1. Welcome to Rockford JO Volleyball October 25, 2015

2. What is JO Volleyball? JO Volleyball stands for Junior Olympic Volleyball. It is played by girls age 9 or 10 years through 18 years ….and now boys too! It is played during a school’s off season, and is often an extension of the school season. JO Volleyball takes over mid-November and our program concludes in March or April. JO Volleyball includes both play-dates and tournament play.

3. Our Website The official website for the Rockford Area Athletic Association (RAAA) and Rockford JO Volleyball is: www.rockfordball.com

4. RAAA Volleyball Board Director: Tracy Bremel Assistant Director: Kelley Reed Treasurer: Mary Beunger

5. North Country Region (NCR) Rockford JO Club Volleyball is registered with the North Country Region (NCR) Volleyball League. Our NCR registration provides our training (players and coaches), insurance and tournament opportunities. We may only attend NCR sponsored events to be covered by their insurance. NCR Members receive discounted tickets to MN Gopher Volleyball games. Most tickets are ONLY $5! For more information on this league, go to www.ncrusav.org. www.ncrusav.org

6. Team Sizes When at all possible, there will be a minimum number of 8 players per team and a maximum number of 12. In the case that additional players are needed to reach the 8 player minimum, a new player may be added to a roster at any time during the season. In order to avoid a forfeit at a play date or tournament, the coaches and director(s) may ask a player from one team to move up/over to another team for that particular date. Forfeiting an event can result in significant negative consequences to the team (or all Rockford JO teams), such as exclusion from future events.

7. Team Placement Players will be placed on a team based on their age and skill level, or may also be grouped by grade level. Younger players may play up in an older age group, but older players are not allowed to play down in a younger age group. Try-outs will be held the first week of December to help determine teams where necessary. Please watch for emails with more information.

8. Cost Girls: The players fee for the 2015-2016 season will be $150 for the 10’s team and $200 for all other girls teams 11’s through 18’s. Boys: The players fee for the 2015-2016 season will be $175. There will be a $100 uniform/volunteer deposit for all players (separate check required). Check will be returned at the end of the season when jersey is returned and if volunteer obligations have been fulfilled.

9. Additional Costs Additional costs during the season will include travel to and from practices and tournaments, lodging (if necessary), food & drinks during tournaments, and personal equipment such as clothes, shoes and knee pads. If the players choose to purchase additional clothing (such as sweatshirts or warm-ups), that will be optional and not required. Our apparel website will be open later in November.

10. Volunteer Expectations All players 11’s and up are asked to work 3 shifts of the Sunday Night Women’s Volleyball League. You will help to set up the nets, score flip and signal the serve, and put away the nets. * You may “Opt Out” by paying an additional $30 fee. Rockford Rumble: Each player and parent need to work at least one shift during our tournament (parents are exempt from working a shift if they are coaching during the tournament) Additional Volunteer shift required at one of the following: Rockford Rumble, NYAS Basketball Tournament, or Billy’s Bingo (adults only)

11. Practice Times & Location All practices will be held in the Rockford High School gym and/or the Rockford Community Center (enter through the Rockford Community Center ) or in the REAMS gym (enter through the bus entrance). Practices will be on Sunday afternoons: 1:00 – 3:00 pm 3:00 – 5:00 pm Tuesday evening practices will be scheduled once teams are determined. Additional practice times will be scheduled at the request of coaches and/or directors, depending upon court availability.

12. Practice Policies Attendance to practice is strongly recommended but not mandatory. Players are encouraged to attend even if you can’t make the entire time. Girls who attend practice regularly will likely receive more playing time during games. Play after an excused* absence at practice is up to the coach and will be determined on a case by case basis. (*Excused means you notified the coach ahead of time.) Parents do not need to be present during practice times, but are welcome to stay and watch. Please let your child’s coach know if you are available to assist at practice. Rockford Community Center members are welcome to use the facilities and practice on your own as time allows. Equipment is available upon request at the community center.

13. Officiating Training All players and coaches are required to take a FREE officiating training course yearly. This year there will be 2 options: – IN-PERSON which will focus on refing and line judging. – ONLINE through the NCR Website which will focus on keeping the books and score. Can be completed at any time before January 5, 2015. Each team will determine players that will be reffing and line judging and those that will be keeping score and books.

14. Heartland Playdates & Tournaments (Girls) Teams will participate in the Heartland Rox Playdates held on Sundays in either Monticello or Big Lake. 15s-18s teams may participate in the Heartland tournaments on those same dates in the same locations as the Playdates. Girls Teams (11s-14s) will participate in the Heartland Mid-Winter Classic. This is a Saturday tournament in either Onamia or Oglivie. The Heartland playdates are a morning OR afternoon schedule. The tournaments are a morning + afternoon schedule. Heartland does not charge admission to attend any of their events.

15. Other Tournaments The 10s-18s girls teams will participate in the Rockford Rumble tournament. The President’s Day Festival is an option for all of our girls teams (Saturday and Sunday). New this year is that 10s-14s will play February 13 and 14 and 15s-18s will play February 20 and 21 Our goal is to have our boys teams play in 2-3 playdates and/or tournaments.

16. Playing Time at Tournaments Rockford JO Volleyball will give NO guarantee of playing time for players on teams. We will offer fair playing time to each team player. Fair is not equal. We will play your daughter as much as possible taking into consideration skill level, competition, position, dedication, attitude, injury and illness. The coach will explain the reasons for reduced playing time to a player and attempt to give the player extra instruction in practice to help develop the skills in question. The player and only the player can discuss playing time with their coach during a tournament.

17. Parent Expectations at Tournaments Parents may not approach a coach to question their child’s playing time while at a tournament. Be a positive influence. Poor sportsmanship can get a team disqualified from further play, at that tournament as well as future events. The time to discuss playing time is at the practice following the tournament and should be between a player and a coach. We also ask that you understand that the directors are parents first and directors second. Please allow them the time to watch their child play unless it is an emergency situation.

18. Conflict Resolution Conflicts may arise between player and coach, parent and coach, or coach and coach. If this occurs, please follow these guidelines for conflict resolution: If there is conflict, direct communication between the two parties should be the first step in attempting to resolve the issue. Players are encouraged to address their concerns to the coach. Such discussion helps to develop the necessary life skill of dealing with conflicts directly, immediately, and in a supportive manner. If the problem is not resolved between the parties, the player and his/her parent should bring the problem to the attention of the coach. If the coach cannot resolve the issue to the player’s and parent’s satisfaction, the conflict should be brought to the attention of the Director(s). ALL communication should occur at a time when the two parties can calmly discuss the concerns, no sooner than after the 24 hour cooling off period.

19. Paperwork Please fill out the following paperwork: NCR Junior Girls or Boys Membership Form Letter of Commitment Medical Release Form Rockford JO Volleyball Registration Form

20. Payments Turn in the following payments with your paperwork: $100 check for uniform/volunteer deposit (will be returned when uniform is turned back in at end of season and volunteer expectations have been fulfilled) 10s Team - $150 11s-18s Girl’s Team - $200 ($230 if not officiating) All Boys Teams - $175 ($205 if not officiating)

21. Our Website The official website for the Rockford Area Athletic Association (RAAA) and Rockford JO Volleyball is: www.rockfordball.com