I borrowed the title of this article from a Bon Jovi song because it’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw a video a few weeks ago. Now, I’m not one to bad mouth other coaches for their styles, and there are many styles of coaching. One such style however, is inexcusable and disgraceful and I am fully prepared to bad mouth it. The coaching style in question is the “Win at All Costs, Even the Cost of a Player’s Dignity and Safety”.
Category : General, Volleyball News
Category : General
This post is coming on a Friday of a Tuesday through Saturday AVCA convention. I decided to write this here to implore all coaches of every level of Volleyball to join the AVCA while this convention is still fresh in my mind. It is imperative for us to help one another improve the value of the sport. With so many coaches as a sounding board for ideas, there is no reason to remain lone soldiers in the battle for young people’s attention in the sporting world and our own quest for knowledge. Continue Reading
It may seem as if I’m neglecting this site, but actually I’m compiling a list of rules for the game of Volleyball. It will include FIVB rules, as well as differences for each level. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and have never seen elsewhere. Mostly because every volleyball site out there copies the “basic rules” page from one another.
I have, however, been talking to a gentlemen from Belgium about the state of men’s volleyball there and globally. His insights have helped me understand the differences from Europe to the United States. One thing he says is that volleyball really isn’t exciting to watch because people just don’t understand the actual height of the net, the power and speed of the ball and the reflexes needed to be good at Volleyball… Until they watch a game in person. So I decided to research and write about it. Continue Reading
Category : General
As coaches, we are given a lot of responsibility. There is an absolute reaction to every action and course we take. Our philosophies can and do dictate our team’s behavior. If we are too excitable during a match, our team may have a tendency to become excitable too. If we are organized, structured, display good sportsmanship, and are fair and honest, it is almost assured that our team will become models of that behavior. This article explains the coaching dilemma of sitting on the bench or standing up. Not too big of a deal, right? Wrong. It’s a pretty big deal and your choices can affect a match’s outcome.
Before I begin, I would like to let all coaches who read this know that it is a personal preference first and foremost. It is important for new coaches to figure this out on a case by case basis. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. The constant sports psychology of it all is the fun part of coaching.
If you are a parent reading this article, then it will give you some insight as to why your boy’s or girl’s volleyball coach doesn’t “do more coaching” while his or her team is playing during matches. I’ve heard a lot of parents that are upset that “the coach just sits there.” The answer is simple really; Coaches coach during practice. Excessive coaching during a match only tends to confuse the players. If a player doesn’t “get it” in practice, what is to say the player will “get it” during the match? I like to think of practice as study time, the matches are the tests. Do teachers help students take tests? Of course not. Continue Reading
Category : General
To not like volleyball is understandable. To some people, it may just not be their thing. But to not respect it is another thing altogether. To not appreciate the craft, dedication and brilliance of the better players and teams in the world is a travesty. In this article, I try to explain why I feel volleyball is the Rodney Dangerfield of the sporting world.
Basketball players and fans tend to thoroughly enjoy a good alley-oop slam dunk. The act itself, when done right, takes the breath out of people who watch it. The players grimmace and smirk as they return to the other half of the court and the opposing team tries their best to shrug it off and bring the ball in again.
The alley-oop slam dunk happens over 200 times in a 5-set volleyball match. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not. There is no goal tending and the basket is 30 feet by 30 feet. In the big picture, Basketball and Volleyball are sister sports; A layup is an attack approach, a rebound is a volleyball block attempt, etc. Every muscle used to jump in basketball is the same used in volleyball, albeit volleyball players don’t wear bricks on their feet. Continue Reading
Many coaches know how to teach older kids how to perform fundamental skills effectively. But what about 8 through 12 years old. Many coaches are tasked with teaching skills to youngsters but have been adults so long that they seem out of touch and try to train this age group like they would train a 16 year old or older. There are a few things that can help a struggling coach with teaching youth skills.
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Category : General
I’ve created this site to share information to other coaches and players in the world of volleyball. I am passionate about volleyball and boys volleyball in particular. In Wisconsin, boys volleyball is only in a handful of schools. I’m not sure of the exact number off the top of my head but I want to say about 50 schools. Yet, when you look at adult leagues, the majority of players are men.
