Gotham VolleyballCaptains Orientation D7-10

January 21, 2016

Our History

1980s

• League Formation• Wally Kunukau

• Original Structure• Formation of NAGVA

• First Big Apple 1983• First Fire Island 1987

• AIDS crisis

1990’s

• Challenge keeping members • 5 divisions (Wed, Thurs, & Sat)•Continued success of Big Apple and Fire Island tournaments• First big financial crisis• First time at Esquelita

2000’s

•9/11 – League Donation•Gotham took over Big Apple•Push for greater financial stability/accountability•Dramatic Growth•New Website/shift from manual system

Gotham Volleyball League Spring 2016 Captain’s Orientation

By Trevor Cano, CommissionerSeth Eichenholtz, Dir. Of Strategic Planning/Veteran CaptainHenry Mui, Division 6 Representative/Veteran Captain

Captains As Leaders: Sportsmanship, Communication, and the “Captain’s Packet”

● Leaders● Review Captain’s Packet● Know the Rules● Be Active Community Members

● Models of Sportsmanship● Diffuse Situations● YOU Set the Tone● When in Doubt, Don’t be Shady

● Being good Communicators● Stay Informed/Accurate Info.● Stay in touch with Division Rep● Keep Your Teammates Informed

The Captain’s Role in Gotham

● Director of Division Play● Makes sure that division play runs smoothly across all divisions.● Works with the division representatives to make sure that important information is distributed to

the captains.

● Division Representative● Makes sure that the division runs smoothly.● Communicates important information to the captains.● Helps resolve division issues (roster changes, votes, sportsmanship issues, etc)● Runs the division End of Season Tournament and gives away the All Star and Tournament MVP

trophies at the EOS party!

● Captains

Your Division Representative is the primary contact for information or resolution of issues unless there is a need for an impartial voice (such as where the D Rep is also a captain) or if an issue needs to be escalated due to its severity. But, you should also feel comfortable approaching any member of the Gotham leadership team with feedback or questions.

Gotham Division Play Structure

● Board Member on Duty (BMOD)● There is always a BMOD during Gotham activities.

● The BMOD is there to help captains with their responsibilities, but not to fulfill them (i.e. setting up or taking down the net, etc).

● Should there be an injury or incident during division play, the BMOD should always be informed as soon as possible.

● The referees can help direct you to the BMOD if you are unable to located them.

Gotham Division Play

● Can be found on the Gotham Website under the “About Gotham” tab

● This is the “Constitution” of Gotham – talks about governance and leadership, and rules governing the Board

● Many answers to questions about how the Board functions can be found in the Bylaws

● Feel Free to Ask Us Questions!

● Ways to get more involved – Volunteer, Run for the Board, Serve on the Grievance Committee

The Gotham Rules: Bylaws

● Contain All Rules About Competitive Division Play

● Draft Rules Highlights● Captains Must Attend the Tryouts/Draft Process

● Replacement Players

● Can only be added within the first 10 weeks of the season and only if someone drops off your team (in other words -- can’t pick a team of 8 and then add a 9th)

● Anyone who is eligible at your draft who has not yet been drafted by another team can be added as a replacement by informing the Div Rep

● Others can be added, but only with the approval of 4 of the 7 other captains.

The Gotham Rules: Rules of League Play

● Reffing Duties Highlights● Need at least 4 team members

● If you ref an opening or closing match, also need to set up or take down the nets (if necessary).

● Learn all reffing positions to teach teammates

● Must be on time and pay attention – speak with your teammates if they are missing calls and plays

● Protests● Politely address up-ref if there is an issue.

● Must raise issue at the time of the call – can be waived if you wait to see the outcome of the match

● Carries, doubles, line calls are all discretionary (not reviewable)

The Gotham Rules: Rules of League Play

● Essential to the Mission of Gotham – See Policy Statement

● Captains are held to a higher standard

● Positive Cheering (GOOD GAME THEM AND US!)

The Gotham Rules: Sportsmanship and Anti-Violence Policy

● Violence is BAD – automatic suspension

● If there is an incident, work with the ref and the Board member on duty to diffuse

● You can ask that a troubled teammate be given some time to “cool down”

● Reach out to fellow captain if team rivalry is getting out of control

The Gotham Rules: Sportsmanship and Anti-Violence Policy

● Policies are in place to help ensure that certain goals are met. Gotham is more interested to help everyone fulfill their responsibilities and succeed rather than issue penalties (warnings, forfeits, suspensions, etc).

● Bayard Rustin Educational Complex Windows● The North Facing Windows must ALWAYS be closed unless broken. This is an agreement we have made between the league, school, and neighborhood association.● The South Facing Windows must be closed by 9:00 PM unless broken.

● Gotham Equipment – it is expected that captains and teammates should know how to properly and neatly store Gotham’s equipment. Not only does this help keep our space clean and ease opening duties, but it also ensures that our investment in equipment is maximized. ● If you ever have a question, ask the board member on duty.

The Gotham Rules: Other Important Policies

Communicating is being informed

● READ posted notices and league email to keep you and your team up to date with the latest league news.

● If you are not signed up for the Gotham e-mail list, sign up now. As a captain, you are expected to be subscribed to our e-mail list.

● Check out the Gotham website often for updates and always keep in touch with your Division Representative.

Communicating is being proactive

● PLEASE make sure to always communicate with your Division Rep.

● Be proactive in finding out information. There is never a stupid question. Ask questions, don’t assume

● For example, if you are not able to make a match, please assign an Acting Captain. Or if a complaint needs to be expressed about reffing, the match, or other problems, are things that you need to tell your Division Rep.

● You are also expected to forward important information sent by your Division Representative.

● There are usually many Gotham events and happenings during the season. They can be division wide or league wide events.

Communicating: Overview of intro team email

● Letting your team know what’s going on is one of your most important responsibilities.

● Your initial email should contain all of the following information:1. Your name, team number, and contact information.

2. Your team’s roster. You should get this from your Division Rep with contact information shortly after the draft.

3. The amount of season dues, that they must be paid before the first match, and the link to pay.

4. The location of the League’s bylaws and other policies.

5. How to find the team’s schedule on the Gotham website.

6. Information about your first match.

● Please note that an actual sample email will be provided in your Captain’s Packet.

Communicating: Above all else – be positive

● Facilitate positive communication between teammates/coach/others (fellow captains), discourage negative communication

● Don’t make others’ business your business (i.e, inability to pay issues)

● DO NOT spread rumors, rabble rouse, and push back if you see if happening with others

● DO encourage constructive participation in Gotham governance

The Intersection of Sportsmanship and Leadership – Constructive Leadership

● Help Enforce Rules

● Talk to Upset People

● Hearing and Incorporating Other Points of View

● Work to Reach Consensus

● Constructive Feedback to Board Member (Solution Focused)

● Respect for Staff and Community

● Defusing Difficult Situations

● Proposing Constructive Solutions To the Board

● Attend Board Meetings

● Help out even when its not “your job”

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”

The Intersection of Sportsmanship and Leadership – Yellow Flags

● Complaints Without Solutions

● “Yellow Flag” Language (“Us” versus “them,” disproportionately dramatic or critical, especially of those not involved in the discussion)

● Not Taking The Time To Get All Perspectives or Not Valuing Others’ Thoughts and Perspectives

● Unequal Treatment/Favoritism

“Fear Leads To Anger, Anger Leads To Hate, Hate…Leads To The Dark Side”

Questions & Discussion

Gotham Volleyball League Spring 2016 Captain’s Orientation, Divisions 7-10January 21, 2016

By Eric Eichenholtz, Vice Commissioner, Gotham Volleyball

Tryout and Draft Process: Overview and Strategy

● Captain’s Meeting● Review Captain’s Packet● Choose Team Numbers

● Tryouts● Observe players● Take Notes● Eat Pizza! ☺

● Draft● Organize Notes (10 Minutes)● Draft Players● Team Rosters set!

Tryout Day Routine

● Passing/Hitting/Serving Consistency

● Communication

● Court sense/movement

● Following instructions

● Improvement through stages

Thinks to look for:

● Overhand Passing

● Underhand Passing

● Serving

● Serve Receive

● Hitting/Setting

● Waves

Tryout Stages

Skills-Based Tryout Process

● Take useful and detailed notes● You want to have a long, detailed list of people who you are considering

picking that you can rely on when drafting.

● Focus on skills and consistency● Hitting, Passing, Court Position, Movement

● Would this person make a good teammate?● Demeanor on the court, enthusiasm, interaction with others on the court

● Challenge your thinking – ask yourself “why?”● Judge as much as possible on volleyball-related skills and qualities

● Can this person be successful in my Division?

Tips for Successful Tryout Scouting

● 1xxx-10xxx ● Returner from last Spring● First digit is the Division number

● 98xxx● Returning to Gotham ● Played at any point from 2008 on and could

have been at any level ● Captains can ask for player history at the

beginning of the draft

● 99xxx● New to Gotham● Often will provide a description of past

experience

Player Numbers

● Draft Chair ● Commissioner or designee

● Data Entry ● Enters and calls out names of

selected person

● Roster Verification● Makes sure the player is eligible

Participants

The Player Draft

● 10 Minutes to Review Final Roster and Organize Notes

● 8 Rounds (7 Mandatory, 1 Optional)● In Division 10, the draft may be extended to 9 Rounds

● Five Minute Breaks, usually just before Rounds 5 and 7

● Each Captain can pick one player per round● Odd rounds go from team 1 to team 8, even rounds go from team 8 to team 1

to ensure everyone gets equal opportunity to pick players

● Each Captain gets 1 minute, 30 seconds to make their pick (one of your picks can be extended to 3 minutes)

● Returners from last season not yet picked are announced twice during the later part of the draft as a reminder

How does the draft work?

● Tryout Rosters● At the beginning of tryouts, you will be provided a roster of all players who

signed up to tryout for your division (usually colored pink/salmon). This list will change as more people register during tryouts and other people get picked for other divisions.

● You will get a final roster before the draft (usually colored green). This is a list of everyone who has signed up for that Division. Only the people on this roster who showed up to tryouts or were otherwise eligible can be picked. If a name does not appear on the final roster, he/she may not be drafted.

● Gotham ROLP Rule IV(B)(4)● In order to be eligible for the player draft, an individual must participate in

tryouts unless the individual has played in that division or a more advanced level division within the past 3 seasons.

Who is eligible for the draft?

● Gotham ROLP Rule IV(A)(4)● Captains within the Division will determine the members of the team. When

selecting team members, a Captain should pick players with the skill level associated with the Division and are encouraged to favor past Division members.

● What does this mean?● Use your best judgment and always pick level-appropriate players.

● Pick seasoned veterans of the Division over questionable new players.

Later Draft Rounds/Players Not Selected

● Building Community● Tryouts by draft are a process open to all of our members. Everyone has the opportunity to tryout and has equal chance of being placed on a team. ● Each season, we create new teams with new combinations of players and Captains. Through the draft process, some players leave their established group of friends and their comfort zone to meet new people with different experiences. We build a greater community by facilitating our members networking with and meeting new people.

● Fostering Competition● The draft creates a level playing field – each team has equal chances to pick all of the players in the eligible pool. ● Because there are 8 Captains with different viewpoints and experiences, there is a diverse range of opinion and that makes for a better draft. ● The best way to make the draft work – BE YOURSELF! While people may disagree with one person’s judgment or another, collectively the Captains’ different opinions and viewpoints ensure that all types of players (different styles, etc.) at a similar skill level are chosen and are part of a Division.

Why do we pick teams by draft?

Questions & Discussion