2023-2024

Avidity Player Handbook

Club and Regional Teams 

 

Acceptable Absence	Unacceptable Absence
MIAA team practice or game Academic Event  If quarantining due to testing COVID positive	Concert tickets Attending a birthday party Too tired to practice

• Players are required to provide their own transportation to and from tournaments
• Players must arrive to a tournament in their designated Avidity Team Travel Gear 
• When playing in a tournament players are required to wear the Avidity Club Uniform unless told otherwise by their coach prior to the tournament date.
• Players must be at their tournament site by the arrival time communicated by our coaching staff.  
• Playing time 
  • Each player is guaranteed ⅓ playing time during pool play matches
    • If an athlete misses practice(s) prior to a tournament, playing time is at the coach’s discretion
  • Playing time during playoffs will be up to the coach’s discretion 
  • Players may play “out of position” during the club season and at tournaments based on a team’s need.  Our teams are formed with the best athletes in mind and we encourage our players to be open to playing new positions.  We want our players to be well-rounded players who can step into any position, at any time, and make an impact on their team.
• Players represent Avidity Volleyball Club and themselves when competing in tournaments, and attending other club-related functions. We expect our athletes to display positive sportsmanship in all situations.  Failure to do so will result in a loss of playing privileges or removal from the club.

1. Players need to contact their coaches via email to request a meeting no sooner than 24 hours following a concern. A tournament or practice is not the time to resolve concerns and coaches are instructed to follow this protocol.  In no circumstance is a parent or player to contact a coach via personal phone call or text message to relay a concern.  
2. If the above concern is not sufficiently addressed, set-up a meeting with the club director (Killeen Miller), the coaching staff, parents, and players.  

• Promote good sportsmanship
• Respect officials, coaching staff and my opponents
• Use positive body language
• Support teammates with positive comments
• Always give full effort in practices and games
• Follow protocol while on the sideline during a match: Be attentive, cheer on your teammates, prepare to return to the game, support your team with positive comments
• Adhere to all rules and guidelines set in place by the Avidity Volleyball Club Handbook
• Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled practice time
• Respect all practice and game facilities and their respective staff. Each player is expected to pick up their trash, help put all equipment away properly and leave the facilities clean. 
• Communicate directly with coaches

2023-2024

Avidity Player Handbook

National Teams

 

Welcome to the 2023-2024 Avidity Volleyball Club Season! The following describes Avidity Volleyball Club’s policies in regards to player participation in our program.  We look forward to a successful 2023-2024  season!

Practice Attendance

Avidity practices will be conducted three times a week. Avidity athletes are expected to be present, both mentally and physically at their practices.   

At Avidity, we take our practice attendance with the utmost importance.  We acknowledge that volleyball is the ultimate team sport.   Our teams require each individual to be present at practices, work hard, and be the best they can be.  Our teams rely on the work of the individuals to be a successful team.  

 

Attendance Absences are broken down into two categories; acceptable absences and unacceptable absences.  Please see below for further breakdown of various examples.  Note, these examples are not inclusive of all situations.     

Acceptable Absence	Unacceptable Absence
MIAA team practice or game Academic Event  If quarantining due to testing COVID positive	Concert tickets Attending a birthday party Too tired to practice

 

We want to ENSURE our athletes attend practices only if they are feeling well enough to do so.  Athletes are expected to stay home if they have exhibited any of the COVID-19 symptoms as defined by the CDC.  

If players miss a practice due to an unacceptable absence, their playing time at a tournament may be affected.  If players miss multiple practices due to unacceptable absences, they will be given a formal warning, followed by removal from their team.

If a player cannot attend practice, they are responsible for communicating this directly with their coaches at a minimum of at least  24 hours in advance (when possible), with much more notice preferred.  A list of all our coaches with their contact information is available here.   For our younger players (12-14 years old), parent communication in regards to attendance is acceptable, however our older players (15-18 years old) need to communicate directly with their coach. Coaches will share their preferred method of communication at the beginning of the season. 

We understand and value how hard our athletes work to maintain their strong academics.  Avidity practices three times a week, for two hours each day.  A total of four hours per week.  Student athletes have to be responsible and on top of their academic schedules and assignments more so than other students.  We expect our players to be able to manage their time and assignments to make Avidity events a priority.  

All players are expected to arrive at the practice site 15 minutes prior to their scheduled practice time ready to practice. Since we rent facilities from DIS and we have multiple teams on a court during our practice dates it is essential that players arrive early to stretch, set-up nets and have any team-related meetings. Players are expected to bring water to every practice as well as be prepared to play volleyball with the proper athletic apparel. 

Strength and Conditioning Classes

Strength and conditioning classes will be offered at Danvers Indoor Sports through Rep Fitness whenever practices are conducted at DIS from January until May.  The players will receive a list of times for their sessions at the beginning of the season.  Avidity athletes are expected to attend strength and conditioning classes.  Players may also drop into other sessions throughout the week to receive additional training.  

Tournaments

Attendance at all tournaments is mandatory.  If there is a tournament a player cannot attend, they must let the coaching staff know by December 31, 2023.  If an athlete is playing a spring sport, coaches need to be updated within  72 hours of players receiving their new schedule of any potential conflicts.  

If a player does not attend a tournament without first speaking to their coaching staff by December 31, 2023 the following situations will result:

1st Unexcused Tournament Absence- $200 fine and in-person meeting scheduled with player, parent/guardian and coaching staff

2nd Unexcused Tournament Absence- Removal from team

Tournaments

• Players are required to provide their own transportation to and from tournaments

• Players must arrive to a tournament in their designated Avidity Team Travel Gear 

• When playing in a tournament players are required to wear the Avidity Club Uniform unless told otherwise by their coach prior to the tournament date.

• Players must be at their tournament site by the arrival time communicated by our coaching staff.  

• Playing time 

  • On our National Level Team, each player is guaranteed 1 set minimum of  playing time during pool play matches.  We do not have a guaranteed amount of playing time beyond that.  Playing time will be earned by athletes at practices as well as through their tournament play.  The goal of this team is to compete and be successful on a national stage. It is important to understand that at times, some athletes will be having a more successful day and they will thus have more playing time.

  • If an athlete misses practice(s) prior to a tournament, playing time is at the coach’s discretion

  • Players may play “out of position” during the club season and at tournaments based on a team’s need.  Our teams are formed with the best athletes in mind and we encourage our players to be open to playing new positions.  We want our players to be well-rounded players who can step into any position, at any time, and make an impact on their team.

• Players represent Avidity Volleyball Club and themselves when competing in tournaments, and attending other club-related functions. We expect our athletes to display positive sportsmanship in all situations.  Failure to do so will result in a loss of playing privileges or removal from the club.

• Players are expected to be at the tournament venues at the time designated to on their schedule.  For National Level competition dates, players are expected to be at the hotel the day before tournament play begins.  It is expected that players make arrangements to depart tournaments  following the team’s conclusion of play for the event, unless previous arrangements are made at least 30 days in advance.  

Communication with Coaches Protocol

Player communication with our coaching staff is essential.  All parent interactions with coaching staff at tournaments and/or practices needs to be positive and cooperative.  

We strongly encourage our athletes to keep an open line of communication with their coaching staff.  If players have concerns, they need to adhere to  the following steps.  

1. Players need to contact their coaches via email to request a meeting no sooner than 24 hours following a concern. A tournament or practice is not the time to resolve concerns and coaches are instructed to follow this protocol.  In no circumstance is a parent or player to contact a coach via personal phone call or text message to relay a concern.  

2. If the above concern is not sufficiently addressed, set-up a meeting with the club director (Killeen Miller), the coaching staff, parents, and players.  

If a parent has a concern regarding their player, their player needs to schedule a time to meet with the coach and follow the above protocol.  Failure to do so may result in a player being dismissed from the club. 

Payments & Fees

Tuition payments need to be made on time.  Failure to make a payment will result in a player’s immediate suspension from the club.

Upon accepting a roster spot, families are responsible for fulfilling that financial obligation by following the payment plan provided in the offer letter.  

Players who have an outstanding balance in accordance with their payment plan will not be allowed to participate in any Avidity activity, including but not limited to practices, games, or tournaments.  Players with outstanding balances greater than 90 days will be forwarded to collections. 

Refund / Cancellation Policy for National Teams

The tryout fee for our club teams (all levels) is a non - refundable fee of $65.  

Our programs have a considerable fixed budget. We've designed our refund policy to be fair to both the family and the club. If an athlete drops a program for non-medical reasons after accepting a team spot, there will be no refunds issued and the full season balance will be due.

Refunds will not be considered for any of the following reasons, but not limited to: 

• Weather cancellations 

• Team assignment and/or coaching staff

• Unhappy with playing time

• Unforeseen scheduling conflicts or changes, inclusive of strength and conditioning classes

• Participant no longer wishes to continue on the team 

Should an athlete not be available to continue her season due to injury or medical reasons, and provides a valid doctor's note, Avidity will consider waiving future payments, but no refunds will be issued  payments already made. 

 Snow Days

New England has variable weather and with players traveling from many surrounding communities, we take the safety of our players very seriously. For weather related concerns, Avidity Volleyball club reserves the right to cancel practices up to 1 hour before a scheduled practice time.  When cancellations occur, we will send out an email and post the information on our website as well as on our facebook page. 

Apparel & Equipment

All Avidity Volleyball players will be given a brand new Avidity Volleyball Club volleyball at the beginning of the season. All players are required to bring their volleyball with them to ALL tournaments. Players can decorate this ball in whichever way they choose, but are required to at least put their name on their individual ball. 

 

When attending tournaments, Travel and Open players must wear their designated Avidity Travel Gear.  Club level teams should also wear their Avidity gear!  Be proud!!

Drug, Alcohol and Drug Policy

Being a member of the Avidity program is a responsibility and a privilege. Therefore, the possession or use of any controlled substance, alcohol, or tobacco products by an athlete is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. In the event of the above instances, the club director reserves the right to immediately remove the player from the team.  

 

             Player Commitment 

 

I understand that I must demonstrate good sportsmanship towards my teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials while representing Avidity Volleyball Club. I am fully committed to Avidity Volleyball Club and will abide by the New England Volleyball Association Code of Conduct and the following:

• Promote good sportsmanship

• Respect officials, coaching staff and my opponents

• Use positive body language

• Support teammates with positive comments

• Always give full effort in practices and games

• Follow protocol while on the sideline during a match: Be attentive, cheer on your teammates, prepare to return to the game, support your team with positive comments

• Adhere to all rules and guidelines set in place by the Avidity Volleyball Club Handbook

• Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled practice time

• Respect all practice and game facilities and their respective staff. Each player is expected to pick up their trash, help put all equipment away properly and leave the facilities clean. 

• Communicate directly with coaches