ADMINISTRATIVE & VOLUNTEERING QUESTIONS
Q:How do I register?
A: Go to our web site at www.usyvl.org and select the “Locations” link. Find a location in, or near, your area from the site list to verify that a program is available. If the program has not started, you can register right there on-line. If you do not have internet access, call the national office toll-free at (888) 988-7985 and request that we e-mail, fax or mail you a registration form.
Q: I am not able to register on-line because the web site tells me I already have an account! What do I do?
A: Call our national office toll-free at (888) 988-7985 to get your username and password.
Q: What does the registration fee cover?
A: The kids get an age appropriate ball in the mail before the season starts, a uniform t-shirt in the second week and a player medal at the end of the season. In addition, the fee covers practices & games, site location use permit, volunteer uniforms, net systems, shipping and administrative costs.
Q:How do I become a team or site volunteer?
A: Please see the “Volunteers” page of our web site at www.usyvl.org or call the national office for more information. The form can also be acquired at the parent meeting and coaching clinic that occurs a couple of weeks before the start of the season. Available volunteer positions are head coach, assistant coach, first aid and registration. No prior experience is required except for first aid.
Q:Do you offer financial aid?
A: Yes! Contact our national office toll-free at (888) 988-7985 or by e-mail at Questions@usyvl.org and we will mail, fax or e-mail you a Financial-Aid Request Form and completion instructions along with a site registration form if you do not already have one. Complete and return both forms to our office via mail or fax only.
Q: What if I cannot attend the parent meeting?
A: Try to send your paperwork with a friend that will be attending the parent meeting. Otherwise, bring the completed player medical registration form (so your child can participate!) and, if you are volunteering, the volunteer application form to the site on the first day.
Q:What if I cannot attend the coaching clinic?
A: Try to send your paperwork with a friend who will be attending the parent meeting. If that is not possible, it can be turned in on the first day.
Q:I registered at the wrong site or I would like to change sites, how do I do this?
A: Contact our national office toll-free at (888) 988-7985 or e-mail us at Questions@usyvl.org and ask for our registration administrator. Please have the following information available:
- Player's name
- Location they signed up for
- Location they would prefer
- Name and phone number of person calling.
Either the change can be made right then, or you will be contacted with a confirmation once the change is complete.
Q: I am trying to get in touch with John/Jane Doe; can I get his/her number?
A: We do not give out any information on staff or players.
Q:How do I get a refund?
A: If for any reason you need to drop out of the league, a written request must be received a minimum of 7 days prior to the league start date, you will receive a refund of 50% of the registration fees paid or a nonrefundable credit valid for one year from the date of issue. However, no refunds will be issued if you cancel within 7 days of the scheduled league start date, or if you fail to participate in the league. Financial aid is available. Please call the USYVL office at 1-888-988-7985 for additional information.
LEAGUE, SITE & TEAM QUESTIONS
Q: What ages play in the league?
A: Ages 7 -15.
Q: How do you split up the kids?
A: The groups are arranged by ages: 7- 9, 10-11 and 12-15. Ages are defined according to how old they are on November 1st of the present season. We do not form teams according to skill level, however, players can move up within age divisions.
Q: Do the kids need to have prior volleyball experience?
A: Absolutely not! We are a league that does not require prior volleyball experience. There will be kids with varying levels of experience. Teams will be arranged to maintain a balance.
Q: Are the teams coed?
A: Yes, the teams are coed.
Q: How many kids are on a team?
A: Typically, the teams have 6-8 players.
Q: What kind of attire should the players wear?
A: They can wear a regular pair of tennis shoes and athletic attire.
Q: Who are the instructors?
A: We are a parent volunteer organization, but we do have a volleyball instructor (The Clinician) at every practice and game to supervise the volunteer coaches working with the teams. They are responsible for demonstrating and helping the volunteer coaches’ set-up the volleyball drills and make sure they are doing a good job. The parent volunteer coaches take a coaching clinic before the start of the season.
Q: What skills are taught?
A: Spiking, serving, setting, passing, and blocking. Our four-person format to allows the kids to play every position.
Q: How many times do teams meet per week?
A: Teams meet two times per week. One day is for practices while the other day is for games (two 25-minute games). The first two weeks of the program, participants will practice on both of the days they meet. Practice days are during the week on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in the late afternoon. Game days are typically on Saturday morning. Practice and game day times may vary slightly at certain sites.
Q: How is the league structured?
A: We are a non-profit organization, similarly structured to AYSO, but we are different in that all the players practice and play on the same date, time and location. In addition, we have a volleyball instructor on site at every practice and game to supervise the volunteer coaches. We do not have any fundraising.
Q: What kind of special equipment do you use?
A: We use a regulation ball size, but they are lighter to allow kids more success. We use lower nets so the kids can learn how to spike correctly. We use a smaller court size for the 7-9 division. The nets do get higher as the season goes on.
Q: How is your organization related to Club Volleyball or USA Volleyball?
A: We are an affiliate organization of USA Volleyball and we focus on getting kids to play volleyball at a younger age.
Q: Can players request a player or coach for team assignment?
A: Players are randomly assigned to a team within their age division. Only Head Coach Volunteers are allowed the privilege of requesting one player, in addition to their own child, to be on their team.
Q: If I am an assistant coach, can I have a special request?
A: As an assistant coach, you are normally with the team that your child is on (unless you have more than one child in the program (see next Q&A). You can be with a specific head coach if they request you. Assistant coaches may not have a special player request (that is, in addition to your own child), unless they decide to become a head coach.
Q: If I am a coach or an assistant coach and I have two (or more) children in different divisions, which team should I be on?
A: Characteristically, the younger the child, the more attention is needed; therefore, we encourage coaches and assistant coaches to participate on the youngest child’s team. However, the choice is yours.
Q: If I move my child up a division, can I request to be on a particular team?
A: Your child will be placed on a team randomly unless you volunteer to be a head coach.
Q: Last season we were on “Coach Brown’s” team. Can my child be on his team this year too?
A: “Coach Brown” can only make one special request. If he selects your child as his special request, then your child would be on his team. Otherwise, we let the computer balance the teams automatically. You may be surprised how many new friends your child (and you!) will make!
Q: For carpool reasons, my child needs to be on so and so’s team, can she/he be on his/her team?
A: The practices and games take place at the same time for everyone, so rest assured that you can still carpool with children on different teams. If the special request is important to you, we encourage you to volunteer as a head coach.
Q: If I call the National Office and tell them how important it is for my child to play with another player can they change my child’s team?
A: If it is so important for your child to have a special request, we encourage you to volunteer as a head coach. We will train you --- it’s far easier and more fun than you may think! |
