Policies and Conduct
Coach’s Code of Conduct
By agreeing to become an Air Attack Coach and Club Member coaches are required to adhere to the Air Attack Volleyball Club’s Coaches Code of Conduct. Coaches represent the club and have responsibilities in adhering to the Club’s philosophy. As such, Air Attack Volleyball club requires that coaches conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, courteous manner. Coaches have committed themselves to the Volleyball BC Coaches Code of Conduct.
In addition, Coaches should:
- Always remember that athletes participate for pleasure, enjoyment, physical fitness, and the opportunity to complete in a safe respectful environment.
- Never use negative language, ridicule or yell at athletes for making a mistake or not winning.
- Always ensure that the time athletes spend with you as coach is a positive experience.
- Display control, respect and professionalism to all involved within the sport. This includes opponents, coaches, officials, administrators, the media, parents and other spectators. Encourage players to do the same; be a great role model.
- Ensure that any physical contact with a child should be appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill development or medical care.
- Respect the rights of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
- Ensure that the team environment is free of drugs, alcohol or dangerous substances.
- Help build confidence in the athletes.
- Coaches have to keep in mind at all times, that their position instills a great amount of influence over athletes and any actions, words, or comments are impressionable.
Parent’s Code of Conduct
The Air Attack Volleyball Club is a youth organization, which is supported by the efforts of many volunteers many of those being parents of Air Attack athletes. As such it is important for parents to understand the proper role they have as volunteers and as parents in supporting their child in sports. As volunteers, parents are subject to the Volleyball BC’s Code of Conduct and Ethics. As parents it is important to understand that sports and volleyball contribute to athletes’ character building.
The following are guidelines that the Air Attack Volleyball Club expects parents to adhere to:
- Remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, not adults.
- Insist your child treat other athletes, coaches, officials, and fans with respect.
- Be a positive role model for your child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all athletes, coaches, team coordinators, officials and spectators at every practice game, or event.
- Never ridicule or yell at your child or any other athlete for making a mistake.
- Appreciate outstanding play by either team.
- Enforce that success is measured by the development of skills, not winning or losing.
- Refrain from coaching your child or other players during practices and games.
During the course of the season, the following protocols are to be followed:
- Inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of your child or the safety of others.
- Ensure that if your child is absent from a game or practice that adequate notice will be given to the coaches or manager.
- Refrain from criticism of coaches, referees, or opponents during games and in the presence of your child or other children.
- Adhere to the communication guidelines as per the Air Attack Volleyball Club Handbook and 24 hour rule if you have concerns regarding any coaching decisions you may have.
- Reinforce the Club’s drug and alcohol free policies for minors and refrain from using drugs and alcohol while at team events.
Any parent guilty of improper conduct at any game or practice will be asked to leave the sports facility. Repeat violations may result in the forfeiture of the privilege of attending all games, practices or other Air Attack Volleyball Club events.
Travel and Out of Town Policies
The Air Attack Volleyball Club provides some guidelines for traveling teams.
While teams travel, the Club has limited liability insurance coverage provided by our Insurance policy. It is strongly recommended that personal travel insurance be in place during the entire season.
Some tournaments may be in the United States. It is required that a valid Passport or Nexus membership be held by each athlete in order to participate in those tournaments.
While out of town, all activities will be conducted as a team while under the supervision of the coaches and / or an appointed parent chaperone. This includes game play, break time, and meal time at the tournament venues, restaurants, and the hotel.
Athletes are expected to stay together in the same hotel. Typically rooms will be secured with 4 athletes to a room. The exception to this will be if the facility allows more than 4 in a room. Coaches’ rooms must also be secured as part of the team’s block. Athletes will be assigned to specific rooms by the Coaches.
Cell phone use should be for emergencies only. Athletes abusing the use of cell phones will have their phones confiscated and returned to their parents when the travelling teams have returned home.
Possession and/or use of drugs or alcohol (and any dangerous substance or item) is strictly prohibited. This applies to all athletes regardless of whether or not they have achieved the legal drinking age in the jurisdiction that a tournament is held.
Guidelines while at hotel:
- No horse play in the halls or the rooms.
- Minimize disturbances to the hotel and other hotel guests.
- Destruction of or damage to the hotel property will not be tolerated.
- Keep your rooms clean: you and your parents will be charged extra money for cleaning excessively dirty / messy rooms and any damage.
- No long distance calls or pay-order movies from your room.
- Observe the hotel’s designated “Quiet Time.”
Expenses
While out of town there are expenses that are incurred. Typical expenses are travel, accommodation, and meals. Teams are required to provide funds to cover those expenses for the team’s coaches.
Any additional expenses incurred will be the responsibility of the travelling athlete and / or family.
Travel, accommodation, food, and additional expenses, will be divided by the entire number of participants. In situations where the Coach has been notified as to extenuating situations where individual athletes are not able to participate as a team during the out of town tournaments, the athlete is still required to cover his / her pro-rata share of the expenses incurred.
Tournament fees and coaches’ costs will be divided by the entire roster, regardless of participation.
For all tournaments, each athlete will be responsible for their own transportation.
Expenses for 2 Coaches’ per team for all age groups are as follows:
- One hotel room per night
- Transportation – fuel allowance and / or airfare
- Food allowance of $40 per day
Refund Policy
Air Attack Volleyball Club is a non-profit organization. At the beginning of each season the Club as a whole sets a budget, and accordingly each athlete’s registration fee, based on the expected number of teams and athletes. Additionally, each team sets a budget and communicates up-front costs with parents and athletes at the start of the season. In order to keep our program affordable we are hesitant to offer refunds so we can stick to this budget and avoid incurring additional costs.
As a general policy, Club fees are 100% non-refundable once an athlete has committed to a team. Based on this commitment, the Club and team make payments for registrations, tournaments, etc. with are often not recoverable.
However, in extenuating circumstances, refund requests will be handled on a case by case basis and the Board of Directors will make a final decision in a timely manner. A full refund may be considered if an athlete withdraws before the start of the season. In the event, that a refund is granted subsequent to the start of the season, a refund will be subject to a $30.00 administration fee less any unrecoverable costs incurred such as Volleyball BC registration, uniform costs, warm-up shirt costs, etc.
Some factors that will be taken into consideration by the Board of Directors when a refund request is made are:
- Injury or medical condition (with doctor’s note)
- Moving out of province / out of country
- Personal conflict (mistreatment by teammates)
Withdrawing from the team for the following reasons will not be eligible for a refund:
- Removal due to misconduct / breaking team rules
- Leaving the team due to a lack of playing time or unhappy with role on team
- Leaving due to time commitment or other conflict