2011 Elevation U16 General Information

Ohio Valley Region Player Bill of Rights

Coaches:
16-1 (National) = Lisa Schaad (Club Director)
16-2 (National or American) = TBD
** Due to OHSAA rules a high school coach can not coach their players outside the high school season.  This means we must pay attention to the potential roster before naming a 16-2 coach. 

Cost: 
16-1 = $2150 (7 or 8 tourneys including USA or JVA Nationals)
16-2 = $2150 (7 or 8 tourneys including USA or JVA Nationals)

U16 General Information

Elevation Volleyball Club had an unbelievable year at the U15 age group.  Gene Toms team ranked #1 in Ohio for the entire season and finished 3rd at AAU Nationals in Orlando this summer.   What a great year.  All positions on the 16-1 team have been spoken for.  Last year we did not offer a 2nd team at this age group but we would like to hold tryouts for another National or American team this year.  There are 3 spots on the 2nd team theoretically locked up at this time by players from last year (1 MB, 1 DS, 1 S/DS).  We are looking for competitive players who are looking for a National schedule to fill out this roster.  If you fit this description, we'd like to hear from you at info@sportsexpressvb.com.  We can only take 1 more Ursuline player on this roster due to OHSAA rules and the coach will not be from MND or St. Ursula which allows those players to consider this team unlike last year.
 
July Invitation Clarification for those that are curious: 
The "July Invite Rule" put in place this year pertains to "home clubs" only.  Home clubs had until July 21st to officially invite players back for next year if desired.  Acceptance of an offer was to be due by July 31st.  This would lock the players spot for the next year.  The July rule is best for entire teams that want to stay together and for top players who would be potentially recruited by another club and want to stay with their current club.  That helps a team build its core and takes some unknowns out of the air so the rest of you can make competent decisions.  This year we have seen clubs stretch for early commitments even from the 2nd or 3rd teams in their club.  It is an undesired consequence that many people feel pressured to accept a spot on a team that they know little about or when they wish to test the waters elsewhere.  That is not the intent of the early signing period.  The region asked that clubs making invites disclose the coach, fees, expected schedule, and certainly which team they are being invited on.  The July rule will likely be negatively received this year due to the surprise of it's arrival and the degree to which it has been used.  I expect that the rules will continue to be tweaked as the region tries to keep clubs in line as far as recruiting goes.  While things have sped up, much will be known and players should be able to navigate the waters more easily since they know their options.  The main positive will be that clubs will take a large breath  and slow down during the high school season since they have offered many of their spots to their current players already. 
 
The July Rule has nothing to do with players from other clubs.  If a player is looking to switch clubs, they are allowed (at any point during the year) to inquire about another club teams but no official acceptance is possible until November.  Conversely, clubs can not seek out players and can only respond to inquiries.  If you are being emailed, approached, or otherwise "recruited" by another club representative, I'd like to know about it.  It is illegal and this new rule was put in place to try and limit the recruiting of players off of other teams by taking them "off the board" in July.  An unintended consequence of this rule seems to be the desire to fill as many teams as possible now which is why JO open gyms have suddenly popped up in July for the 1st time ever.  That will hopefully be adjusted moving forward so we don't overwork players in July.  Many rules have been debated in an effort to keep JO's separate from the high school season.  The July 'Home Club Rule" is one such rule and is certainly a work in progress.
 
How the July Rule would have affected our club at the U16 age group:
This rule did not affect this age group in our club.
 
General Recruiting Rules:
Clubs can not cold call or "recruit" players to play for them.  I know a few other clubs are holding open gyms right now with the intent of finding new players but any players "found" can not sign a contract and are not bound to any team until after the November tryout period when they officially pick a team.  Elevation will not be holding open gyms in July and we will not be seeking out new players.  We will respond to inquiries about our teams made through our website or by phone about any open positions or our tryouts as usual.  Ohio Valley Region Player Bill of Rights