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| Fall Sign-ups Now Available Online |
It’s never too early to sign-up for the Fall Season with USYVL! All participants who complete early registration online for the 2006 Fall Season will receive an Official USYVL Sports Bag free of charge! A printed copy of the participant’s Online Registration Conformation must be presented to the Site Director on the final day of the 2006 Spring Season.
If you are not able to register your child online, your Site Director will have forms available for on-the-spot registration at the last organized game and/or practice. Please see your Site Director for further information.
Fall Sign-ups
May Spotlight: Lake Oswego, OR
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Looking Up to Coaches Anne and Claire Recht |
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Most people already look up to the volunteer coaches of the United States Youth Volleyball League. In Lake Oswego, Oregon however, twin sisters Ann and Claire Recht have taken things to a whole new level. These girls don’t need to work at turning heads. At 6’7”, the coaching duo is hard to miss. Yes, these twins are tall. They are, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the tallest female twins in the world. And when these young ladies depart this fall for pre-season collegiate training, they will leave the USYVL with a similarly tall order to be filled.
Growing up in the small town of Canby, Oregon, Ann and Claire received their first exposure to volleyball at a local high school game while still in the sixth grade. Inclined by curiosity, the twins signed on to play the following year. In an environment where good players were defined by their ability to simply send the ball into the opposing court, the twins began to develop a feel for the game. But in the summer before their freshman year, these adolescents became aware that the game seemed to develop just as rapidly as they could adapt to it. At Volleyball Camp they discovered that volleyball had positions! When asked their favorite, the reply was simple. “We said middle back.” “Yeah, we could pass.” But reality comes about fast in high school. “Later on in the week we soon found out that we would be playing a front row position, and that would require hitting and blocking, all new concepts for us.” |
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| Jennifer Bolger, Head Clinician at Lake Oswego, remembers the first time she saw the girls play. “I saw them play in high school last fall. They were pretty raw, their high school setter set AROUND them.” Like all USYVL sites, Lake Oswego is made possible by volunteer support. Bolger takes it a step further. Her efforts have reached beyond her own USYVL site in order to help coach a group of local high school players, of which the twins are a part. The improvement has been notable. Through teaching the very skills that the twins will need to succeed in their own athletic endeavors, they have shaped themselves into better players as well. Both Ann and Claire agreed that as they develop as coaches, they further develop as players. To teach is to learn twice, they say. Bolger was enthusiastic in her responses regarding the twins. When asked what she loves most about working with Ann and Claire, she replied that they simply demonstrate what’s best about the game. They are very passionate. “The kids love them. The parents love them. They haven't played much longer than some of the kids, so they're perfect for each other.” Asking the duo about what they enjoy about working with such an organization, their reply is both refreshing and modest. This is an opportunity neither of these girls had growing up. “We like that they start so young, but mostly that they’re having fun. [The USYVL] will definitely help them grow as volleyball players and individuals.” The growth that these exceptional twins have demonstrated, on and off the court, is really the heart of what the USYVL is all about. “It has helped us to be supportive and patient towards the younger people in our lives. It makes us appreciate our own coach more and increases our teaching skills.”
The girls have since committed themselves to American University, and will continue their athletic and personal development there. Their height has been a key. But the qualities that can’t be measured are what really make them stand out in this crowd. |
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End of Season Sales on Official USYVL Outdoor Net Systems |
| With the long days of summer ahead, this is the perfect time to take advantage of a great deal on net systems (poles, lines, and stakes included!) offered exclusively by the USYVL. The whole package sells for $165 (a $249 value). These are the very same nets that participants have used through the course of the season. Contact your Site Director for further information as soon as possible. Quantities are limited. Contact the National Office at: 1-888-988-7985; or via email at USYVL@aol.com
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New SITE COMMISSIONS to Support Local Sites |
| In an effort to further clarify and disburse the responsibilities of Volunteer Site Directors, The United States Youth Volleyball League has created three new volunteer positions to serve as Commissioners at each individual site. See below…
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The Site Commission—Effective 2006 |
| Site Commissions will be composed of a Coaching Administrator, Schedule Administrator, Sponsorship Administrator, and Site Director. Facilitated by the National Office, individual sites will now have the ability to better serve their volleyball community. All proposed future sites must be able to demonstrate the ability to adhere to this structure. Existing sites are likewise encouraged to integrate this structure as soon as possible. The Schedule Administrator
- Has knowledge of local community and school events as to limit participation conflicts
- Creates the league schedule
- Submits the necessary paperwork and schedule to the permitting agency
- And, if necessary, attends any meetings required by that agency
The Coaching Administrator
- Recruits the Site Clinician
- Insures that all teams have a head coach and assistant coach throughout the season
- Evaluates the effectiveness of the Site Clinician and Coaching Staff
The Sponsorship Administrator
- Actively pursues and manages private and local business contributions
- Communicates with the Sponsorship Director in the National Office
The Site Director
- Manages the local site
- Insures the proper organization and running of the league within the USYVL framework
- Chair to the Site Commission
Interest in any of these positions should be communicated with your Site Director and the National Office as soon as possible. Contact the National Office by telephone at:
1-888-988-7985; or via email at USYVL@aol.com
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Donate to the USYVL |
Make a difference in the lives of your children and your community. The United States Youth Volleyball League is in constant need of donations in order to provide such a quality service. Be it time, money, net sponsorship, or merchandise, the USYVL needs your help. Contact the National Office or your Sponsorship Administrator to see how you can make a difference today.
Donate to the USYVL
Contact the National Office by telephone at: 1-888-988-7985; or via email at USYVL@aol.com
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