Indiana University Athletics
Earn Your Stripes: IU’s Handbook Outlines Success
3/11/2016 10:31:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Editor's note: This story is the second installment of a multi-part series exploring Indiana volleyball's mission to "earn their stripes." Be on the lookout for part three later next week.
Before the start of each volleyball season, the players are issued handbooks.
Inside, they can find all the vital information regarding the program ranging from the team's goals to schedules to even teammates' birthdays. If it's related to the volleyball program, it's in the book.
And the players need to know it.
"Right or wrong, we do a test in the preseason," head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "They have to get it right."
The handbook aligns with Indiana's program commitment to "earning its stripes," which was implemented in the spring of 2013. The pseudo mission statement lays the framework for establishing IU as one of the nation's premier volleyball programs both on and off the court.
How do they go about doing that? The handbook explains.
"It's something you can always turn to," senior Allison Hammond said. "It keeps things connected."
The first two pages outline the program's Building Blocks to Success and the seven ways the Hoosiers earn their stripes each day. Dunbar-Kruzan calls them the two most important pages in the whole handbook.
Later pages include the Student-Athlete Bill of Rights, the lyrics to "Indiana, Our Indiana," the team's schedule, a list of players' birthdays and information regarding the team's basic offenses and defenses, among other things.
Dunbar-Kruzan compares the handbook to a textbook. A student isn't expected to show up to class and soak up all they need to know for the course. Instead, there's supplemental reading.
The handbook, in a sense, is the instruction manual for being an IU volleyball player. During a preseason test, every wrong answer equates into roughly one sprint.
"I was a little surprised when we got them," said senior Mallory Waggoner, who saw her first action a year ago after transferring to Indiana from Cal State Fullerton.
"I think it really brings a lot of grounding to our program," she continued. "All the people know exactly what the expectations are, what the rules are, how the program operates. There's no questions about it. So I think in that way it gives us a lot of discipline to go off of, and that discipline sort of leads into what defines us."
With that definition comes clarity. The handbook allows Indiana's coaches and players to begin the season on the same page. If there's ever any questions, they can usually refer to the handbook.
It's a part of the program senior Megan Tallman says shouldn't be taken for granted. It reflects on where the program has been, where it's at and where it wants to go—the NCAA Tournament.
How quickly it gets there is up to the players.
"It shows that we have a standard," Tallman said. "Now when the freshmen come in, they're going to see that we have a standard and they're going to reach it or be left behind. It just speaks volumes to what we care about."
IUHoosiers.com
Editor's note: This story is the second installment of a multi-part series exploring Indiana volleyball's mission to "earn their stripes." Be on the lookout for part three later next week.
Before the start of each volleyball season, the players are issued handbooks.
Inside, they can find all the vital information regarding the program ranging from the team's goals to schedules to even teammates' birthdays. If it's related to the volleyball program, it's in the book.
And the players need to know it.
"Right or wrong, we do a test in the preseason," head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "They have to get it right."
The handbook aligns with Indiana's program commitment to "earning its stripes," which was implemented in the spring of 2013. The pseudo mission statement lays the framework for establishing IU as one of the nation's premier volleyball programs both on and off the court.
How do they go about doing that? The handbook explains.
"It's something you can always turn to," senior Allison Hammond said. "It keeps things connected."
The first two pages outline the program's Building Blocks to Success and the seven ways the Hoosiers earn their stripes each day. Dunbar-Kruzan calls them the two most important pages in the whole handbook.
Later pages include the Student-Athlete Bill of Rights, the lyrics to "Indiana, Our Indiana," the team's schedule, a list of players' birthdays and information regarding the team's basic offenses and defenses, among other things.
Dunbar-Kruzan compares the handbook to a textbook. A student isn't expected to show up to class and soak up all they need to know for the course. Instead, there's supplemental reading.
The handbook, in a sense, is the instruction manual for being an IU volleyball player. During a preseason test, every wrong answer equates into roughly one sprint.
"I was a little surprised when we got them," said senior Mallory Waggoner, who saw her first action a year ago after transferring to Indiana from Cal State Fullerton.
"I think it really brings a lot of grounding to our program," she continued. "All the people know exactly what the expectations are, what the rules are, how the program operates. There's no questions about it. So I think in that way it gives us a lot of discipline to go off of, and that discipline sort of leads into what defines us."
With that definition comes clarity. The handbook allows Indiana's coaches and players to begin the season on the same page. If there's ever any questions, they can usually refer to the handbook.
It's a part of the program senior Megan Tallman says shouldn't be taken for granted. It reflects on where the program has been, where it's at and where it wants to go—the NCAA Tournament.
How quickly it gets there is up to the players.
"It shows that we have a standard," Tallman said. "Now when the freshmen come in, they're going to see that we have a standard and they're going to reach it or be left behind. It just speaks volumes to what we care about."
IUVB: Regional Semifinals - Postgame Press Conference
Friday, December 12
IUVB: Regional Semifinals - Pre-Match Press Conference
Thursday, December 11
IUVB: Selection Sunday Press Conference
Sunday, November 30
IUVB at Purdue: Highlights
Saturday, November 29