The Difference a Year Makes

I am sitting here at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport on my way to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO to attend the Coaches Accreditation Program and High Performance Coaching Clinic. This will be my fourth CAP clinic and my first High Performance Clinic, I am looking forward to the week of learning from such greats as Bill Hamiter, USA Sitting Volleyball Head Coach, Cecile Ryanud, Former Head Coach Florida State University and co-editor of The Volleyball Coaching Bible, and Hugh McCutcheon, former Head Coach of the USA Men's Gold Medal team and current Head Coach of the USA Women's team. I'm excited to attend and am enjoying the travel from Kansas City to Dallas and then on to Colorado Springs.

But I can't help but think back over the past year, last year at this time I was battling ovarian cancer as well as some professional challenges. My condition left me weak and fearful of traveling. My last trip was to Atlanta, Georgia in late June/early July for the Junior National Championship with my U17 and U16 teams. I was still having chemo with a final treatment scheduled when I returned. I loved every minute of it and enjoyed the girls immensely but my body ached every moment. I think back now and can not believe I have made it through, regardless of anything in my life I am alive and healthy, I live every day joyful of God's protection and the lessons He taught me along the way.

Today, as I sit in the T.G.I Fridays, I think "what a difference a year makes"! I am excited to be flying, knowing I am capable of handling any unforeseen circumstances. I'm anxious to attend the coaching clinics and to be rejuvenated by spending time with others who are just as passionate as myself. I am happy to see a good friend who happens to live there. And I am back on track with the vision I have had for this club.

This past year solidified my vision for Southwind Rising, I have always envisioned a club that trained and developed elite athletes and nationally competitive teams and did so while teaching the best of who we are meant to become. In a world full of sports scandals, I just read an article on the plane about a defense attorney who defends professional athletes who have gotten themselves in trouble, and questionable character in our own small volleyball community that it is some times hard to justify participating in youth sports at all. But I am certain that this is where I am meant to be.

As I worked through this past year, from my initial diagnosis, to professional challenges, to chemo treatments, to re-developing and re-branding the club I realized I have used all the qualities I want to teach our athletes. Words like Courage, Honesty, Integrity, Character, Fight, Determination have deeper meaning and as I look around this world we need to use all we have at our disposal to teach and train these qualities.

My hope is that people can look at this organization from myself down to the coaches and on to the players and their families and see these qualities. We are in a rebuilding year, we have talented athletes who need more volleyball training, but it will come through commitment, dedication, and hard work. When I wanted to give up, it was my years of training as an athlete that would not allow me to quit and lay down. These qualities are all a part of success and I know, from personal experience, that they are success in and of themselves. As the season begins and we see the challenges that face us I know that if we all make a commitment to become better, if we all dedicate our time and energy, if we all work hard success will follow.

Teaching and training takes time, it doesn't happen over night, you can not cheat to get to the top. If you do cheat in order to reach the goal of winning then it is not really winning. I recently posted a Nike commercial on our club's Facebook page that features Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, Canadian track star, she makes a comment "a true athlete is someone who can take a win and take a defeat... it's not gonna be easy". But doing things the "right" way makes you a winner, being honesty, staying positive, and treating others with respect shows true character. At the end of the day you have to be able to look your opponents in the eye, win, lose, or draw. Avoiding eye contact shows shame and embarrassment, being a person of integrity gives you the ability and confidence of looking someone in the eyes.

It was a rough year but in the end there was purpose in the challenges. With renewed strength and a return to the original vision Southwind Volleyball is rising... welcome to the "new" Southwind Rising.

What to Expect at a One Day Tournament

1. Its a long day - matches usually start at 8am and run till 5 or 6pm

2. The girls will need to eat and drink through out the day - some times they will have 5min to grab a quick snack. ( make it healthy so they keep their energy all day)

3. Lunch - the girls will not have time to leave and each lunch - pack a lunch, some locations will have a snack bar. The girls like to share snacks during their lunch with each other. ( pretzels, grapes, granola ect...)

4. Have your daughter bring a blanket or a pillow to sit on as they usually make a small camp they go to in between matches.

5. Usually the girls do not have a lot of time off the court they are usually playing or refereeing most of the time. Usually get one long break of about 45 min and the rest are short 5 min breaks.

6. If they are not playing or refereeing or eating then they will be cheering on other teams from Southwind Rising.

7. Parents - Bring chairs - Bleachers get HARD - can be set up around the girls camp sight for relaxing in between games.

8. If you don't want your daughter to drop it or break it or loose it.. Don't bring it.

9. The girls will be refereeing. They will make bad calls and they will have bad calls go against them.... smile and move on.

10. Make a list so you dont forget anything. ( see below)

11. Typically day is:   7am - arrive at location

                                 8am - play first game

                                 8:50am - referee game

                                 9:40am - play 2nd game

                                10:30am - play 3rd game

                                 11:20am - break

                                 12:10pm - referee game

                                  1:00pm - play 4 th game

                                   1:50pm - short break

                                   2:00pm - start bracket play

                                   2:50pm - play 2nd game after winning first game

                                   3:40pm - play semi final

                                   4:30pm play final

                                   5:30pm pack up and head home ( your daughter will be tired and hungry)

PS.. if you loose in bracket play you have to stay and referee the next game.... not fun.

8pm - get home after stopping for dinner, sit down and relax. Take a min to think about all the fun your daughter had today and look forward to the next one.

VOLLEYBALL LIST

·     Shoes

·     Socks ( extra pair is nice)

·     Knee Pads

·     Jersey x 2

·     Spandex ( extra pair is nice)

·     Gray warm up/ long sleeve t-shirt

·     Warm – Ups

·     Sports Bra

·     Hair Ties

·     Brush

·     Feminine Care Products

·     Pain Relievers ( Advil/Tylenol)

·     Snacks/ Not junk food

·     Drinks and Water bottle

·     Lunch

·     Pillow or blanket

·     Chair – for parent

·     Whistle – Ref

·     Pens and Pencils

·     Quarter

·     Yellow and Red Card

·     Small ruler


Thank you to John Bowen, parent rep U13-1, for taking some time to write out some insights he has learned from past experiences. 

Remember What It's All About

Spent the afternoon watching volleyball at the gym. I went, not because I was coaching, but because I am gearing up for the competitive season. Watching teams and coaches interact is something I love to do.

If you've read any of my blogs or have seen me in the volleyball community I am certain you can tell that I am blessed to have a job/career that I thoroughly enjoy. Over the years I have considered other career options but at the end of the day I am certain this is where I am meant to be. And because I love doing this I love watching the world of volleyball. I watch the interaction of families in the bleachers, I look at the relationships coaches have with their players, and I watch the players and how they respond to both their parents and the coaches. Our world is an interesting ecosystem, I am not familiar with other youth sports, but I hear we are a different community.

Because I have done this for so long, over 20 years, I have had a long time to see the differences in programs, coaches, and teams. What makes us all different? I believe it has to do with our understanding of what this is all about. Every program has a different emphasis, each coach is a different person, and athletes (families) have their own agenda.

As we begin the competitive season there is, no doubt, going to be challenges. I am already aware of "drama" stirring in different programs and teams. There are already misunderstandings and miscommunications. And there are already people considering leaving a team/program because it has become too difficult. But there are also people thrilled with the program their daughter is a part of. There are people excited with the coach of their team. And there are parents seeing positive changes in their child because of the environment they have become a part of. So the question I go back to, is what makes us all different? How can one player or team be struggling while others are thrilled with their good fortune?

The answer is "what it's all about". Why do we direct clubs and coach players... what's it really all about?

If you find yourself in a situation of being unhappy or distressed for your child I would encourage you to look at the people surrounding you, look at the program you have become a part of. Programs advertise their motives by their actions, look at the director of the club, we are the people who set the tone of the program. Is the director a person of integrity? Is the director honest and sincere? Does the director have your child's best interest at heart or is winning or collecting fees more important? If you do not know the answer to these questions I guarantee it will only be a matter of time. If you are aware of the director's motives, and they are not driven by integrity, then you may have placed your child in an unsafe environment.

In most cases, people have spoken about the challenges they have had with certain programs and directors.  I am not sure you can believe everything you hear but when a majority of people are saying the same thing about a program you may want to take note. Of course, we are people and we can not please everyone so there is certain to be some negative press about every program. For those of us who have been around for a while, and have seen success, we also have to deal with the competition saying negative, and at times, horrible things about us. But the best way to find out about a program or a director is to talk to other families who are/have been a part of the program. If you find yourself in a difficult spot think back to the things you have heard about your club director and their program.

If you find yourself in a challenging situation with your child's coach don't be surprised if you are in a program that has a reputation of "mistreating" their athletes. Programs tend to attract coaches that are like minded. Occasionally a program will have a coach or two that does not line up with the director's vision, even I have had to remove coaches from my program that did not have the character that Southwind Rising is know for. Take a look around at the different coaches in the program. Ask yourself, "is this coach honest? Have they given me an honest assessment of my child or have they told me things that they thought I would like to hear?" Another question to ask is, "is this coach truthful? Have they been truthful about the team or even personal things outside of volleyball?" And I believe the most important question to ask, "is this coach trustworthy? Can I trust this coach to have my child's best interest at heart?"

As much as we are professional coaches it is our personal beliefs and attitudes that drive us as coaches. If your coach has "drama" or conflict outside of volleyball then they will have "drama" and conflict inside of volleyball. Believe it or not, some coaches produce their own drama. I believe some coaches ensure there is drama in order to make certain they have an excuse for their teams poor performances. If a person is unhappy with themselves or their life it will show up as they coach. If they are driven by their ego then their first concern will be "what is in it for me?" Your child will not be their first concern. If you're not completely aware of what type of coach you have it only takes a few minutes to visit with families who use to play for the coach. Some red flags... If a coach had a successful team, that made it to nationals, but loses all but one or two of those athletes. If a coach has jumped from club to club, I would say three clubs in three years. If a cloud of "drama" follows that coach or any of her former players because of their association with her (not that her former players are happy about the drama). If a coach can only say negative things about a former professional relationship or former club. If a coach has asked an athlete or her family to lie. This is just a short list, talk to families who have played for the coach and you will find your answer on whether she/he is a person of integrity who is honest, truthful and trustworthy.

So what do you do if you find yourself in a difficult situation? The first thing to do is look around at the director, their program and their coaches, be aware of what you are dealing with. The second thing to do is to remember what it's all about.

It is about the athlete and the experience they have playing club ball. It is about developing young people to be confident and successful. It is about being people of character and integrity. Playing sports can teach our children very negative qualities or the very best of what we are meant to become.

The past year, for me, was very difficult in many ways but in the end it was one of the best years of my life. I have heard the term "the gift of cancer", can't say I really like it, but I now understand it. I am determined even more to be a person of integrity, to be honest, and to live my life to the fullest. I have been "called" into this profession and I am certain that we, as directors and coaches, must ask ourselves "what is it all about?" The answer is "developing people", we can have either a negative or positive effect on these young lives. How do we develop people? It begins with relationship.

We are professional coaches and that is our relationship with our athletes. We can not be their friends, their parents, or their counselors. Once we step over the boundary of professionalism we lose the ability to influence them in a positive way. It is always nice to be liked but it is more important to be respected. Is is always nice to have families you get along with and enjoy spending time with but if we are to do our jobs, for the benefit of your children, it is more important that we draw some boundaries. It is always nice to have players return to us but in the end we have to let our athletes move on, if a coach can not allow your child to move to a new opportunity consider that a red flag.

So now that you have taken a good look at your surroundings and your child is in a difficult position remind yourself what this experience is about... the betterment of your child. I believe even difficult situations can benefit the athlete. Take this opportunity to teach your child how to deal with challenging situations and/or difficult people.

1. Remember we are people too, coaches are not perfect. Approach the coach with an open mind and believe and hope for the best. Most of us do not want to deal with conflict so come to us for clarification before you become upset, angry, frustrated, or defensive. 
2. Set up a time to meet, do not spring a meeting on your coach or director.
3. The goal is to work together for your child. Most teams have 8 - 11 players and it is impossible to play every child every minute of a match. You are looking out for your child while we are looking out for all the athletes and the team as a whole. Ask questions like "what does my daughter need to improve on to be on the court?" What else can we do to help her become a better volleyball athlete?" "Can you clarify your goals as the coach for the team and my daughter?" 
4. Remember who you are dealing with, what is the track record for the coach and director? Are they known to be open and to work towards resolution? Or is their history been "drama" filled and they are always right and never wrong? 

After visiting with the coach or director, remind yourself, it's not always about the winning but it is always about developing people. Move forward with that thought and make decisions based on the qualities you'd like to see in your child. Challenges don't develop character they show character... what type of character do you want your child to have? 

This past year was truly a blessing and I can speak from personal experience about challenges and character. When I was not able to fight for myself, when others where taking advantage of my illness, when life wasn't fair it would have been easy to become negative, vindictive, and quit. I looked at the illness and the people taking advantage of my situation and realized what and who I was dealing with. Regardless of what was surrounding me I chose to be positive, I chose to be fair and honest, I chose to stay and do what I have been "called" to do. I would not have been able to do those things without some good friends, friends who said things like, "do the right thing", "walk in love", "take the high road".  I would not have come through to this side without my personal belief in God. I held on to what was good, and right and just and in the end it has all worked out better than I could have expected. 

So if you find yourself in a tough situation surround yourself with good people, remember your own character and what you'd like your child to see and become, and trust that next year at this time things will be better than you could have imagined. 

More Insights before Club Season

If you have never played Club, you may find getting started overwhelming. Club volleyball is very much like "premier" or “select” soccer. However, some teams are more premier than others.

It is possible to play other sports (basketball, soccer, etc.) during the winter along with Club volleyball, but you should check the level of commitment required for the club/team you are interested in.

You certainly do not need to join my club - a Club is only as good as the coach you get, and the quality of the organization. And clubs are not always consistent from year to year. In fact this year, 2011, has experienced a great deal of change in club volleyball in the Kansas City area.

Speaking as a parent, I found it helpful to find a club that practices near my home, and a team with other parents that my child could carpool with.

CLUB VOLLEYBALL ORIENTATION

Club volleyball is run through a single organization, the USVBA. The Heart of America Chapter is the local governing body. http://www.hoavb.org . The age groups are listed under: Juniors. Clubs are also listed there.

Club volleyball has several stages: Open Gyms, Tryouts, and Tournaments.

OPEN GYMS:

OPEN GYMS occur BEFORE tryouts. This is your opportunity to try the Club experience, evaluate clubs and coaches, and get some court time. HOA-sanctioned open gyms are listed on http://www.hoavb.org. They are also listed on the websites for each of the clubs. Most if not all clubs charge a fee of about $5 to offset the cost of renting the gym.

TRYOUTS:

Club Season TRYOUTS occur the two weekends after the KS and MO State High School Championships which usually makes them the first two weekends in November. Tryout dates and times are regulated by the HOA, so several clubs may have tryouts for the same age groups at exactly the same times. The younger age groups are on the first weekend, and the older ages are on the second weekend.

Tryouts last 2 hours for each club age group. I recommend that kids try out in pairs or threes but don’t limit yourself to being with your friends at the tryout – branch out and get to know others. I would try out for 1-3 clubs. Athletes should be energetic, enthusiastic, and coachable (take instruction, criticism well, and follow directions). Be obvious – quiet, unassuming kids often get overlooked. Wear bright and/or unusual colors, or something with a number or your name on it. That makes it much easier for coaches to remember you. Demand the ball as a hitter and a passer. Support others in drills. Some Clubs have open tryouts with no spots taken. Other clubs will be looking for a certain number of players filling certain roles (setter, defensive specialist including libero, right side hitters, etc.). Young age groups are often just looking for players. Clubs may prefer that you pre-register for Try Outs (also on their websites). Once the tryout is completed, the Coaches might offer a position on their club before you leave the try-out site. Others will call that evening or the next day or so to offer a position. As clubs get acceptances or refusals from kids, they will go down their list of prospective players and fill their rosters.

TOURNAMENTS:

Club Season will go, depending on the competitive level and intent of your club or team until March, mid-April, or June (National tournament).

COSTS/COMMITMENT DIFFERENCES:

Clubs will vary on level of commitment: that is spelled out in terms of numbers of practices per week (1-4), number of tournaments during the season (1-3 per month), location of tournaments (local, regional, or national), and availability of the athlete. The more tournaments, coaching, gym time, and equipment a team uses or provides, the higher the cost will be. Club might cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $2000. And that may or may not include travel costs. Some clubs require you to ONLY PLAY Club during their season. Other teams know kids will also be playing basketball, softball, soccer, track, etc. and will be sharing their time. The designation Gold, Silver, and Bronze will also let you know how serious that club or team is. Tournaments are either on a Saturday or a Sunday. Some may be two-day.

RECRUITING:

Many clubs recruit players. HOA dictates when clubs can begin recruiting, and how clubs can recruit. (For example, players cannot be recruited at open gyms.) So, you may discover that some clubs have filled many positions on their teams prior to tryouts, and even before open gyms. I suggest that parents that want to advocate for their child contact the club director and coach(es) for the club(s)/team(s) you are interested in. Just like everything else in life, it helps to develop a relationship with those that make the decisions that will impact you (or your child). It can’t hurt for the director and coach to have heard your child’s name and know how interested you are in their club.

GOOD LUCK!!! Call or e-mail if you have question: Max Vorhies,

816-853-0791, mvorhi59@yahoo.com .

Thanks to Max Vorhies, Southwind Rising Club Coach, for his insights and willingness to help families new to club ball. 

It's not as scary as you think it is.... you can coach!

Several years ago I got back into coaching volleyball when my daughters decided they had interest in learning how to play.  We entered a recreational league with some of their classmates and for the next few years I enjoyed teaching them fundamentals and helping the girls improve their skills. 

Then one night, while at a match, I met Rachel and she asked if I was interested in coaching with her club.  While that sounded like something I would love to do, immediately all the red flags went up…I’m too busy, I have 4 young children at home, I already felt over-committed, I couldn’t possibly add this to my schedule. So I thanked her for her interest and told her it was probably not the right time for me.  She was very understanding and told me to think about it.  Long story, short, after a little more encouragement, and against my better judgment, I agreed to give it a try.

Looking back at it now, I am so grateful that Rachel didn’t give up on me.  This will be my fifth year at Southwind and although it has not been without its scheduling challenges, it has not been nearly as difficult as I had imagined.  Maybe it’s because when you are doing something you love, you make room in your life for it.  Maybe it’s because it has been so rewarding for me.  I love working with the players and their families.  I love learning and growing as a coach.  I love watching the girls progress from the beginning of the season to the end.  Many times they begin as 6 individuals who barely know each other and end up as confident players who have gained life-long friends.  And even though occasionally you may run up against a difficult season, it is always a growing experience.  So, if you are given the opportunity to coach, take a chance, find a way, and you just might rediscover a passion you had forgotten you had.


*Thank You to Rebecca Arnold, our guest blogger. Coaching is not just the x's and o's, it's the people and team, it's the passion and devotion. If you think you want to coach you have to step out of your comfort zone and forget all of your excuses. At the end of the day "just do it". 


Find out more about Southwind Rising Volleyball, entering our 8th year of operation, providing training for both players and coaches! www.southwindvb.com.

Insights Before Club Season

Each fall I receive phone calls and emails from parents new to club volleyball. For those of us involved with Junior Olympic Volleyball we forget what it is like to get introduced to this world, I always say "It's a hidden world, until you get involved, you have no idea what it is or how big it is". I have asked a few parents to write a small review of their experiences to help those of you who are trying to find the best fit for you child. Take what you can from the experience of these parents. 

PARENT INSIGHT 1

When shopping for a club, we are looking for the right fit for our daughter!

Coaching is our number 1 priority. If your daughter is a solid player, joining a top ranked club is not difficult. The challenge is finding that coach that does not have their ego tied to the team. We want someone who is a positive leader, volleyball teacher, an adult that doesn't scream negative comments to the athletes on the court, someone who respects the players and others, team builder, skilled trainer and most of all a challenging coach. Someone who can motivate your daughter to a level that is higher than their comfort zone, pushing her to achieve her best. You know it's a right fit when your daughter has a smile on the court, never complains about working hard in practices, improved skills, has gained this incredible confidence on and off the court! 

To find a good fit,  I suggest you ask around the volleyball community to gain insight on a club or coach. Just as you would during a job interview, get solid references. 

-Anita

PARENT INSIGHT 2
From a parent of a player who played for (4) different clubs, it is nice to finally find a club that my child enjoys and works hard to make herself better.

When we began our club search, as a result of a sixth grade player not being picked for the local club team, it was an urgent search to just find a club to play.  At that time, it was just a desire to keep our child in line with the other kids in her school and to give her a hope of making the 7th Grade "A" team the next school season.  At that point we weren't sure if she would become a good volleyball player but she had the desire to learn.  Basically, we met our goal, she was put on a team that needed a player and she made the middle school "A" team.

The next three years were pretty much the same as the prior year.  All (4) years of playing club ball consisted of playing in all Silver tournaments, practicing 1-2 times a week, and no individual focus on her specifically.  The price paid was exactly what we received.  But at this age, we felt it met our needs.  Basically, we didn't know anything different.

When our child reached 10th grade, she realized that playing volleyball at a higher level was her desire.  We knew she needed help with polishing her volleyball skills, her self-confidence, and A LOT of work on attitude.  By looking into a club that played at the Gold Level we knew it would be an adjustment.  Going from 1-2 practices, low club fees, and practicing close to home was nothing like we were about to encounter.  She practiced 3-4 times a week, paid a much higher club fee, and traveled approximately 50 minutes one way to practice.  But what did we get as a result of all of this - we found a club that taught our daughter more about the game than she had learned in the last (4) years.  She played at a much higher level of competition and was able to adjust to this level due to the excellent coaching. We found someone that taught our daughter about attitudes and self-confidence.  We found a coach that saw an ability in a child who had basically been put to the side for other local players. We actually had other parents mentioning how much our child had improved in one year.

Our child now has a much deeper understanding of the game and has taken her game to the next level.  She now understands what results are obtained by not staying focused and the importance of keeping a positive attitude.  She understands what it is like to have a teammate rely on you and play off of your attitude.  She understands how the extra efforts pay off when she plays today.  In the end, we have a completely changed daughter in many aspects not only physically but also mentally.

My only regret in our club volleyball experience was not learning what to look for in a club before her sophomore year.  I regret being satisfied with playing with the local friends for a couple of years.  I regret not pushing our daughter to try for more at a younger age.  I regret not researching other clubs just because the club fee was in a higher price range or because of how many openings the club had. 

If our daughter had been satisfied with just playing the game at a non-competitive level, then the Silver team division would have been suffice and the extra amount of money we spent would not have been justified. If our daughter just wanted to say she played club volleyball, then the Silver teams would have been fine.

Basically, in the end it all boiled down to what our daugther wanted for HER game and what resources we as parents could provide to meet her wishes.  Since she wanted to take her game to a competitive state and possibly play in college, we knew we needed to find a more competitive club to provide the training to get her to the next level.  The individual training she received, the extra practices, the attitude reinforcements, playing Gold level competitions, extra films to review, having the opportunity to play in Nationals, and the recrutiing website was exactly what she needed.

Club volleyball is an effort on everyones part.  If your child is willing to work hard, has a coach who cares about the game and the players, and parents to support the child, then it will be a WIN-WIN for all.  If everyone is not putting out the required effort, then that club team or club volleyball in general is not the avenue to consider.

-Susan

PARENT INSIGHT 3
I have been part of the volleyball world for the past seven years.  I have experienced all levels of play throughout several clubs and recreational leagues.  I can always count on each year being a new experience with new teams, coaches and teammates for my daughters.  While no club is perfect I have particularly enjoyed my daughters' club play with Southwind the past three years.  I have found in this club a level of consistency that I can count on year over year.  I find integrity as a core value that is deeply embedded in the coaching staff and a level of brutal honesty about the talent of my girls on the court.  I've experienced a level of interest in making my girls better, however, a deep understanding that it is ultimately up to them on how well they wish to play the game.  The honesty, morality, integrity and fundamental play at Southwind has been a very positive experience for my family.
-Shari 


PARENT INSIGHT 4
Choosing a volleyball club for your daughter can be a overwhelming tasks. When we started this journey 4 years ago, we got lucky and accidentally found a coach and club that fit our needs at the time. Our daughter improved and after 2 years was ready to bump it up a level, so the task began. We set our priorities and broke it down ruling out clubs by location, coaches and club mission statements. Once we had it narrowed down to 3 clubs we began by approaching each coach and learning about there coaching styles from them and others whom had been coached by them. We settled on Southwind because of the amount of knowledge the coaches have and the amazing amount of training we received doing a couple of their camps. The coaches we have had are obviously there because they love to help girls develop as players and people. What a difference a coach can make. My suggestion to anyone looking for a club for their daughter is to do your research, volleyball is a long season and winning isn't everything but attitude and training are.

-Julie

Thank you to the parents who have provide some insight from their own experiences. For those of you that are new to Junior Olympic volleyball check out our website page for families new to this "game of club ball".

Continuing Your Volleyball Career into College

Every year parents ask me about the possibility of their daughter receiving a college scholarship to play volleyball. I always respond to that question with a question of my own. "Do you hope that your daughter receives a scholarship in order to pay for college or have you set up a college fund?" If your college fund plan is the goal of getting your daughter a college scholarship you would be better served taking all the money you spend on Junior Olympic Volleyball and putting it in an investment vehicle.

As much fun as "club ball" can be (lately I'm questioning just how much fun this really is... but that's for another blog entry) if you main goal is to get your child a college scholarship there are lots of factors to consider. Some of those considerations should be, where would you daughter like to attend college? What are her interests, do they have a degree in that particular field? Is playing volleyball the only way she'll be going to college? I do believe it is possible to receive a scholarship but be certain of your motives and goals for you child.

To help those of you looking for college scholarship opportunities, according to Kathy DeBoer, executive director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, there is now $200 million available annually for young women who are "smart enough and skilled enough" to play the sport in college. The answer to the original question is "Yes, college scholarship opportunities are out there".

Here are some tips from an article in the recent Volleyball Magazine publication:
1) Keep in mind that you do not have to play division I volleyball to have a great experience, there are a lot of great schools, DII, DII, NAIA, and Junior Colleges, that can offer a great experience and a wonderful education.

2) When you send out information to colleges, choose a few that really appeal to you and make those connections personal.

3) You can market yourself, in this day and age of internet communication it's not necessary to hire a recruiting serve. (**On a personal note, Southwind Rising Volleyball has made a decision to market all of our high school athletes on a recruiting site, provide skills and game footage for their web page, test on a regular basis their vertical and speed, and contact colleges and universities for our athletes.)


4) Play Junior Olympic Volleyball for a club where you will be on the court and not on the bench. According to Chris Catanach, Head Coach Tampa (DII) "Find a club where you can play. Don't pick a club that is top-notch, but you sit on the bench and hit only during warm ups". Be sure you find a team that will carry only 8 or 9 players to ensure you'll be on the court, teams with 10 or more, athletes may find themselves on the bench more than the court.

5) An effective video helps.

6) Skill matters more than size. Mary Wise, Florida (DI) "If you can play, you can play". While size and leaping ability are certainly assets, coaches look at the total package.

There is more to this particular article but I wanted to share a few things that I believe parents need to educate themselves on as we enter into a new club season.

Best of luck!