LVC Mission Statement

• To develop / promote elite volleyball in Southern Alberta.

  Club Philosophy

• While court time is limited, every effort will be made to give all eligible players the opportunity to play.
• The LVC believes that, volleyball is a team game where work ethic, team work, attitude, and sportsmanship are more important than winning at all costs but that these attributes can lead to success both on and off the court and later in life.
• We believe that coaches exert a powerful influence over their players and we insist that coaches and other club officials, while expecting the best from their players, exhibit at all times a positive, constructive and supportive coaching strategy and provide a role model that is beyond reproach.
• As our focus is on youth, we encourage parents to become involved and supportive both with their team and the administration. The goal is for players, parents, and coaches to feel a part of the LVC "family".

  About LVC

• The Lethbridge Volleyball Club is a member of the Alberta Volleyball Association and therefore adheres to the policies adopted by AVA.  All members of the Lethbridge Volleyball Club are therefore expected to adhere to these policies and guidelines.
• The LVC requires its members (coaches, athletes and parents) to consistently display a high personal standard and project a favourable sportsmanship image at all events.
• The LVC is a non-profit organization and therefore relies on volunteers and fund raising from its membership.
• LVC’s official club colors are Navy and White.

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  Expectations of the LVC

• Provide competitive and or developmental opportunities for Southern Alberta athletes and coaches at an elite level.
• Remain in good standing with the Alberta Volleyball Association and follow their guidelines where necessary.  Register all current players, coaches and officials.
• Recruit and provide certified coaches in each age group.
• Provide coaches, parents and athletes consistent, accurate and timely information.
• Field at least one men’s and one women’s team in each age category if possible:

-           13U men, 14U men, 15U men, 16U men, 17U men and 18U men

-           13U women, 14U women, 15U women, 16U women, 17U women and 18U women

• Budget responsibly so that value is received through the fees paid.
• Disperse funds to coaches, etc. in a fair and timely manner.
• Organize fundraising activities such as casinos and Volleython, apply for appropriate grants.
• Assist Alberta Volleyball Association when hosting AVA events in Lethbridge – provide volunteers as required.
• Conduct an annual general meeting, invite all interested parties to the meeting with an agenda, set standard annual meeting date (i.e. second Sunday in January).
• Provide coaches with necessary equipment (balls, first aid kits, etc.), which remain the property of LVC. 
• Provide coaches with coaching certification opportunities.

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  Expectations of LVC Coaches

• Coaches Conduct: positive leadership, sportsmanship, role modeling, positive practice routines, constructive game and tournament strategies, set per athlete playing time guidelines, provide equal instruction and support to each athlete, respect and support the athletes, fellow LVC coaches, officials, rules and opposing teams.
• Provide supervision and curfew guidelines while at tournaments so that the safety of the athletes is ensured.
• Each coach must gain appropriate coaching certification required for the age group they will be coaching and provide documentation to LVC when requested. 
• Bantams = NCCP Volleyball Passport Level 1
• Midgets = NCCP Volleyball Passport Level 1
• Juveniles = NCCP Volleyball Passport Level 2
• Scheduling tournaments – each LVC team is expected to compete in all AVA premier events as well as provincials.  Competing in other one day tournaments and the national championships are at the discretion of each coach / team. (See LVC fee schedule for information on registration fees and team expenses covered).
• Communicate team goals, philosophies and tournament strategies with athletes / parents.
• Communicate appropriate information with their team’s parent rep – tournament and practice schedules, player lists, etc.
• Return equipment loaned to them at the end of each season in good condition (less regular wear and tear).  The second installment of coaches honorariums will not be issued until equipment has been returned.
• Report inappropriate behavior of athletes or parents to the board.

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  Expectations of LVC Parents

• Parents Conduct: support coaches, athletes, referees, tournament officials, be positive role models, act responsibly at tournaments, express disapproval in an appropriate manner to coaches or LVC officials.
• Parent reps - Assist coaches in relaying information to athletes and other parents, reserve hotel rooms, restaurant reservations, manage team funds, etc.
• Help the team by scorekeeping and line judging so that players do not have to.
• Pay fees by designated date.
• Chaperone athletes at away tournaments including enforcing room curfews set by the coach.
• Assist in ensuring athletes are transported safely to and from tournaments / venues. 
• Parents must have a minimum of $1,000,000 of personal liability insurance to transfer athletes other than their own.

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  Expectation of LVC Athletes

• Athletes Conduct: respect coaches, team-mates, referees, tournament officials, parents and other tournament athletes.
• Remember winning isn’t everything and a positive attitude must be displayed at all times.  Having fun, improving skills, helping team-mates become better players and putting in 100% effort are more important than winning.
• Help fellow team-mates become better players through positive role modeling.
• Respect all facilities used:  i.e. gyms, schools, restaurants, hotels, washrooms, and buses – this includes placing all garbage in provided receptacles.
• Respect other guests in the hotel by respecting curfews, no volleyball playing in the hallway, limit elevator use, etc.

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  Annual Tryouts and Team Formation

• LVC Age groups:
• 13U Bantams,   14U Bantams,  
• 15U Midgets, 16U Midgets,
• 17U Juveniles, 18U Juveniles

• The LVC will conduct tryouts in December and January.  New athletes as well as members in good standing will be required to pay a $10 tryout fee at the first tryout.  A member in good standing is a returning athlete who has no outstanding fees or business with the club. (adopted August 2006)
• Athlete Evaluations – While at tryouts, athletes will be evaluated by LVC coaches on the following:  natural physical ability, current volleyball skill level, attitude, strength and natural size, work ethic, knowledge of the game, position (knowledge of position), communication skills, and ability to function in a competitive team setting.
• Team Selections - Coaches will meet with all players who attend the tryouts and either invite them to play on the team, or explain in a positive manner why they have not been chosen to play.  This meeting preferably happens during the last hour of the last tryout.
• Tryout attendance – All things being equal, athletes who attend 100% of the tryout dates will be the first chosen on teams compared to those who attended less than 100% of the tryouts.
• All team rosters will be finalized by January 15^th of the current season.   Teams must have a minimum of 8 players by January 15^th to form a team.
• Late additions until January 15^th – athletes who miss tryouts are still required to pay the tryout fee and will only be accepted on a team if it has space and only after a written request to the coach explaining why they missed tryouts is completed.   Even after the written request, it is up to the coach to accept or deny the athletes request.
• Whenever possible, athletes must participate on a team in their own age group.  Exceptions may occur, but must be authorized by the LVC executive.
• No LVC athlete is allowed to play on more than one team in the same season.
• Teams will compete in their own age group at AVA events.
• Bantam Teams – If a bantam age group has enough athletes to field two teams all attempts will be made to balance the teams for competition and development purposes.
• Midget and Juvenile age groups which have enough athletes to form two teams will select one team as a competitive team and the second as a developmental team.
• Age groups which have enough athletes to form two teams will select one team as a competitive team and one team as a developmental team.
• The following are guidelines for minimum and maximum players to be selected for each team.  Teams in any one age group will be formed based on the numbers below:

• If 10 – 17 athletes tryout, one team will be formed with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 athletes.
• If 18 + athletes tryout, two teams will be formed with a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 12 athletes on each team.

• All attempts will be made by coaches to have 10-12 players on their team.  Ideally, each team will have a minimum of 11 players as the annual budget is based on eleven players per team.
• After tryouts, coaches will supply their athletes with a practice schedule – practice time starts in early to mid January.  AVA events begin in February for Juveniles and March for Midgets and Bantams.  Teams may participate in optional one day events throughout the season.  AVA Provincials are contested in May.  (See LVC fee guide)

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  Coaching

• The LVC board and special LVC coaching advisers will attempt to assign coaches to age groups by October 1^st for the following season based on coaches written submissions.
• Coaches are responsible to pay for their coaching certification and must be in good standing with AVA and have received proof of certification prior to the annual team tryouts.
• Coaches are personally responsible for any fines levied by AVA or Volleyball Canada to them or LVC because of a result of the coach’s actions.
• Coaches will purvey LVC and team expectations and philosophies to athletes and parents.
• For insurance purposes, coaches who are teachers and have access to their school’s gym must pay for practice time like every other team.
• Compensation –

• Head coaches will be paid an honorarium split into two equal payments payable on February 15^th and May 31^st. The second payment will be made once all LVC balls and first aid kits have been returned.
• Assistant coaches will also be paid an honorarium with split payments on February 15^th and May 31^st. (Honorariums are available for just one assistant coach per team).

• Floor Time - Coaches have the ultimate decision on floor time of each individual athlete on their team.  All efforts will be made to give each athlete floor time in each event, but it will never likely be equal amongst athletes.  A number of factors could determine an athlete’s floor time including:  practice attendance, effort at practice, current team make-up, athlete’s general attitude, current health of athlete, magnitude of the game, disciplinary reasons, etc.  Coaches should stress to athletes that although they may be spending time on the bench, that they can still make a positive contribution to the team’s success.
• Practice time – For insurance purposes, only LVC athletes and coaches are permitted to participate in practices.

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  Fees / Budget

• The LVC requires payment of fees by January 31^st of the current season.  Arrangements can be made to pay with installments until April 1^st of the current season.
• A refund of up to 50% of the fees will be refunded for players who withdraw from the club due to injury or personal reasons on or before February 21^st.
• The annual LVC operating budget is to be set by November 1^st for the upcoming season.
• The annual budget will be set with the thought of covering costs and contingencies.  All profit is intended for a future LVC volleyball facility.  Additional fund raising (Volleython) will be earmarked for a future LVC volleyball facility.
• The LVC budget includes the following for each team: one tee shirt per athlete, one uniform per athlete, tourney entry fees, gym time, coaches / assistants travel expenses and honorariums, equipment (balls, first aid kits), and AVA fees.
• Team sponsorship expectations – Each team is required to fund raise an additional $1,000 to help cover other team / Club costs.   A example of a sponsorship letter can be found here .
• Additional team items not included in the budget and up to the discretion of the team to fund are:  outerwear, extra uniforms, shorts, gym bags, national championship expenses other than tournament registration fees, etc.
• Additional funds will be charged to those athletes participating on teams traveling to AVA events which require bus transportation ( Grande Prairie ).  These funds cover transportation (bus) and accommodation.  The bus is reserved for athletes, coaches and team parent reps.  A limited number of bus seats may be available for other parents.  These are subject to an additional fee. 

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  Club Equipment

• Balls and first aid kits will be assigned to each team’s head coach at tryouts.  Balls and first aid kits must be returned by May 31^st for head coaches to receive the final installment of their honorarium.
• LVC equipment will be safely stored and noted by a current board member.
• Nets / standards are stored at CCH.

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  Communication

• LVC Website updates – All information posted on the LVC website must go through the LVC executive.
• Media reporting – Lethbridge Herald – only parent reps or coaches may report tournament results to the local media.   If more than one LVC team is traveling to the same event, parent reps should communicate with each other so that all teams participating receive equal and accurate media coverage.

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