Minnesota Select Volleyball Club Parent Handbook
Minnesota Select Volleyball Club Parent Handbook
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Minnesota Select Communication Triangle Player
Parent
Coach
Any questions and concerns about this team should first be discussed between player and parent or player and coach. This is a great opportunity for the players to learn an important life skill - communication. We coaches are committed to creating a safe environment for open and honest communication within the team, but successful communication is a team effort. We ask that everyone do his or her part to ensure positive and effective communication throughout the season. Parents, the players know best what is happening on this team and are terrific resources if you want to learn more about the game of volleyball. We will also provide e-mail updates as to the team’s progress, upcoming events, and other important information. Players, your parents want to be a part of this experience, share with them. Help them to understand your role on this team, the game, and the important lessons you are learning in the gym. As coaches, we will work to make our expectations of the players very clear to them in practice and in matches. Furthermore, throughout the season we will have evaluations, followed by individual meetings. This handbook is also a very good resource regarding our expectations. Communication between coaches, players, and parents need not be limited to playing time and volleyball. If there are school or personal concerns that are affecting a player’s emotional wellbeing, thus her ability to perform, please share these concerns with us and with each other.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Coach-Parent Partnership Research is clear that when parents and teachers work together a child tends to do better in school. There is no reason to think that it is any different in youth sports. The following are some guidelines for how parents can contribute to a Coach-Parent Partnership that can help the athlete have the best possible experience. 1. Recognize the Commitment the Coach Has Made: For whatever reason, you have chosen not to help coach the team. The coach has made a commitment that involves many, many hours of preparation beyond the hours spent at practices and games. Recognize his/her commitment and the fact that s/he is not doing it because of the pay! Try to remember this whenever something goes awry during the season. 2. Make Early, Positive Contact with the Coach: As soon as you know who your child’s coach is going to be, contact him/her to introduce yourself and let him/her know you want to help your child have the best experience she can have this season. To the extent that you can do so, ask if there is any way you can help. By getting to know the coach early and establishing a positive relationship, it will be much easier to talk with him/her later if a problem arises. 3. Fill the Coach’s Emotional Tank: When the coach is doing something you like, let him/her know about it. Coaching is a difficult job and most coaches only hear from parents when they want to complain about something. This will help fill the coach’s emotional tank and contribute to his/her doing a better job. It also makes it easier to raise problems later when you have shown support for the good things s/he is doing. And just about every coach does a lot of things well. Take the time to look for them. 4. Don’t Put the Player in the Middle: Imagine a situation around the dinner table, in which a child’s parents complain in front of her about how poorly her math teacher is teaching fractions. How would this impact this student’s motivation to work hard to learn fractions? How would it affect her love of mathematics? While this may seem farfetched, when we move away from school to youth sports, it is all too common for parents to share their disapproval of a coach with their children. This puts a young athlete in a bind. Divided loyalties do not make it easy for a child to do her best. Conversely, when parents support a coach, it is that much easier for the child to put her wholehearted effort into learning to play well. If you think your child’s coach is not handling a situation well, do not tell that to the player. Rather, seek a meeting with the coach in which you can talk with him or her about it. 5. Don’t Give Instructions During a Game or Practice: You are not one of the coaches, so do not give your child instructions about how to play. It can be very confusing for a child to hear someone other than the coach yelling out instructions during a game. Getting to decide tactics, etc. is one of the privileges your daughter’s coach has earned by making the commitment to coach. 6. Fill Your Child’s Emotional Tank: Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to be there for your child. Competitive sports are stressful to players and the last thing they need is a critic at home. Be a cheerleader for your child. Focus on the positive things she is doing and leave the correcting of mistakes to the coach. Let her know you support her without reservation regardless of how well she plays. 7. Fill the Emotional Tanks of the Entire Team: Cheer for all of the players on the team. Tell each of them when you see them doing something well. 8. Encourage Other Parents to Honor the Game: Don’t show disrespect for the other team or the officials. But more than that, encourage other parents to also Honor the Game. If a parent of a player on your team begins to berate the official, gently say to them, "Hey, that’s not Honoring the Game. That’s not the way we do things here." Note: These guidelines are adapted from Positive Coaching: Building Character and Self-Esteem Through Sports by Jim Thompson, the founder and leader of the Positive Coaching Alliance. From: www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=208 Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Inappropriate Topics of Conversation between Parents and Coaches Playing time/Role on the Team – If your daughter is receiving playing time consistent with the Minnesota Select playing time policy, and your daughter has not discussed her playing time or her role on the team with her coach, it is inappropriate for you to do so. Before approaching the coach yourself, encourage your daughter to talk to her coach about what she can do to help the team and earn more court time or ask the coach to more clearly define her role on the team. If after this conversation, there are still concerns, at that time a conversation with the coach, parent, and player might be appropriate. Request a meeting with the coach. The coach must be told the topic of the meeting beforehand. The player must be present at the meeting unless there is a very good reason for her not to be. If this meeting is not productive, only at that time is it appropriate for Scott and Alyssa to attend a meeting with the parent, coach, and the player. Other people’s children – Your personal opinions of other player’s attitudes, skill, performance, or conduct is typically not an appropriate topic of conversation between parents and coaches, if those opinions are brought to the attention of the coaches in an effort to compare that player with your own child (and in an effort to influence a coaching decision regarding that player). That is not to say that parents can never bring concerns about other players to the coaches. When there is a genuine concern about team dynamics, if for example your daughter and another player are not speaking, and you think it important the coach know, that should be shared, but your opinion on the fault of each child in the dispute should not be shared. Or a chaperone must inform the coaches of any attitude or conduct concerns while on a trip. Or a parent can share information about any serious concerns about the health or well-being of another player, if it is genuinely in that player’s best interests that the coach know. Please use your best judgment here, and understand that if you cross a line, the coach will let you know immediately that this is an inappropriate topic of conversation.
Appropriate Topics of Conversation between Parents and Coaches Your child’s health – If there are any health or learning concerns you have about your child, please discuss those with the coach. Anything from her need to wear glasses, a learning disability, some stress that may be affecting her performance, or a serious injury or health condition, can and should be discussed with the coach. Your positive experiences with the club/team/coaches – We are always happy to have our buckets filled! Your constructive criticism – We provide opportunities for evaluations, and we encourage you to use this tool. If you have some suggestions for improving the club, the team, or our coaching, we do welcome your suggestions. Please provide us those suggestions in a timely and appropriate manner. If you wait until the end of the season to express your concerns, then you and your child have missed an opportunity to get the most out of this season. Before sharing your concerns with the coach, discuss them with your child. She may disagree or may have some information that may clarify why the coach is doing whatever you are concerned about. If you still have questions, need clarification, or have a suggestion, contact the coach. We all have the same goal—a successful Minnesota Select experience. Fun information about your child – We care about your kids, too. We want to get to know them on and off the court. Feel free to get to know us, and let us get to know you and your family. Your willingness to help out – If you are interested in chaperoning, taking photographs, providing a service for the team or the club, please speak up. We will put you to work! If something serious is wrong – Please tell us if something is wrong. Your child’s well-being is our #1 concern. If there is anything going on in the Minnesota Select community that is threatening that, we need to know IMMEDIATELY.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Empowering Conversations with Your Child When we think about what makes people friends with each other, a number of things come to mind. For example, our friends like us and enjoy spending time with us, as we enjoy them. And what is it we mostly do when we are together with our friends? Mostly we talk and listen to each other. Conversations are the glue between people, the essential element in a strong relationship. Relationships wither without communication, and the very best form of communication is the conversation. Many parents fall into the trap of thinking that it is their job to talk and their child's to listen. Actually that's only half-right. It is also our job to listen and the child's job to talk. It's a wonderful thing when a parent and child can really talk to and hear each other. It is important that parents intentionally seek out conversations about sports with their athletes. Here are some suggestions for how to engage your child in a conversation about sports. 1. Establish Your Goal—A Conversation Among Equals: A conversation is something between equals. Kings didn't have conversations with their subjects. They told them what to do. Prepare yourself for a conversation with your child by reminding yourself that sports is her thing, not yours. Remember that you want to support her, to let her know that you are on her side. Your goal is not to give advice on how to become a better athlete. It should be to engage your child in a conversation among equals, one of whom (you!) is on the side of the other (her!). 2. Adopt a Tell-Me-More Attitude: Brenda Ueland penned one of the most important essays on relationships ever written, Tell Me More: "When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life." Adopt the attitude that you want your child to tell-you-more ("I really want to hear what you have to say."), and then listen to what she has to say—even if you don't agree with it or like it—and you will begin to tap into what Ueland calls the "little creative fountain" in your child. "If you are very tired, strained…this little fountain is muddied over and covered with a lot of debris…it is when people really listen to us, with quiet fascinated attention, that the little fountain begins to work again, to accelerate in the most surprising way." Think of your conversation with your child as an Olympic event with judges. A conversation that rates a 9 or a 10 is one in which the child does more talking and the parent more listening. Set your goal before you start, and go for it. 3. Listen! In many instances you may know exactly what your child can do to improve. However, this is a conversation, remember? Your goal is to get your child to talk about her sports experience, so ask rather than tell. Save your tellings for another time. 4. Use Open-Ended Questions: Some questions lend themselves to one-word responses. "How was school today?" "Fine." Your goal is to get your child to talk at length, so ask questions that will tend to elicit longer, more thoughtful responses. o "What was the most enjoyable part of today's practice/game?" o "What worked well?" o "What didn't turn out so well?" o "What did you learn that can help you in the future?" o "Any thoughts on what you'd like to work on before the next game?" 5. Also ask about life-lesson and character issues: "Any thoughts on what you've learned in practice this week that might help you with other parts of your life?" Even if you saw the entire game, the goal is to get your child to talk about the game the way she saw it, not for you to tell her what she could have done better.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
6. Show You Are Listening: Make it obvious to your child that you are paying attention through use of nonverbal actions such as making eye contact as she talks, nodding your head and making "listening noises" ("uh-huh," "hmmm," "interesting," etc.). Listening is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child! Ueland again: "Who are the people, for example, to whom you go for advice? Not to the hard, practical ones who can tell you exactly what to do, but to the listeners; that is, the kindest, least censorious, least bossy people that you know. It is because by pouring out your problem to them, you then know what to do about it yourself." 7. Let Your Child Set the Terms: William Pollack, MD, author of Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood, notes that children have different "emotional schedules" that determine when they are ready to talk about an experience. Forcing a conversation right after a competition (when there may be a lot of emotion) is often less successful than waiting until the child gives an indication that he is ready to talk. Boys may take longer than girls to talk about an experience, so look for prompts that a child is ready. And conversations don't have to be lengthy to be effective. If your child wants a brief discussion, defer to her wishes. If she feels like every discussion about sports is going to be long, she'll likely begin to avoid them. And don't be afraid of silence. Stick with it and your child will open up to you. 8. Connect through activity: Sometimes the best way to spark a conversation is through an activity that your child enjoys. Playing a board game or putting a puzzle together can allow space for a child to volunteer thoughts and feelings about the game and how she performed. This is especially important for boys, who often resist a direct adult-style of conversation. 9. Enjoy: The most important reason why you should listen to your child with a tell-me-more attitude: Because then she will want to talk to you, and as she (and you) get older, you will find there is no greater gift than a child who enjoys conversations with you. From: www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=209
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Are You a Bad Sport? 1. How important is it to you that your child’s team win any particular game? A. Very important B. Not important 2. How important is it to you that your child avoid playing poorly? A. Very important B. Not important 3. Say you have invested a significant amount of time and money into your child’s sport – how likely are you to make sure she plays regardless of disappointing you with poor behavior off the field, such as failing grades, disrespectful attitudes, etc.? A. Likely B. Not likely 4. Are you likely to insist that your child play even if she complains on several (more than a few) occasions of injury, tiredness or not having fun? A. Likely B. Not likely 5. At a typical game or practice, how likely is it that you will find yourself talking angrily about or getting upset at or with coaches, parents or players? A. Likely B. Not likely 6. At a typical game, do you find yourself frequently disliking the coaches, players or parents of the other team? A. Likely B. Not likely 7. Are you more likely to root for your child when she wins, as opposed to expending a high level of effort? A. Likely B. Not likely 8. How likely are you to blame your child when her team loses? A. Likely B. Not likely 9. Do you find yourself frequently “sticking up” for your child for play that occurred on the court by taking these incidents up with other parents, coaches or players? A. Frequently B. Not frequently 10. How likely are you to be upset if your child plays horribly, while having a good time? A. Frequently B. Not frequently "If you selected the A answer to 5 or more of these questions, you should be seriously concerned about your sideline behavior,” says sports psychologist Dan Wann, co-author of Sports Fans: the Psychiatry and Social Impact of Spectators, who helped generate this quiz. Wann, who used the principles he identified during his own scientific research (subjected to peer review and publication), says that these questions are aimed at the root of unsportsmanlike behavior. From: www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=3922
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Red Flags that indicate parents are having a negative impact on their kids enjoyment of sports: •
They are overly concerned about the outcome of the competition.
•
They spend a lot of time talking to the coach about skill levels, how the coach conducts training, etc. (i.e., trying to coach through the coach).
•
Their child asks them not to attend competitions or practices.
•
If they frequently require their child to attend extra practices or do extra training outside of that which is scheduled for the team.
•
They are giving their child instructions about how to play the game when they are not the team’s coach.
•
They spend a lot of time talking negatively to their child or others about how the coaches and/or the players are conducting themselves.
Parents can appropriately help their children by encouraging them to focus on improving their own performance goals (rather than winning per se) and by emphasizing fun and skill development. And most of all, try to keep the sport in perspective: remember, it is children’s experience of the sport that matters, no matter what their parents’ hopes and dreams are. Modified from: www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=3699
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Guidelines for Honoring the Game The key to preventing adult misbehavior in youth sports is a youth sports culture in which all involved "Honor the Game." Honoring the Game gets to the ROOTS of the matter and involves respect for the Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and one's Self. You don't bend the rules to win. You understand that a worthy opponent is a gift that forces you to play to your highest potential. You show respect for officials even when you disagree. You refuse to do anything that embarrasses your team. You live up to your own standards even if others don't. Here are ways that parents can create a positive youth sports culture so that children will have fun and learn positive character traits to last a lifetime. Before the Game: 1. Make a commitment to Honor the Game in action and language no matter what others may do. 2. Tell your child before each game that you are proud of him or her regardless of how well he or she plays. During the Game: 1. Fill your children's "Emotional Tank" through praise and positive recognition so she can play her very best. 2. Don't give instructions to your child during the game. Let the coach correct player mistakes. 3. Cheer good plays by both teams (this is advanced behavior!) 4. Mention good calls by the official to other parents. 5. If an official makes a "bad" call against your team? Honor the Game—BE SILENT! 6. If another parent on your team yells at an official? Gently remind him or her to Honor the Game. 7. Don't do anything in the heat of the moment that you will regret after the game. Ask yourself, "Will this embarrass my child or the team?" 8. Remember to have fun! Enjoy the game. After the Game: 1. Thank the officials for doing a difficult job for little or no pay. 2. Thank the coaches for their commitment and effort. 3. Don't give advice. Instead ask your child what he or she thought about the game and then LISTEN. Listening fills Emotional Tanks. 4. Tell your child again that you are proud of her, whether the team won or lost.
From: www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=153
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Ten Commandments for Minnesota Select Parents 1. Thou shall be sure that your child knows that--win or lose, scared or heroic--you love her, appreciate her efforts, and that you are not disappointed in her. 2. Thou shall try your best to be completely honest about your child's athletic capability, her competitive attitude, her sportsmanship--and her actual skill level. 3. Thou shall be helpful--but don't coach her on the way to the gym--or on the way back home. 4. Thou shall teach your child to enjoy competition for competition's sake, remembering that there are lessons to be learned in winning as well as in losing. 5. Harken `O parents: Try not to relive your athletic life through your child--or try to create an athletic career to replace the one that you never had. 6. Thou shall not compete with the coach—divided loyalties do not make it easy for a child to do her best. You will confuse your child if you are trying to coach her and your advice is different from that of her coach. 7. Thou shall not compare the skill, courage or attitudes of your child with that of other members of her team--at least not in her hearing or the hearing of other parents or the coaches. 8. Thou shall get to know the coach so that you can be sure that his\her philosophy, attitudes, ethics, and knowledge are such that you are happy to expose your child to him\her. 9. Always remember that children tend to exaggerate, both when praised and when criticized. Temper your reactions when they bring home tales of woe--or tales of heroics. 10. Thou shall make a point of understanding courage and the fact that it is relative. Some of us climb mountains but fear flight-- some of us will want to fight but turn to jelly if a spider crawls nearby. A child must learn: courage is not absence of fear, but rather doing something in spite of fear.
Modified from: www.appleseeds.org/10-sport.htm
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Minnesota Select Parent Code of Conduct Preamble: The essential elements of character-building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these "six pillars of character." I therefore agree: 1. I will not force my child to participate in sports. 2. I will remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, not adults. 3. I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others. 4. I will learn the rules of the game and the policies of Minnesota Select and USA Volleyball Junior Olympics. 5. I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice or other sporting event. 6. I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting; refusing to shake hands; or using profane language or gestures. 7. I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and wellbeing of the athletes. 8. I will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence. 9. I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability. 10. I will teach my child that doing one's best is more important than winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game or her performance. 11. I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner every time. 12. I will never ridicule or yell at my child or another participant for making a mistake or losing a competition. 13. I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over winning. I will also deemphasize games and competition in the lower age groups. 14. I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I may have for my child to win. 15. I will respect the officials and their authority during games. 16. I will never question, discuss, or confront coaches during practice, during a match, or during a tournament, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place. 17. I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all sports events. 18. I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team. 19. I will not compare the skill, courage or attitude of my child with that of other players within the hearing of my child. Nor will I discuss other players with the coaches or with other parents. 20. I will adhere to the principles of the Minnesota Select Communication Triangle by encouraging my child to talk to her coach about any concerns she may have and empowering my child to tell-me-more about her experience at Minnesota Select. 21. I will honor the game and encourage other parents to do the same. Parent/Guardian Signature _____________________________________________________________ Modified from Massachusetts’ Sports Parent Code of Conduct, available at: www.nyssf.org/sportparentcodeofconduct.html.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Playing Time Policy All Minnesota Select teams are to some degree developmental teams. That is, we exist to help provide opportunities for the personal and athletic development of our members. Minnesota Select recognizes that participation in competition is a critical part of each player’s development. Moreover, we believe that taking part in spirited, pressure-packed competition is perhaps one of sport’s greatest training tools. We also believe our coaching staff shares the responsibility to develop an on-court role for each player that lends to the competitive success of the team. We will work tirelessly to insure all Minnesota Select players and teams are their best through developing and utilizing all of their talents. Of course, the nature of sport and volleyball in particular dictates that not all players get equal playing time. Some players may play more than other players may simply because of the positions they each play. Coaches must weigh a myriad of items when deciding playing time. For instance, coaches must consider such issues as a player’s adherence to attendance and other policies, keep in mind any trends currently operating within the team, and evaluate how the team personnel might match up best versus that of the opponent. All players can expect to have a significant on-court role every team event so long as they abide by all club and team rules. Moreover, it is our goal that all players have some on-court role every match. Possible exception: In regional and national qualifying events in which Minnesota Select teams are attempting to secure a bid to the USA J.O. Volleyball Championships and at the USA J.O. Volleyball Championships, all players may not play while the team remains in contention for a bid or for a national championship. Players (and their families) are asked to be understanding of this or other minor/rare deviations from these playing time distribution objectives.
Missing Practices At Minnesota Select we recognize players have important commitments to family and school. If at all possible, however, taking care of these commitments should not happen at the expense of volleyball. Players will be excused for those family- and school-related events whose scheduling they cannot influence (such as concerts and games). Players will not be excused for events whose scheduling they can influence (such as homework, study groups, and private lessons). Players are expected to do their best with time management and scheduling, and make it a priority to attend all team practices. If a player is unable to attend a team practice, she must inform the coaches in writing (if it is more than a day in advance) or via the phone as soon as she knows about the conflict. This is the responsibility of the player, not the parent.
School Sports and Activities Other sports and activities are a vital and important part of the high school experience. They make for a wellrounded student and athlete. There will be conflicts; that is to be expected. It is important to communicate early and often in an open and honest fashion with the MN Select staff and your school coaches and directors. Your teammates, classmates, coaches, and directors deserve that level of respect. Therefore, each player is required to provide the coaches with a schedule at the beginning of the club season including a list of all competitions and events that will conflict with any practices or tournaments. As events arise during the season, players are expected to bring in a list of all potential conflicts once they know of the potential conflict (things like prom, DECA, National Honor Society, ACT, SAT, etc.). Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
General Travel Information Minnesota Select reserves hotel rooms and transportation (buses for Omaha, Indy and Milwaukee and plane tickets for Dallas) for all players, coaches and chaperones. Note: Families will need to provide transportation to events in Rochester and Wisconsin Dells. Families who plan to attend travel events must make their own arrangements. Some hotels do offer to set aside a “Parent Room Block”. This is noted on the travel information page for each event. The travel information is posted on each team’s webpage on the MN Select website. Click on “travel info” listed after the tournament name on your team’s page. When traveling, each team must have a designated chaperone. Team coaches and club directors must know the name of the chaperone(s) as soon as possible. MN Select reserves one room for the team chaperone. If additional rooms are wanted, parents must make the reservation. Chaperones are asked to help with the team as volunteers. MN Select does not have funds budgeted to compensate chaperones.
Travel Policies 1. Participants will room together as assigned by their team coach(es). Staying together provides a unique opportunity for participants to develop closer friendships. Friends, siblings, etc. are not permitted to share accommodations with participants as this may hamper this opportunity. 2. Participants should never be alone. Use the buddy system. 3. Participants must inform their coach before going anywhere. It’s important that you communicate with your coach as he or she is responsible to tournament personnel to have the team present when it is time to compete. If a team’s coach is unavailable, participants should then inform the chaperone. 4. Always wear shoes or sandals in public areas to protect your feet. 5. Though your hotel is your temporary home, it is also the temporary home of many others. You must respect the needs of others by keeping your voice down throughout the hotel. This is especially important in the halls and within your room. 6. Any communication with boys you do not know is prohibited while traveling with MN Select. In addition, no boys are allowed in your hotel room at any point, for any reason. 7. Participants must remain within the hotel at all times. If you are not in your room or a teammate’s room, you must inform your coach of your whereabouts. If your coach is unavailable, inform the chaperone. 8. Participants must obey ‘in your room’ and ‘lights out’ times. ‘In your room’ means you are in your own room preparing for bed. ‘Lights out’ means you are in bed asleep or trying to fall asleep. 9. Upon checkout, leave the room in respectable condition. 10. Of course, the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco and other chemicals is prohibited. Any participant found in possession of or using alcohol, tobacco and other chemicals faces severe consequences. 11. Players are not to drive themselves or other participants to events when an overnight stay is required. Remember you are representing yourself, your family, and Minnesota Select VBC at all times.
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Chaperone Expectations The chaperone position is offered to an adult female (usually a mom) who can fulfill the necessary tasks. She must be organized, a good communicator, and willing to do the assigned tasks. She must maintain the participants’ respect throughout the trip. Chaperones are an extension of the team’s coach(es) and Minnesota Select. 1. Assist the team coach(es) in enforcing all Minnesota Select travel policies. 2. Be aware of travel plans. This may include car pooling arrangements, departure and expected arrival times and places, hotel arrangements, etc. for all participants and the coach(es). 3. Shop for food and other special needs. Communicate with participants in advance regarding what healthy foods they may like during tournament breaks. Collect money from team members for these items as needed. Note: Provide or borrow a large cooler to store perishable items at tournament site. 4. Have a copy of the tournament schedule and understand how to read it. 5. Assist with team check-in at hotel. Assure that the hotel knows in what room each participant, the coach(es) and yourself are staying in case a parent not attending needs to reach his or her daughter. 6. Enforce ‘In your room’ and ‘Lights out’ times. 7. Assure all participants wake-up on time. 8. Launder team uniforms as needed, but no personal items. 9. Upon checkout, verify that participants have left their room in respectable condition. 10. Confirm return travel arrangements (verify car pooling arrangements) and be certain that participants have notified parents of any changes. 11. Be able to drive and carry auto liability insurance. If team travel includes air travel… 1. Hold all participants’ airline tickets. 2. Confirm return travel arrangements (i.e. that the flight status is unchanged and that all participants have a ride home from the airport) and be certain that participants have notified parents of any changes. 3. Upon return, stay with participants at the airport until all participants’ rides arrive. First and foremost, chaperones are expected to help provide a safe environment for team members while away from home. They also help in establishing an environment whereby the team can perform and compete at its highest level. They provide an important, valued service. MN Select has reserved chaperones hotel rooms with the coaches and players. Once chaperones check-in to the hotel, it is their responsibility to arrange payment of their room(s) with the hotel staff.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Minnesota Select Communication Triangle Player
Parent
Coach
Any questions and concerns about this team should first be discussed between player and parent or player and coach. This is a great opportunity for the players to learn an important life skill - communication. We coaches are committed to creating a safe environment for open and honest communication within the team, but successful communication is a team effort. We ask that everyone do his or her part to ensure positive and effective communication throughout the season. Parents, the players know best what is happening on this team and are terrific resources if you want to learn more about the game of volleyball. We will also provide e-mail updates as to the team’s progress, upcoming events, and other important information. Players, your parents want to be a part of this experience, share with them. Help them to understand your role on this team, the game, and the important lessons you are learning in the gym. As coaches, we will work to make our expectations of the players very clear to them in practice and in matches. Furthermore, throughout the season we will have evaluations, followed by individual meetings. This handbook is also a very good resource regarding our expectations. Communication between coaches, players, and parents need not be limited to playing time and volleyball. If there are school or personal concerns that are affecting a player’s emotional wellbeing, thus her ability to perform, please share these concerns with us and with each other.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Coach-Parent Partnership Research is clear that when parents and teachers work together a child tends to do better in school. There is no reason to think that it is any different in youth sports. The following are some guidelines for how parents can contribute to a Coach-Parent Partnership that can help the athlete have the best possible experience. 1. Recognize the Commitment the Coach Has Made: For whatever reason, you have chosen not to help coach the team. The coach has made a commitment that involves many, many hours of preparation beyond the hours spent at practices and games. Recognize his/her commitment and the fact that s/he is not doing it because of the pay! Try to remember this whenever something goes awry during the season. 2. Make Early, Positive Contact with the Coach: As soon as you know who your child’s coach is going to be, contact him/her to introduce yourself and let him/her know you want to help your child have the best experience she can have this season. To the extent that you can do so, ask if there is any way you can help. By getting to know the coach early and establishing a positive relationship, it will be much easier to talk with him/her later if a problem arises. 3. Fill the Coach’s Emotional Tank: When the coach is doing something you like, let him/her know about it. Coaching is a difficult job and most coaches only hear from parents when they want to complain about something. This will help fill the coach’s emotional tank and contribute to his/her doing a better job. It also makes it easier to raise problems later when you have shown support for the good things s/he is doing. And just about every coach does a lot of things well. Take the time to look for them. 4. Don’t Put the Player in the Middle: Imagine a situation around the dinner table, in which a child’s parents complain in front of her about how poorly her math teacher is teaching fractions. How would this impact this student’s motivation to work hard to learn fractions? How would it affect her love of mathematics? While this may seem farfetched, when we move away from school to youth sports, it is all too common for parents to share their disapproval of a coach with their children. This puts a young athlete in a bind. Divided loyalties do not make it easy for a child to do her best. Conversely, when parents support a coach, it is that much easier for the child to put her wholehearted effort into learning to play well. If you think your child’s coach is not handling a situation well, do not tell that to the player. Rather, seek a meeting with the coach in which you can talk with him or her about it. 5. Don’t Give Instructions During a Game or Practice: You are not one of the coaches, so do not give your child instructions about how to play. It can be very confusing for a child to hear someone other than the coach yelling out instructions during a game. Getting to decide tactics, etc. is one of the privileges your daughter’s coach has earned by making the commitment to coach. 6. Fill Your Child’s Emotional Tank: Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to be there for your child. Competitive sports are stressful to players and the last thing they need is a critic at home. Be a cheerleader for your child. Focus on the positive things she is doing and leave the correcting of mistakes to the coach. Let her know you support her without reservation regardless of how well she plays. 7. Fill the Emotional Tanks of the Entire Team: Cheer for all of the players on the team. Tell each of them when you see them doing something well. 8. Encourage Other Parents to Honor the Game: Don’t show disrespect for the other team or the officials. But more than that, encourage other parents to also Honor the Game. If a parent of a player on your team begins to berate the official, gently say to them, "Hey, that’s not Honoring the Game. That’s not the way we do things here." Note: These guidelines are adapted from Positive Coaching: Building Character and Self-Esteem Through Sports by Jim Thompson, the founder and leader of the Positive Coaching Alliance. From: www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=208 Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Inappropriate Topics of Conversation between Parents and Coaches Playing time/Role on the Team – If your daughter is receiving playing time consistent with the Minnesota Select playing time policy, and your daughter has not discussed her playing time or her role on the team with her coach, it is inappropriate for you to do so. Before approaching the coach yourself, encourage your daughter to talk to her coach about what she can do to help the team and earn more court time or ask the coach to more clearly define her role on the team. If after this conversation, there are still concerns, at that time a conversation with the coach, parent, and player might be appropriate. Request a meeting with the coach. The coach must be told the topic of the meeting beforehand. The player must be present at the meeting unless there is a very good reason for her not to be. If this meeting is not productive, only at that time is it appropriate for Scott and Alyssa to attend a meeting with the parent, coach, and the player. Other people’s children – Your personal opinions of other player’s attitudes, skill, performance, or conduct is typically not an appropriate topic of conversation between parents and coaches, if those opinions are brought to the attention of the coaches in an effort to compare that player with your own child (and in an effort to influence a coaching decision regarding that player). That is not to say that parents can never bring concerns about other players to the coaches. When there is a genuine concern about team dynamics, if for example your daughter and another player are not speaking, and you think it important the coach know, that should be shared, but your opinion on the fault of each child in the dispute should not be shared. Or a chaperone must inform the coaches of any attitude or conduct concerns while on a trip. Or a parent can share information about any serious concerns about the health or well-being of another player, if it is genuinely in that player’s best interests that the coach know. Please use your best judgment here, and understand that if you cross a line, the coach will let you know immediately that this is an inappropriate topic of conversation.
Appropriate Topics of Conversation between Parents and Coaches Your child’s health – If there are any health or learning concerns you have about your child, please discuss those with the coach. Anything from her need to wear glasses, a learning disability, some stress that may be affecting her performance, or a serious injury or health condition, can and should be discussed with the coach. Your positive experiences with the club/team/coaches – We are always happy to have our buckets filled! Your constructive criticism – We provide opportunities for evaluations, and we encourage you to use this tool. If you have some suggestions for improving the club, the team, or our coaching, we do welcome your suggestions. Please provide us those suggestions in a timely and appropriate manner. If you wait until the end of the season to express your concerns, then you and your child have missed an opportunity to get the most out of this season. Before sharing your concerns with the coach, discuss them with your child. She may disagree or may have some information that may clarify why the coach is doing whatever you are concerned about. If you still have questions, need clarification, or have a suggestion, contact the coach. We all have the same goal—a successful Minnesota Select experience. Fun information about your child – We care about your kids, too. We want to get to know them on and off the court. Feel free to get to know us, and let us get to know you and your family. Your willingness to help out – If you are interested in chaperoning, taking photographs, providing a service for the team or the club, please speak up. We will put you to work! If something serious is wrong – Please tell us if something is wrong. Your child’s well-being is our #1 concern. If there is anything going on in the Minnesota Select community that is threatening that, we need to know IMMEDIATELY.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Empowering Conversations with Your Child When we think about what makes people friends with each other, a number of things come to mind. For example, our friends like us and enjoy spending time with us, as we enjoy them. And what is it we mostly do when we are together with our friends? Mostly we talk and listen to each other. Conversations are the glue between people, the essential element in a strong relationship. Relationships wither without communication, and the very best form of communication is the conversation. Many parents fall into the trap of thinking that it is their job to talk and their child's to listen. Actually that's only half-right. It is also our job to listen and the child's job to talk. It's a wonderful thing when a parent and child can really talk to and hear each other. It is important that parents intentionally seek out conversations about sports with their athletes. Here are some suggestions for how to engage your child in a conversation about sports. 1. Establish Your Goal—A Conversation Among Equals: A conversation is something between equals. Kings didn't have conversations with their subjects. They told them what to do. Prepare yourself for a conversation with your child by reminding yourself that sports is her thing, not yours. Remember that you want to support her, to let her know that you are on her side. Your goal is not to give advice on how to become a better athlete. It should be to engage your child in a conversation among equals, one of whom (you!) is on the side of the other (her!). 2. Adopt a Tell-Me-More Attitude: Brenda Ueland penned one of the most important essays on relationships ever written, Tell Me More: "When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life." Adopt the attitude that you want your child to tell-you-more ("I really want to hear what you have to say."), and then listen to what she has to say—even if you don't agree with it or like it—and you will begin to tap into what Ueland calls the "little creative fountain" in your child. "If you are very tired, strained…this little fountain is muddied over and covered with a lot of debris…it is when people really listen to us, with quiet fascinated attention, that the little fountain begins to work again, to accelerate in the most surprising way." Think of your conversation with your child as an Olympic event with judges. A conversation that rates a 9 or a 10 is one in which the child does more talking and the parent more listening. Set your goal before you start, and go for it. 3. Listen! In many instances you may know exactly what your child can do to improve. However, this is a conversation, remember? Your goal is to get your child to talk about her sports experience, so ask rather than tell. Save your tellings for another time. 4. Use Open-Ended Questions: Some questions lend themselves to one-word responses. "How was school today?" "Fine." Your goal is to get your child to talk at length, so ask questions that will tend to elicit longer, more thoughtful responses. o "What was the most enjoyable part of today's practice/game?" o "What worked well?" o "What didn't turn out so well?" o "What did you learn that can help you in the future?" o "Any thoughts on what you'd like to work on before the next game?" 5. Also ask about life-lesson and character issues: "Any thoughts on what you've learned in practice this week that might help you with other parts of your life?" Even if you saw the entire game, the goal is to get your child to talk about the game the way she saw it, not for you to tell her what she could have done better.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
6. Show You Are Listening: Make it obvious to your child that you are paying attention through use of nonverbal actions such as making eye contact as she talks, nodding your head and making "listening noises" ("uh-huh," "hmmm," "interesting," etc.). Listening is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child! Ueland again: "Who are the people, for example, to whom you go for advice? Not to the hard, practical ones who can tell you exactly what to do, but to the listeners; that is, the kindest, least censorious, least bossy people that you know. It is because by pouring out your problem to them, you then know what to do about it yourself." 7. Let Your Child Set the Terms: William Pollack, MD, author of Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood, notes that children have different "emotional schedules" that determine when they are ready to talk about an experience. Forcing a conversation right after a competition (when there may be a lot of emotion) is often less successful than waiting until the child gives an indication that he is ready to talk. Boys may take longer than girls to talk about an experience, so look for prompts that a child is ready. And conversations don't have to be lengthy to be effective. If your child wants a brief discussion, defer to her wishes. If she feels like every discussion about sports is going to be long, she'll likely begin to avoid them. And don't be afraid of silence. Stick with it and your child will open up to you. 8. Connect through activity: Sometimes the best way to spark a conversation is through an activity that your child enjoys. Playing a board game or putting a puzzle together can allow space for a child to volunteer thoughts and feelings about the game and how she performed. This is especially important for boys, who often resist a direct adult-style of conversation. 9. Enjoy: The most important reason why you should listen to your child with a tell-me-more attitude: Because then she will want to talk to you, and as she (and you) get older, you will find there is no greater gift than a child who enjoys conversations with you. From: www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=209
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Are You a Bad Sport? 1. How important is it to you that your child’s team win any particular game? A. Very important B. Not important 2. How important is it to you that your child avoid playing poorly? A. Very important B. Not important 3. Say you have invested a significant amount of time and money into your child’s sport – how likely are you to make sure she plays regardless of disappointing you with poor behavior off the field, such as failing grades, disrespectful attitudes, etc.? A. Likely B. Not likely 4. Are you likely to insist that your child play even if she complains on several (more than a few) occasions of injury, tiredness or not having fun? A. Likely B. Not likely 5. At a typical game or practice, how likely is it that you will find yourself talking angrily about or getting upset at or with coaches, parents or players? A. Likely B. Not likely 6. At a typical game, do you find yourself frequently disliking the coaches, players or parents of the other team? A. Likely B. Not likely 7. Are you more likely to root for your child when she wins, as opposed to expending a high level of effort? A. Likely B. Not likely 8. How likely are you to blame your child when her team loses? A. Likely B. Not likely 9. Do you find yourself frequently “sticking up” for your child for play that occurred on the court by taking these incidents up with other parents, coaches or players? A. Frequently B. Not frequently 10. How likely are you to be upset if your child plays horribly, while having a good time? A. Frequently B. Not frequently "If you selected the A answer to 5 or more of these questions, you should be seriously concerned about your sideline behavior,” says sports psychologist Dan Wann, co-author of Sports Fans: the Psychiatry and Social Impact of Spectators, who helped generate this quiz. Wann, who used the principles he identified during his own scientific research (subjected to peer review and publication), says that these questions are aimed at the root of unsportsmanlike behavior. From: www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=3922
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Red Flags that indicate parents are having a negative impact on their kids enjoyment of sports: •
They are overly concerned about the outcome of the competition.
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They spend a lot of time talking to the coach about skill levels, how the coach conducts training, etc. (i.e., trying to coach through the coach).
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Their child asks them not to attend competitions or practices.
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If they frequently require their child to attend extra practices or do extra training outside of that which is scheduled for the team.
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They are giving their child instructions about how to play the game when they are not the team’s coach.
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They spend a lot of time talking negatively to their child or others about how the coaches and/or the players are conducting themselves.
Parents can appropriately help their children by encouraging them to focus on improving their own performance goals (rather than winning per se) and by emphasizing fun and skill development. And most of all, try to keep the sport in perspective: remember, it is children’s experience of the sport that matters, no matter what their parents’ hopes and dreams are. Modified from: www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=3699
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Guidelines for Honoring the Game The key to preventing adult misbehavior in youth sports is a youth sports culture in which all involved "Honor the Game." Honoring the Game gets to the ROOTS of the matter and involves respect for the Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and one's Self. You don't bend the rules to win. You understand that a worthy opponent is a gift that forces you to play to your highest potential. You show respect for officials even when you disagree. You refuse to do anything that embarrasses your team. You live up to your own standards even if others don't. Here are ways that parents can create a positive youth sports culture so that children will have fun and learn positive character traits to last a lifetime. Before the Game: 1. Make a commitment to Honor the Game in action and language no matter what others may do. 2. Tell your child before each game that you are proud of him or her regardless of how well he or she plays. During the Game: 1. Fill your children's "Emotional Tank" through praise and positive recognition so she can play her very best. 2. Don't give instructions to your child during the game. Let the coach correct player mistakes. 3. Cheer good plays by both teams (this is advanced behavior!) 4. Mention good calls by the official to other parents. 5. If an official makes a "bad" call against your team? Honor the Game—BE SILENT! 6. If another parent on your team yells at an official? Gently remind him or her to Honor the Game. 7. Don't do anything in the heat of the moment that you will regret after the game. Ask yourself, "Will this embarrass my child or the team?" 8. Remember to have fun! Enjoy the game. After the Game: 1. Thank the officials for doing a difficult job for little or no pay. 2. Thank the coaches for their commitment and effort. 3. Don't give advice. Instead ask your child what he or she thought about the game and then LISTEN. Listening fills Emotional Tanks. 4. Tell your child again that you are proud of her, whether the team won or lost.
From: www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=153
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Ten Commandments for Minnesota Select Parents 1. Thou shall be sure that your child knows that--win or lose, scared or heroic--you love her, appreciate her efforts, and that you are not disappointed in her. 2. Thou shall try your best to be completely honest about your child's athletic capability, her competitive attitude, her sportsmanship--and her actual skill level. 3. Thou shall be helpful--but don't coach her on the way to the gym--or on the way back home. 4. Thou shall teach your child to enjoy competition for competition's sake, remembering that there are lessons to be learned in winning as well as in losing. 5. Harken `O parents: Try not to relive your athletic life through your child--or try to create an athletic career to replace the one that you never had. 6. Thou shall not compete with the coach—divided loyalties do not make it easy for a child to do her best. You will confuse your child if you are trying to coach her and your advice is different from that of her coach. 7. Thou shall not compare the skill, courage or attitudes of your child with that of other members of her team--at least not in her hearing or the hearing of other parents or the coaches. 8. Thou shall get to know the coach so that you can be sure that his\her philosophy, attitudes, ethics, and knowledge are such that you are happy to expose your child to him\her. 9. Always remember that children tend to exaggerate, both when praised and when criticized. Temper your reactions when they bring home tales of woe--or tales of heroics. 10. Thou shall make a point of understanding courage and the fact that it is relative. Some of us climb mountains but fear flight-- some of us will want to fight but turn to jelly if a spider crawls nearby. A child must learn: courage is not absence of fear, but rather doing something in spite of fear.
Modified from: www.appleseeds.org/10-sport.htm
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Minnesota Select Parent Code of Conduct Preamble: The essential elements of character-building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these "six pillars of character." I therefore agree: 1. I will not force my child to participate in sports. 2. I will remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, not adults. 3. I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others. 4. I will learn the rules of the game and the policies of Minnesota Select and USA Volleyball Junior Olympics. 5. I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice or other sporting event. 6. I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting; refusing to shake hands; or using profane language or gestures. 7. I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and wellbeing of the athletes. 8. I will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence. 9. I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability. 10. I will teach my child that doing one's best is more important than winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game or her performance. 11. I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner every time. 12. I will never ridicule or yell at my child or another participant for making a mistake or losing a competition. 13. I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over winning. I will also deemphasize games and competition in the lower age groups. 14. I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I may have for my child to win. 15. I will respect the officials and their authority during games. 16. I will never question, discuss, or confront coaches during practice, during a match, or during a tournament, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place. 17. I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all sports events. 18. I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team. 19. I will not compare the skill, courage or attitude of my child with that of other players within the hearing of my child. Nor will I discuss other players with the coaches or with other parents. 20. I will adhere to the principles of the Minnesota Select Communication Triangle by encouraging my child to talk to her coach about any concerns she may have and empowering my child to tell-me-more about her experience at Minnesota Select. 21. I will honor the game and encourage other parents to do the same. Parent/Guardian Signature _____________________________________________________________ Modified from Massachusetts’ Sports Parent Code of Conduct, available at: www.nyssf.org/sportparentcodeofconduct.html.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Playing Time Policy All Minnesota Select teams are to some degree developmental teams. That is, we exist to help provide opportunities for the personal and athletic development of our members. Minnesota Select recognizes that participation in competition is a critical part of each player’s development. Moreover, we believe that taking part in spirited, pressure-packed competition is perhaps one of sport’s greatest training tools. We also believe our coaching staff shares the responsibility to develop an on-court role for each player that lends to the competitive success of the team. We will work tirelessly to insure all Minnesota Select players and teams are their best through developing and utilizing all of their talents. Of course, the nature of sport and volleyball in particular dictates that not all players get equal playing time. Some players may play more than other players may simply because of the positions they each play. Coaches must weigh a myriad of items when deciding playing time. For instance, coaches must consider such issues as a player’s adherence to attendance and other policies, keep in mind any trends currently operating within the team, and evaluate how the team personnel might match up best versus that of the opponent. All players can expect to have a significant on-court role every team event so long as they abide by all club and team rules. Moreover, it is our goal that all players have some on-court role every match. Possible exception: In regional and national qualifying events in which Minnesota Select teams are attempting to secure a bid to the USA J.O. Volleyball Championships and at the USA J.O. Volleyball Championships, all players may not play while the team remains in contention for a bid or for a national championship. Players (and their families) are asked to be understanding of this or other minor/rare deviations from these playing time distribution objectives.
Missing Practices At Minnesota Select we recognize players have important commitments to family and school. If at all possible, however, taking care of these commitments should not happen at the expense of volleyball. Players will be excused for those family- and school-related events whose scheduling they cannot influence (such as concerts and games). Players will not be excused for events whose scheduling they can influence (such as homework, study groups, and private lessons). Players are expected to do their best with time management and scheduling, and make it a priority to attend all team practices. If a player is unable to attend a team practice, she must inform the coaches in writing (if it is more than a day in advance) or via the phone as soon as she knows about the conflict. This is the responsibility of the player, not the parent.
School Sports and Activities Other sports and activities are a vital and important part of the high school experience. They make for a wellrounded student and athlete. There will be conflicts; that is to be expected. It is important to communicate early and often in an open and honest fashion with the MN Select staff and your school coaches and directors. Your teammates, classmates, coaches, and directors deserve that level of respect. Therefore, each player is required to provide the coaches with a schedule at the beginning of the club season including a list of all competitions and events that will conflict with any practices or tournaments. As events arise during the season, players are expected to bring in a list of all potential conflicts once they know of the potential conflict (things like prom, DECA, National Honor Society, ACT, SAT, etc.). Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
General Travel Information Minnesota Select reserves hotel rooms and transportation (buses for Omaha, Indy and Milwaukee and plane tickets for Dallas) for all players, coaches and chaperones. Note: Families will need to provide transportation to events in Rochester and Wisconsin Dells. Families who plan to attend travel events must make their own arrangements. Some hotels do offer to set aside a “Parent Room Block”. This is noted on the travel information page for each event. The travel information is posted on each team’s webpage on the MN Select website. Click on “travel info” listed after the tournament name on your team’s page. When traveling, each team must have a designated chaperone. Team coaches and club directors must know the name of the chaperone(s) as soon as possible. MN Select reserves one room for the team chaperone. If additional rooms are wanted, parents must make the reservation. Chaperones are asked to help with the team as volunteers. MN Select does not have funds budgeted to compensate chaperones.
Travel Policies 1. Participants will room together as assigned by their team coach(es). Staying together provides a unique opportunity for participants to develop closer friendships. Friends, siblings, etc. are not permitted to share accommodations with participants as this may hamper this opportunity. 2. Participants should never be alone. Use the buddy system. 3. Participants must inform their coach before going anywhere. It’s important that you communicate with your coach as he or she is responsible to tournament personnel to have the team present when it is time to compete. If a team’s coach is unavailable, participants should then inform the chaperone. 4. Always wear shoes or sandals in public areas to protect your feet. 5. Though your hotel is your temporary home, it is also the temporary home of many others. You must respect the needs of others by keeping your voice down throughout the hotel. This is especially important in the halls and within your room. 6. Any communication with boys you do not know is prohibited while traveling with MN Select. In addition, no boys are allowed in your hotel room at any point, for any reason. 7. Participants must remain within the hotel at all times. If you are not in your room or a teammate’s room, you must inform your coach of your whereabouts. If your coach is unavailable, inform the chaperone. 8. Participants must obey ‘in your room’ and ‘lights out’ times. ‘In your room’ means you are in your own room preparing for bed. ‘Lights out’ means you are in bed asleep or trying to fall asleep. 9. Upon checkout, leave the room in respectable condition. 10. Of course, the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco and other chemicals is prohibited. Any participant found in possession of or using alcohol, tobacco and other chemicals faces severe consequences. 11. Players are not to drive themselves or other participants to events when an overnight stay is required. Remember you are representing yourself, your family, and Minnesota Select VBC at all times.
Copyright Minnesota Select Volleyball Club 2008
Chaperone Expectations The chaperone position is offered to an adult female (usually a mom) who can fulfill the necessary tasks. She must be organized, a good communicator, and willing to do the assigned tasks. She must maintain the participants’ respect throughout the trip. Chaperones are an extension of the team’s coach(es) and Minnesota Select. 1. Assist the team coach(es) in enforcing all Minnesota Select travel policies. 2. Be aware of travel plans. This may include car pooling arrangements, departure and expected arrival times and places, hotel arrangements, etc. for all participants and the coach(es). 3. Shop for food and other special needs. Communicate with participants in advance regarding what healthy foods they may like during tournament breaks. Collect money from team members for these items as needed. Note: Provide or borrow a large cooler to store perishable items at tournament site. 4. Have a copy of the tournament schedule and understand how to read it. 5. Assist with team check-in at hotel. Assure that the hotel knows in what room each participant, the coach(es) and yourself are staying in case a parent not attending needs to reach his or her daughter. 6. Enforce ‘In your room’ and ‘Lights out’ times. 7. Assure all participants wake-up on time. 8. Launder team uniforms as needed, but no personal items. 9. Upon checkout, verify that participants have left their room in respectable condition. 10. Confirm return travel arrangements (verify car pooling arrangements) and be certain that participants have notified parents of any changes. 11. Be able to drive and carry auto liability insurance. If team travel includes air travel… 1. Hold all participants’ airline tickets. 2. Confirm return travel arrangements (i.e. that the flight status is unchanged and that all participants have a ride home from the airport) and be certain that participants have notified parents of any changes. 3. Upon return, stay with participants at the airport until all participants’ rides arrive. First and foremost, chaperones are expected to help provide a safe environment for team members while away from home. They also help in establishing an environment whereby the team can perform and compete at its highest level. They provide an important, valued service. MN Select has reserved chaperones hotel rooms with the coaches and players. Once chaperones check-in to the hotel, it is their responsibility to arrange payment of their room(s) with the hotel staff.
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