The Arizona Region of USA Volleyball

Who we are and what we do for you. The Arizona Region of USA Volleyball

How Popular is our Sport? 1.1 BILLION players worldwide * 2nd most popular sport in the world 28.7 MILLION participants in the USA** 11.8 MILLION playing indoor 9.2 MILLION playing grass 4 MILLION playing 25 times a year or more 7.7 MILLION beach volleyball players 1 MILLION playing 25 times a year or more * Source: Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) ** Source: Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA)

Mission Statement for USA Volleyball USA Volleyball is the National Governing Body for the sport of volleyball in the United States Our responsibilities are: • Attain excellence in the sport of volleyball • Credential teams, administrators and officials for all sanctioned international volleyball events • Promote and develop, through it’s member organizations, the sport of volleyball • Establish standards for USVBA Regional Volleyball Associations • Conduct national Championships and other open competitions • Ensure compliance with USOC policies and procedures

The Goals of USA Volleyball • Competitive Success: to win gold medals in every international competition • Sport Growth: to achieve full participation in volleyball at all levels and in all geographical areas • Sport Enhancement: to improve support services necessary for the conduct of quality programs to ensure recognition as the international authority and expert for volleyball • International Representation: to have influential positions on all international boards and commissions • Recognition: to receive consistent recognition of volleyball coaches and athletes as top world performers • Administration: to develop and maintain a structure which will effectively and efficiently assist in achieving the vision and mission of USA Volleyball • Finances: to develop, implement and maintain a financial plan to achieve the vision and mission of USA Volleyball

USA Volleyball also oversees; • Disabled teams including Sitting teams, deaf teams, etc. • Beach volleyball

USA Volleyball has 40 Regions throughout the United States Regional Volleyball Associations (RVAs) are member organizations of USA Volleyball (USAV). The RVAs serve as the grassroots function for the USAV and individually and collectively serve as a catalyst for USAV functions. The Arizona Region of USA Volleyball is one of those 40 Regions Regions of USA Volleyball

Mission Statement for the Arizona Region of USA Volleyball Our Mission • The mission of the Region (formerly known as Cactus Region which originated in 1989) is to promote, govern, oversee, plan and coordinate amateur indoor and outdoor volleyball in the Arizona Region, in order to provide a variety of opportunities for all interested parties to participate in a safe, positive and appropriately competitive environment.

Arizona Region Organization The Region is 501 (c) (3), nonprofit organization governed by two Boards, Executive and Junior, that are elected by the general membership and club director membership respectively, every two years. The Executive Board is charged with Regional administration and operations, transacting business, and program planning and development. The Junior Board is charged with policy development, tournament/league formats and scheduling, and other issues related to juniors.

Our Commissioner • Harold Cranswick • Commissioner since 1998

Region’s Junior Board Sub Regions Lisa Naughton, Metro Southeast Rep (3 yr-2008) Brooke Saunders, Metro Southwest Rep (3 yr 2006) Michael Lindsay, Metro Northwest Rep (3yr-2009) Karen Sitkiewicz, Metro Northeast Rep (3 yr-2008) Dan Kaminskas, North Rep (3 yr-2008) Jonathan Norris, South Rep (3yr-2008)

What we do for our members. • Organize and execute tournaments for both adult and junior members in indoor and outdoor venues. • Oversee and monitor the training of coaches in the Region. • Provide opportunities for all to play our sport. • Provide educational and training opportunities for non members and members alike.

What the Arizona Region does every Season… • Run Juniors Tournaments from December to May that encompass 4 age groups and 3600+ athletes • Run Adult men’s and women’s tournaments from January through May that encompass 400+ athletes • Host and execute Coaches Education clinics from September through January that encompass 300+ coaches • Train and employ 150+ officials throughout Arizona and national tournaments, including the AVP

The Divisions of the Arizona Region Open Top level teams that will play less local tournaments and travel more to out of state tournaments. Their tournaments are all day, with pool play, cross over match and then a bracket to determine place. Championship Teams that are high level but are not traveling out of state as much. Their tournaments are ½ day tournaments with a modified bracket play of three matches. Club Teams that are not as high level and are not traveling as much, (also includes younger teams 12-14’s). They play ½ day tournaments with a modified bracket of three matches.

Tournaments • Sites, times and teams are on the Region’s website the Tuesday before Saturday’s tournament. Teams should check Thursday as well to make sure there are no changes. • A.m. waves start at 8 a.m., p.m. waves start at 3 p.m. • With teams all over the state, the Region office tries to make sure no team is driving more that 2 hours one way. This is always dependent upon the amount of gyms we have, where they are located and what times we have them for.

Gyms • The Region does NOT have it’s own facility, so we work with coaches, school districts and clubs to garner gyms for the upcoming tournament season. • It is imperative that ALL participants; teams, coaches, Parents and spectators, take care of these facilities. They are the lifeblood to our tournament season!!! Please pick up your trash, follow the sites rules and regulations.

Parent’s Code of Ethics As a Parent, I: • Will remain in the spectator areas during all games. • Will not advise the coach on how to coach, who to put in the game and/or who to take out of the game. • Will respect the integrity of the officials and not advise them how to call the match. • Will model sportsmanship for my child by treating all coaches, officials, tournament directors and players of either team with courtesy and respect. • Will encourage hard work and honest effort that will lead to improved performance and participation. • Will emphasize the cooperative nature of the sport. • Will not try to coach my child during the game. • Will encourage athletes to participate in volleyball drug, tobacco and alcohol free. • Will attend all volleyball events alcohol and drug free • Will cheer for my child’s team. • Will encourage my child to participate for enjoyment as well as competition.

Parent Code of Ethics • Will applaud good and fair play during matches. • Will be in control of my emotions. • Will learn the rules of the game to help me better understand what is happening on the court. • Understand that physical or verbal intimidation of any individual is unacceptable behavior • Will be supportive of all attempts to remove verbal or physical abuse from organized volleyball activities, including language. • Understand that conduct that is inappropriate as determined by comparison to normally accepted behavior is unacceptable. • Will protect the ability to continue using the facility by following all the rules of the facility, such as NO FOOD, DRINK OR COOLERS IN THE GYM, smoking in designated areas only, throwing all trash in an appropriate receptacle, etc. • Will protect athletes from sanctions and/or suspension by producing accurate documentation • Will honor financial commitments.

Coaches Education • IMPACT classes held every season for new coaches. Last season alone, over 300+ coaches were certified. • CAP held a minimum every two years to offer higher level of coaching to Region coaches and other interested parties. • Other Clinics held on such subjects as nutrition, first aid, blocking, hitting, technology in coaching, etc.

Opportunities for ALL • Region’s Adult tournaments • Region’s High Performance Athletes • Region’s “Starlings’ commitment to lower income players • Region’s beach program • Region sponsored clinics for all levels of play • Junior officiating program • Opportunities for staff positions within the Region’s office

Other Programs for our Region… • Host and manage the biggest Junior Beach Program, per capita, in the United States encompassing over 400+ athletes • Run a High Performance program which has involved over 200+ athletes in the past 7 years • Starlings Program participation the past 10 years both locally and nationally

How we can help you • Extensive website is designed to be the one stop for all volleyball in Arizona • Monthly electronic newsletter helps you keep up with volleyball in Arizona • Access to information from USA Volleyball in the form of newsletters and websites • Expertise and personnel to help you run a league, clinic or tournament

How to Choose a Volleyball Club When new to the club volleyball scene, it can be a daunting task to find the right club for your junior player. Region staff will not recommend a club for you, however, the staff will recommend that you contact the clubs you are interested in and ask LOTS of questions. The Region website lists all the clubs and their contacts. Below are just a few issues to consider when you are shopping for a club team.

What Age Division does my child fall into? USA Volleyball has strict guidelines concerning ages. You can view the Age Definitions for the upcoming season on the region website. What Clubs are out there? Visit the Juniors Club Directory (www.azregionvolleyball.org) and determine where the clubs practice. Do you want a club that practices in your city? Are you willing to travel 30 minutes, 1 hour or even 2 hours to practice with a certain club? Does that club offer your age division? Not all clubs offer all ages or levels of play.

Know what YOUR philosophy is. What do you want from a club during this season? Are you bound and determined to get to Nationals? Persistent for a club to help you get a scholarship? Are you wanting to get better for high school? Are you wanting to play with your friends on a team? You have to know what you are shopping for. Ask the Club and their coaches what THEIR philosophy is. Costs How much does it cost to tryout? Do I have to pay for each tryout? Or does the one fee pay for all tryout sessions? How much is due up front once committed to the club? Can I make monthly payments? Are travel expenses included? Does that include Hotel? Air? (Parent travel expenses are always extra! (Are Nationals or Post-season included? If not, when is that due? Is that refundable if you don't make it to post-season? What if my son/daughter gets hurt during the season? Is Fundraising available to offset the cost? What player equipment is covered in the cost? shoes? kneepads? socks? how many jerseys? how many shorts?

Members on the team How many players are kept per team? Is playing time guaranteed? Level of Commitment Many players are active in other sports or activities. Try to have a feel for what your schedule might be like in your other activities so you will know what conflicts there may be. Always check with the club to see what is tolerated. Very Cooperative - They'll work around anything and everything Cooperative within Reason - There are a few instances that the club may excuse you for being late or absent Full Commitment - Some clubs expect some or all of their players to put club volleyball first. They are expected at every practice and every tournament.

Practices How many practices per week? How many practices if there is a tournament that weekend? How long is each practice? Where are the practices located? • Tournaments How many tournaments are offered for the teams in that age group? Is that too many or not enough for you? Where are the tournaments located? Out-of-State? In-state? Combo? • Travel How many tournaments are "travel" tournaments? How are travel arrangements handled? Are any arrangements made for the parents? (remember this is usually in addition to season dues) • Coaches How many coaches per team? What are their qualifications?

Communication How does the club communicate to Parents/Members? Via Web? Monthly meetings? Newsletters? Other Perks What else does the club offer? Club/Team outings throughout the year? Clinics throughout the year? College Recruiting help? Have their own facility? Committing to a Club The USAV guide states that you can only represent one club during one season. That means you cannot change clubs in midseason. Please do your homework before committing to a club. (Reprinted from the North Texas Region)

Tonight’s Meeting The Club Information/Parent Meeting These meetings allow the club to present to you what they are all about. It can also give you an opportunity to meet the club director and possibly your daughter's potential coach. Here, tonight is where you want to ask these and lots of other questions. Some clubs hold meetings before any of their tryouts, some will hold meetings on the same day as their tryouts and other will have a combination. If you STILL have questions, please email or call the directors. They will be happy to answer your questions

Thank You and Goodnight!

The Arizona Region of USA Volleyball