BOMBER VOLLEYBALL 2006 “Offense sells tickets, DEFENSE wins Championships!” Welcome to the 2006 Bomber Volleyball season! We are looking forward to another successful season at Cannon Falls! Bomber Volleyball Coaching Staff: Melissa Huseth, Varsity Heather Loeschke, Asst.Varsity & B Jennifer Nerison, Asst. Varsity & C Kathy Illa, 8th Grade Sharon Noble, 7th Grade Athletic Trainer: Beth Niebur niebur.elizabeth@mayo.edu *The CFHS office number 263-6800 where a message can be left for Coaches’ Huseth, Loeschke, Nerison, Illa, and Noble. Who is a Bomber volleyball athlete? A Bomber volleyball player is a privileged young woman, scholar, and athlete with high moral standards. She is aware of her role on the court and to the team. She brings only positive behavior to the court, classroom, and community. She knows of the sacrifices necessary to be a member of a successful team. She is unselfish and a hard worker. Expectations: Abide by all CFHS and MSHSL rules. This includes not breaking the law by smoking, drinking or other substance abuse. Make wise decisions. Be on time everywhere. Hustle at all times. Stay positive – negativism never helps a team. There is no such word as “can’t” in Bomber volleyball, and there is no “I” in “TEAM.” Respect your parents, peers, teachers, and coaches. Absolutely no profanity. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Vince Lombardi 2006 rule repeats and changes: New this year! Effective for the 2006 Volleyball season the Libero position will be permitted to serve, however, once the Libero serves in one rotation, she is restricted to serve in only that rotation. This is an optional strategy that may be used, it is not required. The libero player may not block or play any front row position. The varsity squad may carry 15 rostered players. This does not mean that our varsity squad will be composed of 15 players, but it is allowed to do so. Cuts at the varsity level are still determined at the discretion of the coaching staff. Prior to the summer the players were informed that as a part of try- outs they are to run a mile in 9 minutes or less at the V/B squad level, 9:30 at the C-squad level. If a player cannot run the timed-mile in the set requirements, she will not begin game play until she is able to do so. Only extreme medical excuses will be an exception to the rule and the player must have a doctor’s note excusing them from the timed-mile. The Varsity squad will continue to sit behind the B-squad team and do B-squad stats, and the B-squad will sit behind the Varsity team and do Varsity stats. This is a requirement at all home and away games. Weekend tournaments are not included. "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." -- Vincent T. Lombardi Communication: Constant communication is necessary in a successful program. Our staff will make every attempt in either a written or oral communication method to keep all volleyball athletes aware of all practice or game schedule changes, apparel requirements, transportation information, school closings, and other pertinent information to our program. We will expect teammates to help with those communications as well. When a situation arises that a conference is necessary to help resolve an issue or concern, please follow the CFHS PARENT/COACH COMMUNICATION PLAN: 1st Step: The participant only meets with the coach. …If further resolution is necessary… 2nd Step: The participant, parent and coach meet. …If further resolution is necessary… 3rd Step: The participant, parent, coach and activities director (AD) meet. 4th Step: The participant, parent, coach, AD, and principal meet. 5th Step: The participant, parent, coach, AD, principal and superintendent meet. Under no circumstances should a coach be approached at a game site, emailed or phoned without the participant making the first step! If possible please contact the coach through school contacts during the day. The coaches will reply in the order given above. Setting a time for these meeting is crucial, and eye-to-eye contact resolves problems more efficiently and positively. Participation: Junior High – Participants in grades 7 & 8 (unless moved to C, B, or Varsity) are considered junior high. Emphasis is on learning the game and mastering the fundamentals. Each participant should receive playing time, provided the team & school rules have been followed. Senior High – The emphasis on learning the game & fundamentals continues for grades 9-12; however, levels are more competitive with more emphasis on winning. Playing time depends upon the participant’s athletic ability, skills, ability to follow team, school and MSHSL rules, and the coach’s discretion. Volleyball is a specialized game, and playing time depends on a player’s specific position. Each player on Varsity, B-squad, and C-squad will have a pre-season conference with their respective coaches. Parents and players both please be sure to read the conference sheet and sign it so you are aware of the volleyball athlete’s defined role for the upcoming season. Practices are important! Productive practices are more important than games. The only way adjustments for each opponent can be made are with focused, hard working practices with everyone present. Coordinated practice clothes are required. Never leave the gym or practice without permission or notifying the coach. Work on proper fundamentals – work hard to get rid of bad habits – they will only bring you and your team down. Retraining muscle groups takes time, bad habits take at least 21 days to get rid of. Do not miss practice! Schedule dentist, doctor and other appointments outside of practice times. A suggestion is to schedule appointments before the season starts or after school on the days of home games. Due to tight scheduling, there are many times when there is only one practice to regroup and prepare for the next opponent. In addition, practices on the eve of a match may run later to allow ample preparation time. Each opponent is different. Individual and identified WATER BOTTLES are required for all practices and matches. Each athlete is responsible to make sure they are filled prior to each practice & match. Treat the water bottle as a part of your uniform/equipment. Drink water before, during and after practice! Absences: Excused Absence: These include funerals and family emergencies. Please try to make appointments when we have home matches. If a player is going to miss practice, notify your coach BEFORE the practice or game. If the coach is not notified, it will be considered an unexcused absence. Players may be allowed two excused absences. After two, a player will have a one game, not match, suspension. Each excused absence thereafter will automatically result in a game per absence suspension. Unexcused Absence: Any absences from school or practice not listed in the excused absence section are considered unexcused. If an athlete misses any part of the school day due to illness she is not allowed to practice or play in a match that day. Only a doctor’s note will supersede the prior statement and result in an excused absence. Not coming to practice or a match because of an injury is considered an unexcused absence. Although physical participation is limited, attendance at practice is still required when recovering from an injury. Let your coach know if/when an injury occurs. One unexcused absence will result in an immediate one game, not match, suspension. Two unexcused absences will result in an immediate match suspension. Three unexcused absences and the athlete will be asked to turn in her uniform; unless otherwise specified by the coach & administration. Game Time: Be sufficiently rested for each game day! Have all uniforms clean & ready to go. Make sure you have everything you need in your travel bag. That is why they are provided! ALL PLAYERS (including those injured, suspended, etc.) sit on the bench, pay close attention to the game, and openly support their teammates. HOME GAMES: Be polite hostesses. Welcome opponents and show them around if necessary. The site director or head coaches will have the key to let the opposing team into their respective locker room. Varsity will do stats for the B-squad; and the B-squad will do stats for the varsity; only one exception– weekend tournaments. Pay attention & keep accurate stats – they are important to players, teams, HVL and the MSHSL. To become an expert at a stat, please stay with the same stat ALL season! C-squad stats will be done by parents/ players. AWAY GAMES: Athletes will travel together in school-provided transportation. Be prompt for departures – going and coming. Late players will be left. Be polite and considerate visitors. You are a guest in someone else’s home; treat their property with respect. Clean up after yourself and use good manners. Anyone wishing to ride home with parents must have a parent sign the CFHS Transportation Waiver Form. No one will be allowed to travel with anyone other than her parents unless otherwise arranged with the AD or Principal’s office 24 hours prior to game time. The coach will need to be notified by AD or principal of the accepted arrangement. Lettering: A Bomber Volleyball Athlete will receive a Varsity letter if she meets most of the following criteria: 1. Tries out and makes the Varsity Squad. 2. Plays in at least 3 Varsity matches. 3. Lives up to the expectations of a Bomber volleyball athlete (see handbook page 3.) 4. Is academically eligible to play volleyball for the season. 5. Is involved in other extra-curricular activities. 6. Commits to off-season improvement and conditioning. See “summer incentive program.” NO LETTER WILL BE AWARDED WITHOUT APPROPRIATE UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT BEING TURNED IN. A LETTER MAY BE WITHHELD IF YOU VIOLATE THE CFHS OR THE MSHSL RULES.