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VOLLEYBALL TRYOUTS AND CRITERIA
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WELCOME TO GARFIELD VOLLEYBALL!
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The Garfield Volleydogs are a team of dedicated student-athletes who take pride in their school and are willing to make a maximum effort in both the classroom and on the volleyball court. Wearing a Volleydog uniform is a privilege, one that carries many responsibilities and rewards.
Preseason tryouts for the 2008 season begin MONDAY, AUGUST 25--your opportunity to learn more about the philosophy and expectations of the Volleydog program, and to make your best impression on the Garfield coaching staff. Here’s what you should know:
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You may attend tryouts ONLY after completing all paperwork required by the Seattle School District. ATHLETIC REGISTRATION PACKETS are available in the Garfield High School main office during regular business hours, or you may DOWNLOAD forms here.
- You must visit your health care provider and have him/her complete the PHYSICAL EXAMINATION form included in the packet.
- All prospective athletes must pay an ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION FEE before attending the first tryout session.
The fee is fifty dollars ($50). For students who qualify for the school district's Free & Reduced Lunch program, the fee is twenty-five dollars ($25). Students selected for a winter and/or spring sports team must pay an additional nominal fee. See Athletic Participation Fees.
Parents/Guardians of students who are unable to afford the participation fee should complete an Athletic Participation Fee Waiver Request Form and submit it to the Garfield Office.
[Note: If you are not selected for the 2008 Volleyball Team, you may receive a refund for your Participation Fee. Refund requests must be received no later than November 15, 2008.]
- All athletes must buy an ACTIVITY (ASB) CARD. The card entitles students to substantial discounts for a variety of school activities.
When all your paperwork is complete, the Garfield Athletic Secretary will include your name on a printed Eligibility List. When the Volleyball coaches see your name on that list, you may attend the 2008 tryouts.
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HINT: ATHLETE REGISTRATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE GARFIELD OFFICE [AT LINCOLN HIGH] THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. YOU NEED NOT (AND SHOULD NOT) WAIT UNTIL SUMMER TO GATHER ALL NECESSARY FORMS, AND SHOULD TRY TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED PAPERWORK AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE (AND NO LATER THAN THE END OF JULY, IF YOU CAN). THE GARFIELD ATHLETIC SECRETARY HAS REQUESTED THAT ALL PAPERWORK BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST 1.
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VOLLEYBALL TRYOUT SCHEDULE
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Tryouts for the 2008 Varsity and Junior Varsity teams begin MONDAY, AUGUST 25 in the NEW Garfield High School main gymnasium [SUBJECT TO CHANGE IF THE AUDITORIUM IS NOT YET COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED.]
You must attend every tryout, and every preseason practice, unless you have made specific arrangements—in advance—with the coaching staff.
On most days, tryouts will tentatively run:
- from 8:00am to 1:00pm for players who were members of the 2007 Volleydog team
- from 2:00pm to 5:00pm for all other prospective athletes (including incoming freshmen)
BE ON TIME.
DO NOT SCHEDULE CONFLICTING APPOINTMENTS DURING ANY PART OF TRYOUTS, AUGUST 25-30 OR PRESEASON PRACTICE, SEPTEMBER 1-5. THERE WILL BE A SCHEDULED PRACTICE ON LABOR DAY (SEPTEMBER 1)
Experienced volleyball players always arrive early: you must be dressed and completely ready to play at 8:00am (returning players) or 2:00pm (new players). Therefore, you should plan to arrive fifteen minutes early. On some days, returning players may be asked to arrive at 9:00am instead of 8:00am.
Tryouts last ONE WEEK. Varsity and Junior Varsity team selections will be announced no later than FRIDAY, AUGUST 29. Some selections will likely be announced earlier in the week.
Those selected to the team will continue preseason practices August 30-September 5. Preseason practices will be during the morning, until the first day of school, when all subsequent practices are from 2:30-5:00pm.
This year's Varsity Jamboree will be SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 at a place and time to be determined. Unfortunately, the date conflicts with our annual preseason practice at Alki Beach in West Seattle. Because this year's preseason is dramatically shortened, and because we are moving into a new facility. We tentatively plan to have our annual Parent Meeting on SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 in the new Garfield gym. We're still studying our options, so please stay tuned.
This year's Junior Varsity Jamboree will be the afternoon of MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 at a place and time to be determined.
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WHAT TO BRING/WHAT TO WEAR
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Wear comfortable clothes: t-shirt, shorts/spandex, socks and court shoes. Do not wear spaghetti-strap tops or shirts exposing a bare midriff. Do not bring jewelry (including earrings) to the gym.
Kneepads are recommended, but not required for tryouts. Ankle support is recommended for those who make the team, but are not required for tryouts.
YOU MUST BRING A WATER BOTTLE AND A SNACK EACH DAY.
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The coaching staff will be looking for coachable ATHLETES: girls who have a great work ethic and want to learn to be better players and teammates.
Prior volleyball experience or skill helps, but is not required. [Many all-conference Volleydogs grew up playing soccer or basketball and learned to play volleyball only after they entered high school.] Prospective student-athletes will be tested and evaluated for their overall athletic ability and level of volleyball skill. Coaches will apply the following criteria (in this order):
1. ATTITUDE: Players who are positive, competitive and eager to learn. Big bonus points are awarded to those who demonstrate strong leadership skills, and to those who are willing to take risks and are unafraid to learn from mistakes.
2. ATHLETIC ABILITY: Players with the ability to learn and perform complex skills. Volleyball puts a premium on explosiveness and rewards those who are unafraid to attack the ball.
3. POSITION: Players whose skills fit a specific need for the team’s overall balance
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WHAT TO EXPECT AT TRYOUTS
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Expect to work hard. You will be asked to perform all physical testing and drills at full speed. You should run when shagging balls, when moving from drill to drill and when going to and from water breaks. You will not sit down during tryouts, except during the daily snack break.
Expect to improve your volleyball skills. At tryouts, coaches will both teach and evaluate. Even if you are not selected to the team, you will become a better volleyball player by the end of the week.
Expect to enjoy yourself: Tryouts are a normal part of the Garfield experience. Whether you are competing for a seat in the orchestra or jazz band, or for a role in the school play or musical, or for a spot on the basketball or tennis team, you will have plenty of opportunities to show your stuff and try your best. We suggest you stay loose, make new friends, and decide that you will have a good time, no matter what the end result.
SKILL INSTRUCTION: Prospective student-athletes will be taught the basics of the Garfield Volleyball system, including passing, serving, attacking, setting, blocking and defense. Even students not eventually selected to the team have the chance to become better volleyball players. Ever since 2002, the Volleydogs have employed the University of Washington's volleyball system, as taught to coaches by Gold Medal Squared. The system--which puts a premium on quickness, strength and athleticism--is also employed by Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University, among many others.
ATTITUDE EVALUATION: Prospective Volleydogs should be willing to try hard, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and keep trying. Coaches will take note of those players who listen, follow directions, and ask questions when necessary. Athletes who are COACHABLE COMPETITORS stand the best chance of making the team.
SKILL/COMPETITION EVALUATION: Prospective players will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of basic volleyball skills (passing, serving, hitting, setting, blocking and defense) in competitive situations. Coaches will take note of those players who demonstrate progress while learning new skills.
As with most team sports, coaches will evaluate players for their ability and potential to fill specific positional needs (setter, outside hitter, middle blocker, opposite hitter, defensive specialist and/or libero).
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HOW TO IMPRESS THE COACHES
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1. Be among the first to arrive in the gym and among the first to help set up nets and equipment.
2. Be among the first to line up for drills.
3. Look the coach in the eye when she/he speaks to you or to the team.
4. Be loud.
5. Be a champion ball shagger.
6. Be among the first to help take down the nets and put away equipment.
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OPTIONS FOR PLAYERS NOT SELECTED
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Tryouts can be a difficult experience. One of the toughest jobs for any coach is the final decision about which players make the team, and those who do not. The Garfield Volleyball coaching staff strives to make all decisions fairly, without bias, and after extended deliberation and evaluation of each prospective student-athlete.
During the tryout process, it is not unusual for some girls to decide they would rather not continue trying out. If you think you’d like to withdraw from consideration for a spot on the team, please talk it over first with one of the coaches; it is possible you may be underestimating your chances.
If you are not selected this season, and would like to try out again in the future, there are other options available to you that may help you in the future.
1. Become a team manager. Volleyball managers have a chance to learn leadership and organizational skills and fill a valuable role on the team. Managers also work with Garfield’s Athletic Trainer, learning basic training and first aid skills.
2. Play another sport for the Bulldogs. Fall sports at Garfield include soccer, swimming and cross-country; winter sports are basketball and gymnastics; in spring you can run track, or play tennis, golf, softball or lacrosse.
3. Attend open gyms and/or volleyball camps. There is an active recreational volleyball community year-round in Seattle. Most universities in the Northwest offer volleyball camps during July. See details at Volleyball Camps.
4. Try out for club volleyball. Hundreds of girls in the Puget Sound region play in tournaments around the west; tryouts are held just before Thanksgiving. See details at Club Volleyball.
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