /9 th Gr 9-11am 10-12 Gr 1-5pm PAC Meeting 7:00pm TRYOUTS 8 th /9 th Gr 9-11am 10-12 Gr 1-5pm Post teams 6pm V 9:30-Noon JV 3-6pm B,C 4-6pm ALL TEAMS Fundamentals 6-7:30pm V 9:30-Noon JV,B,C 4-6pm ALL TEAMS Defense 6-7:30pm Scrimmage 1-4pm V @ West B @ DM JV & C 8-10am 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Varsity quote week 30 31 JV quote week V 9am-12pm JV,B,C 4-6pm Positional Work 6-7:30pm Home vs. Maple River 9A @ 4:45pm B @ 6pm V @ 7:15pm Sand V & JV 9-11am B,C 4-6pm Positional Work 6-7:30pm Shakopee Scrimmage ALL Squads. Bus @ Team Pics 6:30pm? V 7-9:30pm JV,B,C 7-9pm V 9am-12pm JV,B,C 4-6pm ALL: 6-7:30pm TEAM LOCK IN 7:30pm-7:00am V 7:30-9:30am C,B, JV 4-6pm Sarah Kirby Mankato West High School ***Look closely at your team as practice times vary daily*** Head Volleyball Coach sarahkirby2@yahoo.com 507.380.5712 Follow us on Twitter West Volleyball.@MWVolleyball Coach Kirby...@scarletvball

No Excuses No Regrets - Stacy Sykora

September 2015 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 4 5 Away @ Winona Bus @ V 1-3:30pm JV,B,C 3-5pm Home vs. Hutch NO PRACTICE 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 B-Squad LABOR DAY quote week ALL TEAMS 6-8pm V @ DM 3:30-6 w/ 8 th grade 5pm Away @ Rochester JM Bus @ 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9A/9B Away @ Austin quote week V @ Garfield 3:30-6pm w/ 7 th grade 5pm Home vs. Northfield PARENT S NIGHT 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Varsity Home vs. quote week Owatonna Little Reds Varsity 6:15-7:30pm Away @ New Prague Bus @ 27 28 29 30 JV quote week Little Reds JV 6:15-7:30pm @ DMMS Away @ Rochester Century Bus @ 3:30pm 5pm 5pm JV Invite @ West 9am 9A/B athletes must work the tournament Varsity Invite @ MSU 9B Coon Rapids HS; Bus @ 9A Bloomington Kennedy Bus @ 6am JR HIGH TOURN Varsity Work Sarah Kirby Mankato West High School ***C/B Home Games played at Dakota Meadows at 6pm*** Head Volleyball Coach ***JV Home Games played at West at 6pm, Varsity to follow*** sarahkirby2@yahoo.com ***Look closely at Little Reds for which team, time, location*** 507.380.5712 Follow us on Twitter West Volleyball.@MWVolleyball Coach Kirby...@scarletvball

October 2015 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 Away @ Red Wing HOMECOMING NO PRACTICE 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 B-Squad quote week Little Reds B 6:15-7:30pm Home vs. Rochester Mayo 5pm Away @ Albert Lea Bus @ 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9A/9B Home vs. quote week Faribault TBD Little Reds 9A/B 6:15-7:30pm 5pm TBD *Survey Time NO school NO school 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Varsity quote week Home vs. LCWM Little Reds NIGHT 5pm Home vs. East SENIOR NIGHT 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Coaches Sections Sections quote week Varsity and JV Hopkins Tourn. Bus @ 6am B-Squad @ Bloomington Kennedy, Bus @ 6am B @ Maple River; Bus @ 7:30 9A & 9B @ East no bus Sarah Kirby Mankato West High School ***C/B Home Games played at Dakota Meadows at 6pm*** Head Volleyball Coach ***JV Home Games played at West at 6pm, Varsity to follow*** sarahkirby2@yahoo.com ***Look closely at Little Reds for which team, time, location*** 507.380.5712 Follow us on Twitter West Volleyball.@MWVolleyball Coach Kirby...@scarletvball ***NOV. 4 VB OPEN GYM 3:30-5pm***

JUNE 2015 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Open Gym @ West 3-5pm Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 VB KICK OFF 6:30-8pm Highland Park CANCEL IF RAIN Open Gym @ West 3-5pm Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Youth Camp 4 th -9 th Gr. 3:30-7:30pm Youth Camp 4 th -9 th Gr. 3:30-7:30pm Youth Camp 4 th -9 th Gr. 3:30-7:30pm Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am Youth Camp 4 th -9 th Gr. 3:30-7:30pm 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Open Gym @ West 3-5pm Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am 28 29 30 Open Gym @ West 3-5pm Sarah Kirby Mankato West High School Follow us on Twitter West Volleyball.@MWVolleyball Head Volleyball Coach Coach Kirby...@scarletvball sarahkirby2@yahoo.com 507.380.5712

JULY 2015 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 4 Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am BLACKOUT WEEK 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 BLACKOUT WEEK BLACKOUT WEEK BLACKOUT WEEK BLACKOUT WEEK BLACKOUT WEEK BLACKOUT WEEK 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am Open Gym @ West 3-5pm 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Open Gym @ West 3-5pm Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am 26 27 28 29 30 31 Open Gym TBD outdoor practice? Spring Lake Park Workout 9-10:30am TEAM SWIM DAY 1-3pm @ Bray Park Sarah Kirby Mankato West High School Follow us on Twitter West Volleyball.@MWVolleyball Head Volleyball Coach Coach Kirby...@scarletvball sarahkirby2@yahoo.com 507.380.5712

AUGUST 2015 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Capt. Outdoor??? Capt. Outdoor??? Capt. Outdoor??? 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Capt. @ West Capt. @ West Capt. @ West Capt. @ West Capt. @ West 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 TRYOUTS 8 th /9 th Gr 9-11am 10-12 Gr 1-5pm PAC MTG 7:00pm TRYOUTS 8 th /9 th Gr 9-11am 10-12 Gr 1-5pm Post teams 6pm West Varsity & B Scrimmage 1-4pm V @ West B @ DM 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Shakopee Scrimmage ALL Squads. TEAM LOCK-IN 30 31 Sarah Kirby Mankato West High School Follow us on Twitter West Volleyball.@MWVolleyball Head Volleyball Coach Coach Kirby...@scarletvball sarahkirby2@yahoo.com 507.380.5712

Volleyball Try-Out Criteria The West Scarlets are looking for dedicated student-athletes who take pride in their school and are willing to make a maximum effort in the classroom, community, and on the volleyball court. Wearing a Scarlet uniform is a privilege, one that carries both responsibilities and rewards. 2015 Volleyball try-outs are MONDAY, AUGUST 17 th and TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 th. Try-outs can be stressful for all those involved, but we strive to make it a learning experience. Each athlete has an equal opportunity to make the team beginning on day one. The number of cuts will occur based on the number of athletes who try out. For those student-athletes who may not wear a uniform, there are still opportunities for them to be part of the team such as team manager or to keep stats. Tryouts are also open to any 8 th grader who is interested. If an 8 th grader does not make a team at the high school level, she is still eligible to play on the 8 th grade team at Dakota Meadows. The following information is to help you come prepared on August 17 th to make the best impression on the coaching staff and helps outline how we will divide teams. The coaching staff will be looking for coachable athletes who have a great work ethic and want to learn to be better players and teammates. Prior volleyball experience or skills are helpful, but is not required. Prospective student-athletes will be tested and evaluated for their overall athletic ability and level of volleyball skill. Coaches will apply the following criteria (in this order): 1. ATHLETICISM/VOLLEYBALL SKILL: Players with the ability to learn and perform complex volleyball skills SKILL/COMPETITION EVALUATION: Prospective players will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of basic volleyball skills (passing, serving, hitting, setting, blocking, and defense) in competitive situations. Coaches will take note of athlete s basic skill level and those players who demonstrate progress while learning new skills. 2. ATTITUDE: Players who are positive, competitive, and eager to learn ATTITUDE EVALUATION: Prospective Scarlets should be willing to try hard, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and keep trying. Coaches will take note of those players who listen, follow directions, and ask questions when necessary. Coaches will also be looking for aggressive players who have the desire to win and become a better volleyball athlete. The Scarlet Volleyball program is looking for young women who believe that negative or selfish attitudes and drama have no place in our program. 3. POSITION: Players whose skills fit a specific need for the team s overall balance POSITION EVALUATION: As with most team sports, coaches will evaluate players for their ability and potential to fill specific positional needs (setter, hitter, libero, etc). All athletes are expected to be willing to learn more than just one position.

**********IMPORTANT TRYOUT INFORMAITON********** *ALL ATHLETES should come to tryouts in practice attire: tennis shoes, shorts (does not have to be spandex), knee pads, hair pulled back and a FULL t-shirt. No tank tops or t-shirts with the sides cut out will be accepted. They should attach with safety pins a piece of fabric with their FIRST NAME and LAST INITIAL written on it large to their lower back so all coaches are able to clearly read it. This name tag should be worn both days! *Athletes should come to tryouts well hydrated and stretched out. It will likely be very hot in the gym and we will be doing a lot of conditioning. Athletes can leave their water bottles in the back hallway by the fitness center or there are drinking fountains on both sides of the gym available. *At the conclusion of the Monday morning tryout, we may ask a couple athletes to attend the afternoon session also. This is so we can evaluate their skill level in comparison to the older athletes. This DOES NOT mean the athlete will make a B-Squad or higher team. If an 8 th or 9 th grader is asked to attend the afternoon session on Monday, she will ONLY attend the afternoon session on Tuesday and not both sessions on Tuesday. 2015 VOLLEYBALL Try-Out Schedule Monday, August 17 th 9:00-11:00am 1:00-5:00pm Tuesday, August 18 th 9:00-11:00am 1:00-5:00pm 6:00pm 8 th & 9 th Graders Skills Evaluation/Conditioning (*some athletes may be asked to attend the afternoon session also) 10 th -12 th Graders Skills Evaluation/Conditioning 8 th & 9 th Graders Skills Evaluation/Scrimmages/Final Assessments 10 th -12 th Graders Skills Evaluation/Scrimmages/Final Assessments TEAMS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE AT https://sites.google.com/a/isd77.k12.mn.us/activities-and-athletics/mankato-westvolleyball