Post by David Crowder on Apr 22, 2012 15:37:51 GMT -4
Greetings Sports Fans,
I have decided to run for the Commissioner of the Florida Region.
I would appreciate each of yours votes.
In the upcoming days I will share my views on how I believe I can improve the Florida Region of USA Volleyball.
This is long and will only get longer.
My current thoughts are as follows:
Improved Customer Service from the Region Board of Directors and the Region Office
Implement an Account Executive system where the Region membership would by assigned an Account Executive to service that members needs in the Region. The Account Executive would be responsible for maintaining a rapport throughout the season to determine if the members needs are being met and that the member is participating in the Region to their satisfaction.
Staff bonuses and compensation will be directly proportionally to membership satisfaction.
High Performance Officiating for Juniors
Junior members of the Region ages 15 & above will have the opportunity to officiate matches of junior members 14 & under. These HP Junior officials will be paid for their work and will be given the opportunity to work similar matches at the season ending Regional tournaments.
HP Junior Officials will be supervised at all times by an adult official and will undergo rigorous training sessions before being put on the court to officiate. HP Junior Officials will be required to wear the appropriate uniform of white polo shirt, navy blue pants and white shoes when working.
The purpose of this program is to improve the overall officiating at all Region events. Train the kids and reward the kids for doing a good job the same as you do the adults. The HP Junior Officials will then go back to their respective clubs and teams and through peer influence share their knowledge and experience. As the years go by these HP Junior officials will graduate into adults and then continue to officiate.
The Region will sponsor one day tournaments for the 14 & under teams to play where these HP Junior Officials will work and develop their skills.
This program has the added advantage of allowing coaches at tournaments to manage and coach their teams as well as develop rapports with their team parents, not flip numbers when it is time for their teams to officiate.
Boy's Volleyball
I have always been a strong advocate for boy's volleyball and will develop programs to expand the opportunity for boy's to play volleyball in Florida.
My only current idea at the moment is to explore the possibility of moving the FHSAA boys season to the Fall. The rationale is so that boy's volleyball will not have to compete with sports such as lacrosse, baseball, and track & field for athletes. Spring time is a very crowded time on most schools sports programs.
Should the boy's season be moved to the Fall, the boy's club season could follow a schedule similar to the girls which transitions very well from high school to club season.
Endow Scholarships at each of the Florida Universities
Allow students who do not receive athletic scholarships to still participate in college volleyball as a team staff member or even as a player. This program will develop a rapport with the colleges and Region.
Reduced Membership Fees
Membership numbers have increased but membership costs keep on increasing. I believe that there should be some economy of scale factor coming in to play. More members should mean lower fees.
For the first year alone, for existing coaches and officials the cost of membership could be reduced $12. USA Volleyball only requires a background check every 2 years. The Florida Region requires it Evey year. Florida Statue law only requires that youth sport coaches be validated as not being on two nationwide sexual predator databases with access to both databases being open to the public. Clubs and Region personal could be the validating source for coaches and officials in the off years.
Expansion of the Board of Directors and Region Committees
For the Region to grow requires the cooperation and empowerment of as many Region members as possible. Get as many ideas as possible into the mix and then reach a consensus. This is the best approach to growing the Region membership and the quality of programs in the Region.
Keep the "POWER" confined to a small group of people then only the small group of people will wish to grow the Region and then only for their own agendas.
This is a good time to say "You can fool some of the people all of the time, all the people some of the time but not all the people all of the time."
Adult Program
Currently the only adult program associated with the Florida Region is the Florida Wave. A semi pro team for 10 to 20 members of the Region. I would rather have seen this model implemented within the Florida Region. Develop semi pro teams sponsored by each club and then play a schedule in the Region.
This type of grass roots program will give greater opportunity to more Florida Region members as players and officials.
The adult program was my forte for almost 10 years when I last served on the BoD. During this era several men's and women's teams won National Championships at the US Open. Carri bean teams and out of state teams came to Florida to play regularly. It is time for the Florida Region to have a successful adult program again.
Planning Regional Tournaments in cities not know for strong adult programs and then canceling the event because of low participation / interest in such an event is not the way to grow a successful adult grass roots program.
Okay these are my rough thoughts at the moment. I will expand these thoughts in the coming days as the thought process becomes more coherent.
Please chime in with any ideas you wish to see in the Florida Region. I am very unsatisfied with the level of service I receive from the Florida Region and know I can do better.
Thank you for your time and support,
Dave
I have decided to run for the Commissioner of the Florida Region.
I would appreciate each of yours votes.
In the upcoming days I will share my views on how I believe I can improve the Florida Region of USA Volleyball.
This is long and will only get longer.
My current thoughts are as follows:
Improved Customer Service from the Region Board of Directors and the Region Office
Implement an Account Executive system where the Region membership would by assigned an Account Executive to service that members needs in the Region. The Account Executive would be responsible for maintaining a rapport throughout the season to determine if the members needs are being met and that the member is participating in the Region to their satisfaction.
Staff bonuses and compensation will be directly proportionally to membership satisfaction.
High Performance Officiating for Juniors
Junior members of the Region ages 15 & above will have the opportunity to officiate matches of junior members 14 & under. These HP Junior officials will be paid for their work and will be given the opportunity to work similar matches at the season ending Regional tournaments.
HP Junior Officials will be supervised at all times by an adult official and will undergo rigorous training sessions before being put on the court to officiate. HP Junior Officials will be required to wear the appropriate uniform of white polo shirt, navy blue pants and white shoes when working.
The purpose of this program is to improve the overall officiating at all Region events. Train the kids and reward the kids for doing a good job the same as you do the adults. The HP Junior Officials will then go back to their respective clubs and teams and through peer influence share their knowledge and experience. As the years go by these HP Junior officials will graduate into adults and then continue to officiate.
The Region will sponsor one day tournaments for the 14 & under teams to play where these HP Junior Officials will work and develop their skills.
This program has the added advantage of allowing coaches at tournaments to manage and coach their teams as well as develop rapports with their team parents, not flip numbers when it is time for their teams to officiate.
Boy's Volleyball
I have always been a strong advocate for boy's volleyball and will develop programs to expand the opportunity for boy's to play volleyball in Florida.
My only current idea at the moment is to explore the possibility of moving the FHSAA boys season to the Fall. The rationale is so that boy's volleyball will not have to compete with sports such as lacrosse, baseball, and track & field for athletes. Spring time is a very crowded time on most schools sports programs.
Should the boy's season be moved to the Fall, the boy's club season could follow a schedule similar to the girls which transitions very well from high school to club season.
Endow Scholarships at each of the Florida Universities
Allow students who do not receive athletic scholarships to still participate in college volleyball as a team staff member or even as a player. This program will develop a rapport with the colleges and Region.
Reduced Membership Fees
Membership numbers have increased but membership costs keep on increasing. I believe that there should be some economy of scale factor coming in to play. More members should mean lower fees.
For the first year alone, for existing coaches and officials the cost of membership could be reduced $12. USA Volleyball only requires a background check every 2 years. The Florida Region requires it Evey year. Florida Statue law only requires that youth sport coaches be validated as not being on two nationwide sexual predator databases with access to both databases being open to the public. Clubs and Region personal could be the validating source for coaches and officials in the off years.
Expansion of the Board of Directors and Region Committees
For the Region to grow requires the cooperation and empowerment of as many Region members as possible. Get as many ideas as possible into the mix and then reach a consensus. This is the best approach to growing the Region membership and the quality of programs in the Region.
Keep the "POWER" confined to a small group of people then only the small group of people will wish to grow the Region and then only for their own agendas.
This is a good time to say "You can fool some of the people all of the time, all the people some of the time but not all the people all of the time."
Adult Program
Currently the only adult program associated with the Florida Region is the Florida Wave. A semi pro team for 10 to 20 members of the Region. I would rather have seen this model implemented within the Florida Region. Develop semi pro teams sponsored by each club and then play a schedule in the Region.
This type of grass roots program will give greater opportunity to more Florida Region members as players and officials.
The adult program was my forte for almost 10 years when I last served on the BoD. During this era several men's and women's teams won National Championships at the US Open. Carri bean teams and out of state teams came to Florida to play regularly. It is time for the Florida Region to have a successful adult program again.
Planning Regional Tournaments in cities not know for strong adult programs and then canceling the event because of low participation / interest in such an event is not the way to grow a successful adult grass roots program.
Okay these are my rough thoughts at the moment. I will expand these thoughts in the coming days as the thought process becomes more coherent.
Please chime in with any ideas you wish to see in the Florida Region. I am very unsatisfied with the level of service I receive from the Florida Region and know I can do better.
Thank you for your time and support,
Dave