PARENT CLUB MEETINGS:   The more informed the parents are, the more involved the parents are, the more supportive the parents are, the more fun and successful it is for everyone. To help keep parents informed on what is happening in the club, how to become more involved, what the club needs help with, and how to be a more supportive parent the Club will have a Parent Club Meeting once every two months. Some topics for discussion would be tournament selection, transportation to tournaments, car pools, recap of the season to date, fundraising, and information on upcoming overnight tournaments to name a few.	TEAM PARENT(S): Parent support and involvement is an essential part of each player’s experience in the Club program.  Each team will have at least one parent who will act as a liaison for better communications between the team and the Club, to help with arranging transportation, to help get fundraising ideas off the ground, and to help with arranging for chaperones for overnight trips.  Please contact your Team Parent(s) with any and all questions or concerns. The Director will be in constant communication with these parents so as to assure a great experience with the Club.
PARENT/COACH/PLAYER RELATIONSHIPS: Club volleyball can teach many positive traits, such as the spirit of cooperation, self-discipline, and regard for physical fitness.  It is difficult for the desirable traits to take root in young players when the adults around them fail to set the proper example.  Parents are expected to refrain from criticizing opposing players, other parents, or teammates.  They should remain seated in the spectator area and cheer positively for the team and their players.  There will be no tolerance for unsportsmanlike behavior.   In their enthusiasm, spectators are often prone to issue several instructions to the players that are even contrary to those of the coach.  This only causes confusion for the young players.  Spectators should focus on their role of giving positive support and enthusiastic cheering and leave the coaching to the coaches.   It seems unlikely that there can ever be a perfect fit between the goals and priorities of the coaches and parents since they often have different agendas.  It is expected that parents and coaches come to a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.  They do share a mutual interest in the player’s development of basic volleyball skills and attitudes.  Upon this shared foundation, it should be possible to come to a clearer understanding of one another.   Parents must ally themselves with the coach in teaching their daughters how to cope with the natural frustrations of being a member of a team.  Sports provide an excellent opportunity to teach young kids about the realities of a highly competitive situation.  Players must be taught how to deal with demanding situations, how to be a cooperative team member, how to make use of both positive and negative feedback, how to cope with adversity and failure, how to achieve mental toughness, and how to be a humble and gracious winner and loser.   Parents should instruct their daughters in behaviors that communicate to the coach that they have a high level of commitment to volleyball.  The most effective way to facilitate rapport with the coach is to display a high level of commitment to the activity.  Any astute observer of teams in training comes to understand that those players who display the greatest zest for the activity are the ones to receive the greatest attention from their coaches.  Players need to learn to display their commitment by; coming early and staying late, doing extra preparation, being positive and enthusiastic about the activity, being at all practices, or if one misses, properly informing the coach or Director, and actively and publicly supporting their teammates.  A parent who is successful in teaching these skills will never have to worry about whether the coach gives their daughter a fair break.   When a player has a grievance with the coach, parents have the responsibility of teaching their child the proper steps to remedy the situation:   Step 1:  Player should discuss the problem/concern with the coach and try to arrive at a solution.  Captains can be helpful at this point.   Step 2:  If the player is unsuccessful, the parent should arrange for an appointment to discuss the situation.   Step 3:  If attempts are made to resolve the issue and the player is still not satisfied, make an appointment to speak to a Director.  If necessary, a meeting between the interested parties shall be arranged to reach a solution.
TRAVEL:   Travel to and from practice and tournaments will be the sole responsibility of each club team member.  It is suggested that parents from the same general area form carpools.  Players sharing rides are expected to assist with the transportation costs.    If lodging is required, players will be housed together, usually 4 players per room.  Room charges are included in the Club fee.  Roommates will be assigned by the coaching staff.  A female parent chaperone will be assigned to each team for all overnight trips.  Players will be expected to attend all team activities, including, but not limited to; team breakfasts, lunches, dinners, team meetings, or other team functions.  While traveling, players may have “free time”.  During this time period players are expected to (request permission from) inform their coach and chaperone where they will be going and find out when they should return.  Players must travel in groups of 3 or more and NEVER leave the group.   All players will have a curfew when traveling.  Curfew means in your own room, lights and TV off, in bed, and quiet.  Curfew will vary depending upon the age group of the team.  Unless changed by the coach/chaperone the curfew is 11:00pm.  Players are not allowed to have anyone in their rooms other than members of our club.  Members of the opposite sex are NOT permitted in the rooms.  Boyfriends, girlfriends, etc… are NOT allowed into the rooms!!!	FUNDRAISING:   Players will have several opportunities to fundraise this year.  Parents must be willing to organize activities to raise moneys to reduce the cost of club membership.  Raffles, candy sales and other items, serve-a-thons, and soliciting corporate and community sponsors are good ideas.  Any fundraising ideas that you might have will be greatly appreciated and seriously considered.