Slides designed by: Patrick Callahan (Division 9 Rep), Josh Christensen (Past President), Eric Eichenholtz (Secretary), Seth Eichenholtz (Past President), Henry Mui (Division 6 Rep), Patrick So (VP of Division Play)

Gotham Volleyball:Fall 2017 Captain’s Orientation Presentation

Our History

1980s

League formation Wally Kunukau

Original structure Formation of NAGVA

First Big Apple 1983AIDS crisis

1990’s

Challenge keeping members

5 divisions (Wed, Thurs, & Sat)

Continued success of Big Apple and Fire Island tournaments

First big financial crisis

First time at Esquelita

2000’s

Gotham took over Big Apple

Push for greater financial stability/accountability

Dramatic growth

New website/shift from manual system

Today: YOU are now a part of Gotham Volleyball’s History!

Captains As Leaders: Sportsmanship, Communication, and the “Captain’s Packet”

Leaders Review the Captain’s Packet Know the rules Be active community members

Models of Sportsmanship Diffuse situations YOU set the tone Do unto others… When in doubt, don’t be shady

Being good Communicators Stay informed/accurate info. Stay in touch with Division Rep Keep your teammates informed Be a positive force

The Captain’s Role in Gotham

Vice President for Division Play Makes sure that division play runs smoothly across all divisions. Works with the division representatives to make sure that important

information is distributed to the captains.

Division Representative Makes sure that the division runs smoothly. Communicates important information to the captains. Helps resolve division issues (roster changes, votes, sportsmanship issues,

etc) Runs the division End of Season Tournament and gives away the All Star

and Tournament MVP trophies at the EOS party!

CaptainsDivision issues stay at the Division Representative level unless there is a need for an impartial voice (in cases where the D Rep is also a captain) or if an issue needs to be escalated due to its severity.

Gotham Division Play Structure

Gotham Leader on Duty (GLOD) There is always a GLOD during Gotham activities. The GLOD is there to help captains with their responsibilities, but not

to fulfill them (i.e. setting up or taking down the net, etc). Should there be an injury or incident during division play, the GLOD

should always be informed as soon as possible. The referees can help direct you to the GLOD if you are unable to

located them.

Gotham Division Play

Can be found on the Gotham Website under the “About Gotham” tab

This is the “Constitution” of Gotham – talks about governance and leadership, and rules governing the Board

Many answers to questions about how the Board functions can be found in the Bylaws

Feel free to ask us questions!

The Gotham Rules: Bylaws

Contain all rules about competitive Division Play Know the rules! Reffing Duties Need at least 4 team members If you ref an opening or closing match, also need to set up or take down

the nets (if necessary). Learn all reffing positions to teach teammates Must be on time and pay attention – speak with your teammates if they

are missing calls and plays

Protests Politely address up-ref if there is an issue. Must raise issue at the time of the call – cannot be waived if you wait to

see the outcome of the match Carries, doubles, line calls are all discretionary (not reviewable)

The Gotham Rules: Rules of League Play

Violence is BAD – automatic suspension

If there is an incident, work with the ref and the GLOD to diffuse

You can ask that a troubled teammate be given some time to “cool down”

Reach out to fellow captain if team rivalry is getting out of control

Tips for handling problematic teammates Talk to them, find source of problem, share other perspectives Empower teammate (leadership role, role on the team) If needed, engage your Division Rep or a Gotham leader to help mediate

disputes, resolve poor sportsmanship

The Gotham Rules: Sportsmanship and Anti-Violence Policy

Policies are in place to help ensure that certain goals are met. Gotham is more interested to help everyone fulfill their responsibilities and succeed rather than issue penalties (warnings, forfeits, suspensions, etc).

Bayard Rustin Educational Complex Windows The North Facing Windows must ALWAYS be closed unless broken. This is an

agreement we have made between the league, school, and neighborhood association.

The South Facing Windows must be closed by 9:00 PM unless broken.

Gotham Equipment Captains and teammates should know how to properly and neatly store

Gotham’s equipment. Not only does this help keep our space clean and ease opening duties, but it also ensures that our investment in equipment is maximized.

If you ever have a question, ask the GLOD.

The Gotham Rules: Other Important Policies

Communicating is being proactive

PLEASE make sure to always communicate with your Division Rep.

Be proactive in finding out information. There is never a stupid question. Ask questions, don’t assume

For example, if you are not able to make a match, please assign an Acting Captain. Or if a complaint needs to be expressed about reffing, the match, or other problems, are things that you need to tell your Division Rep.

You are also expected to forward important information sent by your Division Rep.

There are usually many Gotham events and happenings during the season. They can be division wide or league wide events.

Captains set the tone and are essential to creating a positive and inclusive community to the Mission of Gotham – See Policy Statement

Captains are held to a higher standard

Positive Cheering (GOOD GAME THEM AND US!)

Gotham’s Mission: Building Communitiy

The Intersection of Sportsmanship and Leadership – Constructive Leadership

Facilitate positive communication between teammates/coach/others (fellow captains), discourage negative communication

Be inclusive! Be sure to hear and incorporate other points of view, especially if they seem upset or marginalized

Work to reach consensus

Respect for Gotham leaders and community

Propose constructive solutions to problems

Help out even when its not “your job”

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”

The Intersection of Sportsmanship and Leadership – Behaviors to avoid

Complaints without solutions (don’t just identify a problem, be a part of the solution)

Not taking the time to get all perspectives or not valuing others thoughts and perspectives

Don’t make others’ business your business (i.e, inability to pay issues)

DO NOT spread rumors, rabble rouse, and push back if you see if happening with others

“Fear Leads To Anger, Anger Leads To Hate, Hate…Leads To The Dark Side”

Sportsmanship and Captainingor, Should I Hook Up with my Teammates?

You are Gotham (to your team)

Let your coach do the coaching (or, for higher divisions, respect the player’s experience)

You may think you seem like this…

But your teammate sees this

Respect the referee

Be a good referee

Instead of fighting with the other team…

Celebrate with your team!

Bottle up your emotions (well, not really)

After the match

Hookups and the imbalance of power

Consent is sexy

Be considerate

Are we having fun?

Tryout Day: Overview and Strategy

Captain’s Meeting Review Captain’s PacketChoose team numbers

TryoutsObserve players Take notes Eat pizza!

DraftOrganize notes (10 Minutes)Draft players Team rosters set!

Tryout Day Routine

Passing/hitting/serving consistency

Communication

Court sense/movement

Following instructions

Improvement through stages

Thinks to look for:

Overhead Passing

Forearm Passing

Serving

Serve Receive

Hitting/Setting

Waves

Tryout Stages

Skills-Based Tryout Process

Take useful and detailed notes You want to have a long, detailed list of people who you are

considering picking that you can rely on when drafting.

Focus on skills and consistencyHitting, passing, court positioning, movement

Would this person make a good teammate?Demeanor on the court, enthusiasm, interaction with others on the

court

Challenge your thinking – ask yourself “why?” Judge as much as possible on volleyball-related skills and qualitiesCan this person be successful in my Division?

Tips for Successful Tryout Scouting

1xxx-10xxx/11xxx Returner from last Spring First digit is the Division number

98xxx Returning to Gotham Played at any point from 2008 on and

could have been at any level Captains can ask for player history at the

beginning of the draft

99xxx New to Gotham Often will provide a description of past

experience

Player Numbers

Draft Chair Runs the draft

Data Entry Enters and calls out names of

selected person

Roster VerificationMakes sure the player is

eligible

Participants

The Player Draft

10 Minutes to Review Final Roster and Organize Notes

8 Rounds (7 Mandatory, 1 Optional) In Division 10, the draft may be extended to 9 Rounds Five Minute Breaks, usually just before Rounds 5 and 7

Each Captain can pick one player per roundOdd rounds go from team 1 to team 8, even rounds go from team 8 to

team 1 to ensure everyone gets equal opportunity to pick players Each Captain gets 1 minute, 30 seconds to make their pick (one of

your picks can be extended to 3 minutes)

Returners from last season not yet picked are announced twice during the later part of the draft as a reminder

How does the draft work?

Tryout RostersAt the beginning of tryouts, you will be provided a roster of all players

who signed up to tryout for your division (usually colored pink/salmon). This list will change as more people register during tryouts and other people get picked for other divisions.

You will get a final roster before the draft (usually colored green). This is a list of everyone who has signed up for that Division. Only the people on this roster who showed up to tryouts or were otherwise eligible can be picked. If a name does not appear on the final roster, he/she may not be drafted.

Gotham ROLP Rule III(E)(4) In order to be eligible for the player draft, an individual must

participate in tryouts unless the individual has played in that division or a more advanced level division within the past 3 seasons.

Who is eligible for the draft?

Gotham ROLP Rule III(A)(4)Captains within the Division will determine the members of the team.

When selecting team members, a Captain should pick players with the skill level associated with the Division and are encouraged to favor past Division members.

What does this mean? Use your best judgment and always pick level-appropriate players. Pick seasoned veterans of the Division over questionable new players.

Later Draft Rounds/Players Not Selected

Building Community Tryouts by draft are a process open to all of our members. Everyone has

the opportunity to tryout and has equal chance of being placed on a team.

Each season, we create new teams with new combinations of players and Captains. Through the draft process, some players leave their established group of friends and their comfort zone to meet new people with different experiences. We build a greater community by facilitating our members networking with and meeting new people.

Fostering Competition The draft creates a level playing field – each team has equal chances to

pick all of the players in the eligible pool. Because there are 8 Captains with different viewpoints and experiences,

there is a diverse range of opinion and that makes for a better draft. The best way to make the draft work – BE YOURSELF! While people may

disagree with one person’s judgment or another, collectively the Captains’ different opinions and viewpoints ensure that all types of players (different styles, etc.) at a similar skill level are chosen and are part of a Division.

Why do we pick teams by draft?

Questions & Discussion