Providing educational instruction and volleyball play in a comfortable and fun gay positive environment to any person regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.
2009-10 Season Evaluation Dates: Saturday August 29 & Sunday August 30, 2009, at the Jericho Hill Gym (4196 West 4th Avenue, just west of Alma Street - see directions below).
For both sessions, the schedule is as follows:
Those interested in playing in Intermediate Two, Competitive One or Competitive Two Divisions must attend at least one evaluation session at the beginning of the season, in order to determine which Division their skills are best suited. (What if I can't make it to either evaluation session?)
Players can attend both evaluation sessions if they wish, but will only be evaluated in one specialized position (i.e. players must be evaluated in the same position over both weeks). Full VGVA registration fees ($180) must be paid before participating in either of the evaluation sessions.
The VGVA Executive Board hires an Evaluations Co-ordinator to run the evaluation session, devise the various core and specialized position drills and assist the Directors in determining minimum scores for members to be placed into I2 / C1 / C2. The Evaluations Co-ordinator will have the assistance of 2 evaluators who will be responsible for scoring each drill as well as several other on-court helpers.
Building on the successful process initiated in 2004, the evaluation sessions will be organized into the positions of Power, Setter & Middle, each including core and specialized position drills. As in previous years, players will be evaluated on several core drills to test forearm passing, volleying, serving and service reception. Two to three drills will be used to evaluate players on their specialized position and a game play component will be included to assess on-court safety and awareness.
Each position will be given a limited amount of time to warm-up prior to the start of the evaluation sessions. It is recommended that players arrive at the gym at least 15 minutes in advance of each start time.
Following the conclusion of the two evaluation sessions, the Evaluations Co-ordinator will work with the I2, C1 & C2 Directors to organize the 3 Divisions and may also assist in determining the teams for the year. All players who attend either of the evaluation sessions will be contacted by one of the I2, C1 or C2 Directors, regardless of their final evaluation score. As in previous years, players who attend more than one evaluation session will have the higher of their two scores assigned. To promote fairness and safety, players WILL NOT be allowed to decline positions in one Division for a position in a lower one (ie: declining a position in Competitive Two for a position in Competitive One).
Players who are offered a position in Intermediate Two or either of the Competitive divisions, but decline the offer, will be refunded their VGVA registration fees less a $40 evaluation fee. A player who does not secure a position in I2 or either of the Competitive Divisions but who registers in the Intermediate One Division will be advised of their placement in that division. A full refund of the VGVA registration fees ($180) will be provided by VGVA if no position is offered.
I can't make it to Evaluations.
Well that's too bad but don't panic... you may still be in luck! Register for the league as soon as possible to get your name in priority sequence. All members who do participate in Evaluations will be placed first in the appropriate Division based on their Evaluation score. If there is space remaining in I2/Comp 1-2 once all evaluated players are placed, members from the Evaluation wait list will be considered for those remaining spots. Because you won't have an Evaluation score from the current season, a wait list member will be placed by the Executive Board. The Executive Board will consider several factors: past year Evaluation score(s) (if applicable), current season member skill level and space availability. Wait list members placement in a Division will be solely at the discretion of the Executive Board. Placement into the same Division as a previous season is never guaranteed and movement between Divisions is common. The Executive Board will do our best to try to find a place for everyone wishing to play this season.
I want to try-out for I2/Competitive but I'm not sure I'll qualify
No worries - we want to encourage everyone to challenge themselves to be the best player they can! There's no harm in participating in Evaluations. What we suggest is that you register first as an I1 player and you'll be given a chance to sign-up for Evaluations later. That way you place yourself on the I1 player list and are assured a spot in the league. Please don't sign up for I1 if you've played in a Competitive Division in the past - only sign up for I1 first if you feel you are on the cusp of I2 or haven't played I2 in the past.
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