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Carolina Regional Volleyball Association | |
 
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Athlete and Club Bill of Rights for TryoutsThe purpose of this document is to assist athletes and their parents/guardians during the Carolina Region club volleyball tryout process. It is the club's responsibility to provide the athlete's family with all information currently available about its program. It is the responsibility of each athlete and her/his family to become educated about the program they are considering joining. It is the responsibility of both parties - club and athlete - to honor every commitment! Guiding Principle (from CR website):Clubs/Teams/Coaches need to understand that they do not own the rights to players. Players (with help from their parents/guardians) have the right to choose where they want to obtain their club volleyball experience. Each membership year, each family (which includes the individual player and his/her parents/guardians) has the right to choose to play for a different club/team than the year before without repercussions from their previous club.Athletes and families have a right to full information from the club about the tryout process.Different clubs conduct different types of tryouts. Become aware of the type of tryout you are attending by asking questions. [i.e. Are the tryouts targeted for a specific team or for any team in the club for which the athlete is age eligible? Has the club already "promised" positions to certain athletes, or is it an "open competition" for all positions? Is the athlete being considered for any team in the club, including the "top" team in her/his age group, or have some teams already been filled? Are the tryouts open to anyone regardless of prior affiliation, or are club members from the prior season given first priority?]Athletes and families have a right to attend any sanctioned club tryout in the Carolina Region.Tryouts can be limited to one session, or they can be conducted over several sessions on different days. Tryouts, including any "call back" session(s), should be limited to one session per day, and generally no more than three hours in duration. Clubs have a right to charge a tryout fee, and multi-session tryouts may be more expensive than single-session tryouts. Open gym sessions or instructional clinics are not considered to be part of the tryout process, and clubs cannot require athletes to attend these pre-tryout events in order to attend their tryouts. Clubs can advertise and/or promote tryouts, pre-tryout clinics, and open gym sessions in a variety of ways including but not limited to newspaper ads, direct mail, flyers, brochures, and websites. Clubs may mail/email general information on their tryouts/club to anyone. See also Recruiting GuidelinesThere will be TWO announced tryout periods available to clubs. (1) Clubs may begin holding tryouts on Saturday October 24, 2009 for the following age groups: 15's, 14's, 13's, and 12's. (2) Tryouts for the 16's, 17's, and 18's age groups should be held beginning Sunday, November 8, 2009 (after the North Carolina State Championships for public High Schools on November 7, 2009). The Carolina Region/USAV will not publish any tryouts for girls' teams on its website that occur before these dates for the respective age groups. See also Tryout Guidelines Athletes and families have the right to select any club without the risk of consequences or repercussions for school team participation.Many club coaches are also middle school or high school coaches, and the potential exists for conflict-of-interest situations to arise. Communications by coaches or clubs (direct or implied) that accepting or refusing an offer or attending another club's tryout will impact (positively or negatively) school volleyball participation are forbidden, and violations should be reported to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association or the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association.Athletes have a right to attend multiple club tryouts without pressure or risk of an offered position "expiring".Clubs should not make offers to multiple athletes for the same position or spot on a team. Acceptance or rejection of an offer cannot be required by a club until the Carolina Region signing date (Nine days after the opening of the Tryout period for their respective age group). Athletes can attend multiple clubs' tryouts if they so choose without risk of "losing" an offer prior to the established Carolina Region signing date. Clubs that pressure athletes or families to make a decision prior to the signing date are in direct violation of this Bill of Rights.Athletes and families have a right to be notified of their status as soon as possible once the club has reached a decision regarding the athlete.The club must contact the athlete/family within 72 hours of a final tryout session to inform them of their tryout status. Contact may be by e-mail, web site, phone call, or other form of communication.Clubs have a right to a timely, unambiguous decision regarding an offered position.Athletes and families that are extended an offer are strongly encouraged to notify clubs as soon as possible of their decision. This is for the benefit of other athletes who may be on a club's waiting list. Acceptance of an offer may be communicated verbally, but this is a non-binding commitment until official acceptance is documented in writing via the Carolina Region Letter of Commitment. Athletes and families who accept a club's offer should cease attending other clubs' tryouts and notify other clubs (in whose tryouts they participated or that have already offered them a position) of their intent to accept an offer with another club. Once a Carolina Region Letter of Commitment is signed, the athlete may not try out for or accept an offer from, any other club.Clubs have a right to avoid families who have not honored prior club contracts.Unfortunately, all USAV regions include a few "club-hoppers"-families and athletes that accept an offer from a club, sign a contract, play during the season, and then leave the club without honoring their financial obligations. This behavior does financial harm to clubs, thereby undermining the continued growth and success of volleyball in the Carolina Region. Clubs that experience problems of this nature have the right to notify the region office.Note to parent's, guardians and student-athletes: This information is intended to assist you as you navigate the club tryout process. It is important to remember that you are the consumer and you are purchasing a product! It is your responsibility to know what you are buying: there are many quality programs offered throughout our region. Our desire is for every athlete, family, and club to be 100% satisfied with the decisions they make during tryouts. An athlete, parent of athlete, or club who believes they were not afforded their rights during the tryout process should contact the Carolina Region at (336) 766-3581 or office@CarolinaRegionVB.org | |
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