WELCOME
TO
AZ DESERT SKY
VOLLEYBALL
CLUB
Congratulations!! I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to AZ Desert Sky VBC. I hope and pray
that you will find this an enjoyable six to eight months of volleyball. We are committed to doing our best, to teach
your daughter as many volleyball skills as possible while having fun and competing in a team sport with other
players her age.
AZ Desert Sky is beginning its eleventh season as a Volleyball Club. In November of 2005, we began with 9
teams and a developmental group. This year we hope to have at least 10 teams. Our staff of administration and
coaches numbers over 26 adults who are helping to impact your daughters’ life in a positive way through the game
of volleyball. This club would not, and could not, be successful without this group of people.
We are a Christian based Club. Our coaches and teams may begin each tournament with a prayer. We have
parents who pray for our club and the safety of all of our families. A player may choose not to participate in pre or
post game prayer and may choose to remain silent during that time. Teams may choose to pray at any time.
Playing Time: This is solely at the discretion of the coaches as to playing time. We treat all levels the same as a
High School team. Our coaches try to get all the players in but they are not required to do so.
Absenteeism: An excused absence from practice is for one of the following reasons: Church, Family, Academics,
School’ Athletic Teams and illness. Any other reason for not being present at practices or games must be approved
by your head coach. It is the players’ responsibility to notify the coach if they are going to miss or be late to a
practice. Parents and friends should not “carry messages” to the coach for a player. We plan practices expecting all
girls to be present. When several do not show up and have not notified the coach in advance it ruins our plans for
instruction at practice. A player who has missed a practice is expected to make the practice up with a team of equal
or higher abilities as long as both coaches agree to the make-up practice. When coaches are not notified in advance
by the player of an absence the following rules are in effect: 1 st time = warning, 2nd time = will not start the next
set, 3rd time = benched for an entire set, 4th time may result in dismissal from the team.
Team Fine: It is important that all players are present at all matches and tournaments. If a team can not field
enough players to play at a tournament and they do not cancel at least 48 hours in advance, then the players who
are not present will pay the $200 fine. This fee will be assessed equally among the players who are not present.
This fine is levied by AZ Region Volleyball and must be paid before the team is allowed to compete again.
Media Guide: We will be taking individual player photos for our recruiting flyers/website/to use for recruiting. If
you do not want your daughters’ picture to appear please notify your coach as soon as possible. The flyers will be
used to publicize your daughter to colleges.
Sportsmanship: Club volleyball can teach many positive traits, such as, a spirit of cooperation, self-discipline and
regard for physical fitness and one’s own body. We ask that parents refrain from criticizing opposing players,
other parents, other clubs, teammates or officials. Often the lines people and/or referees are someone else’s
daughter. Please put yourself in the parent’s place before criticizing a player from another team that is refereeing
your daughter’s match. Coaches and teams are held responsible for the actions of their parents. Parents can be
asked to leave a facility if they become verbally abusive, rude, or disrespectful. Please be positive and represent
yourself, your daughter, and AZ Desert Sky with dignity and positive words of encouragement.
In our spectator enthusiasm, we are often prone to issue instructions to the players that may be contrary to those of
the coach. This only causes confusion for the players. PLEASE: ENCOURAGE YOUR DAUGHTER TO
FOLLOW HER COACH’S INSTRUCTIONS AND LEAVE THE COACHING TO THE COACH. Parents
need to align 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 women about the realities of
competitive situations. They must be taught how to be a cooperative team member, how to make use of both
positive and negative feedback, how to cope with adversity, how to achieve mental toughness, and how to be a
gracious winner or loser.
When a player has a problem with the coach, parents have the responsibility of teaching their daughters the steps
necessary to remedy the situation. The following steps should be taken if a player has a grievance with the coach:
Step One: The PLAYER should schedule a time to discuss the problem/concern with the coach and try to arrive at
a solution to the problem.
Step Two: You may email the Club Director at [email protected] and [email protected].
Step Three: If attempts are made to resolve the problem and the player is still not satisfied, the player should call
Linda Rodl at 602-451-9506. She will set up a meeting with herself, the player, and the coach.
Step Four: If the above steps do not remedy the problem, a meeting with Linda, the player, the parent(s), and the
coach will be set up to hopefully arrive at a solution.
Under no circumstances is a parent to approach a coach with a complaint or an evaluation of coaching
philosophy. The above procedure must be followed in dealing with any situations that may arise. The Board of
Directors of AZ Desert Sky VBC will not allow the coaches or players to be berated by parents or fellow
teammates. If you or your daughter refuses to follow these guidelines, you will be asked to leave the program.
Please remember:
James 3:1-12 addresses the tongue. It is a mighty instrument and yet so small. It has the ability to Bless or
Curse. Please be sure that you are always BLESSING every player on our team. Lift our team up in prayer.
Do not speak badly of any of our players since this is "cursing" them. We are a team, we are the body of
Christ. Our players are learning, having fun and improving. It will come together. The "W's" may not show yet
but have faith and patience in where we are going. Besides, my Mom always told me: "If you do not have
something nice to say..." NUFF SAID.
Practice Sites and Directions: Our teams practice three times a week. Practice sites and times are set. A coach
may ask for a voluntary fourth practice if the team is preparing for a special tournament otherwise we try to
maintain a constant practice schedule. We practice on 4 sites: Greenway H. S., ASU West, Moon Valley H.S., and
Mountain View Elem. School.
Greenway H. S.: 3930 W. Greenway Rd. The gym is located on the North side of campus in the middle of the
school. Park in the west lot and walk east past the racquetball courts to the gym.
Mountain View Elem. School: 801 W. Peoria. The gym is located on the east side of the main parking lot.
ASU West: 47th Ave. and Thunderbird. Enter through the Main Entrance off Thunderbird. Turn Right at the first
stop sign. Turn up into the parking lot on your left just past the next stop sign. Park at the far end of the lot. Walk
east down the hill to the football field and proceed to the sand courts.
Moon Valley H. S. - 3625 W. Cactus - gyms are located on the SE corner of the school.
No players will be allowed to leave the gyms unless they are escorted by an adult. Please plan accordingly.
Our Coaches time is valuable! Please be prompt in picking up your player on time. We will access a
“babysitting fee” for habitual tardiness in picking up your player from team practices/activities.
Players should arrive at the gym no more than 15 minutes ahead of practice time. They should not interfere with
another teams practice. Please do not place water bottles on the floors in any of the sites. Please throw all trash in
the containers. We are fortunate to have these sites, please take care of them. Early teams will set up the nets and
late teams will put the equipment away correctly.
Officiating/Scorekeeping Clinic
Our players must be certified each year to either officiate or be a scorekeeper at our tournaments. Parents may also
attend this clinic to assist the girls in their duties. If a player does not attend this clinic then she will be a line judge
for the entire season. These clinics are scheduled to take place somewhere in the Metro Phoenix area in December.
We will notify you as soon as the AZ Region has set this date. Please hold this date open!
Tournament sites, times and directions will be listed on www.azregionvolleyball.org by Tuesday preceding the
tournament. Please check this website often and keep informed about the AZ Region volleyball standings. It is
advisable to carry lawn chairs to the tournaments since seating is limited in most sites. Please be sure that your
chairs are plastic coated or protected on the base or foot of the chair. Metal tipped chairs can scratch the gym
floors. Coolers are usually allowed outside of the gym. It is advisable to pack water, Gatorade and snack foods for
your player. They do get hungry. Fresh fruit, cheese, peanut butter, beef jerky, nuts, power bars, etc… are all
healthy and simple snacks that can be consumed between matches. Carbohydrates, sugars, and caffeine should be
avoided, especially the day of the tournament within 4 hours of playing.