6/30/2011
06/28/11 Diocesan Girls Fall 2011 coaches post-meeting notes:
Funding:
Lorraine King, Debby McSwiggen, and I will open an account in First Niagara Bank entitled “Diocesan Girls VB” (or similar). Into this, we shall deposit the registration fee checks that will fund the league.
Each team will please submit a registration fee of $120.
Checks should be sent to Ms. Lorraine King, our de facto treasurer. Her address and info, as well as to whom you should make the check(s) payable, will be send and/or posted on the website at a later date.
Goal: keep costs the same or possibly decrease fees in subsequent years, as situations permit.
Team registrations and schedules:
All team registrations MUST be received (to Seth Runatz) by Aug. 8th at 8:00 a.m.
I would APPRECIATE checks (120./team) sent by this deadline; however, I will be lenient because not all schools/athletic associations have personnel available at that time of year.
Teams MAY PLAY on TUE. AND THUR. UNTIL (but not beyond) THUR. SEPT. 1st.
Once Aug. 8 arrives, there will be NO CHANGES to the evolving schedule UNLESS a compelling reason is given for the change (i.e. confirmation, school play, vital function).
Goal: I will have schedules completed by Friday afternoon, AUG. 19th. They WILL be completed by Monday morning, AUG. 22ND.
Rosters:
Please have a roster submitted NO later than Sept 12. (It is that late because I KNOW a couple of schools do not commence until Sept. 6th – lucky!). Please submit as early as is feasible.
There is no MAX. number of players coaches on any team’s roster. The MIN. is six, though I would advise at least eight before forming a second same-level team.
Varsity players may NOT play in JV matches, but JV players CAN play in varsity matches ONLY IF there is a need (i.e. only five 7th and 8th graders present at that time).
If a school has two JV teams, a player may not “float” between teams. The same holds true for varsity. This is a major reason the “Ghost Rule” (below) was implemented, and should be enacted ONLY when fewer than six players are available.
Fees and tri-matches:
Team registration fee shall be reduced from $150. to $120. for 2011. Remember: that is $120. per team, not per school. We hope to keep costs as low as is feasible for this and subsequent seasons.
Officials’ fees will remain $35. per match, for all matches (including scrimmages and non-section contests). All matches/contests must have a PIAA (high school level) certified official.
The team hosting a tri-match will pay the referee for ITS matches (the first and third rounds).
For the “middle” JV-V round, the two visiting teams shall evenly split the costs ($35.) for the official.
NOTE: the team listed FIRST, in the middle round, will be considered the HOME team (for purposes of home-away scheduling). Sorry if this creates a disadvantage. The benefits should overcome this.
Times:
Sunday matches may now start at 1:00 p.m., provided this is necessary for gym time constraints or for a time-efficient tri-match.
Weeknight matches will start at 6:30. A third match may be played on a weeknight – provided travel is minimal (and preferably on a Fri. night).
Rules of play:
IF NECESSARY, a match may start and be played in its entirety with FIVE players for one or both teams.
In such a case, the “ghost rule” is applied. Simply stated, the vacancy starts in middle-back (or the would-be sixth player starts in six position). When this spot rotates to the service (right back), a loss of rally occurs (point and next server for the opponent). Should BOTH teams have five, BOTH teams will play with the “ghost rule,” as we never know if/when one team’s sixth player may arrive. Upon such arrival, the sixth player is substituted to the vacant position. No penalty is incurred UNLESS there is a significant delay for the sixth player to actually enter when the coach calls for this “substitution.” The penalty is a charged time-out. If no time-outs remain for this team, a loss of rally will occur.
A team may not officially compete with four players. If this situation occurs, a four on six (or five) may be “played” and the official compensated – however, the team with four players BY RULE will forfeit. By extension, if a four-person forfeit is being declared, this team CAN at that point borrow same level (JV to JV) players to allow for the exhibition.
18 substitutions is now the maximum per set (game). This is consistent with NFHS (high school) rules.
There is still no tomahawking of the ball.
Ball played with foot (any body part) is allowed, in any playing action except the service – per NFHS rules. If a dangerous play occurs, contact me immediately and we will address this immediately.
Barrettes and flat clips are allowed (yea!). They must, however, NOT exceed 2” in length.
Make libero replacements efficiently. Though the technical rule is “exchanges made after the official signals for service is a loss of rally,” officials should be lenient. That being said, I will uphold the letter of the rule should an official penalize for excessive abuse of leniency or for a blatant delay in exchange.
Game Ball: AS LONG AS the “NFHS” (National Federation of High School Sports) logo or authenticating mark is visible on the ball, it is a legal ball for match play. Proper inflation is: 4.3 to 4.6 PSI (officials must check). To the best of your budgetary constraints, please try to reserve two relatively new balls for both JV and varsity contests, respectively.
Knee pads are still necessary components of the uniform.
As long as the uniform bottoms are similar (purposely ambiguous), they shall be legal for play.
All officials’ decisions, regarding playing rules, are final.
Training and coaching:
On a date to be determined (St. Mary’s?), a score-keeping, libero tracking, and line-judging clinic will be offered. Ms. Maria Feth, again, has kindly offered her expertise as the lead instructor for such a clinic.
I would advise that all parents who generously plan on assisting in these capacities make every attempt to attend. The website, or a mass email, will give details as plans are finalized.
The prior rule on support crew members (scorers, line judges, trackers) had been that these individuals be in the 10th grade or older. In my, and many others, experience, junior Olympic club volleyball has helped young ladies (as young as 10 years of age) become excellent scorekeepers, libero trackers, and line judges. IF BOTH head coaches of a given match are comfortable utilizing such young talent in these roles, they shall be permitted to serve in these capacities.
However, should even one head coach object, the “tenth grade or older” rule shall apply.
In the same vein, if an adult coach needs assistance (technical or otherwise) on the bench, a high school player may “coach” the team. This minor may not, however, be the official head coach. It would be helpful to list such an “assistant” on your official rosters.
Only the official head coach may stand during play. S/he should, once the official signals for serve, retreat from the sideline to an area 6 feet or greater (gym constraints permitting).
If less than six feet are available, the head coach may stand directly in front of the chairs/bench/wall.
Alignment of sections:
Section alignment shall closely resemble that of 2010. Minor tweaks will be made for new (or departing) teams.
Geography is a major factor, as is keeping (multiple) teams from the same school in separate sections.
At this time, the league shall stay intact as one division for both JV and Varsity. This topic will be revisited, as necessary, to ensure the overall competitive balance of the member teams.
Awards:
All individual awards are abolished. This league is about team participation & camaraderie – not personal accolades. You may say “Seth said individual awards foster envy and dissent” if questioned.
We WILL have a “Ray Bobak award.” In Stanley Cup fashion, the winning varsity team will keep this for one year. It will be a dual tribute to Ray’s legacy and to the team who has annual possession. Initial thoughts include a small inscription thanking Ray and approximately 30 slots for subsequent varsity first place teams.
Ideas for the Bobak award’s nomenclature and design elements are very welcome!
Section Championship plagues will be awarded on Championship Sat/Sun. Please attempt to have a representative present, if the section champ is upset in the opening round.
Championship tourney awards will be earned by the first, second, and third place finishing teams. The diocese will provide basic engravings and appropriate/descriptive decoration. AFTER the award winners receive their team trophies, each school has the option of funding any additional inscriptions.
Playoff seeding:
Sixteen teams will advance to the post-season (and the structure will be identical for both JV & varsity).
An equal number of teams from each section will advance to the playoffs. The number of “wild cards” will be determined by the number of remaining “spots” to complete a 16-team field. For example, if there are 5 sections, three teams from each section will qualify as will one “at large” wild card team.
If there are five sections, for example, every attempt will be made to seed first place finishers as 1 – 5, second place teams as 6 – 10, and third place teams as 11 – 15.
Objective component will be: 1st: section record; 2nd: non-section “quality wins”; 3rd: tourney finishes. Subjective component: coaches’ expertise, observations, and perhaps margin of victory (for close seeds)
The sixteen teams that qualify will be seeded as follows: 1 vs. 16, 2 vs. 15, 3 vs. 14, etc.
The first round, unless absolutely necessary, will not match two section opponents against one another.
Though every attempt will be made to reward section champions (and top 8 seeds) with home playoff matches, gym availabilities and relative travel on Oct. 24 and Oct. 26 will play a role.
Championships:
Varsity: Top sixteen will make the playoffs and play initial round matches at “sites to be determined” on Oct. 24 (or Oct. 26). Initial round will consist of best-of-five set matches. Each site will host a double-header – which could be two JV matches, one JV and one varsity, or two varsity matches.
The varsity championships will be held on Sat. Oct. 29th at St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights.
The format will be the top eight in singleelimination bracket play (all matches will be best of three sets).
JV: Top sixteen will make the playoffs and play initial round matches at “sites to be determined” on Oct. 24 (or Oct. 26). ALL ROUNDS in JV playoffs will be best-of-three set matches. Each site will host a double-header – which could be two JV matches, one JV and one varsity, or two varsity matches.
The JV championships will be held on Sun. Oct. 30th at St. Joseph High School (or OLSH).
The format will be the top eight in single elimination bracket play (all matches will be best of three sets).
Website:
It will be as interactive as possible.
HOME head coaches will submit scores, interactively, via the website. This will also automatically update the standings!
Please submit announcements or any postings to me, ASAP, via a Word (or other text) document. I will then post it to the website ASAP.
As the website is developed, more information will be posted.
Much of the content will be similar to the excellent work of Jack and Lynnette Kelley.
Please be patient, as this is a work in progress.
General comments:
The above is not a comprehensive list of regulations, merely, some key topics of clarification.
Any rule in question defaults to the NFHS rulebook – if NOT specifically adapted. Such books may be purchased at <NFHS.com>. Click on “Volleyball” on the left side. Price for a rulebook is $7.20
My vision is to have this league run smoothly on the following principles: Catholic fellowship and sportsmanship, common sense rulings, and maximum participation for all involved.
Have a great summer; please give me a “got it” after reading this and if you have questions, now is a great time to inquire. Thank you and best wishes.
Seth Runatz
c: 412-848-1050