Parents -

The Junior Viqueens play Game 1 Friday at 5:30 PM.
We will leave NVSS at 3:20 PM

If we lose Friday, we play Game 2 Saturday at 8 AM,
We will leave NVSS at 6:15 AM
         - if we lose, we will play Game 3 at 2:00 PM (7-8)
         - if we win, we will play Game 3 at 3:30 PM (5-6)

If we win Friday, we play Game 2 at 11 AM.
We will leave NVSS at 9:15 AM
         - if we lose, we will play Game 3 at 5:00 PM (3-4)
         - if we win, we will play Game 3 at 6:30 PM (1-2)

DPTodd Tournament - Dec.2/3

DPTodd Jr A Girls host this coming weekend.

The following teams will play on Friday:

4:00 PM    Duchess  vs.  Kelly Road
5:30 PM    NVSS  vs  DPTodd
7:00 PM    PGSS  vs  Cedars
8:30 PM    Duchess 9  vs  College Hts


The Jr. Viqueens play at 5:30 Friday - and if we win, we play at 11 AM Saturday.  If we lose, we play at 8 AM Saturday.  Let's not lose!  :)

Please remember to bring your uniform, running shoes, water bottle, food and/or spending money for Friday - the school normally does not run a canteen but you never know!

Practice time is changed on Monday after school

Your attention please!
In order to accomodate the junior boys, we are switching to 5 PM practice times on Monday.

The Grade 10 Boys team lost their coach to Fraser Lake last week, so Mr. Mueller will be running both teams together from now on.  To accomodate Mr. Mueller, the Junior girls will move to the 5 PM slot from now on.

We will practice Monday mornings since this is our only full gym time, hold shooting practice Monday evenings, practice Wednesday after school, and Thursday at 5 PM.  We may have a Friday AM shooting practice a few times over the season - we have the time slot but will not be using it on weekends when we have a tournament.

Thank you!

 The Junior Girls would like to thank Rebecca Robinson for chaperoning and Lyle Friesen for driving the bus all weekend!  I know the girls appreciated both of you and all your help and support!  Thanks as well to Cierra for joining us as Manager and doing all the stats for the games! 

Congratulations to all our players!  We had a lot of fun, played some great games, met some good people, and enjoyed a successful weekend!  The girls were well-behaved in the hotel, enjoyed each other's company, and worked together well on the floor.  We had a nice pizza social hosted by the home team on Friday night.  Later, some of our girls competed successfully in the team Skills Competition - NVSS teams placed first and third overall!  Before our games Friday, we stopped for pasta at Boston Pizza.  Saturday, we visited Tim Hortons between games, and on our way out of Williams Lake we had some Dairy Queen to celebrate our success on the way home!

There were only 2 small difficulties to mar an otherwise perfect trip - Ameera was sick on Friday morning and missed the trip, and Carrie was unwell Saturday night on the trip home.  I hope you both feel better soon!

We divided our team up for this weekend event, fielding 2 teams so that Columneetza could run an 8-team tournament!  Our Grade 9 team played very well, losing 2 close games to Columneetza and Correlieu before Coach Randi and her girls found a winning formula in their final match against Williams Lake.  The Grade 10 team was happy with their effort - after winning 2 games handily, they earned an exciting 4 point victory over a tough and competitive Williams Lake Secondary to take the championship!

It was great to have Ron and Darlene Fawcett down on Saturday to watch the girls play.  On their way home from the coast, the Eglis also stopped to say 'hi', and check up on Nicole!  Many of the girls were on the phone or texting family to let everyone know how we did - I know because of the number of faces buried in a blue-white light after each game and on the bus home!  :)

I was sorry that our Grade 10 team missed the opportunity to play the Columneetza home team this weekend, but we will see them again at the NVSS tournament in January and may get a chance then!  We will also be seeing Columneetza at the Immaculata tournament in Kelowna in February.

In upcoming news - we will field a squad against D.P. Todd ( P.G.) this coming Friday and Saturday (Dec.2-3).  We have arranged for an Activity bus, and Ron Fawcett has agreed to drive Friday night.  We do not yet have a driver for Saturday, Dec. 3.

If there is anyone who could drive for us on Saturday, please let me know asap!

Our season will heat up a bit more this month, as we play a 'home' game against Burns Lake on Tuesday (Dec.6), a tournament at Duchess Park,  P.G. (Dec.9-10), and our final pre-Christmas basketball game will take place in an 'away' game against Fort St. James on Tuesday (Dec.13).

Get your Trip Permissions and Athletic Code in right away!

Attention all Players!
We have 2 more practices this week.   Please take home a copy of the Athletic Code of Conduct after practice Wednesday, get it signed and return it to me right away!

I am still waiting for Trip Permission forms, as well.  8 out of 17 girls have not submitted theirs yet!  The following girls need to get these to me still:

• Ameera
• Carrie
• Hannah
• Shelby
• Haley
• Cierra
• Anika
• Dara

We will need to leave Friday morning by 7 AM so please try to be 15 minutes early.  Our first game is at 1 PM so we do not have a lot of time to waste!  If you bring food to eat on the way down that will save us some time as well.

Columneetza Tournament Details

Panago Columneetza Classic

November 25-26 2011

Friday November 25

Game 1 1:00-2:30pm              Columneetza A VS. Nechako Valley B

Game 2 2:30-4:00pm              Columneetza 1 VS. Quesnel Junior

Game 3 4:00-5:30pm              Nechako Valley A VS. WLSS B

Game 4 5:30-7:00pm              Correlieu VS. WLSS A

Pizza Dinner and Social (Pizza $2.50 per slice)

Starting at 6:30pm

Followed by

The Columneetza Skills Challenge Competition

Saturday November 26

Game 5            8:00-9:30am                Loser game 1 vs. loser game 4

Game 6            9:30-11:00am              Loser game 2 vs. Loser game 3

Game 7            11am-12:30pm            Winner game 1 vs. Winner game 4

Game 8            12:30-2:00pm              Winner game 2 vs. Winner game 3

Game 9            2:00-3:30pm                Loser game 5 vs. Loser game 6 (7^th/8^th place)

Game 10          3:30-5:00pm                Winner game 5 vs. Winner game 6 (4^th/6^th place)

Game 11          5:00-6:30pm                Loser game 7 vs. Loser game 8 (3^rd/5^th place)

Game 12          6:30-8:00pm                Winner game 7 vs Winner game 8 (1^st/2^nd place)

***Awards to follow last game with trophies for 1^st and 2^nd place teams as well as tournament all stars.*** 

Trip Permission Form

Nechako Valley Secondary School

Trip Permission Form

I ( Parent or Guardian ) ___________________________________

Give my permission for ( Student’s Name )

________________________________________

to travel to:

  Columneetza - Williams Lk            Nov.25-26

·       DP Todd – Prince George              Dec.2-3

·       Northside – Vanderhoof                 Dec.6

·       Duchess Park – Prince George       Dec.9-10

·       Ft St. James                                     Dec.13

·       Fraser Lake                                     Jan.3

·       PGSS – Prince George                    Jan.6-7

·       College Hts – Prince George           Jan.19

·       Kelly Road – Prince George           Jan.28-29

·       Burns Lake                                      Jan.31                              

·       Immaculata – Kelowna                  Feb.3-5

·       Zone Tourney – Duchess – PG        Feb.24-25

For  Junior A Girls  Basketball

_________________________________________________________

Signed by Parent/Guardian

Williams Lake trip - Oct.25-26th

To All Parents - we would like to have a brief meeting on Thursday following practice to discuss the trip, the season, fund-raising, any of your concerns.
**************************************************
Overnight trip to Williams Lake -- Columneetza Invitational Tournament
The current plan is to take all 18 players and run 2 teams, allowing Columneetza to host an 8-team tournament.  Please confirm with your coach that you can go! 

If there are any parents wishing to go to Williams Lake with the team, please talk to me!  Last year 2 moms joined us and helped keep order!  We are taking a minibus!


Hotel -
We will stay at the Coast Fraser Inn (Ph: 250-398-7055) in Williams Lake on Friday evening - it is within walking distance of Columneetza Secondary and features a Boston Pizza restaurant on the lower level.  We may eat one meal there. 

Travel times -
Leave NVSS Friday morning at 7 AM.
Return home Saturday evening around 11 PM. (DEPENDING ON OUR SUCCESS - if we win we will be later - so we will have the girls phone ahead to let you know when we are at Bednesti).

Trip expense - this is one of 2 overnight trips we are planning.  The cost is much greater than it will be for the Prince George and Omineca games.  Here is a summary:

• The team will share rooms - 4 to a room at $100.80 per room.  Each player will pay $25.20 for hotel room.
• Minibus - each player will pay $20 for bus/driver. 
• We will have to pay a tournament fee ($200 - per player this is @$10 for tournament fee (a guarantee of 3 games, refs, awards).
• Girls can bring food on the bus, but may want to bring money for meals (Fri evening, Sat 3 meals) @$30-40 for spending money and 4 meals.
• Please pay at the NVSS office - $55.20 per player.  Please allow the girls to bring about $30-40 spending money for the weekend - The total cost of this trip will be $85.20 

Parents will need to -

• sign a permission slip and turn it into the office
• send in a cheque to cover the expenses (not including spending money).  Cheques should be made payable to SD91 and left with Doreen or Lorraine at the NVSS office, please. 

Players will need to bring:

• Lunch and munchies for the trip to Williams Lake
• Spending money for meals, drinks, munchies for the bus 
• One bag for clothes, one bag for basketball stuff to take to the gym
• Uniform (reversible jersey and shorts) - all players have received their uniforms now, players will need to take care of their own!  Get it washed and don't leave it behind!
• Lots of socks!
• water bottle
• bathing suit (hot tub only at Fraser Inn) and towel
• elastics, head band (if preferred)
• running shoes
• care card or # (in case of emergency) - email this number to me or Maraya please!
• book??
• pillow, blanket for trip home
• I do not recommend you bring ipods - we had 2 stolen last year as they are small, portable, and easily misplaced, and furthermore are not identifiable.  At the very least, do not bring into the gym area.
• No jewelry please - not allowed during games, easily misplaced or stolen, NOT WORTH IT!!

Coaches will need to -

• Send out permission forms to parents this week - done:)
• Notify teachers by Wednesday of student absence on Friday - done:)
• Leave list of players with office
• Bring one bag of basketballs
• Bring medkit - bandages, tylenol, etc. for minor ailments only.

We will hold a regular practice Monday morning 7 AM - full gym - and then a shooting practice after school for those who can make it - half gym.

We could use a bus driver for our trip to Williams Lake.  If anyone knows someone who could drive the Minibus to Williams Lake the last weekend in November (Nov.25-26) it could save the team some expense.  Let me know, please!

Volleyball Zones this weekend - no practice Thursday or Friday

The NVSS Junior Girls Basketball program is warming up!

We had two good practices on Monday (one before and one right after school).  We will have one more practice this week right after school on Wednesday.  All Junior girls are asked to attend.  Whether we go with 2 teams or not will depend on the number of girls who show up!

Because of the Senior Girls Volleyball Tournament all day Thursday, Nov.10, at NVSS, the next Junior Girls practice times will be Monday, Nov.14th.

Our plan all along has been to keep all interested players and form 2 teams.  To this end, I have been making arrangements to take 2 teams to Williams Lake for the Columneetza Jr. Girls Invitational Tournament, Nov.25-26 weekend. 

If our numbers are not high enough, we may have to fold into one team and I will need to know this in time to let the coaches at Columneetza know how to plan for their tournament.

Basketball tryouts begin Monday Nov.7

With the Volleyball season wrapping up this weekend, there is a lot of excitement at NVSS!  The basketball season is about to begin!

All junior girls will practice together this week until the two teams have been selected.   We want to put together the strongest team possible for the upcoming season so we will be running joint practices until we pick the two teams. Please note that the posted practice schedule for the season will not take effect until the two teams have been selected.

All girls in grade 9 and 10 are encouraged to attend practice at NVSS gym on Monday morning from 7-8:15 AM, and again after school from 3:30-5:00.  Wednesday we practice right after school (sharing the gym with the junior boys). 

Please be aware of the practice schedule - I am sorry but any players who cannot make morning practices should plan on trying out for the Grade 9 team!

We are planning a long and eventful season this year. Here are our expectations:
Players will need to be committed to the team, and plan to attend all regularly scheduled practices and games.   Players are expected to inform the coach in advance if they cannot make a practice or a tournament.  Players are expected to be positive and supportive of their teammates.  Players are expected to keep up their grades in class - student athletics is a privilege which is earned by effort on and off the court.  Players are representatives of their community and are expected to behave appropriately when travelling.  Because of the extensive travel involved,  all players who make the Grade 10 team will be asked to pay a fee to help with team expenses. The grade 9 team will also be asked to pay for any travel outside our school district.  Players who do not make the payment will not be allowed to travel with the team.  SNIGS will not travel until they have taken care of their obligations at the office.

Everyone is welcome to try out for the basketball team!  Come out on Monday and give it your best effort.   Hope to see you there!

NVSS Gym Times and Junior Girls Practice Schedule

Here is the proposed gym schedule to begin on November 7th for early times and  November  21st for the 6:30 PM slots.

Mornings are currently being used for fundamentals so any kids are welcome to come out...Wednesdays are pretty jammed up though.   If juniors make volleyball zones or seniors make provincials for volleyball these start dates will change.

This will be a work in progress until we know number of players for grade 8, 9 and 10 teams. For example, if there are 30 grade 8 girls basketball players and 6 table tennis players we would look at restoring the full gym to the large group. Likewise, if there are not numbers for grade 9 teams, those may be adjusted to accommodate the teams that do have numbers.

NVSS Gym Schedule – November 2011  (subject to change)
Time	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Weekend
6:45 AM	10G	8G	10B	8B	10B/10G
3:15 PM	9B/9G	8B / TT	9B/9G	8G	8&9  - B&G
5:00 PM	SG	SB	SG	SB /10G
6:30 Pm	SB	SG	SB	SG

Legend:

10G = grade 10 girls basketball    9G = grade 9 girls basketball

9B = grade 9 boys basketball                                           10B = grade 10 boys basketball

8G = grade 8 girls basketball                                            8B = grade 8 boys basketball          

SG = senior girls basketball                                              SB = senior boys basketball

SB / 10G = senior boys and grade 10 girls are splitting the gym

TT = table tennis

Man to Man Defense

Some thoughts on Defense!

Everyone on our team must learn to play good defense!   Even one weak link will cause the entire defense to fail, because a good offense will eventually find out who the weak defensive player is. Playing good defense involves hustle, inspiration and perspiration (sweat!). You gotta want to play good defense!

Defensive skills are fairly easy to learn, unlike some offensive skills, and everyone can learn to become a good defender. If you are a poor, non-aggressive defender, you will hurt your team.

Closing Out! 

It is important that defenders know how to make a proper defensive close-out on the ball receiver.

When the offensive player receives the pass, the defender should rush at the ball-handler in a low stance. The last several steps should be quick, choppy steps to stop your momentum (so the defender doesn't dribble around you). In order to force the offensive player toward the baseline, split the defender's inside shoulder with your chest and position your baseline foot back, and have that hand low. The opposite hand should be up to challenge the outside shot. As you approach the ball-handler, snap your shoulders and head back to help slow yourself down.

Man-to-Man Defense 

Clog the passing lane and prevent the player you are guarding from getting the ball, in other words "deny" her the ball. When guarding an offensive player who is one pass away from the ball, you should be in denial.

Denying your check the ball, keeps her from scoring. Play the passing lane and stay between the player you are guarding and the ball. Place your foot and hand nearest the ball slightly forward, and turn the palm of your hand toward the ball, so that you can reject any incoming passes. Be in a position to see both your player and the ball.

If the ball-handler stops the dribble, you have a "dead ball situation" and everyone should close in on their check.   This is called "full-denial" – all 5 defensive players aggressively work to prevent any pass.  If you are not on-ball then you should position yourself so that you are on an imaginary line between the ball and your check, body toward your check, but with head and eyes turned toward the ball, and your ball-side hand up in the passing lane.

If your check is two passes (i.e. a long distance) away from the ball-handler, you can back off a bit into the key - if your check is 2 passes away from the ball, then you are in "helpside".