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New Club Director Resources

New Club Director Guide to Resources (9/24/2025)

The purpose of this guide is to assist you with the following:

  1. Starlings Philosophy 
    1. Mission
    2. Dues limitations
  2. Budgeting
    1. Payment options
    2. Fundraising options/expectations
    3. Player Assistance Fund
  3. Membership Affiliations and Resources
  4. Uniform Expectations/Adidas agreement/Equipment
  5. Insurance options
  6. Liability/Waivers/Registration Process
  7. Administrative Training
    1. AOC/JVA Club Administrator Training
    2. Background Processes via JVA
    3. Templates to set up Club Business Operations
  8. Coach Education/Training options

Getting Started Part 2:

  1. Director Membership Form
  2. Coach Membership Form
  3. Contracts/Agreements

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A. STARLINGS PHILOSOPHY:

Starlings Volleyball, USA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, believes every girl deserves the opportunity to play club volleyball, regardless of socioeconomic background or level of play.  Starlings dues, if any, are a fraction of most junior club costs, with the goal that no girl is turned away because of inability to pay. 

Dues: some Starlings families and players are unable to afford their season fees.  Starlings expects Club Directors to offer fundraising opportunities, payment plan options, and support in applying for the Player Assistance Fund when appropriate.  

Note: Starlings Volleyball expects Club Directors to build sustainable programs that maintain player fees at $850 (or less) per season.  Note: $850 does NOT include National Tournament expenses

If you are concerned that your season fees will exceed $850 per player, please communicate with the Starlings National Office prior to the start of the season for consultation and approval. Directors will be required to submit a comprehensive budget as part of this consultation process.

Club Directors are expected to maintain a current and comprehensive BUDGET at all times and submit it to the National Office upon request.BUDGET LINK TEMPLATE HERE: 

Payment options: Directors maintain all payment schedules and options for players (families) based on their respective clients ability to pay, etc. Our registration platform League Apps allows and tracks payment plans for each club in its’ respective dashboard.  Please refer to your League Apps guidelines to set this up properly each season.  Your League Apps staff liaison is Kazna.

Fundraising Expectations: Starlings expects every club to participate in fundraising to help keep season fees affordable.  Starlings recommends that each Club participate in “Peer-to-Peer” fundraising.  “Peer-to-Peer” fundraising is effective and efficient. Starlings offers support running a fundraising campaign through the Give Lively platform.  Contact Starlings Staff / Leon Tsoi for more information and guidance.

Player Assistance Fund: Starlings Volleyball USA allots funds to Directors to assist players/families who cannot afford all of the fees you have budgeted for each member.  The player/family must meet eligibility requirements and apply with all the proper documents for verification of need. The Director reviews all applications first to ensure eligibility/understand the player’s needs.  The player fund committee meets once a month from November - mid April to evaluate the eligibility. All funds go directly to the Director of the Club on behalf of that player.  To learn more or to assist a player with the player fund application,  go to: Player Fund link

Membership Affiliations related to Competition (options):  each Club Director is responsible for setting up their respective schedule for teams.  We recommend you research your area and discuss options with local clubs and your USAV region.  A determining factor may be level of ability (of your players) compared to level of competition with the below organizations/options.  Also, consider costs and/or a mixture of the below.  

  1. USAV (find your region): https://usavolleyball.org/
  2. AAU Volleyball:  https://aausports.org/volleyball/
  3. Junior Volleyball Association (JVA):  https://jvavolleyball.org/
  4. Starlings San Diego League: https://www.starlings.org/sdseries

Uniforms/Adidas AgreementLogo: Starlings Volleyball is sponsored by Adidas.  

ALL Starlings Teams are required to wear ONLY ADIDAS Uniforms that are ordered and purchased through the designated process (Jeff Greenough).  

A uniform package includes: Adidas Jersey, Practice Tee, and Adidas Spandex.

*Note: The Starlings name and logo are a registered trademark and may NOT be used by Directors or third party individuals on ANY apparel.  ALL Starlings apparel must be purchased through Jeff Greenough. You will be introduced to Jeff during the onboarding process.  Prior to your season, Jeff will give you an order link for processing.

Best Practice TIP: Collect Player uniform sizing information and payment at the earliest date possible for efficient Uniform Package (Jersey, Practice Tee, & Spandex) ordering.

Equipment:  Starlings has partnerships with volleyball companies Baden and Molten; a link to prices and more information can be found at: Uniform/Equipment Info

Insurance Coverage:  it is the responsibility of each Club Director to ensure all aspects of your club programming (tryouts, clinics, team practices, camps, etc) is covered by insurance policy (or policies).  For example: USAV membership only covers USAV training and competition.  Outside of USAV, you would need a policy to enter a tournament.  In addition, most facilities will require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) in addition to a contractual agreement with that site as additional insured.  

  1. Camps, Clinics & Independent Tournaments:  JVA is recommended https://jvavolleyball.org/membership/manage-your-club/insurance/
  2. USAV membership includes insurance for players and coaches; check with your region on specifics and for the needed COI for renting facilities. Note: USAV membership only covers USAV tournaments.
  3. AAU membership includes insurance for players and coaches; check with AAU on specifics and for the needed COI for renting facilities
  4. San Diego League & Independent League participation should purchase JVA insurance (see V-A) for each team for the season.  JVA will supply the Director a COI for the training spaces for the teams; JVA requires each player/parent to sign a waiver form:  JVA Player Waiver Form

Starlings Liability/Waivers/Registration:

All participants (Directors, Coaches, and players) must complete an annual membership for Starlings Volleyball USA.  Starlings uses a platform called League Apps to capture registrations. Each Club Director will have their own respective dashboard in League Apps to capture needed information. More information will be shared on League Apps by staff member: Kazna 

During the registration process and prior to the player participating in any organized activity, a WAIVER must be signed.  Starlings Volleyball, USA player registration has an automated waiver process to capture signatures electronically during this process.

Note:  you may also have a Starlings Volleyball USA waiver signed in person by the parent/legal guardian.  This is required for the protection of the Club and the Club Director should injury occur to any participant. 2025-26 Liability Participation Waiver. Paper Sign

Administrative Training Recommendations/Processes:

  1. JVA in partnership with AOC has two training modules for Directors called Club Management Guide 1.0 and Club Management Guide 2.0 (your member discount can be applied): cost is $49 for a Starlings Member Director.  Go through our JVA Starlings Representative for more information. 
  2. JVA Background Screening is handled by the designated Club Director; each Director through their respective membership has access to a portal in order to process coaches/adult volunteers through the screening process as well as APS training:  Log into your Director JVA account and use this step by step guide to follow the background screening process: JVA Portal Directions
  3. JVA Operations for conducting tryouts, under “Education” tab - “Business” tab are checklists for Club Directors.

Coach Education/Partners with Starlings

  1. Art of Coaching (AOC):  AOC Starlings Page - register as a Starlings and navigate to the home page to view; coaching videos, skills & drills, topics for directors and coaches and much more.
  2. JVA Free Director membership - see III-C; once logged in with FREE membership; access to JVA Coach videos, player evaluations, statistics, game management, managing play time, etc.
  3. USAV regions; offer IMPACT training, officials training, etc to members.
  4. Gold Medal Square in partnership with Starlings offers each coach/director a $35/year (typically $199). Free trial then you will get prompted to use a credit card. Also, GMS+ Clinics for $150 (normally $399).

                        To access: go to our Starlings GMS page link:  Starlings GMS Page

                         First time users will need to create account - log in

Getting Started Part 2:

Once you have established all of your corporate paperwork, have established your background check procedures, decided on an organization or organizations to join for tournament play, it’s time to get started with your club, coaches and players (timeframe: August of each year):

Step One:  Directors complete a DIRECTOR  Membership Form in League Apps sent out by staff representative Kazna set by Starlings USA to begin the season. Directors must have an active USAV (if playing in this organization) membership or current JVA background/APS training BEFORE the DIRECTOR Membership Form can be submitted.

Step Two:  Coaches complete a COACH Membership Form on League Apps PRIOR to the first date of practice. This includes a background check and Safe Sport (USAV) or APS (JVA) Training requirement that must be completed BEFORE the COACH Membership Form can be submitted.

Starlings recommends you have the following documents in place for the season.  Most of these are found on the JVA website or the Starlings website and can be customized with your club name.  Log into JVA using your Director email and password that you established.  

  1. Coach Agreements/Independent Contractor: we recommend the JVA website and log in: (1) go to the “Education tab, (2) pull down menu “Business” and under “HR” is a Coach Contract sample. Best practice tip - have a start date and end date for the coaches, so if it doesn’t work out you just notify them that their respective services are appreciated and completed. Also, include a pay scale.  Make sure you pay all coaches respectively as agreed upon or they can have a viable argument against you and your program.
  2. For parent/player agreements; we recommend you visit our Starlings website; under “Club Resources”, go to Parent/Player Handbook
    1. Page 12:  Parent agreement sample
    2. Page 13:  Player agreement sample

Note:  both the Starlings Director Handbook and the Starlings Parent/Player Handbooks are being revised - stay tuned.