News for all teams about events in the next 2-3 weeks.
Teams will be formed in the next 2 weeks. Each age group may make their announcements on different days, but everything will be finalized by Tuesday, Dec. 17. Teams for the Saturday scrimmages may be final, or there may still be some shifting after that day. We really want to find the best spot for your daughters, in terms of play time, improvement, experience, position and personality. Sometimes that means being on a higher team, but not playing as much, and sometimes that means being on a lower team and playing a lot more. Every situation within each team is different. Even after the teams are 'set' we are still allowed to move kids. Although we don't really like to do that, if we feel it is in everyone's best interest, we may. If we need players to shift to a different team to help them out due to a shortage of players for a particular tournament, we are able to do that also.
MORNING SCRIMMAGES 10 am -1 pm
The first is the intersquad scrimmages for the 12's 14's and 16's teams. That will start about 10 am and go until 12:30 or 1, depending on the age group. We use this day to have the teams/groups practice a set or match all the way from the start to the finish. For the newer players, we work on scorekeeping, reffing duties, rotating, subbing, switching, etc. For the 16's, the coaches get a chance to work on a lot of little "team things" in a very cooperative environment. Usually we are using all 6 courts that day, as we will have 12 teams participating. We might even form some extra groups to get some more play in, we will see.
Each age group will be organized slightly differently, depending on what their priorities are at this time.
We ask that all players wear some uniform or tee shirt with a number on it. It doesn't need to be an OJVA one. It is ok if we have players on the same team with the same number, for this day. That helps us train the scorekeepers and remind them of their duties, especially with substitutions and serving order.
Players will arrive at 10 am, go through a game warmup, and then play. As I said, each age group will determine how long they will go for.
CLUBWIDE PARTY 5-10 pm
Then later in the evening, we have our CLUBWIDE PARTY that will go from 5-10 pm. The players can come dressed in casual wear. We will have pizza and soda for everyone, and we need some donations from parents. If we could have the 12's and 14's families bring some treats, that will be plenty for everyone. There will be games, movies, music, volleyball, etc as well as some ice breaker events to get to know kids from other age groups. There seems to always be some sort of volleyball game going on usually. This will be the first chance that our 5 Eastside teams will have a chance to interact with our westside teams.
Players can wear anything they want from pajamas to work out clothes to jeans, to formals (JK). Just bring some tennis shoes if they want to play. Please DON'T wear school named wear (high school or middle school names on the shirts or sweatshirts) as we are now celebrating our OJVA family, not our outside other schools or factions!
This event is for ALL of our players, from 12's to 18's. It is a social event, but we also are planning to have a speaker.
Parents can drop off their kids, and then pick them up again by 10 pm.
So for now, if these folks can bring goodies for Saturday, Dec 15, 5-10 pm:
12's and 14's families by last name:
A-J Bring desserts
J-R Bring side dishes (fruits, vegies, dip, chips, crackers, salad, etc)
S-Z Bring additional drinks (juices, sports drinks, milk etc) We will supply water and soda
If you have special dietary needs, please supply your own food for the evening. We will be getting a variety of pizzas from Costco as the main dinner.
We will also need some parent volunteers to help serve food and keep the cafe area clean
4:45 - 6:00 6-8 people
6:00 - 8:00 4 people
8:00 - 10:00 4 people
Please email me if you are interested in helping out that night.
3. Parent's Meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 17th, 6 pm at Beaverton Courts
This is our yearly parents meeting that is mandatory.
PLEASE BRING YOUR CHECKBOOKS!!!
Items that we will discuss:
Policies for the club, including play time, practice time, missing events, communication.
Dues payments
Team parents
Family tournament duties
Schedule of tournaments
Checking of parent information on printouts
Meeting of head coaches with parents
Dues Payments:
Unfortunately, we don't have the capability to take credit card payments for OJVA Dues.
Next week you will receive the sheet with the breakdown of the monthly dues for each team.
You have three options of how to pay:
A. Play the full amount up front with a check. Once again this year, we will be offering a 2% savings to anyone who pays in full for all of their dues. You save a little money, and you don't have to think about it again!
B. You provide us with a blank VOID check from the checking count you want to have the dues come out of. On the 15th of each month, we will make an automatic draw on your account. You don't have to remember to write us a check at all! We also have the ability to take a monthly automatic draw out of your checking account for your monthly dues. The first draw will happen around Dec. 20, then it will happen on the 15th of each month.
C. The last option is to have you pay us each month with cash or check (the least favorite option, for us!). You can mail us the check or drop it off in the dues box (West) or can (East).
EVERY FAMILY Needs to bring a check on Tuesday. Either a full payment check or a Voided check or a check for December dues.
OJVA monthly payments are due on the 15th of the month.
4. Reminders about practice policies:
Parents are to stay on the cement in Beaverton or in the glassed in area at Eastmoreland, not out on the courts. Coaches coach the kids, that is what you are paying us for! Parents need to encourage kids before and after practice, but not distract the kids during practice. Players should always bring a full water bottle to practice (even when it is this cold
5. Winter Break times:
The last practice will be on Wednesday, Dec. 18 (East) or Thursday, Dec 19 (West). We will have limited coaches there on that day, as many will be traveling north to Seattle for the NCAA Division I National Championships. But the day will still be valuable for the kids. Then there will be no practices during Christmas week. We will offer practices on Monday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Jan 2 in Beaverton. Times will be posted on the website, once we know coaches availability. (16 Gold and 18 Gold may go on Sunday, Dec. 29 also)
6. First Competitions:
The 12's will be playing at a tournament at Beaverton courts on Saturday, Jan 4!!! The 14's will have their first day of Qualifier on Sunday, Jan 5 at sites TBA. So we are hoping that we can see especially the younger players during those practice days. The 16's Blue, White and Red (East) will play on Saturday, Jan 11 at Beaverton. The 16 Gold and 18 Gold will play in Eugene over MLK weekend.
7. OJVA and NIKE Gear:
Shoes will be offered to all of you via a website on Monday or Tuesday. I will send out the info to the website once I get it. You will be able to order and pay directly and items will be shipped to you directly. No more middle man (me!) Items will be offered at a discount, including shoes, knee pads, socks and some parent gear.
Thanks for reading all the way to the end!!!
