About Us
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The effort that one puts into the sport of volleyball will determine the outcome. Our coaching staff is very capable of creating a successful volleyball team. This will be accomplished if all members are willing to challenge themselves to step up to the next level, not only as a player, but as a team. This means listening to the coach and making the necessary changes to better her and the team, and not considering feedback to be personal criticism.
Sportsmanship is of great importance to us; therefore as a coach, we must reflect this trait in our associations with officials and opponents.
No team will win a championship with a star player and no supporting cast. In volleyball the whole team needs to work perfectly together in order to achieve success. An outstanding hitter means nothing if a team cannot pass the ball consistently to the setter. An all-conference setter is not possible unless she has good passers and consistent hitters to put the ball down. We will work hour after hour on the basics of the sport so that we can first achieve a consistent level of play.
In order to be the best team that we can be, the coaches and players cannot settle for anything less than 100% effort. Players that are not willing to commit themselves to this kind of work ethic will see the results in their playing time. Remember, we are a team, and we will win and lose as a team. Those who choose to give anything less than 100% will be hurting the team.
Volleyball is a sport that can only be mastered by repetition after repetition. Our season is short and our practice time is limited. When the athletes step onto the floor they will be performing volleyball-related skills, drills and conditioning only. It is up to the coach to design a practice in which conditioning is built into the drills in a realistic volleyball situation. The coach should be able to explain how a drill or conditioning piece contributes to a game-like situation.
We believe that doing as well as we possibly can is important. This means we want to perform well at all times. We want to perform better than our opponents do. I think you get the idea…we are going to win as many matches as we possibly can. To accomplish this, we must utilize our best players and our best strategy most of the time. That being said there will not be equal playing time and players will not all experience the same amount of contacts within a game. Although we believe that winning is very important, especially at the varsity level – it is not everything. Above all else, we hope to create a love for the game, the people around you, the competition that is created, the winning and losing that takes place, and the improvement that will come from hard work and dedication. By being part of a team, we learn the importance of community, communication, self -discipline, respect, maturity and work ethic. By practicing success as an individual and team, we are learning success in the real world.
We believe that volleyball should be FUN! We believe that the sport of volleyball should be an enjoyable spectator sport, which is a “looked forward to” activity by many people in the fall. Volleyball matches should be an enjoyable experience for the players, coaches, student-body, parents, community and everyone else involved. It is good entertainment and should always be kept in it’s proper perspective. LET’S KEEP IT FUN FOR PLAYERS AND FANS ALIKE!”
TEAM SELECTION
Being that volleyball is a team sport with a restricted amount of players able to compete at one time, we will use the following team selection policy this season and beyond.
Dakota Ridge Volleyball Team Selection Philosophy Statement:
In order to strive for excellence, it is the goal of Dakota Ridge Volleyball to put the best team on the court at all levels. All players will tryout for their respective levels, and a preset amount of players will be invited to participate on that team.
Tryouts:
All girls will have the opportunity to tryout for their respective level team. Tryouts are mandatory to make a team. If a player isn’t there to be compared against other girls, it isn’t fair to place her on a team ahead of others. Tryouts will last between 1-3 days based on the team, age of girl, number of girls, and the given situation for that year. Coaches will be given the flexibility to continue team selection as long as they need to confidently select their team. By the end of day 2, coaches have the option to make cuts for girls trying out for a team; the teams will be posted on this website.
The girls will be rated (in comparison to other players) on the following physical volleyball skills:
Ball control, passing, setting, hitting, serving, blocking, defense and court transitions
The girls will be rated (in comparison to other players) on the following non-physical volleyball skills:
Communication, work ethic, taking direction, court awareness, teamwork, and athleticism
Results of the tryouts will be discussed, in person, with the players. As the week goes on, by request, coaches may update the players as to where they see them in relation to others regarding impending cuts.
Decisions regarding team selection are collectively in the hands of the coaches running tryouts. Once the process is completed, decisions are final and there will be no appeals. If a player does not make a team, coaches can give suggestions on how to improve and off-season options to help them be ready for tryouts in the future. Our teams will also be looking for managers and statisticians as well.
Team Size and Playing Philosophy:
The Varsity and Junior Varsity teams will have a combined maximum of 24 players. These teams will consist of the top 20-24 players in the program, regardless of age and based on position. Playing time on both the JV and Varsity teams will not be equal. Movement from JV to Varsity may take place at any point during the season.
The Level 3 team will consist of 12-14 of the next best sophomore or 9th grade players in the program based on their position. All players will get to play, but play time may not be equal.
The Level 4 team will consist of 12-14 ninth graders. Positions will likely be a factor in team selection. All players will get to play, but play time may not be equal.