Welcome to Rockford JO Volleyball November 2, 2014

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.

Our Website The official website for the Rockford Area Athletic Association (RAAA) and Rockford JO Volleyball is:

RAAA Volleyball Board Director: Mary Buenger Assistant Director: Kelley Reed Treasurer: Tracy Bremel Volunteer Coordinator: Sheila Monssen

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

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.

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 s with more information.

Cost Girls: The players fee for the season will be $125 for the 10’s team and $200 for all other girls teams 11’s through 18’s. Boys: The players fee for the season will be $175. There will be a $50 uniform deposit for all players (separate check required). Check will be returned at the end of the season when jersey is returned.

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.

Volunteer Expectations All players 11’s and up are asked to work 2 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. Parents and players are asked to volunteer at all fundraising opportunities in which JO Volleyball benefits. This includes: * Rockford Rumble Volleyball Tournament * RAAA/MYAS Basketball Tournaments * Billy’s Bingo (Directly reduces your child’s fee!)

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 There will be practice on most non-tournament weekends, depending on gym availability. Additional practice times will be scheduled at the request of coaches and/or directors, and may be moved to the RCC or REAMS based on gym availability.

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.

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 on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1:00pm in the RHS Choir Room. – NEW ONLINE through the NCR Website. Can be completed at any time before January 5, If you take the online course, NCR will track your progress and you will only need to take a shortened refresher course in the following seasons. ALL players and coaches will officiate at tournaments and playdates. At least 7 individuals are needed to referee, line judge, score flip and complete all score and tracking sheets.

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.

Other Tournaments The 11s-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). There will be a boys invitational on that Saturday as well. Our goal is to have our boys teams play in 2 playdates and/or tournaments. Our goal is to have our 10s team participate in 1 scrimmage (outside teams) and 3 tournaments or playdates.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

Payments Turn in the following payments with your paperwork: $50 check for uniform deposit (will be returned when uniform is turned back in at end of season) 10s Team - $125 11s-18s Girl’s Team - $200 ($230 if not officiating) All Boys Teams - $175 ($205 if not officiating)

Our Website The official website for the Rockford Area Athletic Association (RAAA) and Rockford JO Volleyball is: