Blaze Volleyball Club
Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTONS FOR PARENTS
REGARDING GATEWAY USAV CLUB VOLLEYBALL

Q. How many contacts can a coach make in the preseason (before tryouts)?
A. Coaches should not make an excessive number of contacts in the preseason with parents or players (example: a mailer, one or two phone calls or personal contacts). It is player/parent’s responsibility to discourage excessive contacts if warranted.

Q. Can a coach guarantee a player a spot on their team prior to tryouts?
A. Prior to tryouts no spots should be guaranteed.

Q. How can I find out more information about a particular club or coach?
A. Read the Junior Club Profiles and Parent Page located on the Gateway web page (www.gatewayvb.org). Also, read the Club Information Sheet provided at tryouts. Get additional feedback from other parents with club volleyball experience.

Q. My child wants to attend a tryout to get warmed up. Is this ok?
A. No, players should not be attending a tryout for the sake of a warm up. If they are not interested in that club, they are taking an opportunity away from someone else.

Q. How do I handle multiple offers my child receives the weekend of tryouts?
A. It is recommended that a player only have two open offers at any given time over the tryout weekend. This means that if you attend more than two tryouts and you receive a third offer, you should immediately call the coach of the team you are not interested in and let them know. This will allow them to offer a position to the next person on their list. A player can have an unlimited number of alternate positions.

Q. I do not want to play on a team with 12 players. Is it ok to ask a coach how many players they intend to carry on their team?
A. Parents should ask a coach how many players they expect to carry on their roster. This may make a difference in the decision making process.

Q. What are relevant questions to ask a coach before choosing a club?
*How often, how long and where will practices be and is there an attendance policy?
*How often will this team travel and what extra expenses will be involved?
*What are the club fees and what do they include (uniforms, gym rental, coaches’ travel, tournament fees)
*What are the club/coaches expectations for this season?
*Will the coach accept age waived players? Note: accepting age waived players would then place the team under certain restrictions regarding team participation. For more information on teams registered with age waived players, ask the coach or contact the Gateway region office.

Q. A coach has guaranteed my child a certain position and amount of playing time. Are coaches allowed to make this kind of guarantee?
A. A coach may say this, however, injury, attendance, commitment, player’s failure to advance, discipline etc., may all be reasons for this to change. Coaches will play your child where they will have the most success on that team, which may be a different position than originally expected. Playing time is at the discretion of the coach.

Q. I have heard the coach/team can get a college scholarship for my child if they play for that team?
A. Parents need to consider how valid that offer is considering the range of possibilities throughout the year.

Q. How do I know which team my child is trying out for when a club has two teams of the same age group?
A. As a parent you need to ask the club to explain their policy on this and they should be able to tell you.

Q. Do players float from team to team throughout the season?
A. A player affiliates with only one club for the season. The club representative should be able to tell you, at the time of tryouts, if they plan to move players between teams within the club on a regular basis.

Q. Are coaches required to have any screenings or background checks before they coach in the Gateway Region?
A. All coaches, team representatives and chaperones must have a criminal background check prior to affiliating with a junior club in the Gateway Region. Coaches must also be, at minimum, IMPACT certified as well.

Q. Do I need to be present the weekend of tryouts or can I drop my child off?
A. Parents are not required to stay for the duration of the tryout, but at each tryout, a parent’s signature is required on the waiver form of every individual under the age of 18 who is trying out.

Q. Can a coach require a player to commit to their team at the tryout?
A. That varies depending on the date of the tryout. For tryouts held on the first available weekend, the coach must allow a “waiting period” for the chosen athlete to make the decision on whether or not to commit, according to the following guidelines:

If the tryout start date is Friday, September 24, 2010, the official commitment date/time is 7 pm Sunday, September 26, 2010. If the tryout start date is Friday, October 22, 2010, the official commitment date/time is 7 pm Sunday, October 24. If the tryout start date is Friday, November 19, 2010 the official commitment date/time is 7 pm Sunday, November 21.

If a coach makes an offer to a player, the offer cannot be rescinded unless a player declines an offer or does not respond by the commitment date/time listed above. A waiting period is not required for clubs holding tryouts on or after the official commitment dates and times listed above for each respective division. Don’t hesitate to ask any other questions you might have!!

Reasonable Player/Parent Expectations for Coaches

Coaches should:

• promote the game of volleyball as positively as possible.
• support and understand the Gateway region’s policies.
  
• support other Gateway teams when traveling out of region.
  
• be willing to explain extra costs up front to parents and any possible fundraising opportunities.
  
• know when the team will practice, where and for how long.
  
• have an understanding and willingness to explain the club’s policy on placing players on teams within the club when there are multiple teams in an age division.
  
• explain to players/parents what they anticipate regarding the competitive level of the team (elite vs. developmental, age waivered, etc.).
  
• provide information on how many tournaments and weekend trips they expect to make.
  
• share with prospective players how many participants they intend to keep on their roster.
  
• explain to players/parents that they should have realistic expectations regarding playing time.
  
• not make excessive contacts with a player or parents in preseason. (Example: a mailer or 1 or 2 contacts is enough to let a player know the coach is interested).
  
• not pressure a player or parents in the decision making process during tryouts, and respect their preference once the player has accepted a position from another club.