Spring Teams
2012 Spring Season
What is available for the Top Gun Spring season?
Spring AAU teams will begin mid-March and practice and compete throughout April, May and finish the first weekend in June at the AAU State Tournament in the Grand Rapids area. Teams will practice twice a week and compete in five (5) one-day tournaments within a two-hour drive of the Howell/Brighton area plus the two-date State Tournament.
What is a Spring AAU team?
Spring teams are teams that will compete in the state of Michigan only. Each team will consist of no more than 10 athletes to maximize practice repetitions and play time opportunities. Number of teams and age groups will be determined by interest at tryouts. Emphasis is on individual skill development, offensive and defensive team systems and teamwork within a cooperative and competitive environment.
What age does my daughter play?
Please see our home page for 2012 age definitions.
How are the teams selected?
All teams are created through the tryout process. No one can be placed on a team without proper evaluation. Athletes are placed based on skill performance at tryout as well as position desired. For example, the top five athletes at any given tryout may all be middle blockers, but they will not all be able to be placed on the same team. Placement due to carpooling or friends will not be considered. Our goal is to find a team for every girl that wants to work hard, have fun and learn to improve their volleyball. Sometimes, however, due to numbers, coaches or facilities, we do have to cut a few athletes.
When and where are practices?
Spring AAU teams will practice twice a week in the evenings for two hours each. A complete schedule will be provided after teams have been selected. Practices will be held in the Howell and Brighton area. Specific practice times and locations have not been established at this time. There will be no practice April 6 - 13, 2012 due to school breaks. There will also be no practice Monday, May 28, 2012 for observance of Memorial Day.
Does my daughter need to attend all practices?
Yes. Attendance at all practices and tournaments is expected. In fairness to all involved, missing practices for any reason, including but not limited to sickness, homework, family vacations and other sports or activities, will affect play time opportunities.
What if my daughter plays another sport?
Every effort is made to accommodate athletes that are wishing to play other winter/spring sports. A case by case study of the situation is usually best to ensure fairness for all parties involved. Missed practices will affect play time. Since volleyball is a team sport with a lot of material covered in each practice, we do not recommend those with severely conflicting schedules play Top Gun.
Where are the tournaments held?
Tournaments are generally located within a two hour drive or less from the Howell area and usually occur on Saturday. Once in a while a Sunday tournament may be necessary. Athletes are responsible for getting themselves to and from the tournament. Each athlete will also be responsible for food during the tournament, however teams usually work together to create a healthy potluck of food for each tournament through the help of a team parent.
So my daughter will play every match?
Not necessarily and probably not. There are 10 athletes on every team and only 6 can play at a time. Every effort will be made to ensure fair play time, especially during tournament pool play. During the playoffs, coaches may choose to play their most competitive lineup. Lack of attendance at practice, poor attitude and/or effort could also negatively affect play time.
What is the cost?
For 2012, the cost is for the Spring Season is $500.00 if you compete with Top Gun during the winter season, as well. If you are competing in the Spring Season only, the cost is $625.00. This covers AAU membership, gym rentals, practice and tournament instruction, administrative costs, coach's salary, tournament entries, t-shirt, volleyball, whistle, spandex and two jerseys. Winter participants will receive gear during the winter season.
When is this payment due?
Deposit of half the total cost is due within 14 days of acceptance to join a team. The remaining balance will be due by April 1, 2012. If an additional payment plan is necessary, please contact Jennifer for options.
When and where are tryouts?
If your daughter participates in the Winter Season with Top Gun, no additional tryout will be necessary. Placement for the Spring Season will be based on the recommendation of the Winter Season coach. Tryouts for Spring Season only will be held February 5.. Please continue to watch our web site for additional information.
What if my daughter is young, but in a higher grade?
A very small number of athletes fall under the category of being of a certain age, but actually attending the grade higher in school. If your daughter, for instance, falls under the 14U age group, but is in 9th grade, she will be allowed to try out with 15U age group, if she chooses. Any other movement of athletes into different age groups will be done solely at the discretion of the Top Gun staff. Requests will not be considered. Because we gather athletes from many different schools and areas onto one team and are able to create a challenging environment, we believe in most athletes participating with their natural age level.
Will teams remain the same for Winter and Spring?
Not necessarily. Teams will be selected based on the skill level and performance at tryouts. Interest may be different for Winter and Spring Seasons. It is important to expect to have a different team, coach and practice location/schedule for each season. At this point we believe teams will be different, however if we have enough interest for a given team, we may be able to keep them together throughout both seasons.
Do you offer a 'Regional' team?
It is not our goal to spend as much of the your money as possible and we believe that great competition is available in the state of Michigan. However, if we have enough athletes interested in competing at a very high level and willing to commit to the rigors and cost of a regional team, it is something that we would happily consider. There will be a question to indicate interest on the tryout form. If these teams were to be created, it would begin in mid-December and end at the AAU National Championships in Orlando, FL in mid-June. Cost for this team would run somewhere around $1800.00 not including travel or hotel costs or an additional cost for the AAU Nationals. Two to three tournaments would be out-of-state requiring hotel accommodations.
More questions?? Contact Jennifer at topgunjen@yahoo.com or 517-548-0024.
What is available for the Top Gun Spring season?
Spring AAU teams will begin mid-March and practice and compete throughout April, May and finish the first weekend in June at the AAU State Tournament in the Grand Rapids area. Teams will practice twice a week and compete in five (5) one-day tournaments within a two-hour drive of the Howell/Brighton area plus the two-date State Tournament.
What is a Spring AAU team?
Spring teams are teams that will compete in the state of Michigan only. Each team will consist of no more than 10 athletes to maximize practice repetitions and play time opportunities. Number of teams and age groups will be determined by interest at tryouts. Emphasis is on individual skill development, offensive and defensive team systems and teamwork within a cooperative and competitive environment.
What age does my daughter play?
Please see our home page for 2012 age definitions.
How are the teams selected?
All teams are created through the tryout process. No one can be placed on a team without proper evaluation. Athletes are placed based on skill performance at tryout as well as position desired. For example, the top five athletes at any given tryout may all be middle blockers, but they will not all be able to be placed on the same team. Placement due to carpooling or friends will not be considered. Our goal is to find a team for every girl that wants to work hard, have fun and learn to improve their volleyball. Sometimes, however, due to numbers, coaches or facilities, we do have to cut a few athletes.
When and where are practices?
Spring AAU teams will practice twice a week in the evenings for two hours each. A complete schedule will be provided after teams have been selected. Practices will be held in the Howell and Brighton area. Specific practice times and locations have not been established at this time. There will be no practice April 6 - 13, 2012 due to school breaks. There will also be no practice Monday, May 28, 2012 for observance of Memorial Day.
Does my daughter need to attend all practices?
Yes. Attendance at all practices and tournaments is expected. In fairness to all involved, missing practices for any reason, including but not limited to sickness, homework, family vacations and other sports or activities, will affect play time opportunities.
What if my daughter plays another sport?
Every effort is made to accommodate athletes that are wishing to play other winter/spring sports. A case by case study of the situation is usually best to ensure fairness for all parties involved. Missed practices will affect play time. Since volleyball is a team sport with a lot of material covered in each practice, we do not recommend those with severely conflicting schedules play Top Gun.
Where are the tournaments held?
Tournaments are generally located within a two hour drive or less from the Howell area and usually occur on Saturday. Once in a while a Sunday tournament may be necessary. Athletes are responsible for getting themselves to and from the tournament. Each athlete will also be responsible for food during the tournament, however teams usually work together to create a healthy potluck of food for each tournament through the help of a team parent.
So my daughter will play every match?
Not necessarily and probably not. There are 10 athletes on every team and only 6 can play at a time. Every effort will be made to ensure fair play time, especially during tournament pool play. During the playoffs, coaches may choose to play their most competitive lineup. Lack of attendance at practice, poor attitude and/or effort could also negatively affect play time.
What is the cost?
For 2012, the cost is for the Spring Season is $500.00 if you compete with Top Gun during the winter season, as well. If you are competing in the Spring Season only, the cost is $625.00. This covers AAU membership, gym rentals, practice and tournament instruction, administrative costs, coach's salary, tournament entries, t-shirt, volleyball, whistle, spandex and two jerseys. Winter participants will receive gear during the winter season.
When is this payment due?
Deposit of half the total cost is due within 14 days of acceptance to join a team. The remaining balance will be due by April 1, 2012. If an additional payment plan is necessary, please contact Jennifer for options.
When and where are tryouts?
If your daughter participates in the Winter Season with Top Gun, no additional tryout will be necessary. Placement for the Spring Season will be based on the recommendation of the Winter Season coach. Tryouts for Spring Season only will be held February 5.. Please continue to watch our web site for additional information.
What if my daughter is young, but in a higher grade?
A very small number of athletes fall under the category of being of a certain age, but actually attending the grade higher in school. If your daughter, for instance, falls under the 14U age group, but is in 9th grade, she will be allowed to try out with 15U age group, if she chooses. Any other movement of athletes into different age groups will be done solely at the discretion of the Top Gun staff. Requests will not be considered. Because we gather athletes from many different schools and areas onto one team and are able to create a challenging environment, we believe in most athletes participating with their natural age level.
Will teams remain the same for Winter and Spring?
Not necessarily. Teams will be selected based on the skill level and performance at tryouts. Interest may be different for Winter and Spring Seasons. It is important to expect to have a different team, coach and practice location/schedule for each season. At this point we believe teams will be different, however if we have enough interest for a given team, we may be able to keep them together throughout both seasons.
Do you offer a 'Regional' team?
It is not our goal to spend as much of the your money as possible and we believe that great competition is available in the state of Michigan. However, if we have enough athletes interested in competing at a very high level and willing to commit to the rigors and cost of a regional team, it is something that we would happily consider. There will be a question to indicate interest on the tryout form. If these teams were to be created, it would begin in mid-December and end at the AAU National Championships in Orlando, FL in mid-June. Cost for this team would run somewhere around $1800.00 not including travel or hotel costs or an additional cost for the AAU Nationals. Two to three tournaments would be out-of-state requiring hotel accommodations.
More questions?? Contact Jennifer at topgunjen@yahoo.com or 517-548-0024.
