1. All Athletes must adhere to the USAV Code of Conduct.
2. All Athletes are expected to attend all events scheduled for their team.
3. All Athletes are responsible for their own uniforms. The club does not have replacements for lost uniforms. All replacement costs will be your responsibility.

The following guidelines have been created to help players and parents to understand the expectations of Grand Strand Juniors.

• Grand Strand Juniors players represent our community and must conduct themselves with “class” and “good sportsmanship” at all times. Foul language and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
• Team Members are reminded that by becoming a member of our program you understand that the coaches are in charge. Their decisions are final and to be respected. There is no place in our program for disrespect toward any of our coaches. This behavior will not be tolerated.
• Team members should always be open to constructive criticism and show respect to all fellow team members. Rude, threatening, aggressive, or other inappropriate behavior toward fellow Grand Strand Junior members or coaches will be grounds for considered removal from the program. The staff reserves the right to personalize individual sanctions based upon the severity of the action, and on a case-by-case basis. These actions include, but are not limited to: verbal abuse of staff, player, parents, fans and officials; unsportsmanlike gestures and/or  commentary, this includes but is not limited to negative comments regarding the club, coaches, other athletes and parents, posted via email, and/or web postings, lying, cheating, excessive tardiness, abuse of practice/playing facilities and/or tournament locations. All decisions will be made by the club only and will not be scrutinized or discussed by the other players and/or parents.
• Selfishness will not be tolerated: Players are expected to put the interest of the team ahead of their own personal athletic objectives.
• Grand Strand Juniors, alcohol, and tobacco free program. Team members promise not to smoke, drink, or use illegal drugs at any time, in or out of uniform. Doing so will result in immediate probation or removal from the club. This behavior will not be tolerated; please do not join our program if you participate in any of these activities. You will be caught and removed from the program and you will still be responsible for your financial obligation.
•  Academic Standards:  Every effort of the staff will be made to ensure your academic success. We will support parental decisions regarding academic issues. Prior knowledge of homework, testing, and school projects should be planned accordingly as to not interfere with practice and become an excuse to miss practice or competition.
• Listen and Try: Players are expected to listen and try what the coaches are asking them to do. The effort to change and improve must be made by all athletes.
• Remain at all activities until released: Players are to remain at all tournaments and activities until released by the coach. Many times, there are officiating duties, team meetings, etc. Be respectful to your teammates and stick around.
• Communicate Conflicts: Please address all potential scheduling conflicts with coaches as soon as possible. Prior knowledge of a player’s absence is necessary so that effective planning for practice and matches can occur.
• Give your Best: There is no excuse for lack of a personal effort. The player has total control over how they choose to act and respond. 

• Be punctual to all practices, tournaments, meetings, and other events, arriving at or before the specified time. If unable to attend or if you will not be on time, contact your coach prior to a practice or event as soon as possible.
• Be highly motivated to implement instructions given by the coach.
• Always represent yourself, your team, and Grand Strand Juniors in a responsible manner, being respectful of other teams, clubs, and individuals. Any deliberate act resulting in damage to equipment, facilities, or property will be grounds for sanction by the Club. Player’s Parents will be responsible for costs related to these acts.
• Engage only in activities approved by the coaching staff and at all times be aware of proper warm-up areas in all facilities. Food and Drink will be left outside the gym unless otherwise specified by the facility.
• Take on officiating responsibilities as assigned by the coach and, if so designated, complete officiating certification requirements.
• Remain at all activities until released by the coach.
• Come prepared to practice or compete.
• Notify the coach of any illness or injury immediately.
• Set goals for the season, including a commitment to, your self, the team, and the coach.
• Be supportive and helpful to teammates.
• Eat well, sleep well, and think well! Become the best person you can be!!

Coast United/National Teams

• Volleyball is a complex sport and playing time or player position on a National team is NOT guaranteed. Coaches evaluate athletes during practices on a weekly basis to determine what roles are best for each player on the team. Playing time and positions are earned at Practice and under the decisions of the coach. If you have a question about your playing time or position, set up a time with your Coach to discuss the situation. Issues with playing time or positions should be handled constructively. If at any time a player or parent is deemed to be affecting the team adversely, the coach has the right to request the player be removed from the team. A meeting will then be set up with the player, parent, coach, club director, and any other person(s) at the club director’s request.

Regional Team

• It is the philosophy of Grand Strand Juniors that each athlete will have some (not equal) playing time in each match (not set). Coaches evaluate athletes during practices on a weekly basis to determine what roles are best for each player on the team. Equal playing time or player position is NOT guaranteed. We have great coaches and intend to allow them to do what’s best for the teams as a whole. There may be an occasional game that is of such importance to the team and is being played at a level of play that requires that only the strongest players stay on the floor, but this should be the exception, not the rule. The coach may also deem the player has missed practice time and someone else is better suited to play that game.

GSJ Payment Rules

• Once a player has accepted their position on a team you are accepting the full responsibility for the payment of all club fees due.
• Payments should be made promptly according to the program laid out at the beginning of the season. Any payment that is two weeks late is considered non-payment and subject to action by GSJ. That action may include, but not limited to, a player being removed from a team until payment is made. 

Refunds

• All payments made to GSJ are NON-REFUNDABLE except for the following guidelines.
• Player injury – Any player who is injured and is determined to miss the remainder of the season is subject to a refund in the amount relative to the time being missed. The reason that fees cannot be refunded is that once a player commits to a program, the Club spends the majority of the team budget in the first few weeks to cover gym expense, Membership Fees, equipment purchases, tournament entries, uniforms, etc- all expenses that are non refundable to the Club.  
• Refund exceptions may be made due to a season ending injury as a direct result of participating in a sanctioned Club event, or serious illness. In this instance, pro-rata refunds MAY be granted with a written request, to the Director, accompanied by a physician’s report, where applicable. In the case of  injury or illness, The Club must receive a signed statement from a physician that states the player cannot participate in volleyball and the duration that they are unable to participate.  
• There are no credits or refunds for players who are unable to attend tournaments or practices for personal reasons, regardless of prior notification.  For the purposed of pro-rata refunds, the start date of the season shall be December 1. 

PRO-RATA Refunds- (if approved) are based upon the following formulas:           

                weeks 1-3           50% of the season fee

                weeks 4-6           30% of the season fee

                weeks 7-10         10% of the season fee

                week 10-end of season            no refund shall be due.

• EXAMPLE:  If season fees are $1,000 and a player is granted a refund in week 3, then that player is obligated to pay $500 to the Club.  If the player has not made payments totaling $500, then that player is obligated to pay any remaining balance so that the total paid is $500.  If the player has paid in excess of $500, then the player is entitled to a refund of the amount paid in excess of $500.
• All coaching decisions are made by the Grand Strand Juniors staff. Parents are not allowed to “coach from the stands.” Decisions are made to benefit the entire team as well as each individual player.
• Parents are not allowed in the coaching area during team practice and discussion. At tournaments, parents are not allowed in the warm-up areas or with the team during team discussion times.
• While at the gym and tournaments, we ask that parents speak positively about the program and coaches. Any questions or concerns about the club, coaches, other players, or team issues should be brought up first with the teams’ coach, then with the club director in private away from the practice area.
• We ask that our parents respect our program at outside events. Please display the same good sportsmanship and positive behavior that you expect from your children.  This includes positive encouragement to all of our players. Children imitate adults and one of our goals is to provide good leadership and role models. We expect the same from our parents.

• Be aware of all materials and/or equipment supplied by the Club.
• Take the initiative to clarify all information. Talk to the coach when appropriate.
• Conduct yourself responsibly at all tournaments, practices, and events.
• Take full responsibility for your daughters’ actions while a member of Grand Strand Juniors Volleyball Club.
• Encourage your daughter to be responsible and to honor her commitment.
• Undertake the financial responsibility only after careful consideration. You are entering into a legal contract with Grand Strand Juniors. Please be aware of this.
• Promptly pay all fees.  If fees are not paid on time, your child will not be able to practice or play until they are paid. Late fees and additional billing charges will be added.
• Respect other parents.
• Be prompt in reporting any illness, injury, or psychological trauma to the coach.
• Handle grievances through the appropriate channels.
• Be sensitive to the responsibilities, and team requirements for your daughter.
• Parents are expected to become involved in the development and success of the  program.
• Parents are asked to allow their daughters to struggle: As difficult as this may be, being a part of a team sport is not easy. Guide them, teach them, and direct them to the right answer, but try not to save them.
• Encourage your daughter to live and enjoy the moment of this volleyball experience.  She can choose to make it whatever she wants, good, bad, depressing, etc…her choice.
• Feel Free to express your concerns, expectations, fears, hopes, and dreams to the
• coaching staff! On occasion, we like to hear positive feedback as well.

We at Grand Strand Juniors understand that there are times when a parent cannot help but look at their daughter as their daughter, and not the athlete that she is trying to be. As a staff, we commit to treat each athlete with the level of respect and honor they deserve. A coach/player relationship is unlike most other relationships. We will do our best to get your daughter through her struggles.

• Knowing when and how to get your questions and concerns answered and addressed is a common place problem for parents in the world of youth sports. At sometime during the season, you may have a question about your daughter and her role on her team and within the program. More often than not, these questions involve playing time.  Having a clear and understood policy regarding parent/player/coach communication is the goal and objective of the Grand Strand Juniors Grievance Procedure. These guidelines are created to protect the player and coach from unnecessary embarrassment and establish and nurture a trusting and professional relationship between the parent, player, and coaching staff.
• A by-product of this policy is education of the athlete in the facts of professional and appropriate communication. Teaching a young athlete to handle a variety of stresses is a duty of any coach. Establishing open lines of communication is only viable if the athlete herself participates in the process directly with players and staff.
• SPECIFICALLY the procedure is as follows when you have a concern or question regarding your child. We expect you to use the following procedure, in its order, to solve the problem:
• The athlete should speak with or meet with the coach at the appropriate time. At tournaments is not a time for discussions. Consider meeting at the next practice.
• If the matter remains unresolved, or the athlete has a reasonable concern, then…The parent should speak with a Club Director. A Director will make a decision how to best proceed.
• Parents and/or players are expected to set up a meeting with the director ahead of time. Meetings should not be at tournaments. If a parent approaches a coach before, during, or after an event, in a hostile manner, the coach has been instructed to not engage in that conversation. Any discussion involving issues on the team must wait a minimum of 24 hours after a tournament. Rather, they should ask the parent to set up a meeting, refer to the Grand Strand Juniors Grievance procedure, and walk away. If the matter remains unresolved, see the following:
• If appropriate The parent will meet with the coach and the director. Depending on the situation we may ask that the athlete attend the meeting.
• Parents are expected to call the director and set up a meeting time away from the tournament site. We also do not think it is productive for parents to call coaches with concerns after the tournament and after the coach has been coaching for 6 to 10 hours. If a coach is approached during a tournament, please understand the coach has been instructed to terminate the conversation and walk away.
• We will not tolerate hostile, aggressive confrontations to any of the coaching staff, or towards other athletes, and/or Parents. If this type of behavior does happen, the person and/or persons involved and the athlete will be sanctioned by the Club. Each situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis. All decisions will be made by the club only and will not be scrutinized or discussed by the other players and/or parents.
• If needed The recommended meeting times for parents to speak with the coach is a scheduled time either before or immediately following practices. Please phone the coach or the Club staff to arrange that time. It is not appropriate for athletes or parents to approach other parents or athletes regarding any problem they may be having with the coach, or coaching decisions. This type of behavior is rarely positive and not effective for the athlete or the team. There are times when everyone is wondering about substitutions, playing time, etc., and we know that in a competitive team sport like this, that not everyone is going to be happy all of the time. We simply ask that if you should hear constant complaining from any person, whether it is at tournaments, or the car pool, etc., that you ask that person to call the director, and not to air their grievances with you.
• Additionally, players and parents are discouraged from voicing grievances to other players or parents. Problems need to be handled between those players/parents/coaches/club administrators that are directly involved in the situation. 
• Please note that this grievance procedure is designed to deflect hostile confrontations between players/parents/coaches. We encourage all Grand Strand Juniors coaches to engage in normal conversation with parents at all times. We will do our best to be proactive in our communication and expectations. 
• Parents and players who are in violation of these procedures are subject to sanctions. Those sanctions are at the discretion of the club director and can include dismissal of the player from the team without refund.

I understand my child is unique. She has her own gifts and develops at her own pace.

I understand that my child has her own goals in sports as in other aspects of her life. I will support those goals and keep them separate from my own.

I understand that I am a mirror to my child's feelings about herself. If I value her, show her respect and compassion, then she will know I love her for who she is - not what she does.

I understand that my behavior off the playing court or field is as important as my child's behavior on the court or field. My actions and my words have an impact on my child's behavior.

I understand my child has her own inner voice. My job as parent is to help her recognize it, listen to it, and act on it.

I understand that the coach needs to hear my feelings, feel my support, and understand that our common interest is the well-being of my child - not the scoreboard.

I understand that attaching blame to outside factors - luck, fate, officials, teammates - teaches a lack of responsibility in one's own actions.

I understand that youth sports should enhance and not dominate my child's life. Overemphasis of sport reduces the balance of her life and creates undue pressure to perform and excel.

I understand that the other children on the playing court or field are equally important and as special as my child. They deserve my love, support, encouragement, respect, and blessing too.

I understand that I can change any negative patterns that have developed between myself and my child.

As a sport parent, I pledge to continue to see my child as a whole person. I want to understand her emotionally, socially, mentally, physically, and spiritually.