COACHING PHILOSOPHY

							Camas Papermaker




 Volleyball Handbook
         2010
           PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM

There are several goals associated with the Camas Volleyball Program. The first goal is
enjoyment. We should all be involved with the sport of volleyball because we love it and have
fun doing it. If we don’t and we aren’t, then we should rethink why we are here. The second goal
is developmental, especially for underclassmen. The fundamental groundwork should be laid
with previous years of training. The ultimate goal of each player, then, should be to prepare to
compete for a varsity position. The third goal is to win more than we lose. It is more fun to win
than to lose, which relates directly back to goal one. This goal, however, needs to be kept in
perspective. Winning at the cost of honor is never acceptable. In the end, we will measure
success by how well we have worked toward and hopefully achieved these goals.

                                  PERFORMANCE LEVEL

The level (varsity, junior varsity, freshmen) at which an athlete is placed is not a decision made
lightly. Many aspects of the program and the player must be taken into account. We take into
account a player’s ability (i.e. fitness, technique, tactics, knowledge, etc.) and her preparedness
(i.e. commitment, dedication, will to win, attitude, motivation, level of focus, etc.) in addition to
the needs of each team. Positions and levels must be competed for, earned, and are always fluid.
It is possible to move up or down from team to team. The coaching staff must ultimately make
the decisions and live with the results.

                                 EARNING A CHS LETTER

Earning a letter in CHS volleyball is a very special reward for the player who has been successful
in the program. Three main components are required; dedication to the program, meaningful
contribution to the team, and individual effort in ability and Camas character. Therefore, the
following requirements have been established in order to earn a letter:
     Play in 15 varsity games out of 14 matches and 2 tournaments
     Complete entire season except for a documented injury
     Commitment to the program including staying physically fit and mentally tough, adheres
        to attendance policy, academic policy, and code of conduct; supports Camas in word and
        deed
     Give her all, all of the time (both in practice and matches)
     Positive attitude toward the team and teammates
     Supportive of the program and team activities
The coaching staff will evaluate each player based on the above criteria in order to determine
qualifying players.

                                 THE STUDENT ATHLETE

The title says it all. These young ladies are students first and athletes second. Therefore, the
coaching staff puts a large emphasis on grades. Athletes in the Camas Volleyball Program must
maintain a 2.50 GPA. Any player falling below that mark will be required to attend conference
period (2:10-2:40 PM) with the teacher of the class(es) she has fallen behind in. Any player,
however, who stays at school before practice should be studying and doing homework or
working with a teacher during conference time.
                      ALL-LEAGUE NOMINATION CRITERIA

The following guidelines have been established for choosing players to be nominated for All-
League Honors.
     Demonstration of a solid commitment to CHS Volleyball
     Works hard in training and matches
     Displays a level of talent and skill above the average player
     No suspensions during the season, including academic
     Played in all league matches except for reason of illness/injury
     Positive influence on the team and program
In the past there have been three levels of nomination; First Team, Second Team, and Honorable
Mention. Nominating a player for All-League Honors does not guarantee that she will receive
recognition by the other coaches. There is inherent subjectivity in the league process.

                                        EQUIPMENT

Volleyball can take a huge toll on the body therefore proper equipment should be utilized. A
good pair of volleyball shoes is essential for preventing foot and leg problems. Players do a
tremendous amount of jumping that can wear down shoes over time. Kneepads, while not
required, are recommended. They cushion the knee and upper shin during advanced defensive
moves helping to prevent injury. Ankle braces are also a good idea. They can prevent or at least
lessen the severity of ankle injuries when players land incorrectly or contact is made under the
net.

                                         NUTRITION

Nutrition plays a huge role in training and performance. Without fueling your body correctly,
you cannot expect to perform at your peak. Here are a few nutritional reasons for diminished
performance:
     Insufficient caloric intake
     Diet high in empty calories (fat, sugar, etc.)
     Poor carbohydrate intake
     Lack of replenishing fluids (urine should be clear)
     Lack of vitamins and minerals
     Soda pop
     Alcohol or other drug use
Eating properly before matches will enable athletes to play at a high level. Avoid fats, oils, red
meat, beans, and peas before a match. They take 4-8 hours to digest. Lean meats, omelets,
vegetables, bananas, white bread, and milk take only 2-3 hours to digest. Tea, mineral water,
meat broth, soups, rice, soft-boiled eggs, and mashed potatoes are examples of foods that digest
in 1-2 hours. Oats are a great performance enhancing food.

                                      GOAL SETTING

Goal setting should be an important part of every athlete’s training. If you don’t know where
you’re going, you won’t know when you get there! Individual and team goals will be set and
assessed on a regular basis. Goals need to be high enough to require extra effort to achieve them,
yet low enough to be attainable. We will set goals in two categories; long term (mid-season,
post-season) and short (weekly).
                                    SPORTSMANSHIP

Honor. It is a simple word, but one that can be difficult to define. CHS Volleyball players are
expected to be honorable. This means being humble in victory and genuinely congratulatory in
defeat. Always conduct yourself with grace and poise, both on and off the court. The way you
dress and carry yourself leaves a lasting impression on people. Be respectful of your opponent
and the officials and you will gain respect in return.

                                       WORK ETHIC

You play like you practice. A championship team requires a championship effort. These words
may be cliché, but they are true. Hard work pays off, even if it is over a long period of time.
Players must control their minds and form the attitude that hard work is fun, competition is fun,
and the results you gain from them is worthwhile. Losing requires very little effort. The more a
team wins, the harder its members must work to maintain an edge over its opponents.
Practicing and playing to win (regardless of the score, importance of the match, or our win/loss
record) is the only acceptable attitude. It is one of the core principles that shapes Camas
Volleyball.

                                           FAMILY

The support of the family is paramount in establishing and maintaining an effective program and
in ensuring success for the athlete. Be positive, yet realistic in what is said to the player.
Especially avoid put downs of others and predicting outcomes of matches. Using phrases such
as “You’ll beat this team easily,” can put undue amounts of pressure on the athlete. Using
phrases that promote effort such as “Play hard today” or “I know you’ll play smart today” are
much more effective. In the event of a loss, it is hard to know what to say. Athletes respond
differently and parents know their daughters best.

                                   COMMUNICATION

Communication between the coaching staff and parents may be necessary. We are working
together for the benefit of the athlete. The following are times when parents must contact the
coach:
    Suspicion of tobacco, alcohol, or drug use
    Sudden drop in grades
    She talks about quitting
    Questions that specifically concern your daughter (must observe a minimum of 2
       consecutive practices before contacting coaches to discuss play or lack thereof)
    Desire to donate to the program or help out in any way

There are, however, things that the coaching staff is not willing to discuss with parents. These
include the following:
     Players other than your daughter
     Playing time for individual players
     Tactical decisions
Everyone has a role to play. Players play, coaches coach, and parents parent. If everyone
remembers and fulfills his/her role, there will be a positive outcome. If roles become confused,
the results are often negative.
                                       TRANSPORTATION

Functioning as a team unit requires bonding by all involved. Bus rides and supporting the other
teams in the volleyball program provide an opportunity for coaches, athletes, and managers to
get to know each other better and forge strong bonds. Therefore, athletes are expected to ride
the bus together to and home from away contests (a minimum of 6 away matches must be
watched) and watch the other teams play at home matches. If an extreme situation occurs,
proper procedures for taking an athlete after competition must be followed. A parent must sign
the player out with the team coach. Parents may only sign out their own daughter unless other
arrangements have been made through the athletic office.

                                 DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE

Although rare in volleyball, discipline problems can occur from time to time. Having an
established process for dealing with these unusual cases allows the program to function more
efficiently. In the event of a problem, the first offense will result in sitting out the first game of
the next match. A second offense will result in missing the entire next match. A third offense
will result in suspension from the team for the remainder of the season.

                                         ATTENDANCE

The WIAA and Camas School District have attendance policies in place for students who
choose to be involved with extracurricular activities. Since participating in these activities is a
privilege and not a right, the attendance standards are higher for these students. Athletes must
be in attendance the entire school day in order to participate in practice or a match. The only
exceptions to this rule are prearranged medical appointments or a school activity.

Tardies
Tardiness to practice (even 1 second) disrupts practice and lets teammates down. The only
acceptable reason for being late to practice is an academic responsibility that cannot be
completely taken care of during the conference period (i.e. making up a long test). Such an event
must be cleared by a coach PRIOR to being late for practice. A dated, timed, and signed note
from the teacher must accompany the student to practice. Habitual tardiness will result in
disciplinary action.

Absences
Attendance at practices and matches is paramount to the development of players. Players are
expected to be at ALL practices and matches. Illness and family emergencies are the only valid
reasons for missing volleyball.

                                       COACHING STAFF

Head Coach:             Julie Nidick                    julie.nidick@camas.wednet.edu
                                                        833.5750 (W); 817.2606 (H); 601.5696 (C)

Varsity Assistants:     Ted Buck and Web Burns

Junior Varsity:         Naomi Alandt                    nalandt@gmail.com
                                                        360.901.9640 (C)
Freshmen:               Courtney Wallenborn             cwallenborn03@yahoo.com
                                                        360.619.2914 (C)
                              HANDBOOK SIGN-OFF PAGE

I have read the 2011 CHS Volleyball Handbook and understand its contents.




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