2009 NCSAA / NursingABC Girls' Varsity Volleyball

Great Lakes Classic

Presented by Skybacher Ministries

Date:  September 10-12, 2009              

Registration Deadline:

This tournament will be limited to a maximum of 24 girls' varsity volleyball teams.  Register soon in order to be sure to claim a spot!

The final registration deadline is August 26, 2009.  At this time we will close registration to begin making the brackets and schedule for the tournament.

Tournament Format:

● This tournament will be limited to a maximum of 24 girls' varsity volleyball teams -- and will be played in two or three divisions.  Divisional breakdown will be based on a combination of school size and competitive level.

● Homeschool teams are welcome to participate, but there are some very basic eligibility requirements (high school status, homeschool status, team member status)...and homeschool teams are required to participate in a different division than any state association teams that attend.  If you are a homeschool team that is interested in participating, please call before you register -- to be sure your players meet these basic requirements.

Tournament Features and Information:

Tournament Description:

● The NCSAA / NursingABC Great Lakes Classic offers a high-value competitive and team-building experience -- in a Christ-centered environment -- for your girls' varsity volleyball team.  Highly-organized and hosted at excellent facilities, the event provides the excitement of participating in a major tournament event for teams of all sizes and competitive levels.

Tournament Format:

● This tournament is open to Christian and private schools from any region of the country.  The tournament will be limited to a maximum of 24 teams.

● Girls in grades 8-12 are eligible to compete.  You may obtain a waiver (verbal approval) for 7th grade athletes to participate, if necessary, by contacting NCSAA in advance of the tournament.  If you team plays against another team that is restricted from competing against teams that include players below the ninth grade, your 8th-grade players will not be permitted to compete in that match.  This is a rare occurrence in our tournaments, but please be aware of this possibility in advance.

● The tournament will be played in one or two divisions.  Divisional breakdown will be based on a combination of school size and competitive level.

● All teams will play extensive pool play, and then at least two full matches (with a possibility of three) in the three-day span.  If you have any concern regarding the number of matches your team might play, please give us a call.

Closing Ceremony and Awards:

● All participating teams will be recognized during each division's closing ceremony, which will also include a special recognition of the coaches of all teams.

● Championship banners will be presented to the 1st place team in each division, and framed certificate awards will be presented to the 2nd and 3rd place teams in each division.

● The NCSAA Coaches' Award will also be awarded to players throughout the tournament.  These awards will be given by the coaches of the participating teams, as a way to recognize and encourage athletes who demonstrate noteworthy effort, leadership, encouragement, determination, humility, courage, grace, and other qualities of Biblical discipline in their play.  This program allows us to encourage coaches to be intentional in “building into the lives” of the players who are competing this weekend.

Christ-Centered Environment and Team-Building Opportunities:

● We provide a consistent spiritual challenge for your athletes throughout the event -- from the devotional challenge at the Opening Program, to the Biblical team-building program made available to your teams throughout the event, to the unique Scripture reading and devotional booklet provided to all of your athletes for their use each day of the event, to the awarding of NCSAA Coaches' Awards to recognize athletes who play is marked by qualities of Biblical discipline, to the unified time of team prayer for their coaches at the Closing Ceremony.  This NCSAA event is distinctive in its goal of being more than just an athletic event; we desire that your players deepen their relationships with God and their teammates during their time here!

● The Wellspring Team Challenge Series is integrated throughout the three-day event, as a way to encourage your players and coaches in their growth as a team.  This program includes an interactive question-and-answer challenge, during which athletes engage in assessing their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as their team's consistency in competing and living according to qualities of Biblical discipline.  As part of this program, each team has the option of participating in times of customized team-building -- intentional, challenging, and fun activities designed to help your athletes and coaches grow closer and stronger, as key preparation for the rest of your season.

● Various Christian colleges and universities will be present at the tournament to interact with the student-athletes.  When your team is at the tournament, you can encourage your players to visit the college booths and do some research into the schools.  Teams that attend our tournaments have remarked that this feature has been very valuable, as the event doubles as an opportunity to expose your athletes to the value of  and options for Christian education beyond high school.

Beneficial Exposure for Your Athletes:

● Each team's top athletes will be recognized in the "Players to Watch" section of the booklet given to all college coaches who attend the event (as well as many college coaches that request these materials after the tournament).  This opportunity presents your players with a great chance to be seen by college coaches, scouts, and recruiters -- many of whom attend the tournament.

Location:

Family First Sports Park

8155 Oliver Road

Erie, PA  16509

Family First Sports Park houses four (4) regulation high school hardwood volleyball courts at their facility in Erie, PA.  Their 80-acre property also includes 16 outdoor soccer fields, 2 indoor soccer fields, numerous indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a Fun Center (miniature golf, go-kart racing, bumper boats, batting cages, and EuroBungy), Golf Dome, and a variety of other attractions -- so you'll have plenty to do while you're at the tournament! 

Check out details about the Park via the links below:

Family First Sports Park - Facility Tour

Housing and Conference Center

Family First Fun Center

Directions to the Park...and Area Attractions

Team Registration Fee: $300 for NCSAA member schools     Become An NCSAA Member School!

                                              $400 for non-member schools

Your registration fee is non-refundable, except in the event of the cancellation of the tournament.

All teams are expected to pay their full registration fees by the registration deadline date.  Any exceptions to this rule must be discussed with and approved by NCSAA.  If you have any questions regarding this procedure (or if you are already late with your payment), please contact us ASAP.

Individual Athlete Fee: $25 per athlete (NCSAA member schools), $30 per athlete (non-member schools)

This fee covers:

     * Tournament Fees -- Provision of all tournament activities and services to the athlete

     * Family Admission -- The gate fee (for all three days of the tournament) is waived for the families of all participating athletes.

Individual athlete fees are due upon your team's arrival at the tournament.

Please note that we have significantly reduced the Lodging and Meals Fees this year, so those of you who will be lodging at Family First Sports Park will be paying essentially the same overall amount per athlete that you paid in previous years.

Individual athlete fees are due upon your arrival at the tournament.  If you have any questions regarding these fees, please contact us ASAP.

Withdrawals:

We understand that occasionally there may be reason for a team to withdraw from a tournament, after having already registered.  If any team must withdraw after already registering for the tournament, that team still will be expected to honor its commitment to pay the full team registration fees.  NCSAA must budget based on the number of registered teams, and all fees for all registered spots are critical in order to plan for and conduct a successful tournament.  Thanks for your understanding of this!

Lodging and Meals Fees:

All teams are required to use one of the following options for their lodging and meals during the tournament (with the exception of local teams that will commute to the park from home each day).

NCSAA requires that teams make their lodging arrangements through FFSP; this agreement with the Park allows us to make the cost of facilities affordable for us -- and, thus, to keep the registration cost for all teams at an affordable level.  In the event that the Family First Housing and Conference Center fills, teams may then make their own lodging arrangements.  Any team that chooses to make its own lodging and meals arrangements elsewhere (before the time when the Housing and Conference Center fills) will still be required to pay Independent Lodging Arrangement fees (Option #3) listed below.

All teams must contact Family First Sports Park (814-866-5425, ext. 214 or 215) to make their lodging and meals arrangements.

Housing and Conference Center Option:  $80 per person

* This fee covers each person's lodging (at the Family First Sports Park Housing and Conference Center) for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights -- as well as meals for Thursday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Friday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and Saturday (breakfast only).

* This fee also provides each person with a 3-day pass to the Fun Center attractions.

* If you need to add on Saturday night lodging, you can do that for an extra $15 per person.

* Each team staying in the Housing Center is required to have its coaches staying on-site, as well.

* Space is the Housing Center is limited, so be sure to call soon if you want to reserve rooms for your teams to stay on-site.

* You will pay Family First Sports Park directly for your housing and meals.  You will not pay NCSAA for these costs.

* Visit the Family First Sports Park web site via this link for more information about the Housing and Conference Center.

Local Hotel Option:  $130 per person

* This fee covers each person's lodging (at a high-quality local hotel) for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights -- as well as meals for Thursday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Friday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and Saturday (breakfast only).  Meals are provided at the Family First Sports Park Housing and Conference Center.

* This fee also provides each person with a 3-day pass to the Fun Center attractions.

* If you need to add on Saturday night lodging, you can do that for an extra $30 per person.

* This hotel pricing is based on the assumption that you will place four (4) people in each room.  If you desire any rooms with fewer people to a room, the cost will be higher.  You will need to discuss any such special arrangements with the Family First Sports Park staff when calling to make reservations.

* Erie hotels tend to fill quickly, so please be sure to call soon if you want to reserve hotel rooms for your teams.

* If you want to stay at a hotel, you must contact Family First, and they will make the reservations for you.  You will then make payment to Family First Sports Park -- not to the hotel or to NCSAA.

Independent Lodging Arrangement Option:  $25 per athlete

* If you would rather make reservations at a hotel of your choosing (or if you have some other option for lodging), you may pay an extra $25-per-athlete fee to NCSAA, in lieu of selecting either Option #1 or Option #2 above.

* If you choose not to stay at the Family First Sports Park Housing and Conference Center (Option #1) or use the Local Hotel Option (Option #2), you must pay this extra $25 fee.  (This fulfills the financial obligations of our agreement with Family First Sports Park, which allows us to keep the cost of facility rental low -- and, thus, to keep the registration cost for all teams at an affordable level.)

* This option does not provide you with any meals; you will be responsible for your own meals.

* This option does not provide you with any passes to the Fun Center attractions.  If you wish to use those attractions, you will need to pay separately.

* Erie hotels tend to fill quickly, so please be sure to make your decision soon if you are planning to select this option.

* If you use the Independent Lodging Arrangement, you must contact NCSAA (as soon as possible) to notify us of your decision…and make your payment of $25 per athlete directly to NCSAA.

Directions:

Family First Sports Park is located at 8155 Oliver Road, Erie, PA  16509.

From Pittsburgh and South:

Take I-79 North to Exit 178A (I-90 East, toward Buffalo).  Follow to Exit 24 (Peach Street - old exit 6).  Then turn right, and proceed to Oliver Road (at the next traffic light -- 0.4 miles).  Turn right onto Oliver Road, and the Park will be on your left side (0.2 miles).

From Buffalo and East:

Take I-90 West to Exit 24 (Peach Street - old exit 6).  Then turn left, and proceed to Oliver Road (at the next traffic light -- 0.4 miles).  Turn right onto Oliver Road, and the Park will be on your left side (0.2 miles).

From Cleveland and West:

Take I-90 East to Exit 24 (Peach Street - old exit 6).  Then turn right, and proceed to Oliver Road (at the next traffic light -- 0.4 miles).  Turn right onto Oliver Road, and the Park will be on your left side (0.2 miles).