RAPTOR MISSION STATEMENT The Raptor mission is to support the athletic interests of the youth we coach by teaching tem discipline, teamwork and respect through healthy competition. RAPTOR VISION The Tampa Bay Raptors staff encourages their players to strive not only for excellence in their physical development, but also excellence in their academic performance and their dedication to the communities in which they live. Cookie & Mark Mitchell TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Raptor Staff 2. Parent Information a. Code of Conduct b. Raptor Rules c. Conflict Resolution d. Team Parents 3. Reference Sources
Raptor Staff The Tampa Bay Raptors has put together a wonderfully diverse group of coaches with a range of experience from collegiate players and coaches, high school coaches, youth coaches/directors, middle school coaches, recreation coaches and officials. All of our coaches have a passion for working with youth on all levels and the desire to help them achieve their goals both athletically and personally. It is the goal of our staff to give back to the communities in which we live. Coach Cookie Cookie Mitchell is a Tampa native and has been involved in sports all of her life. She attended Spencer Memorial Baptist School (now Tampa Bay Christian Academy) where she was the only Elementary School aged student playing on the Middle School teams. In Middle School she played all sports and during her 8 th Grade year served as Team Captain on every squad. She was awarded Fellowship of Christian Athlete s Athlete of the Year, RAM of the Year, MVP for Volleyball, Basketball and Cheerleading, All Tournament Team in Cheerleading and her Basketball team won their district s Championship. Cookie attended Tampa Preparatory for high school where she played Volleyball, Basketball and ran Track. She was on the 1985 State Final Four Basketball team. She was also a member of the 1985 & 1986 1A State Championship team and qualified for the Track District Meet in Hurdles & the 4 x 100 Relay. Cookie was also a member of the Robinson Teen Board modeling troupe and won 2 nd Runner Up in the Miss Teenage Tampa Pageant in 1986 along with winning numerous dance competitions. In college she switched gears and competed in Bodybuilding while also participating in Intramural sports. She took 2 nd Place in the Space Coast Bodybuilding contest in the Junior Division and won 1 st Place in the Brandon Bodybuilding Championships in the Teenage Division. It is no surprise that Cookie has continued her involvement with sports in her adult life as well as serving on PTA and SAC at her children s school along with serving on the Board in 2008 2010 for the Ophelia Project of Tampa Bay s Boy s Initiative. Cookie has a Bachelor of Arts in Art from Florida State University and is working towards her graduate degree. Coaching Experience Girl s Basketball Temple Terrace Recreation Center (all ages) 2002 2008 Boy s Basketball Temple Terrace Recreation Center (all ages) 2003 2010 Girl s Volleyball Temple Terrace Recreation Center (all ages) 2004 current Girl s Volleyball Williams IB Middle School Spring 2009/2010 (Asst. Coach) Head Coach Varsity Volleyball Alonso High School Fall 2009 Head Coach Varsity Volleyball King High School Fall 2010-Current Tampa Bay Raptors Club Volleyball (Director & Head Coach)
Coach Mark Mark Mitchell is a Tampa native and although he was not an athlete, has always been involved with physical activity. He attended Lincoln High School in Tallahassee where he was a member of the Marching Trojans playing the Trumpet & Tuba. He was also a member of the Symphonic Band and Orchestra where he played the Trombone and Tuba. After graduation in 1985, Mark enlisted in the USMC Reserves. When he returned from boot camp he became a member of the FAMU Marching 100 and Kappa Kappa Psi Professional Music Fraternity. Mark played the Baritone B-Tone Express until being needed on the Tubas White Whales. During his time in The Hundred numerous national awards were won holding up the tradition of the FAMU Marching 100 being the best marching band in the nation. He also traveled to Paris, France with the band to help celebrate their national anniversary. In November of 1990 Mark was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm as part of the Gulf War. Since becoming a father and being married to a sports fanatic, Mark has been pulled into the world of coaching and has developed a passion for working with youth. Coaching Experience Boy s Basketball Temple Terrace Recreation Center (all ages) 2005 current Girl s Basketball Temple Terrace Recreation Center (all ages) 2005 2008 Girl s Basketball Williams IB Middle School Fall 2006 & 2008 (Head Coach) Boy s Basketball Williams IB Middle School Fall 2007 (Asst. Coach) Girl s Volleyball Williams IB Middle School Spring 2009 (Asst. Coach) Girl s Volleyball Temple Terrace Recreation Center (all ages) 2008 Current Head Coach JV Volleyball Alonso High School Fall 2009 Head Coach JV Volleyball King High School Fall 2010-Current Temple Terrace Raptors Club Volleyball 2009/2010 (Asst. Director & Coach)
. Coach Marcus Marcus Byrd is a native of St.Petersburg, Florida who has been in sports all his life. In middle school he played basketball, volleyball and ran track, where he was name captain for all teams. He received athlete of the year in 8th grade while winning MVP for basketball and volleyball. While attending Dixie Hollins High School he played basketball and track for 4years and also played football for 2 years where he kept a Grade Point Average of 3.0. His senior year he was named Althele of The Year, MVP in Basketball and was named to the ESPN Top 100 Basketball Players. He also won the 2nd Place award for the Mr. Florida Basketball Award. Marcus played college ball for St. Petersburg College and Delware State University. He played Semi-Pro Basketball overseas in Spain. Marcus also has a degree in the medical field as a X-ray Technician and plans to return to school to pursue Sport s Medicine. Coaching Experience: AAU basketball (all ages) boys and girls Football (all ages) boys Franklin Middle School Girl s Basketball (Clearwater) Commissioner of the Copeland Park Saints Little League Football Organization. Coach Miguel Miguel Morales is from Tijuana Mexico where he started playing soccer and volleyball in elementary school and continue playing volleyball in middle school then when he enter Preparatoria Federal Lazaro Cardenas (High School) made the volleyball varsity team as a freshman then won back to back state titles (90-91) in the state of Baja California Mexico and also played for the volleyball club Delfines in the state of California in the year 2005 became a FHSAA official referee in the year 2011 became Royal Rangers outpost coordinator for the King's Temple Church in the city of temple terrace
Coach Wright Shikina Wright is a native of Fort Meade, Florida and has always been involved in sports all her life. She attended Lewis Elementary School where she was the only female on the all Boys' Baseball League, eventually becoming the only girl to make the Boys' All Star Little League Team. As she entered into High School at Fort Meade Jr. Sr. High, her love for the game of volleyball developed. While in High School she played on the varsity volleyball, softball, and cheerleader team her 9th,10th,11th, and 12th grade years. After graduating from High School she pursued her love for teaching and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Florida. Upon graduating Shikina Wright taught at Gibsonton Elementary and Shaw Elementary. She has taught a total of 12 years and was awarded Teacher of the Year twice at Shaw Elem and Ida S. Baker Minority Educator of the Year. In her leisure, Shikina enjoys playing volleyball with the City of Tampa Recreation League where she received M.V.P two season in a row
Tampa Bay Raptor Club Fees Parent Information Remember the 3 H s 1. The only acceptable physical contact with the coaches is: Hugs Handshakes High Fives Any aggressive behavior towards any Tampa Bay Raptors staff could result in being banned from future practices, parties & tournaments. Violations of this rule could also result in the dismissal of your daughter from the team without refund of club fees. Conflict Resolution If you find yourself upset or in disagreement with your child s coach or the club, you will take a 24 hour cooling off period. Then you will take your issue to the Parent Liaison of your child s team and they will meet with the coach on your behalf. If the issue is not resolved, a meeting will be scheduled with the club director, player, coach and parents. Approaching a coach at a tournament with an issue is not permitted. Raptor Rules 1. Playing time is at the discretion of the coach. 2. Players need to arrive early for practice so that they are ready to begin by their scheduled practice time. Players are subject to conditioning if they arrive late to practice without advanced prior notice. 3. Practices will be open unless the coach calls for a closed practice in which case notification will be given in advance. 4. Missed practices may result in reduced playing time. 5. Players agree to respect the coach s decisions on subbing and line up adjustments.
Team Parents Parent Liaison Each team will have a Parent Liaison who will act as the conduit between parents and coaches. Team Parent Each team will have a parent(s) that will coordinate efforts dealing with meals and lodging for their respective team. Committees Each parent has the opportunity to volunteer for the following committees. They will work together to achieve the assigned goal of that group. www.usavfl.org www.aauvolleyball.org References Sources