To all Murphy Creek Volleyball players, parents and guardians:
We are so excited about the upcoming season! We have a great group of
girls and can’t wait to see how much they grow and improve as players throughout
the season. Due to a large turnout this year, we will be splitting practice. The 7th
grade team (6th and 7th graders) will practice from 2:45-4:15. The 8th grade team will change and
warm-up at 4:20, and will practice 4:30-6:00. The 8th grade team has the choice of going home to get a
snack, do homework and change before returning for practice, or they may stay at school to work on
homework and have a snack, in Ms. Lende’s office. If any player wants to walk home to another player's
house before practice, we must have a signed parent letter stating this.
Players are expected to be at practice if they were at school. Anytime that you child will miss
practice for something other than illness, we ask that you contact your daughter's coach. Unexcused
absences from practice will affect your daughters play time and could eventually jeopardize her position
on the team. Please also make arrangements for your daughter to be picked up on time. Coaches will
stay with the players until everyone is picked up, but the coaches also have families to get home to.
In middle school sports, all girls who are eligible to play in the game will get time on the court.
Coaches decide starting line-ups and play time based on many different components such as absences,
effort and attitude during practice, as well as effort and attitude in class. Academics and classroom
behavior always come first. If a player has more than two 2’s in class, she is ineligible to play in the next
game. She is however expected to travel with and support the team. Players who are suspended, or
absent from school for more than half the day may not play in games.
In middle school sports we stress teaching the fundamentals of the game. We teach proper
form and technique. If players can learn that now they will be better off as they continue with the sport.
We stress to players not to focus on the scoreboard and to instead focus on their fundamentals that we
are teaching and the scoreboard will follow. With that being said, if during games students are listening
to parents, friends, and relatives in the stand they aren’t listening to their coach. During games please
understand that your player needs to be coached by the coaches and stay focused on the team and her
coach; not what is being shouted from the stands.
All players are expected to dress out for practice. Girls may wear sport/sweat pants, shorts, or
the volleyball compression shorts for practice. (Compression shorts may be worn under district shorts
for games if they want). Shorts must fully cover the buttocks. T-shirts or tank tops are acceptable, be
do not allow spaghetti straps, and all stomachs need to be covered, even when jumping to block or hit.
Uniforms, top and shorts, are provided by the school. Girls may wear camisoles under their team
jerseys, but they must be tucked into the shorts. According to bilaws if a shirt is going to be worn under
their jersey they all must be the same color. No shirts can hang below the jersey. Socks, knee pads, and
shoes are each girl's responsibility. Although volleyball court shoes are not required, shoes that tie and
have a non-marking sole are. Knee pads can be bought at any sporting goods store as well as Walmart
and Target, and they should be washed regularly.
Games do not start until 4:30. This is due to the late school day at most of the other middle
schools. C teams play first, followed by the B teams, and A teams always play last. Players are expected
to stay for all games, and support their fellow team members. Girls may leave after the games with
parents, or ride the bus back to school. If your daughter is going home with you from the game, she
must check out with her coach. All of the coaches take the responsibility of caring for your daughter
seriously, and we need to account for every player after a game.
Girls may not wear ANY jewelry during games. This includes earrings, rings, or even hair ties on
the wrist. If your daughter has a recent piercing, the refs will have her remove it for the game. There is
no exception, and they cannot put tape over the piercing. (If at all possible, please wait to get new
piercings until after the season.)
Volleyball shirts and sweatshirts are optional. We only order once, so girls cannot later decide
to get one. Order forms are due by the end of the week. Sweatshirts are $25 and t-shirts are $15.
Please feel free to contact coaches with any questions. We are looking forward to a great season!
Coach Fank (7th grade head coach): ………………………………………[email protected]
Coach Richardson (7th grade assistant coach):………………………[email protected]
Coach Kloberdanz (7th and 8th grade assistant coach)
Coach Cooper (8th grade head coach):……………………………………[email protected]