ATTENTION:  
PARENTS, PLAYERS & COACHES - Please Read General Policy TAB below...
COACHES - Please Review Coaches Meeting TAB below...
 

Facilities are to be kept clean.  It is the responsibility of participants, junior coaches and parents to pick up trash and keep all areas litter free.  

Coach Reminders:  Please keep players out of restricted areas - this includes office hallway (absolutely NO players, team camps, bags, ball handling, etc allowed in the office hallway).  Ball handling is only allowed on the volleyball tournament courts (again, no ball handling in spectator areas, walkways, hallways and any other non-tournament court area).   Make sure your trash is NOT left on benches & bleachers.  Trash cans are located by benches and bleachers.  No outside food or drink - this policy is strictly enforced!  

Keep in mind - Tournament Directors may issue penalties for behavioral problems of players, coaches, parents or spectators.  Parents are responsible for the supervision of their non-playing children. In addition, Tournament Directors may issue penalties for individuals in violation of facility policies such as, but not limited to:  1) entering restricted areas, 2) food and/or coolers in restricted areas, 3) alcohol and/or tobacco violations.  Possible penalties a Tournament Director may impose to a team or teams in violation:  1) loss of points / sets in the team's next match, 2) individual or team expulsion from tournament and/or facility, 3) financial penalty if the violation is discovered after completion of the event.

Game Balls & Warm-up Balls:
Game balls are for game use only! Game balls must remain at score table between games/matches!  They are NOT to be used during warm-ups!!!  Teams are responsible for their own warm up volleyballs.

Rosters:   

Rosters are required to be completed via AES.  If the event isn't scheduled through AES, please bring signed copy of your roster to the tournament director’s table prior to your first match.  Roster changes must be updated prior to start of play.  Players cannot be added after the tournament has started, even in the case of injuries.

Warm-ups:   

Team’s first match of the day:  2-4-4 = 2 minutes shared ball handling, 4 minutes serving team, 4 minutes receiving team.  No ball handling during other team’s warm-up time.  After team’s first match of the day, warm-ups can be expedited to 3-4 minutes serving team & 3-4 minutes receiving team; no 2 minute shared handling.  Teams are responsible for their own warm up volleyballs.

Game Play, Schedules, Results & Tournament Director’s Table:

1. Game ball is for game use only.  Warm-up balls are not provided.
2. Officiating teams – KEEP YOUR MATCHES RUNNING ON SCHEDULE!  Call captains & start timers ASAP.
3. Tournament Director’s table is set up at a centralized location - Pool play schedules, playoff schedules & pool results.
4. Schedules are located at your court’s score table in the front cover of the court binder.  Schedules and play format are final, unless noted by the Tournament Director prior to play (or if there is a typo / extraordinary circumstance).
5. If there is a lunch break, it is noted on the schedule.  If no lunch break is noted, then lunch break is when your team SITS.
6. Line up checks – 30 seconds allowed (refer to rulebook & handbook).
7. 14 & Under divisions - One service tossing error is permitted for each service attempt.
8. If there are multiple playoff divisions, teams can be eliminated from the GOLD division based on points (unless exception is made at the beginning of the tournament).
9. If NO Certified Officials are reffing, see Tournament Director for protest committee assignment.  If Certified Officials are provided, the “Head Referee” is the ref assigned to Court 1.
10. 12 & under Divisions:
    1. Can step-in serve.  Tape 6’6” (78”) from the end line.
    2. If a coach is not up reffing, then it is mandatory to have a coach by the junior player on the ref stand.

Scorekeeping:

1. No electronic devices can be used when officiating unless being used as a timer in warm-ups.  Officiating members found using electronic devices during a match will be subject to a five point penalty assessed to the first set of their next match (per GW Region Junior Handbook Policy).
2. A coach must sit at the scoring table during your officiating assignment or be present as the R2.
3. Review with your team that the score sheets must be completed in full and in detail.
4. Completed score sheets must be brought to tournament director’s table.

Miscellaneous:

1. In a playoff bracket scenario with shared ref duty for finals:  if "losing team 1" finished their match prior to "losing team 2" starting their final set, then "losing team 1" may leave and "losing team 2" will have full ref duty for the finals.  Tournament Director has final say, so be sure to confirm with him/her.  Travel may also be considered in this decision at the Tournament Director's discretion.
2. Make sure no players are wearing earrings (house rule).  If they can’t be removed, they can be taped.
3. Ask players, coaches & parents to help keep facility clean. It is the responsibility of participants, junior coaches and parents to pick up trash and keep all areas litter free.
4. Harassment and/or intimidation of the reffing team will not be tolerated.
5. Parents/Spectators - please do not obstruct view of other parents/spectators when taking pictures or video.

Ground Rules:

1. If you step onto an adjacent court, the play is dead.
2. If the adjacent court is open and will remain open for the remainder of a match, players can then step on that court.  It must be open at the start of the set for this to apply.
3. Basketball goals, ductwork, or other structures above 15’ over the playing surface act as part of the ceiling.  Exceptions may apply pending location and/or safety concerns.  If any questions, please ask Tournament Director prior to play.
4. Seating restrictions vary by location – have parents use best judgment and sit at safe distances away from the court.

Facility Rules:

1. Any facility with a concession stand (Legacy VTC, Center STL,  Belleville Sportsplex, etc.):  NO coolers or outside food brought in.  Full concession stands are available.  Facility staff will ask you to take outside food out of the facility.
2. Any facility without a concession stand:  Outside food allowed in designated areas.  Please NO coolers on the courts!  Bottled water only allowed on the courts.  NO open containers – coffee, fountain soda, etc. on the court surface!
3. No players or spectators allowed in off limit areas (Including but not limited to - office hallways, turf area, fitness centers, gymnastics area, etc.).
4. NO ball handling in ANY area besides a volleyball court.
5. Please park in the legal marked parking spots  - do not block fire hydrants, mailboxes, other businesses' entries etc. 
6. Propping open emergency exits or letting people in/out of emergency exits (when not an emergency) is a facility safety & rule violation which could lead to sanctions against the team/club by the event director.   The site director reserves the right to impose appropriate penalties.

Penalties:

1. Tournament Directors may issue penalties for behavioral problems of players, coaches, parents or spectators.  Parents are responsible for the supervision of their non-playing children. In addition, Tournament Directors may issue penalties for individuals in violation of facility policies such as, but not limited to:  1) entering restricted areas, 2) food and/or coolers in restricted areas, 3) alcohol and/or tobacco violations, 4) code of conduct violations.  Possible penalties a Tournament Director may impose to a team or teams in violation:  1) loss of points / sets in the team's next match, 2) individual or team expulsion from tournament and/or facility, 3) financial penalty if the violation is discovered after completion of the event.

The tournament schedules & results will be posted on AES (https://www.advancedeventsystems.com/events).

We follow Gateway Region Policy and present the minimum of 10 medals to the top 2 tournament teams.  The below table represents our award distribution based on the number of teams entered per event/division.

Fans are asked to use common sense and behave responsibly while attending Stratman Sports organized volleyball events.  Enjoying the competition, celebrating and cheering for a team is welcomed!  Actively cheering against any team, becoming involved in a match or harassing participants or officials is NOT permitted.

Inappropriate language or action that is disruptive to a sportsmanlike atmosphere, or interferes with a player's, coach's or official's participation is unacceptable.

Examples of unacceptable fan, player or coach's behavior:

• Harassing participants - distracting, interrupting, jeering, yelling or booing at players, coaches and/or officials.
• Obscene words/gestures and racial/ethnic/sexually oriented comments
• Celebrating errors or misfortune of participants
• Intimidation/Harassment of the reffing team will not be tolerated

Stratman Sports asks all coaches, parents & fans to encourage good sportsmanship.  Stratman Sports asks that coaches monitor and correct their own fan behavior.  If an official response becomes necessary, the following procedure will be used to resolve the situation.

1st Infraction (Warning) - A Stratman Sports Director or official will communicate to the team captain or coach that there is disruptive fan behavior or unsportsmanlike conduct that needs to cease immediately.  

2nd Infraction - A Stratman Sports Director or facility manager will encourage the coach to have disruptive fan(s) leave the playing facility to avoid further incident.  If the coach is violating the code of conduct - this will be his/her final warning until automatic team forfeiture.  

3rd Infraction - Play is suspended immediately; the team loses the match.

4th Infraction (Recurring Issue  from the 3rd Infraction) - Team is withdrawn from the event with NO refund.

Any disruptive fan behavior or unsportsmanlike conduct must be reported to tony@stratmansports.com in writing within 48 hours of the incident(s).