VB: This Week in Volleyball -- Volume 3, Issue 1

By Dr. Deborah Moore
OHSAA Associate Commissioner

Season opens Aug. 6!
Due to the start date of Aug. 6, we have been fielding numerous questions as to what can be done between Aug. 1-6. The time between the end of July when coaching IS permitted (10 days) until the start of practice Aug. 6 has been a confusing period of time for many coaches. It is not a “no-contact” period and clearly outside the season of play, but that doesn’t mean you can bend other regulations to begin practice early.

There are limitations. Permissible activities are discussed in the online rules meetings and in your preseason manual under “Frequently Asked Questions.”

Have you scheduled your preseason meeting?
Preseason parent/athlete meetings are mandated by the OHSAA. As a head coach, you KNOW the importance of good communication. There could not be a better opportunity to review the expectations with parents AND players. Make the message clear, and make certain you provide them written copies of your team rules. Address playing time and players that “move up and down.”

Being upfront now with YOUR expectations will go a long way down the road when issues develop. And in a long season, they always do! We even provide sample agendas, video resources, etc., for these meetings. You can even log on and show the NFHS’s “Concussion Course” or “The Role of the Parent In Sports” during these preseason meetings.

Need help? The NFHS ‘Locker Room’ is just a click away!
We all know the issues that arise during the year: My daughter is not getting enough playing time, the out-of-control parent that doesn’t really know his/her role, etc. How about a little help?

The NFHS has devoted considerable time and expense to developing helpful tools for coaches at its “Learning Center.” Take a look – in addition to some excellent video resources (most are FREE!), there are also excellent resources called “Tool Kits” at www.nfhslearn.com.

Keep your emergency medical forms
Just a short reminder as team rosters are developed to make certain you keep copies of your emergency medical forms with you. These can prove invaluable in the event of an injury on the road. And with so many non-school individuals coaching at the sub-varsity level, I encourage you to remind the coaches of your sub-varsity teams as well.

‘Common Sense 101’
It should go without saying, but ALL prospective student-athletes are required to complete a pre-participation examination – and it means just that: BEFORE participating. Common sense! The player that comes and says, “I’ll bring it tomorrow” or the player that is the three-year letterwinner and just hasn’t brought it in yet? THOSE are the perfect examples we all face. Use it as the perfect discipline that you want to instill in your team.

All students must be cleared by a medical examiner and have their consent forms, signed by their parents, on file in the principal’s or athletic administrator’s office. Please do not overlook this requirement.

Safety first!
Volleyball has one of the best safety records of all team sports. With our emphasis on concussion education and other medical issues, we may overlook some of the rules that are designed to insure a safe playing facility. For example, NFHS VB rule 2-1-3 requires at least six feet of unobstructed space outside the boundary lines; 10 feet of space is preferred. Schools, via their administration, are required to provide this type of court.

Officials shall not permit a contest to be competed when conditions do not meet the rule requirements.

New uniform rules in 2016
Some of you are asking, Why the emphasis on the uniform rules change four years out? The NFHS knows that schools need plenty of notice before expending valuable resources on new uniforms. Generally speaking, three years is the amount of time permitted for such a major change. (An extra year is provided so that schools can plan for this transition and officials can get used to the change.)

Nothing in this new rule excuses a school from providing uniforms that comply with current NFHS rules, including insuring that the libero uniform is clearly contrasting from all angles. See this link on the NFHS website for more information on this change: http://www.nfhs.org/Workarea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6722