Youth Programs in 2009........

Coming up in the New Year.
"YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM"
Our "14's Program" which is the beginning of our travel club program
begins on January 15th and goes till May 28th.
This program is designed for the 7th and 8th grader player wanting the
experience to prepare them for their high school program in August.
Days: Thursdays
Times: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: The "W" at KI Sawyer
(for more information and cost check out our brochure)

Our “Volley Tots” (3/4th) starts on April 16th and
the “Middle Diggers” (5/6th) starts on March 19th.
The reason for the late dates for the clinic is to help with the drive
to the “W” during the winter months.
All our Youth Development Programs this year will take
place at the “W” due to gym space availability.
I understand that it is not the most convenient for some parents,
but it is one of the best facilities in our area.
I promise the travel is worth the training your daughter(s) will gain.
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON THESE PROGRAMS OFFERED

Econo Bagging Success.........

The Econo Bagging went great and I wanted to take this moment
to thank Amber Bell for organizing the fundraiser and also working the entire day (& Haylee).
I am grateful for your help and support.
I would also like to thank all the players and parents that worked the fundraiser
You dedication to our program is very appreciated.

Check the site Fundraising Page for upcoming programs!

Success of our Recuiting Events.......

The 2008 Recruiting Combine and the "UP Exposure Classic"
were a huge success and I would like to thank
Xcel Sports Training and all the volleyball players who attended for

making these two events a great experience.

We had 20 players attend the "UP Exposure Classic" it was amazing to see players from different schools come together and compete as a team.
The new bonds these players have made with the players
they competed with on Sunday will now be there forever.
These players were the best from their area
and I am grateful for their desire to continue their education and playing careers. There information and the game tape will be sent out to college coaches across the country.

Players were from the following schools:
(2) Calumet
(3) Hancock
(2) Ironwood
(2) Marquette
(1) Westwood
(2) Munising
(1) Sault HS
(1) Big Bay de Noc
(1) Manistique
(2) Kingsford
(2) Engadine
(1) Gladstone

I want to thank again all the players that made the first ever

"UP Exposure Classic" a huge success and I look forward to seeing

them on the court during their high school season next year

and back at the "UP Exposure Classic" next year.

Articatz Up-Coming Events.....

RECRUITING COMBINE
Our second annual recruiting combine

~ The girls will be tested on their physical
abilities and strengths and on their skills in volleyball
Date: December 6, 2008

Time: 9am-1pm

"UP EXPOSURE CLASSIC"
Our first annual "UP EXPOSURE CLASSIC

~ The best of the UP varsity players will
display their talents on the court in a competition.

They will be able to display their
ability to college coaches and avid volleyball fans.
Date: December 7, 2008

Times: 12pm - 2pm

FANS PLEASE COME OUT

&

SUPPORT THE AREAS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER

More information please
on the Recruiting Combine & UP Exposure Classic
CLICK HERE

Online Payment Option.......

You will now have the opportunity to pay club dues,
travel and tryouts online thru PayPal.

You DO NOT have to have a Paypal account

to use our online payment options.

There are absolutely no refunds.
(If you are injured in a volleyball event a credit

to future programs may be given).

If you are removed from the club due to violation of policy or choose to quit,
all fees are forfeited!

Click here to go to the payment section of our website:

http://www.articatz.com/11.html?sm=51027

Position Training Clinic......

Articatz Volleyball Club

Would like to invite you to improve your volleyball skills at our

POSITION TRAINING CLINIC

This clinic is for anyone who is interested in becoming a better

Setter, Outside, Middle or Libero

You don’t have to be affiliated with the club program it is open to the public.

We will be training at the Sands Township Complex (Multi-purpose room)

987 South M-553

Practice days: Saturdays

Times for Positions
Setters: 10-11am
Outsides: 11-12pm
Middles: 12-1pm
Libero: 1-1:30pm

Cost: $15 per person per session
(you must pay for three sessions)

If you are interested in attending please go to http://www.articatz.com/36.html?sm=79203

(here you will see all the dates for training)

We hope to improve the areas volleyball one player and position at a time!

Junior Spikers Youth Clinic......

The "Junior Spikers" (7th/8th grade) will start after basketball season
Gwinn/Superior Central/Gladstone Area Players
Dates: Nov. 18th and end on Dec. 16th
Location Days & Times: The "W", Tuesdays 6:30-8pm

Marquette/Negaunee/Ishpeming Area Players
Dates: Nov. 14th and end on Dec. 19th
Location, Days & Times: Baraga Gym (in MQT across from St. Pete's Cathedral), Friday 6:30-8pm

You can attend either day or both if you like!

To get full details on all the Fall Youth Programs please CLICK HERE

BENEFITS TO YOUTH PROGRAMS BOOK

2009 Tryout Updates....

Due to a gym conflict with the E-Girls basketball program,

we have to move our tryouts to the week earlier.

I know that it is the opening day of hunting season,

but we can't wait to go the week after the 22nd of November.

That would put us behind everyone else in the country.

The reason we are adjusting for the E-Girls is they adjusted for us in the past.

We need to help each other with the success of our programs.

~TryOuts~

Saturday, Nov. 15th, 2008
Times: 2-5:30pm
Location:
WEST BRANCH COMMUNITY CENTER
301 Avenue A. Gwinn, MI


“IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRYOUTS”
I will not know the number of teams or participants until after the tryouts.

All players that make the club program are required to attend the

Recruiting Combine as well on Dec. 6, 2008.

I will try my best to get the best opportunity for everyone.

PLAYERS MUST RETURN THE FOLLOWING
PRE-REGISTER AND SAVE ON TRYOUT FEES
* ARTICATZ TRYOUT REGISTRATION FORM
*$35 NON-REFUNDABLE TRYOUT FEE
($40 DAY OF TRYOUT)
*MEDICAL RELEASE FORM

*NCR MEMBERSHIP FORM

All these forms can be found on our site under the high school program page.

http://www.articatz.com/

MAIL TO: ARTICATZ VBC
1680 C. R. 492
MARQUETTE, MI 49855

CLUB SEASON & TOURNAMENTS
The Articatz season extends from tryouts,
to our final tournament June 12-15th in Chicago
Possible Tournament Schedules:
April 17-19th, 2009 ~Duluth
May 1-3rd, 2009 ~ WI
May 29-31st, 2009 ~WI
June 11-15th, 2009 ~ Chicago

We will send out a tournament schedule sheet in December

and Parents will need to fill out the dates that they will be available.

Skill Training Opportunities
We will be having skill training days that are separate from club.

This will allow player in the club to have a day to focus

on their specific position. It will also allow players that just want

to improve their skills that opportunity.

More information to come on this please check the website http://www.articatz.com/ or our blog
http://www.articatz.blogspot.com/

Fundraising
Check out website for fundraisers we are running to help with the cost of club.
(if you have more than one daughter in the programs there are cost exceptions)
We have had many players pay their entire club fees

with the fundraising opportunities we have offered them.

2009 Club Tryouts.........

The choice to play club volleyball is one that requires a commitment and this commitment can be a demanding one, not only for the players, but also for the parents and families.

The Articatz program is one we feel has a great deal to offer each athlete, at Articatz Volleyball, our program strives to develop each and every athlete in every area of volleyball to best of their ability.

Our philosophies involving the methods and teaching of the basic skills and techniques, as well as our practice planning and implementation are different from other programs in the area and we hope to help you understand why we feel that our program has great things to offer each athlete.

Our goal is and will always be to provide the best club experience for our athletes and develop their skills as volleyball players and their integrity as young adults.

We want athletes to improve and grow as athletes and at the same time,

expose them to a new level of competition.

While many of our players simply want to be the best they can be for their high school teams, some of our athletes are preparing for competition at the collegiate level.

2009 TRYOUTS FOR ARTICATZ

for 9th/10th/11th graders

Tryouts~ November 22, 2008
(will do some training in Nov thru December; once a week if possible)
Location~ The “W” in Gwinn (Directions on http://www.articatz.com/)
Times~ 2-5:30pm

Training facility: The “W” (Gwinn) and Baraga Gym (MQT)

Club Training dates~ Tuesday (the “W”) &

Fridays from 6-9pm (Baraga gym)
Skill Training dates~ Saturdays (to be announced soon)
Club season~ January thru second weekend in June

Club Costs~ will be available on the website soon

Tournaments: We will attend 3-4 tournaments in the surrounding areas ~ Duluth, WI and Chicago

FAQ: Can my daughter play other sports and be a part of club volleyball;
Answer~ YES, as long as she attends one practice a week and when other sport ends then full commitment is expected

Fundraising Opportunities: We run many fundraising events to help with the overall cost of the club. Because we don’t want anyone to miss out on this great opportunity

To learn more visit our web sites www.articatz.com - hope to see you on the court!

If you want to be updated on programs, events and fundraising opportunities please go on to our website and register to become a member.

Upcoming Fundraising Opportunities.....

Our Fundraising Opportunities have started and I am looking forward to success on every level this year.

Econo Foods Receipt Program~We can earn 1% of all the receipts we collect throughout the year. Econo will cut a check twice a year for what we have collected. Because there are Econo Foods stores in a few different UP cities, most of the girls should be able to collect receipts and turn them in at practices. I will be sure to have a collection box located at each practice. Tell all of your family members to collect as well and the totals really do add up quickly.

Grocery Bagging day~In conjunction with the receipts program we are looking to set up a grocery bagging day or two in the MQT store. We are hoping to set that up grocery bagging days in other stores as well. The girls will bag groceries for customers for tips of cash and/or the customers’ receipts! If your local area doesn't have an Econo store, maybe your local grocer would allow the girls to bag groceries for tips on a Saturday morning.

Grocery Bagging date:
December 13th

Econo Marquette
(please make sure that you can be available)

- Please email Amber Bell if you are interested in attending

2008 Recruiting Combine & UP Exposure Classic..

Articatz Volleyball Club is pleased to introduce its

second annual Recruiting Combine on Sat., December 6, 2008

and its first annual “UP Exposure Classic” on Sun., December 7, 2008

______________________________________________

What is a Recruiting Combine & Exposure Classic?

A Recruiting Combine is a day which has a combination of physical testing and volleyball skill testing. An Exposure Classic is a day of play that is observed by college coaches who are interested in recruiting athletes to play volleyball at their college.

_______________________________________________

Who is eligible to attend?

Any 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade volleyball player from any High School. You do not need to be a member of Articatz VBC. This combine is open to ALL players regardless of club or high school affiliation.This is a perfect opportunity for those players who would normally have limited exposure to college coaches because of their outstate location, or because they are playing in a club that doesn't travel to any of the major junior events (Qualifiers).It is also a perfect opportunity for club players who want additional exposure to college coaches. You will be on the court at the combine, and not sitting on the bench.

_______________________________________________

What colleges will be there to watch me?

We hope to have anywhere from 40-100 college coaches to attend this event. Division II, Division III, NAIA, all levels are invited to attend. We hope to have a list of coaches whom will be attending. Please be aware that many coaches won't register until just a few days before the event.

________________________________________________

What happens at the combine?

When they arrive players will register and be given a color coded shirt. They will then go through a series of physical tests and skills tests in the morning. After a break for lunch players will be put on teams and will have the opportunity to practice with their team to get ready for Sundays competition.

Recruiting Combine ~rough time table for the day, Sat December 6th,
8:00 am Registration
9:00 am Physical Testing
11:30 am Individual Skills (Combine done)
12:30 pm Lunch Break
1:30 pm UP Exposure Classic Team Practice
4:00 pm Finish

(click here for information test administered)

*The information is then sent to all college volleyball programs in the country in order to assist in evaluating athletes for the purpose of recruiting. Each athlete will also have their own individual profile, which contains the Combine test information, academic and athletic achievements, high school and club coach contact information, as well as their picture and season stats.

“UP Exposure Classic” ~will be help on Sunday, December 7th, 2008 and it will begin at 10am and end around 4pm. ______________________________________________________

What is the cost to attend the Recruiting Combine & Exposure Classic?

The cost for a player to attend the combine is $105. (Combine $75 and Exposure $30) You will receive a color coded shirt that identifies you to the coaches.
_______________________________________________________

How do I register?

All players must register online. This allows us to gather your information for the college recruiters.
(Click Here)

Youth Program Information..........

Updates on the Youth Program and Location:

This years Fall programs for our "Volley Tots" and "Middle Diggers"

will remain at Baraga Gym in Marquette.

We will look at the "W" for a Winter Youth program as well
as Marquette.

The more youth playing volleyball the better
success or the sport in our area.

The youth program has started but if you are still interested
please don't hesitate to come to the next training session.

Our Fall Youth Program:
Dates: Sept. 26th and end on Nov. 7th. *NO practice Oct. 31st*
Days & Times: Friday 6:30-8pm
Location: Baraga Gym (300 W. Baraga Ave, MQT)

These dates are for the "Volley Tots" and "Middle Diggers".
~We will allow late registration for the youth programs~

The "Junior Spikers" (7th/8th grade) will start after basketball season
Dates: Nov. 14th and end on Dec. 19th
Days & Times: Friday 6:30-8pm (@ "W" to come)
Location: Baraga Gym & possibly "W"

The best way to stay up to date with the latest news about Articatz Programs and Events is to become a member on our website.

2008 Articatz Autumn Classic.........

First and foremost, I wanted to thank the coaches, teams and helpers for making the 3rd annual Varsity Tournament a huge success.

I know our staff was worried about the tournament when I got the phone call from Bill Hill about the "W" closing. But thanks to the amazing support of the AD at Gwinn High School for allowing us to host the entire tournament at his facility.

With the outstanding guidance and help from two main individuals the tournament once again ran smoothly (Mike Morgan and Amber Bell). We also had great help from many parents and players to work the concessions and door.

This years Articatz "Autumn Classic" had 12 teams divided on two courts. We ran two 6 team pools. Pool play matches were 2 games to 21 points. With so many teams we wanted to make sure they had the opportunity to get in as much competition in as possible.

We took the first two teams out of pool play to compete for the championship.

Pool Play Results:

POOL 1

Sault St. Marie 9-1

Houghton 8-2

Carney 5-5

Marquette 4-6

Munising 2-8

Rapid River 2-8

POOL 2

Calumet 10-0

Engadine 6-4

Cedarville 5-5

Superior Central 3-7

Chassell 3-7

Gwinn 3-7

Semi-Finals:

#1 Sault St Marie vs #2 Engadine

(25-14, 24-26, 15-7)

#1 Calumet vs #2 Hougthon

(14-25, 25-14, 15-9)

Finals:

Calumet vs Sault St. Marie

(25-18, 27-26)

Once again all the thanks to the teams and coaches that attended, AD at Gwinn High School, Gwinn Varsity Volleyball team and all the Articatz Parents & Players for making the 2008 Articatz "Autumn Classic" a huge success.

The Future of Youth Vollleyball..............

Well if you have been listening to the radio today you have heard that the

West Branch is officially closed.

It stated that it would close in 30 days but if you have driven past the doors they are chained and locked from the inside.

So much for 30 days.

The future of our Youth is at stack. I still plan on having our youth volleyball clinics. The clinic will be held at the Baraga Police Station Gymnasium in Marquette.

The "Volley Tots" and "Middle Diggers"

will still start on Sept. 26th thru Nov. 7th (6:30-8pm Fridays).

The "Junior Spikers" will start on Nov. 14th and go till Dec. 19th (6:30-8:30pm Fridays)

I will be putting an ad in the Mining Journal next week and if you know of anyone that is interested please forward this blog to them.

I really appreciate your support and I look forward to continuing the growth of volleyball and the youth in our area.

Click Here for Fall Youth Program Brochure

The Future of Articatz............

School is beginning and it is already time to let everyone know about

the future of the Articatz Volleyball Club.

We recently were informed that the status of the West Branch Fitness Community Center is in question. Barry Bahrmann resigned as the director of the facility as noted in the Mining Journal towards the end of our season last year, he was integral in the establishment and viability of the facility. Without that strong leadership, there has been a large amount of instability in support for the WBFCC on the part of the West Branch Township Board.

Given this instability, we have decided to look for an alternative training facility. After considerable time and discussion we have been able to attain time slots at Northern Michigan University for the Articatz Volleyball Club to train. Tentative days for practice are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9pm. These are tentative and will be subject to change based on other events that may be scheduled by the University.

We are excited about the prospects of being able to train at these top notch facilities (Vandament Arena is one of the best volleyball facilities in all of NCAA Division II).

"We believe that it will make the program that much stronger."

We look for everyone’s support of this change in venues for our program.

We will be providing much more detail as things continue to unfold in this new chapter for Articatz Volleyball.

Watch the Best to be the Best......

One of the best ways to become the best volleyball player is to watch the best. We are very luck because we have an amazing team right in our backyard.

Going to watch the Northern Michigan University volleyball players will not only be exciting, it will help increase your volleyball knowledge. These players are trained to be so exact with their movements, techniques and communication and all of that is credited to the outstanding training of Coach Yoder. With that training and the desire to be successful the athletes are able to compete at the highest level.

I would suggest going to as many games as you can because, I have said, "Watching the Best to Be the Best" is a great way of becoming a better volleyball player.

PS: Make sure you are watching the players' movement and transition

(not just the game and ball)

Click Here to see the Northern Michigan Universities Season Schedule.

Fall Youth Program................

I can't believe it is that time of year but we are almost in the
swing of the new school year. Trust me I am not sure I am ready,
my first daughter is going to be starting Pre-Kindergarten.
Oh my where is the time going.

Well it is that time of year when we offer our Youth Volleyball Programs.

Our program this year is going to be alittle different then last year.

We will still offer "Volley Tots" and "Middle Diggers" in the early fall sessions,
but we will be moving the "Junior Spikers" to a later date due
to middle school basketball (stay tuned for those dates)

Program being offered:

Articatz “Volley Tots” grades 3rd & 4th

~ Fridays starting Sept.26th and ending Nov. 7th

~ 6:30 - 8pm

~ cost $30

Articatz “Middle Diggers” grades 5th & 6th

~ Fridays starting Sept. 26th and ending Nov. 7th

~ 6 :30- 8pm

~ cost $50

We look forward to see alot of familiar faces and many new faces :)

For more information please CLICK HERE