Volleyball Mission Statement

The Eagle Grove volleyball program will promote, in all members, the attitude, knowledge, and skills necessary to become responsible, productive team members and citizens.

Volleyball Philosophy

The Eagle Grove volleyball program is built on the following foundations:

Team Expectations

The expectations for all members of the Eagle Grove volleyball program are as follows:

ATTITUDE

Every team member, while representing Eagle Grove, on and off the court, will be the proper role model the school and communities expect. This includes the following:

PUNCTUALITY

Always be on time and prepared for the activity. Punctuality is a very important part of commitment. This includes all team functions-practices, games, bus departures, meetings, and other team activities. Being late (unexcused) or missing entirely will result in missed playing time regardless of what level you play. Missing new concepts and game plans hampers team and individual improvement and success. After three unexcused absences a team member may be removed from the team for the remainder of the season. Parents, please notify the coaching staff way ahead of time if your daughter will be missing a team function so everyone involved will know if it will be excused or unexcused. Just because a coach is notified, it does not mean that it will be excused. The coach will still make the decision. Extra conditioning will also be required for those individuals that miss, or are late, for team events.

INJURY/ILLNESS

If you have been to the doctor for illness or injury and have a note keeping you out of participation, then you will not practice until you have been released by the doctor, to resume practicing. This release needs to be in written form. After illness or injury, individuals may need additional time to get back into game shape before actually participating in games. The coaching staff will determine when a player returns to playing in games. If you are out due to injury, you are still required to be at all team functions as you are still part of the team. Failure to be at functions will result in unexcused absences. If you are seeing a trainer or are rehabbing an injury, please keep the coaching staff informed as to your progress.

AWAY GAMES

Parents, you will be required to sign the release sheet (a coach or manager will have the sheet), before your daughter can leave with you after a game. If you would like your daughter to ride home with someone else, other than you the parent, then you must have this approved with the school (AD) in advance of the game. Players should, if at all possible, stay for all the games being played that day before leaving with parents. Supporting their team is very important to the team! Riding home on the bus, whether after a win or a loss, is a time for the players to support their team.

LETTERING

In order for you to earn a varsity letter you must play in one third of the varsity games, regardless of your role. Coaches’ discretion on lettering will also be used in individual cases that may arise during the season. While everyone would like to play in all games it just will not happen. At the varsity level there may be some athletes that are dressed on the bench but will not play during a game. All roles on this team are very important to the team’s success so please accept your role for the good of the team!

PLAYING TIME-JV/FRESHMEN

I believe that building success at the junior varsity level will lead to greater successes at the varsity level. Athletes that have the ability to play at the junior varsity level will be developing team and individual skills, as well as a commitment to winning. This is a coaching staff decision and may include freshman, sophomores, and juniors.  Playing time is not required at the junior varsity level but every effort will be made to get as many athletes into the game as possible and still try to win. Freshman games are played at the same time as JV games. All freshman will play in the match, but not necessarily in each game of the hour long match. Only exception of freshman not playing will be based on injury/illness or disciplinary reasons.

BEHAVIORS

All school policies regarding behaviors and good conduct will be strongly supported and fully enforced. The coaching staff will not accept this inappropriate behavior on the court or off the court. Neither should you!

ATHLETE AND/OR PARENT CONCERNS

If you, as a player or parent, have any concerns during the season, please go through the proper channels for effective communication. You, the player, should talk to the coaching staff immediately if an issue arises instead of letting it go on for a lengthy time. Parents, please emphasize to your daughter that she should be the first to try taking care of the concern by talking to the coaching staff. Communication will take care of most issues! Parents, please feel free to contact your daughter’s coach if you have any concerns. We will set up a time to meet and discuss your concern, with your daughter present. After games is not an appropriate time for talking to coaches about concerns as some times both sides need to let “cooler heads prevail.” This will allow the focus of all parties to be placed on your concern. Please talk to the coach first and try to come to resolution before going to an administrator who is unaware or unfamiliar with the concern (proper chain of command). Coaches will be more than willing to discuss your daughter’s behaviors, strengths & weaknesses, and ways to help with her improvement, but will not discuss playing time and/or any other player with you. Decisions on playing time, level of play, and positions are left solely to the discretion of the coaching staff.

Parents, we would like to thank you for all you do for your daughters to allow them to become successful. Your commitment to your daughter will be remembered for years to come after she is out of school and done playing sports. Thank you for being part of this program-you all are very important parts of this program!

Respectfully, 

Coach McLaughlin & Coach Christopher

jmclaughlin@eagle-grove.k12.ia.us   448-4767 (Work)   448-9836 (Home)   201-7351 (Cell)

cchristopher@eagle-grove.k12.ia.us   448-4767 (Work)   448-9020 (Home)   571-3646 (Cell)