Sport Rubrics
Skills, 3-level rubric wording, field shorthand and a 14-week season plan for every sport in the program. Coaches record levels on the paper matrix sheet each session; Elsa enters them the same evening.
Character & Behavior Cross-sport — all coaches
Observed by every lead trainer, every sport, using the same shorthand from the tick-and-tag system
Grit & Perseverance
Keeps trying after failure · Effort under difficulty
L1 — Explorer: Attempts a hard skill once or twice, may need encouragement to keep going.
L2 — Builder: Tries repeatedly after missing (e.g. 5+ attempts) without giving up or getting frustrated.
L3 — Master: Pushes through difficulty on their own and encourages teammates to keep trying too.
Coach writes C-Grit on the roster when observed.
Grit & Perseverance
Attends to instructions · Stays on task during drills
L1 — Explorer: Needs frequent redirection to attend to instructions or stay on task.
L2 — Builder: Listens through instructions and starts the drill without redirection most sessions.
L3 — Master: Consistently focused start to finish; helps refocus distracted teammates.
Coach writes N-Focus if this is a need-to-work note that session (distraction during instruction) — the passport tracks it as a growth area rather than a level.
Teamwork & Sportsmanship
Encourages others · Handles winning/losing · Shares/rotates fairly
L1 — Explorer: Plays alongside teammates without conflict; needs reminders to share turns or equipment.
L2 — Builder: Encourages teammates unprompted; handles losing or mistakes without a meltdown.
L3 — Master: Actively includes and encourages others, especially teammates who are struggling; models good sportsmanship.
Coach writes C-Team on the roster when observed.
Effort & Attitude
Participation energy · Response to feedback
L1 — Explorer: Participates when prompted; may need encouragement to give full effort.
L2 — Builder: Brings consistent energy and effort without prompting; takes coaching feedback without pushback.
L3 — Master: Brings visibly full effort every session and actively seeks out feedback to improve.
Coach writes C-Effort on the roster when observed.
Soccer
Coach David Alfreds · Tues
Dribbling
R foot / L foot · Ball touches per 10m · Cone weave time
L1 — Explorer: Dribbles with both feet; stops ball on command using sole of foot. Can complete a straight-line dribble without losing control.
L2 — Builder: Completes cone weave under target time; maintains control at pace. Demonstrates difference between dominant and non-dominant foot.
L3 — Master: Executes directional touch while receiving a pass; beats a defender in a live drill. Coaches younger athletes on foot placement.
Coach writes S-Drib on the roster.
Passing
Inside-foot accuracy · Weight of pass · Target hits out of 10
L1 — Explorer: Passes with the inside of the foot to a partner 5 yards away; direction is inconsistent.
L2 — Builder: Hits a target consistently from 10–15 yards with the right weight; uses both feet.
L3 — Master: Passes to a moving teammate into space under light pressure; chooses the right weight without prompting.
Coach writes S-Pass on the roster.
First Touch (Receiving)
Control on the first touch · Chest/thigh traps · Consecutive traps
L1 — Explorer: Stops a rolled ball with the sole or inside of the foot without it bouncing away.
L2 — Builder: Receives a bouncing ball with thigh or chest and settles it within two touches.
L3 — Master: First touch takes the ball into space away from a defender, ready to play immediately.
Coach writes S-Touch on the roster.
Shooting
Laces contact · On-target rate · Shots from a moving ball
L1 — Explorer: Strikes a stationary ball toward goal with the laces; contact is inconsistent.
L2 — Builder: Hits the target area from 10 yards off a rolled ball with either foot.
L3 — Master: Shoots on target off a pass while moving, choosing placement over power.
Coach writes S-Shoot on the roster.
Defending
Body shape · Jockeying · Clean tackles / ball recoveries
L1 — Explorer: Closes down an attacker and stays on their feet instead of diving in.
L2 — Builder: Jockeys with side-on body shape and wins the ball cleanly in a 1v1.
L3 — Master: Times the tackle, covers a teammate, and communicates who is picking up whom.
Coach writes S-Def on the roster.
Field Vision & Decision-Making
Head up before receiving · Calls out the open play · Dribble-vs-pass choice
L1 — Explorer: Looks up after settling the ball; needs prompting on where to go next.
L2 — Builder: Scans before receiving and picks a sensible next action most of the time.
L3 — Master: Calls out open teammates and consistently makes the right dribble-vs-pass choice under pressure.
Coach writes S-Vision on the roster.
14-week season plan
Tuesdays · Sept 8 – Dec 8 · warm-up → skill block → small-sided game
Weeks 1–3 — Foundations: Ball familiarity (toe touches, sole rolls, stop-on-command); straight-line dribbling with both feet; inside/outside-foot cuts through cone gates.
Weeks 4–6 — Build: Cone weave slow then for time (individual times tracked); inside-foot passing to a partner and to targets; dribbling under light 1v1 shadow pressure.
Weeks 7–9 — Combine: First touch off a rolled pass into a dribble; 3v3 possession games; live 1v1 beat-the-defender and defending body shape.
Weeks 10–12 — Apply: Dribble-vs-pass decisions under pressure; shooting off a pass; peer-coaching day (Master-level kids coach foot placement); review week with stations by level.
Weeks 13–14 — Showcase: Scrimmage day with live level sign-offs, then the season showcase — families watch, cone-weave personal bests announced, badges awarded.
Every session runs in small groups by level, not age, so each kid works at their own rung of the rubric.
Volleyball
Coach Amanda Matos · Tues & Thurs
Forearm Pass (Bump)
Platform consistency · Ball control off the bump · Passes to target zone
L1 — Explorer: Makes contact with forearms (not hands); can bump a tossed ball back to a partner most of the time.
L2 — Builder: Forms a consistent platform; directs the bump toward a target with some accuracy; moves feet to get under the ball.
L3 — Master: Consistently passes to a target zone under game-like pressure; reads the serve/attack early and adjusts positioning.
Coach writes S-Bump on the roster. Elsa converts to level that evening.
Underhand Serve
Contact consistency · Clears the net · Lands in bounds
L1 — Explorer: Makes clean contact with a step-and-swing motion; ball travels forward, doesn't need to clear the net yet.
L2 — Builder: Consistently clears the net from a shortened service line.
L3 — Master: Serves from the full service line, in bounds, with placement (e.g. aims for a zone).
Coach writes S-Serve on the roster.
Setting (Overhead Pass)
Hand shape · Ball control · Sets to a target
L1 — Explorer: Uses fingertips (not palms) to redirect a tossed ball upward without catching it.
L2 — Builder: Sets a bumped ball to a consistent height and general area.
L3 — Master: Sets accurately to a specific target (e.g. an attacker at the net) under moving-ball conditions.
Coach writes S-Set on the roster.
Blocking
Hand positioning · Jump timing · Read on the hitter
L1 — Explorer: Positions hands above the net on a stationary/tossed ball; timing is inconsistent.
L2 — Builder: Times a jump to a hit ball with hands set; occasionally touches the ball.
L3 — Master: Reads the hitter's approach and blocks with correct hand seal under game conditions.
Coach writes S-Block on the roster.
Attacking (Spiking)
Approach footwork · Contact · Placement under a set
L1 — Explorer: Approaches and swings at a tossed ball with an overhand motion; contact inconsistent.
L2 — Builder: Consistent approach footwork and contact; ball clears the net with some direction.
L3 — Master: Attacks a set ball with placement and pace under game-like conditions.
Coach writes S-Attack on the roster.
Court Awareness & Rotation
Rotation order · Serve-receive positioning · Coverage
L1 — Explorer: Knows their own rotation spot with reminders; unclear on serve-receive positioning.
L2 — Builder: Rotates correctly on sideout without prompting; holds a serve-receive position.
L3 — Master: Reads the play and adjusts position/coverage; helps teammates rotate correctly.
Coach writes S-Rotate on the roster.
14-week season plan
Tues & Thurs · Sept 8/10 – Dec 8/10 · warm-up → skill block → live play
Weeks 1–3 — Foundations: Platform and contact basics off a partner toss; bump accuracy to a target zone; underhand serve form from a short line.
Weeks 4–6 — Build: Serve consistency from the shortened line; setting intro (fingertip control); set to a consistent height and combine bump-to-set sequences.
Weeks 7–9 — Combine: Serve from the full line with placement goals; blocking intro (hand position, jump timing); blocking a hit ball with net footwork.
Weeks 10–12 — Apply: Attacking intro (approach footwork, arm swing); attacking a teammate's set with placement; rotation and serve-receive positioning (Thanksgiving week is Tuesday only).
Weeks 13–14 — Showcase: Live 6v6 with full rotation and all six skills, then the season showcase scrimmage for families with personal bests and badges.
Small groups split by level, not age; partner and small-group reps make up most of each skill block.
Ultimate Frisbee
Coach Jeff Bussel · Thurs
Good Spirit
Encourages teammates and opponents · Spirit-of-the-game character trait
Cheers on her teammates and even the other team.
Coach writes C-Spirit on the roster when observed.
Dump
Distance · Wobble · Accuracy to a moving player
L1 — Explorer: Can throw a short distance dump pass, wobbly.
L2 — Builder: Can throw a medium distance dump pass, mostly no wobble, short to medium distance.
L3 — Master: Can throw a medium distance dump pass to space to a moving player, no wobble.
Coach writes S-Dump on the roster.
IO (Inside-Out Throw)
Accuracy to stationary vs. moving target · Distance · Angle
L1 — Explorer: Can make the throw turn but not accurate to a stationary target at a short distance.
L2 — Builder: Can make the throw to space to a moving target at a medium distance.
L3 — Master: Can make the throw to space to a moving target at a medium distance and varying angles.
Coach writes S-IO on the roster.
OI (Outside-In Throw)
Accuracy to stationary vs. moving target · Distance · Angle
L1 — Explorer: Can make the throw turn but not accurate to a stationary target at a short distance.
L2 — Builder: Can make the throw to space to a moving target at a medium distance.
L3 — Master: Can make the throw to space to a moving target at a medium distance and varying angles.
Coach writes S-OI on the roster.
Break the Mark
Footwork to the break side · Wobble · Accuracy
L1 — Explorer: Can step to the break side and get off a throw, wobbly and inaccurate.
L2 — Builder: Can step to the break side and get off a throw that is not wobbly and is accurate.
L3 — Master: Can step either to the break side or the open side and get off a throw that is not wobbly and is accurate to the break side.
Coach writes S-Break on the roster.
14-week season plan
Thursdays · Sept 10 – Dec 17 (no session Nov 26, Thanksgiving) · throwing block → drills → scrimmage
Weeks 1–3 — Foundations: Grip and throwing form (backhand/forehand); Spirit of the Game discussion; dump passes to a stationary then a moving target with reset footwork.
Weeks 4–6 — Inside-Out: IO release point and wrist angle to a stationary target; IO for distance with less wobble; IO into space to a moving target.
Weeks 7–9 — Outside-In: OI mechanics mirrored from IO; OI for distance and control; OI to a moving target at varying angles.
Weeks 10–12 — Break the Mark: Footwork stepping to the break side; breaking a live mark for accuracy; all four throws in 4v4 with self-officiated Spirit calls.
Weeks 13–14 — Showcase: Full-field scrimmage with level sign-offs across all throw types, then the season showcase family scrimmage with Spirit awards and badges.
Throwing blocks run in partners and small groups so every kid gets reps at their own level.
Dance
Ms. Nicolette Ehrke · Tues & Thurs
Rhythm & Timing
On-beat accuracy · Tempo changes · Counts a phrase
L1 — Explorer: Claps or steps on a steady beat with guidance; can count a simple 4- or 8-count.
L2 — Builder: Stays on beat through a short combo without cues; adjusts to a tempo change.
L3 — Master: Counts themselves into a routine unassisted, continues to hold rhythm and beat throughout, including breaks.
Coach writes R-Rhythm on the roster.
Spatial Awareness & Formations
Holds position · Transitions between formations · Uses space
L1 — Explorer: Finds and holds an assigned spot/formation with reminders.
L2 — Builder: Moves between two formations on cue without bumping others; adjusts spacing independently.
L3 — Master: Executes multi-formation transitions fluidly and can adjust spacing on the fly to fix a group error.
Coach writes S-Space on the roster.
Enthusiasm & Expression
Full-body commitment · Facial expression/energy · Performs for an audience
L1 — Explorer: Completes the movement with correct form but minimal energy/expression.
L2 — Builder: Adds energy and facial expression matching the piece; comfortable performing for peers.
L3 — Master: Performs full-out for an audience, sustaining expression and energy through the whole piece.
Coach writes EE-Perform on the roster (character-style tag, not a pure skill).
Choreography Retention
Follows sequence · Keeps up with musicality · Independent recall
L1 — Explorer: Needs assistance performing a routine with the instructor's help, or still needs to look at peers; gets lost in the musicality trying to keep up.
L2 — Builder: Can execute most of the choreography, sometimes needing verbally cued assistance; keeps up with the musicality even if filling in wrong choreography with random movement.
L3 — Master: Executes the full routine without faltering in enthusiasm, expression, technique, or musicality.
Coach writes S-CR on the roster.
Body Isolation & Flexibility
Isolation precision · Flexibility range (kick height, splits, straddles, leaps) · Personal progress
L1 — Explorer: Struggles with body isolation, keeping certain movements clean and precise; flexibility can use improvement.
L2 — Builder: Shows understanding of how body isolations work and can demonstrate most requested by the instructor; visible progress in flexibility.
L3 — Master: Isolations are sharp, precise, and hold high energy; personal flexibility goals have been met.
Coach writes S-BIF on the roster.
Daily schedule
Every session, Tues & Thurs
10 min stretch & warm-up — 20 min across-the-floor / center work — 20 min routine choreography.
Groups are split by skill level, not age. Nicolette's ideal class size is 15–20 students.
14-week season plan
Tues & Thurs · Sept 10 – Dec 10 · same five skills every session, building to one performance
Dance doesn't rotate through new skills week to week — all five rubric skills (rhythm, spatial awareness, expression, choreography retention, isolation/flexibility) are worked every session, with the routine growing a little each class until it becomes the season-end performance.
Weeks 1–4 — Establish: Stretch routine and warm-up become habit; 4- and 8-count rhythm work; basic across-the-floor patterns; Formation 1 and the first 8-counts of the routine learned.
Weeks 5–9 — Build: Isolation and flexibility work in every warm-up; tempo changes across the floor; routine extended section by section; formation transitions added; kids start holding spacing without reminders.
Weeks 10–12 — Polish: Full run-throughs from memory; performance quality (expression, full-out energy); weakest 8-counts broken back down in small groups; individual flexibility goals checked.
Weeks 13–14 — Performance: Full run-throughs with music, spacing and formations, then the showcase — families watch the complete routine, badges handed out.
Each class splits into small groups by level for the across-the-floor and choreography blocks — partner and small-group practice, with the coach rotating between groups to give individual corrections.