Dear Parents of Crater Volleyball players,
My name is Leaf Jensen and I am the new head volleyball coach at Crater High School. I
have been teaching in the district for 17 years and have coached all levels of volleyball over the
last 20 years. I played 4 years of college volleyball at the University of San Diego, coached 4
years of JV at Ashland High School, 8 years as Head Varsity at Crater, and assisted one year at
Southern Oregon University the year we finished 9th in the nation; SOU’s highest ever finish at
that time. I have coached club and middle school as well over that time. My wife holds several
volleyball records at Southern Oregon University, and her brother Josh is in his 7th year as Head
coach at SOU after leading Ashland High to a state championship and twice being name Oregon
High School State coach of the year. So there is a little volleyball blood in the family.
I am excited about the prospect of working with Crater athletes again and anticipate a
great season next year. Please be extra supportive of your athlete the first few weeks of season
as they will be getting bombarded with new techniques, defensive schemes and server receive
rotations which is a lot to remember and process. I will be asking the girls to perform skills in
new ways that may initially make them feel like they are getting worse. The only way to evolve
as volleyball players is to push ourselves to perform new and challenging skills that we haven’t
already mastered. So expect some frustration, but I know in the end you will see great leaps in
their abilities as they are challenged throughout the season.
I will be holding open gyms throughout the winter and spring terms and will post times
on the new Crater Volleyball website - cratervolleyball.weebly.com. The site is currently under
construction but it will be the best place to find any information you need regarding Crater
Volleyball and the Comet Volleyball Club. As I was hired after the club season started we won’t
have a club affiliation this year, but we absolutely will next year. More on that later.
Please visit the website ASAP and send me an email so I can add you to my mass email
list. You can also directly email me at [email protected].
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter,
Leaf Jensen
Expectations of Crater High School Volleyball Players
To Play at Crater:
1. Be Present & Mindful at All Times
 Always give…the best teams have a low excuse threshold.
 All decisions and behaviors directly affect your family, team, and community.
 A snide comment to a teammate or coach carries a lot of weight.
2. Commit to having an intense work ethic, work intently, and intelligently
 Average athletes work when they feel good, great athletes always work to improve.
3. Put the Team Before Yourself
 Follow team and school rules, give every day.
 Selfish teams will implode, selfish individuals create selfish teams.
4. Winners Win
 Believe in your team, coaches, and most importantly yourself. Always have a positive frame of mind. This
includes positive self-talk, playing with confidence, and commitment to the process.
To Stay at Crater:
1. Be Responsible/Accountable
 Listen and apply things the first time. Go to all classes; be on time; ask questions; be respectful.
Responsibility is present in mature athletes. Be to functions, matches, and practice on time. Never make
others wait for you.
2. Be Respectful
 Be respectful to your teammates, coaches, staff, peers, custodians, and community members. Moody people
are just a carcass that teams are required to carry throughout a season. Your actions and integrity are a
direct reflection on the rest of your teammates. Be the change you wish to see.
3. Be Forthright
 I trust you. Can everyone on the team or within the community trust you? What would my teammates say
about me? Always be truthful. Do the right thing
4. Be Loyal
 Safeguard all team issues. Be sure to let teammates know when they aren’t carrying their weight. It is
important to hold your teammates to a higher standard than you might an acquaintance.
To Have Success at Crater:
1. Be a Coachable and Great Teammate
 Accept critiquing, never take it personally. Communicate well with teammates and coaches. Commit to
program philosophies. Follow directions (the first time). Talk to your coaches, not about them.
Communication must have at least two people to be considered communication.
2. Play a Positive Role
 Whether you are the best player on the team or somebody who rarely gets off the bench, prepare properly.
Do what is best for the team. Everyone has a role….what is yours?
3. Set the Pace
 Constantly control the pace of the match, our team will never be rooted, but will always be grounded.
Disrupt whatever the other team likes to do well. Be the aggressors.
4. Be Consistent and Consistently Motivated
 Be the best practice player you can be. Greatness occurs when opportunity meets preparedness. Be
emotionally engaged and prepared for every practice and every match. Enjoy the process.
Tryout Expectations:
General Team placement Information:
1) Standard number of players on roster is 12
2) Cuts could be made as early as the 5th session of Daily Doubles
3) Roster will be designated or explained by Wednesday, August 20th
How you are assessed:
1) Coaches assess you based on
a. Self-Responsibility
i. When asked to do something off the court are you reminded more than once?
ii. Self-motivated (You don’t have to be told to do tasks etc.)
b. Skill Level
c. Conditioning
d. Attitude
i. Winner’s mentality
1. Do you try to win every drill, every match, every point
2. Do you complain? Pout? Give Excuses?
e. Coach-ability (do you apply the first time-on and off the court)
i. Do you work on inadequacies before and after practices?
How you are informed of team placement:
1) We will sit down with you
a. One on one
i. Tell you how we see your role on this team
1. Roles change as seasons progress
ii. Ask for your opinions
iii. Move forward
2) You can come in to talk with any of the coaches any time during tryouts to see how you
are doing or generally ask questions and to get help.
“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is
the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”
Vince Lombardi
PLAYING TIME
Playing time will be determined by three factors: attendance, attitude, and skill and will not
always be equal on JV or Varsity. Emphasis will be placed on positive attitude, hard work,
progress, and improvement.
Attendance consists of “showing up” both physically and mentally to practices, competitions,
and other team activities. Attitude consists of a positive “can-do” mentality. This can be seen in
a student-athlete’s willingness to try what is asked of her (coachability). The attitude component
also refers to the support each student-athlete gives her teammates. Skill consists of the physical
capabilities of the student-athlete when completing required motions and plays.
FRESHMAN
On this team all athletes will play equal time in the first two games provided practice
attendance and participation is 100%. If a third game is needed, playing time will be
decided by the coach. We feel that it is more important at this level for the girls to get
court time than it is for them to have a perfect record at the end of the season.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Just as it is important for girls to get court time, it is also very important for them to
learn how to win, and be rewarded for their hard work and successful mastery of
skills. Therefore, on the JV Team play will not be equal, but everyone will
participate.
VARSITY
Play to win. Players and parents must understand that this philosophy means some
athletes will not receive playing time on a regular basis. Players must weigh the
advantages or disadvantages of possibly sitting on Varsity or playing for JV. Coaches
will have discussions with any bubble JV/V athletes and decide together on the best
course of action for each individual.
ATHLETE ABSENCES FROM PRACTICE AND COMPETITIONS:
Absences from practice and competition will result in reduction or loss of playing time. When a
student-athlete does not attend a practice or competition the entire team is affected. Prior to the
beginning of the season, each student-athlete is given the opportunity to list any schedule
conflicts. These are the only absences that are considered excused.
If a student-athlete is not at practice, she will not play in at least one game of the following
match. Depending on the circumstance, this student-athlete may forfeit all of her playing time in
the following match. If a student-athlete will miss practice or a competition, she must inform the
coach as soon as she is aware of the absence, but always prior to the practice or competition
starting time. This is very important!