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 HANDBOOK - 2022-2023
Table of Contents

WHAM! …........................................................................ 3

What WHAM! and Club Volleyball are all about ……. 4

General Philosophy .…………………………………………………….. 5

WHAM! Citizenship ……………………………………………………… 5

Operating Plan ………………………………………………………………. 5

Executive ……………………………………………………………………….. 7

Grievances .……………………………………………………………………. 9

Sponsorship …………………………………………………………………... 9

Sponsorship letter ………………………………………………………. 10

What Membership in WHAM! VC Means ………………… 11

Accounting Plan …………………………………………………………….. 11

Budgets and Fees …………………………………………………………. 12

Tryout Information ……………………………………………………… 14

Registering With Volleyball Alberta ………………………… 16

Season Schedule …………………………………………………………… 17

Social Media ………………………………………………………………….. 17

CLUB NAME:
“WHAM! VC”

TEAMS KNOWN AS: WHAM!

W – Winner’s attitude!
H – Humongous effort!
A – Absolute loyalty!
M – Mega dedication!
! – all with enthusiasm!

TEAM COLORS: ORANGE/BLACK/WHITE

VIBRANT, EYE-CATCHING, ENERGY INDUCED
- JUST LIKE OUR PLAYERS!
WHAT WHAM! AND CLUB VOLLEYBALL IS ALL ABOUT
WHAM! VC is a participating member of Volleyball Alberta (VA). VA is
the provincial sport governing body for volleyball. They organize, and
conduct the business of providing competitive volleyball events for
teams of boys and girls in a variety of age groups throughout the
province. Age groups are 13u, 14u, 15u, 16u, 17u, 18u, Open, and
Masters. Although it is completely separate of school volleyball, club
volleyball works with the schools, primarily with regards to facility
rental, to operate.
WHAM! VC may have teams in any of these categories in any given
year, depending on number of athletes who register and the number of
capable adults who get involved to coach.
The club is for kids in Taber and surrounding area. WHAM! VC will
accept players from any community, but the club reserves the right to
limit the number of players on teams and determine the suitability of
the players for the club.
(Place of residence or school attended will not be a basis for selection,
unless it will negatively affect a child’s responsibilities for
participation, eg: a child living far enough away that regular
attendance would not be possible.)
The “club-season” starts after the junior and senior high school
seasons are completed. Around this time, the WHAM! Club will hold
assessment camps, or tryouts, for girls and/or boys who have
registered. These try-outs will be used to measure the individual and
team skills that the athletes possess. The coaches and club officials
who do these evaluations will determine groupings and make team
decisions.
General Philosophy
The environment of club volleyball is a competitive one. The WHAM! VC philosophy
is modelled after the VA philosophy… striving to produce better players and better
people within a framework of competition. Teams will be formed with the goal of
achieving the best results, while still placing athletes in position for best
development. Winning will not be the only goal, but it will be strongly considered
every step of the way.

WHAM! Citizenship
The volleyball growth of the kids will always be on display. Citizenship growth will
also be tended to. Examples of this would include:
• Sportsmanship
• Work ethic
• Cooperation skills
• Communication skills

• Social media use and online activity appropriateness

Operating Plan
WHAM! VC will consist of players, coaches, parents and family members, and the working
parameters of the club will be these:
• The WHAM! VC will be run by an executive, consisting of parents and coaches.
• The executive will be asked to provide the direction and leadership for the club;
they will assign the coaches for the teams; take registrations, and manage finances.
In general, they will set up the season and manage the teams.
• Efforts will be made to keep team size to 10 players.
• If there are enough players for 2 teams in a category, the coaches and assessment
team (made up of people asked to help with tryouts and evaluate player talent and
suitability) will consider several criteria, such as…
• Quality and experience of athlete
• Position the athlete is suited for
• Attitude/passion/drive of athlete
• Home community (for travel purposes)
… in this order.
*It should be noted here that if there is a conflict of interest (such as parent of
player) for people in the assessment team, they will be asked to step back after the
evaluation process. The teams will then be formed.
• If there are more than 10 players, but not enough for a 2nd team in an age group,
the assessment group will make recommendations regarding who makes the team
and if the number of players might be different than 10.
• If there are only 8 or 9 players, a meeting with coach and parents can be held to
determine if group is committed enough to offer a season.
• Coaches can apply for team assignments anytime. Efforts will be made to have
coaches placed by Nov 1st.
The assignments will be based on suitability of the coach for the group.
Considerations for suitability will be these and in this order…
• Age-group desires of coaches
• Quality of coaching background and experience
• Certification level
WHAM! VC will encourage and support coach upgrading and development both in
principle and financially for as long as they serve the club.
• WHAM! VC encourages/supports kids playing a variety of sports. Athlete
development is better served with a variety of sports, instead of specializing in
just one. As well, WHAM! VC recognizes that a good working relationship with the
schools benefits both the club and the schools. So, efforts will be made to
accommodate school basketball programs. Weekday volleyball practices may be
held during the basketball season, but if a basketball player is not in attendance, it
will not affect their status on the WHAM! team. When conflicts do occur (ex: a
VA Premier and a bb tournament), the athletes will be encouraged to attend the
school event, and the players status on the WHAM! team will not be affected.
• Players must recognize the level of commitment required to be a part of the
program. If work/other activities/friends will be attended to instead of practices
or scheduled team events, then the player should not join. If this comes up during
the season, it could affect the player’s status on the team.
• WHAM! VC follows the ‘Fair Play’ rule, as mandated by Volleyball Alberta
(www.volleyballalberta.ca).

EXECUTIVE
• The Executive for WHAM! VC will consist of any number of parents, all of
the club’s coaches, and possibly, other invited members (this group might be
included here to seek relevant expertise and, in some cases, to allow for
continuity in philosophy and approach to club matters).
• To be a member of the Executive it is imperative that there be no personal
agendas – all decisions to be made will be with the best interest of the
teams and/or the club in mind.
 • Election of officers will take place at the AGM in December, after teams
have been formed. All Executive officers will be invited back to pre-season
planning meeting for the following season.
• All members will be asked to demonstrate a genuine interest in the growth
and development of our volleyball players and the club. These people need to
be positive in their approach to club dealings, because that is the nature of
the game the kids are playing, and that is the type of leadership we want our
kids to learn from.
• The 2 key objectives for filling positions are:
• that all responsibilities are covered.
• that all teams are represented.
Election for Executive positions will be held at the Annual General Meeting in
December. Executive members can hold more than one position, but it is desirable
to spread the workload as much as possible.

Positions include:
• President
• Will be a contact/spokesperson for the club
• Handbook editor
• Chairs Grievance Committee
• Signing authority
• Past President
• Invited to attend meetings to add an experienced voice
• Adds Handbook input
•
• Secretary/Administrator
• Records minutes of meetings
• Adds Handbook input
• Collects player registrations at tryouts and collects all waivers &
forms
• Collects all necessary forms and documentation from coaches and club
official
• Completes AVA online registration (along with team delegates)
• Keeps up to date records of teams and club
• Signing authority
 • Treasurer
• Keeps track of the financial matters of the club
• Adds Handbook input
• Signing authority
• Team Parent Contact
• Each team will have one
• Responsible for making contact with team parents to
disseminate/collect info
• Helps Secretary/Administrator with registration procedures
• Works with Booking Director for booking hotel accommodations for
tournaments
• Will represent team on the executive at meetings
• Booking Director
• Responsible for Booking gymnasium for practices and tournaments
• Works with team-parent contacts to book accommodations for
tournaments
• Uniform Director
• Responsible for sizing and ordering of club uniforms/warm-ups
• (Does not order socks or bags. This is a team responsibility.)
• Coach Director(s)
• Each team “Head Coach” will sit as a director at meetings to add
technical expertise when requested, and to become informed of goings
on with the other teams and club in general.
• Grievance Director
• A go-to person, with qualities suitable for conflict-resolution
• Work with the Grievance committee to solve problems that may
arise
• Communication Director
• (this position will be developed going forward)

Grievances (Problems can arise…)

It is very possible that there will be bumps along the road as we progress through
this season. Some things to consider when dealing with the obstacles:
• What we do is for all of the kids.
 • Players are all individuals, but they are in a club as part of a team. Any
concern will be looked after, but what is best for the team and the club will
play a significant part in the outcome.
• Problems will be solved with an open mind and willingness to see both sides of
issue.
• For many reasons, emotions can run high. It is important that cool heads are
used to deal with problems.
• If a player has a concern, they need to be encouraged to talk to the
coach about it first. (For parents, is not appropriate to ask a coach to
deal with a problem that has not been dealt with by the player and coach.)
The sooner the situation is dealt with the better. If there is no satisfaction
gained, the parent is welcome to make an appointment to meet with the
coach. A 24 hour “cooling off period” shall be strictly adhered to before
calling to book this appointment. If, after a meeting with coach, parent, and
possibly player there is still no satisfaction, the situation can go to a
grievance committee (consisting of the club president, the grievance
committee chair from the executive, and a neutral coach – preferably a
‘senior’ coach from another WHAM! team… if there is a conflict of interest
for any of these people, then another executive member or senior coach will
be substituted).

SPONSORSHIP

WHAM! Volleyball Club is an organization that operates for the purpose of giving
kids an opportunity to grow in the sport of volleyball.
Sponsorship at any level is most welcome. Here is what you can expect for your
sponsorship dollar:

A thank you in the Taber Times at season’s end, (other suitable recognition
can be considered).
Your logo or name on our club t-shirt (deadlines exist to get this done!)
… If you have something else in mind, we are all ears!

SPONSORSHIP LETTER ON FOLLOWING PAGE

 Winner’s attitude! Humongous
effort!
Absolute loyalty! Mega dedication!
All with enthusiasm!
_____________________________________________________

Dear Prospective Sponsor,

Taber WHAM! volleyball club is a participating member of Volleyball Alberta. WHAM!

Exists to promote competitive youth volleyball to the student athletes of Taber and
surrounding areas. Our goal is to promote the development of our athletes’ skills and
etiquette within the framework of competition. To accomplish this, WHAM! Volleyball
Club strongly encourages positive team efficacy, provides quality training, and offers
plenty of opportunity to be competitive. Our teams travel across the province proudly
representing our town in the sport of volleyball.

Your sponsorship will benefit our student athletes by contributing to a portion of the
cost associated with playing competitive volleyball, which includes things such as:
tournament fees and team registration; facility rentals; team uniforms; and equipment.
Currently, each play is expected to pay between $800 - $1100 for the 2020 season.
Your donation will help to minimize player fees making it more affordable for our
athletes.

There is no minimum sponsorship expected. Regardless of your gift size,

your donation will make a difference, and it will contribute to the continuing
success of the athletes within our volleyball club.

Taber WHAM! Works hard to allocate all funds responsibly and effectively. We will
provide you with a Receipt for Donation, and your sponsorship will be openly
recognized on our social media page. We will look forward to linking your own
social media page our Facebook Page in recognition of your contribution.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please direct your inquiries to
taberwham@gmail.com.

For more information about Taber WHAM! Volleyball Club, please visit
www.taberwham.weebly.com.

We sincerely appreciate the time you have taken to consider sponsoring our young
athletes!

Best regards,
Taber WHAM! Volleyball Club

WHAT MEMBERSHIP IN WHAM! VC MEANS

Being a member has its privileges. The WHAM! VC has a good reputation in the
volleyball community for producing good teams with skilled players who are respectful
and play with good sportsmanship. WHAM! players will get that reputation when they
wear the uniform. It is their responsibility to be worthy of it.
Also, with membership comes responsibilities. This club recognizes the importance of
doing the right thing, not just on the volleyball court, but off the court as well.
Adults and coaches set the example for players, and older players set the example for
teammates and younger players.
The primary goals of this club are to make kids better volleyball players and better
people, and to make each season a positive experience for all concerned. Everyone
involved with the club, including athletes, coaches, parents, and executive members has a
roll to play in realizing these goals. Rolls might be different, but they are all important.
Where teams will strive to win volleyball games, WHAM! members realize there is a lot
more than just wins and losses that determine success. Volleyball is very much about
problem solving, and ‘finding a way’ to get the job done. It is about teamwork and
support. It is about being positive and learning from mistakes. It is about the
group, not the individuals.
Accounting Plan
WHAM! VC maintains…
• A general Club accounting (on-going) that looks after equipment purchases,
coach and club official’s registrations, coach certification, coach clinics and
workshops, club advertising, club business, and the like.
• Age group accounting (that last for the season) for each separate age group
and gender that the club operates.
Budgets and Fees
Team budgets have been fairly accurate in the past because most costs and expenses are
known. But there are still uncertainties. The budget determines the player fees, and
considerations for the budget will be these:
• Each age group will have a separate budget, so player fees for different age
groups could be different.
• 9 players per team. (Fee schedule changes if number of players is
different.)
• The initial budget for an age group will account for a full season of play,
including all VA Premier Tournaments for the age group and 2 local
tournaments. Less than a full season could mean a decrease in fees.
• The budget accounts for uniforms. This includes 1 jersey and 1 warm-up
shirt unless the coaches require libero jerseys.
• Player fees are subject to change.
*Fundraising:
Fundraising can affect a team’s bottom line, but it will not be budgeted for. It
should be noted here that money raised from a WHAM! VC tournament, itself, does
not count as team fundraising unless it is running things like raffles or concessions.
Money raised by the tournament itself will pay for tournament expenses, with the
remainder to go into the WHAM! VC account.
Once the teams are chosen, a team “Parent Meeting” will be held to go over the
season schedule (as well as many other things). At this time, the schedule could be
altered by adding or taking out any events listed. Of course, any changes made will
affect the budget, and player fees for that age group will be adjusted accordingly.
If there is a surplus of money for a team at the end of the season, it could be
rebated back to parents. Criteria is as follows…
• Any amount after $500 will be rebated back to parents in that age group.
• All other money to go into WHAM! VC account. (This money to be used for
major equipment replacement, like poles/nets/carts/facility repairs that might
impact club. It can also be used to subsidize another team in the club that did
not have 9 players on roster. Otherwise that group’s players will share the
extra cost. As well, coaches can apply for money from this account to help pay
 for Coach Certification courses or clinics/symposiums/workshops or other
similar types of upgrading).

Registration
• Will occur December 5th at 5:30 at the Civic Center.
• Please bring a copy of government issued ID
• Half of your players fees will be due on Monday, December 12th.
• The remainder of the fees will be due January 20th, 2023.
• If a player’s fees have not been paid in full by January 20, 2020, then they will be
unable to play with the team until their fees are paid in full
• If a player’s fees were in arrears in the previous season, then all fees for the
current season will be due on registration day.
• Sizing of jersey and warm-up shirt will happen at registration on December 5th.
• The Code of Conduct will be signed during the registration date. In the event a
member of Wham ( player or family member) does not abide by the rules set out in
the Code of Conduct, it could result in their removal from the event and/or
removal from the club. If sanctions such as this are a result of failing to follow
the code, at no time will this player recieve a refund.

TEAM BUDGETS - 20222/2023

13u
- AVA registration 115
- Uniforms 100
- Tournaments 75 (includes 2 local tourneys)
- Coach expenses 355
- Gym Rental 135
- Premiers 280 (includes 2 premiers and a Provincial tourney)
- Club Expenses 40
Total $1100
14u
- AVA registration 115
- Uniforms 100
- Tournaments 75 (includes 2 local tournaments)
- Coach expenses 430
-Gym Rental 135
-Premiers 375 (includes 3 premiers and a Provincial tourney)
- Club Expenses 40
 Total $1270

15u/16u
- AVA registration 115
- Uniforms 100
- Tournaments 75 (includes 2 local tournaments)
- Coach expenses 460
- Gym Rental 135
- Premiers 375 (includes 3 premiers and a Provincial tourney)
- Club Costs 40
Total $1300

17u
- AVA registration 115
- Uniforms 150 (2 sets of jerseys)
- Tournaments 75 (includes 2 local tournaments)
- Coach expenses 460
-Gym Rental 125
-Premiers 375 (includes 3 premiers and a Provincial tourney)
- Club Expenses 40
Total $1340

Tryout Dates:

Sunday, November 27, 2022

u13/u14 girls 10:00 am Taber Civic Center
u15/u16 girls 1:00 pm Taber Civic Center
u17/u18 girls 3:00 pm Taber Civic Center
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
u13/u14 girls 4:30 pm Taber Civic Center
u15/u16 girls 6:00 pm Taber Civic Center
u17/u18 girls 7:30 pm Taber Civic Center

FAQ’s Regarding Tryouts

What exactly are the tryouts for?
Athletes come to the assessment/tryouts in an attempt to make one of the competitive teams for the
upcoming VA club season.

Is there a tryout fee?

Yes. Volleyball Alberta requires all athletes trying out to register online at the Volleyball Alberta website.
The cost of your tryout fee is $21.81. You must be registered on the AVA wesbite before attending tryouts.
What am I being evaluated on?
Athletes are evaluated in many different areas: athleticism, current skill level, natural size and strength,
attitude, work ethic, coachability, communication skills, ability to function within a team framework in a
competitive setting, etc.

How long is club season?

After tryouts in Dec, practices will be held on Sundays in Jan/Feb (until basketball is finished, as determined
by each team separately.) We encourage all WHAM! players to participate in basketball or other sports, and
understand the commitment they need to make to those teams. We will not begin our more intense training
until the conclusion of basketball season (late Feb/early March). The club season can run to the middle of
May, depending on which age division the athlete is in.

What does it cost to play club volleyball?

Club fees can be found on page 13 of the handbook.

What do my club fees pay for?

Included will be VA premiers and 2 local tournament fees, VA registration fees which includes insurance
coverage, jerseys, warm up, and coaching expenses and honorarium.

Who does the evaluating at tryouts?

The evaluators will be the club coaches and helpers.

When will I know if I make a team?

Coaches will meet to discuss evaluations immediately after the final session.
The head coach will email the team list to all players trying out using parent email addresses shortly after.
Any players/parents wanting to speak personally to the coaches about their situation can ask to do so.

Tips for Tryouts

Tryouts in any sport can be a stressful situation for even the most confident athlete. Players must understand
that they are taking a personal risk – they might not make the final roster. If that will be too difficult to deal
with, it is suggested that the player should not try out.
Kids from different schools will be put into a competitive environment where their play is assessed by coaches
who will eventually determine whether a player will be selected to join the team or club. This assessment time
can be very exciting and an excellent opportunity to discover new volleyball techniques, meet new friends and
help establish goals as an athlete in the sport. But it can be stressful as well.
Are you ready to try out? The following tips may help you through the assessment process:

• Get a good night sleep! Before you go to bed, visualize yourself at the assessments the next day.
Picture yourself with all the other players and how you stand out in comparison to them. See yourself
making the perfect pass to the setter, hitting a perfect kill shot down the line, and setting the
perfect ball for the kill. Picture yourself having success and feeling confident.

• Drink plenty of fluids and be ready to play hard.

• Show up for the assessment early and start warming yourself up with some moderate stretches and
exercises even before you set foot on the courts. Coaches love it when their players get in the gym
early, and those who straggle in “just on time” or a few minutes late impress no coach.
 • Hustle! Always run everywhere on the courts. Coaches notice an enthusiastic player who hustles
everywhere and dislike the opposite.

• Try to come with an upbeat, cheery attitude. Treat others, as you would want them to treat you.

• Always look at the coaches when they are speaking. This shows a respect and eagerness to listen,
learn, and cooperate.

• Be encouraging and communicate well with others. If somebody makes an error, you can say, “You’ll
get it next time,” or “nice try.” This shows coaches that you are a good team player and that you don’t
let things bother you or let you get down on yourself or others. Be supportive.

• While on the court in drills and games, “talk-talk-talk”. Quiet players are not as effective as players
who are constantly talking and communicating with one another. “He/she talks really well on the
court,” coaches will say. Call for the ball, call for the set, call for the hit, and call the ball in or out.
In all situations, players who talk and communicate, show leadership and confidence.

• Confidence is key. Some players have more than others. It is something that is constantly developing.
Players who always do the right thing will develop more confidence. Players who are confident about
their game and with others are players that coaches are looking for.

Athletes will commit errors and many do not know how to deal with it effectively. The best advice,
“Recognize and move on.” For example, keeping your head up after hitting a ball out or missing a serve.
This shows your team, and the opposition that you can handle mistakes and that you are confident that on
your next opportunity you will be successful. In WHAM! volleyball, and on every other team, there will be
mistakes, How will you respond?

Have fun! Volleyball is one of the greatest games that you will ever play. The life experiences that we learn
from this sport are invaluable. See the assessments as fun and challenging, and good things will happen. Good
luck!

Registering with Volleyball Alberta

Kids of all ages interested must register with VA then show up for
WHAM! VC tryouts.
Steps for online registration:
• www.volleyballalberta.ca

• On top bar, click on registration

• Go to ‘How to Register’ and follow the path

(If you have problems or questions, you can call for help 403-393-
8122)
Please remember to bring proof of registration and
birth certificates to tryouts!

Season Schedule - 2022-2023

13U 14U 15U 16U 17U 18U