Meraki Volleyball Policies

This section will give you information about the policies that we have here at the club and make it easy to find them if needed.

Player Agreement

I (player), will always respect my coaches, club, and teammates. I will always encourage my teammates to play well even if I am sitting on the bench awaiting my turn to compete. I will show up to practice with this in mind. I will be inspiring to my teammates. I will be willing to work hard, and I will always want to play better than the day before. I will always be courteous and compete with the utmost sportsmanship. I understand the following items listed below are discouraged and if I am in violation of these items, I will be given an initiative enforced and decided by my coach.

  • Being late for a tournament

  • Being late for practice

  • Missing the practice before a tournament

  • Talking back to a coach

  • Treating any member of the club or my team with disrespect

  • Losing a piece of my equipment

If you forget a piece of your equipment at practice or at a tournament the following two things will happen:

1. If your coach picks up your equipment, it will cost you $5.00 to get it back and you will not practice until this fee is paid.

2. If you lose a piece of equipment, your parent will have to pay full price to get you a new one. If this happens to be a piece of equipment that is part of the team uniform, you will not compete until the new piece of equipment comes in. (ex: team uniform)

Parent Agreement

I (Parents/Guardians), promise to support my daughter financially and pay all team dues as agreed by the fee schedule I have chosen. I understand that the fees have been decided based on the number of athletes on my daughter’s team. If I chose to quit, then I am still responsible for all club fees including end of season tournament fees. I understand that if I choose to pull my daughter from Meraki, I will not be given a refund for this reason. I will always do my best to have my daughter to practice and tournaments on time. I will always respect my athlete’s coach and her teammates.

  • I will never question my athlete’s playing time at a tournament.

  • I will give the coach the respect of waiting 24 hours after a tournament or practice, before requesting a meeting to discuss any issues.

  • If I do question my athlete’s playing time or a decision made by the coach, I will schedule an appointment with the coach and the club director. And your athlete will be removed from play for the next match.

  • Any final decisions made by the club director will remain final and not subject to appeals.

  • Accepting an early contract means you understand you are unable to attend any tryouts at other clubs in the Summer/Fall.

Parents, it is unacceptable to disrespect any element of Meraki, and if you do so it will be addressed immediately. Meraki holds the right to dismiss any player or parent at any time for reasons they deem necessary. Parents, it is very important that you are on board with all decisions made for your athlete. These decisions have your athlete and their team’s best interest in mind. Meraki is here to help your athlete and their volleyball future whether that future is playing in high school, club, college, or any level she feels she wants to achieve. Please believe that we will do our best to help her achieve those goals.

Player / Family Code of Conduct

Meraki Volleyball is part of League One Volleyball (LOVB) -- a community built on human connection and life-long belonging.

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We are deeply committed to the physical safety and social and emotional well-being of all members of our Meraki Volleyball and LOVB community. We do not tolerate any action that undermines these values.

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Players and their families, like all members of the community who contribute to the experiences of our athletes, have a responsibility to maintain a safe training and competitive environment for the athletes so that they can develop the confidence, self-belief, and resilience to be their best selves.

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Education and awareness are essential in creating this positive and safe experience. To assist our families, we strongly recommend U.S. Center for SafeSport’s online training at https://athletesafety.org. Free courses are available for athletes and their families from preschool age to adult. ​​

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Our community is a safe place where fear has no place. We are committed to doing the right thing if any incident arises that undermines the safety of this community. If you at any time become aware of:

Child Abuse: immediately report it to local authorities

Abuse or Sexual Misconduct (as defined in the SafeSport Code), promptly report it to SafeSport online or by phone:

​SafeSport Online Reporting Form​

SafeSport: 1-833-587-7233 (24/7; operator available Monday-Friday, 9-5pm)

Other forms of misconduct (including physical misconduct, emotional misconduct, bullying, hazing and/or harassment) an MAAPP Violations, promptly report it to USAV and/or SafeSport:

​USAV Incident Reporting Form, 1-855-306-7775

​SafeSport Online Reporting Form, 1-833-587-7233

​​If you need additional help or do not feel comfortable with the above resources, then please report to safe@lovb.com​

Standards of Behavior

Our families are representatives of Meraki Volleyball and League One Volleyball, and we expect our families to adhere to a high standard of behavior. Players and player families will be required to pledge their cooperation and conduct during training and the competitive season to uphold the following standards:

Encourage and demonstrate good sportsmanship and positive support for all athletes, coaches, parents, opponents, and officials at all games, practices, tournaments, and events. This includes cheering for all, staying in designated spectator areas, and keeping our facilities clean.

Acknowledge that expression of negative opinions, comments and/or statements about athletes, parents, coaches, opponents, and officials may be cause for ejection and further disciplinary action. Unsportsmanlike conduct by players and player families, including but not limited to, booing, ridiculing, taunting, refusing to shake hands, or the use of profane language or gestures is prohibited.

Support our policy to prevent minor athletes from partaking in drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products while participating in all games, practices, tournaments, and events

Respect all athletes, teammates, opponents, coaches, parents, and officials regardless of race, creed, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or ability.

Prioritize emotional and physical well-being of the athletes over the desire to win. Please inform coaches of any illness or injury that may affect the safety of the athlete or team.

Notify coaches as far in advance as possible of scheduling conflicts as to adequately prepare practice and tournament plans.

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All athletes and athlete families must be respectful fans by following all the above guidelines. In addition, all conflicts or club issues must be addressed after a cooling off period of at least 24 hours after completion of tournament play. Complaint protocol is at the discretion of each club’s management. (Players see our grievance policy)

Grievances Policy

Our policy about grievances is simple and outlined below step by step. If after step #1 the issue is not resolved, we will proceed to the second step, and so on. The below pertains to anything with the team, not including financials. Disputes about financials are handled via the Club Director.

We will not take meetings without player involvement unless there is a special circumstance.

Your coach can help you if you are uncertain of what a special circumstance might include.

Parents may make meetings to discuss things like Play time 24 hours after an event has concluded. For example a 3 day tournament ends on the last day of play, therefor contact may be made 24 hours after. A practice ends at 8pm on Friday, Saturday at 8pm is an appropriate time to reach out and set up a meeting.

Violation of this rule will result in an athlete being removed from play for the next match the team will participate in. (Players, make sure your parents know this rule!)

Grievance Timeline

  1. Player meeting with Coaching Staff

  2. Player and Parent meeting with Coaching Staff

  3. Player, Parent, Coaching Staff, and Director’s meeting 

Attendance Policy

Please alert us to any absences via the PlayMetrics app with at least 24 hours’ notice if possible. We also ask that you please complete your general attendance at the start of the year and keep it up to date.

We will have a requirement of attendance to 80% to our events / practices. This policy doesn't include injury or sickness. If this is broken, a player will face disciplinary action. (Inability to participate in tournament play, it also will affect your ability to gain an early contract in the future.)

This will allow our coaches to plan the best and highest-level practices possible. While also keeping a consistent level of commitment across our players and teams.