Rachel Magana

The Difference a Year Makes

2012-01-17T20:48:00.000-06:00

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

2012-01-06T18:00:00.004-06:00

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

2011-12-18T00:31:00.004-06:00

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.

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.
Set up a time to meet, do not spring a meeting on your coach or director.
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?"
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

2011-11-01T18:22:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-09-25T14:38:00.001-05:00

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

2011-09-19T23:46:00.012-05:00

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

2011-09-08T14:54:00.001-05:00

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!

Coaching Guide: How do you learn to coach?

2011-08-21T12:28:00.001-05:00

I have just recently finished some coaching clinics for some of the area parks and recreation programs. If you haven't figured out yet, I love coaching and I enjoy working with new coaches. I have conducted these programs for many years now and I never get tired of them. The energy and desire to become a good coach is contagious and seeing these novice coaches and their excitement only sparks my own desire to become better.

Each year I have coaches who continue to contact me after the initial clinic, I love to hear from them, they have many questions and concerns. I wish we could answer all of the questions and concerns, I'm certain there are many books written on the subject of coaching but there is only one way to become a better coach. You learn how to coach by coaching. If reading a book or talking to a coach was enough then we'd all be great coaches but that is not the case. We all know coaches who range from bad, to mediocre, to good, to great. Every coach I know wants to be considered a great coach, at the very least, a good coach.

So how is this done? I would challenge anyone that to become a great coach, the first step is simply to coach. It doesn't matter the level of team or quality of league, the determining factor is your personal desire. Desire sets the stage for the real work, it's hard work becoming a great coach. To quote from A League of Their Own, "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great." So how does one take advantage of their position in coaching to become a good or even great coach? I would ask that person are you doing the things you ask of your athletes?

Attributes that lead to becoming a great coach:

1) Taking feedback with a positive attitude.

2) Studying the game and your athletes.

3) Searching for more game and people knowledge.

4) Working on your areas of weakness (i.e. organization, communication, timeliness)

5) Figuring out your own personal strengthens and using them to your benefit.

When we give feedback to an athlete we expect them to take it with a positive attitude. We don't appreciate the rolling eyes, or the response "I know", or the lack of coach ability. But are we willing to take feedback with a positive attitude? Taking the feedback the way we would like our athletes to take it is a "telling" aspect of your true desire.

Spending time learning about the game, new drills or new approaches takes time and this is another sign of how dedicated you are to your mission of becoming a great coach. But coaching is not just about the "x" and "o"... it's about people. Taking time learning about people, in general, as well as your own players is also part of becoming that quality coach. Learning about the athletes, their attitudes and their abilities is key for each season. Learning about the team and their abilities on their court helps in re-evaluating and change line ups or systems on the court so that your team is better able to compete.

Looking at our own weakness and then making an effort to get better shows our own coach ability. Can we take an honest look at ourselves and can we take feedback by others we trust? We demonstrate the coachabilty we want from our athletes by how coachable we are.

To becoming a great coach is being yourself. We can learn from others and even be inspired by some of the greats, Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, and more but at the end of the day we have to be authentic, we have to be ourselves. Taking our positive attributes and using them towards a greater goal helps us to remember why we wanted to be great coaches in the first place.

"The same things win. It doesn't matter where you coach them. The game's the same". -Mike DuBose

What are we teaching?

2011-07-13T11:06:00.004-05:00

Taking a trip to Atlanta, Georgia this summer was a much needed "get away" and "get to"trip. The past 7 months I have been battling cancer, and am happy to say that I am beating it, and I've continued to coach. Anyone who has had to deal with a serious health issue recognizes that you don't stop doing what you love, in fact, it makes you more determined to do everything you did before and much more. But considering the past seven months, taking a trip to Atlanta, Georgia for the Girls Junior National Championships was a much needed trip away from KC and a very enjoyable trip to some great volleyball.

While in Atlanta our teams performed well, I just wished our win/loss record could have reflected that more accurately, all the teams in attendance performed well. Being there, in the midst of some great competition, only fuels my desire to continue on in this sport as a club director, coach, and trainer. Some things that I enjoyed and inspired me while in Atlanta included the following:

I enjoyed time with the young ladies who earned a bid to Nationals. The U171 team was very meaningful to me this season, as they stepped up to support and encourage me during an extremely difficult season. I enjoy them ALL so very much and wish them the best this coming high school season. The U162 team was a great bunch of girls and I was happy to be able to sit on the bench to help coach during the week.

I was inspired that no team ever gave up during competition... there we no fits of "frustration", stomping of feet, or blaming. The girls on the court continued to compete point after point regardless of the score. Because of that attitude, I saw many teams win from some exceptional comebacks.

The great level of skills and team work where inspiring. I was able to watch the 16 open championship, the 17 national and open championships and those athletes were amazing! By the way, I took notes and a few video clips. :)

The overall feeling of being at such a high level of competition made me sit back and remember why I love coaching volleyball and why I'll continue to do so.

I began coaching with a vision... to develop and train "people". Ever coach wants to win and be successful and I am no different but I do believe I am different in the way I approach the game and the training. There are so many great qualities we can teach our young adults through competitive volleyball including: work ethic, character, integrity, sportsmanship, team work, confidence... all the positive qualities that make for a healthy and happy individual.

But I am sadden by how many people view this sport as "drama" and use it for their own personal self esteem boost. Instead of teaching the higher qualities of a "healthy" life many are teaching the "drama" of a small life. If a coach is willing to lie, cheat, or steal, on or off the court, it won't be much longer before they ask you or your child to do the same. And if, or when, push comes to shove, you or your child will be pushed "under the bus".

I believe we can develop people of character that can compete at a high level of competition and be successful. I believe competitive sports should allow young people to grow and use their experiences for a successful and happy adulthood. I believe at the end of the day we have to be content with who we are and what we are doing irregardless of anyone or anything else. Self acceptance and authenticity are two qualities that we should be teaching our athletes, that happens by our own behavior, self acceptance, and being true to ourselves.

"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Summer Training and Camps

2011-05-17T21:59:00.007-05:00

With summer right around the corner many people are looking for summer volleyball camps. I receive many phone calls and emails from parents asking which camps and training programs are the best. With so many camps; high school, college, club programs, jump training, speed & agility, strength training.... is it any wonder people don't know what to choose from?

Some tips that I like to give to parents as they are looking for the right programs. If your child is just starting in the sport looking for camps that teach good fundamentals and are smaller in size. Going to a large university can be a lot of fun but the larger the camp the less feedback any one player will get. Not to mention "touches" on the ball will be fewer and far between. I always suggest staying close to home and getting in a good junior college or high school camp. If your child is a little older and getting into the sport be sure to approach your school coach to see what they would like them to be involved with. If they are high school athletes the coach will have a summer program set up for them.

If you child is an intermediate or advanced player it gets harder to find camps that'll work on the advanced skills and strategies of the game. Going to a week long camp means they'll cover fundamentals, athletes end up going to camps that are teaching the same skills. I would recommend specialized position camps. Again, the smaller the size the more "touches" the athlete will have but it'll be extremely important to find a program that teaches skills. Just because you go to a camp doesn't mean you'll walk away with great skills, that'll come down to good feedback from the coaching staff.

My personal philosophy for training athletes over the summer is to take advantage of the time. First, it is extremely important that the athlete be able to control their body. The volleyball player that can control their body can then control the ball, it is our movements that tell the ball what is should be doing. So how do you develop body control? That comes from training programs in speed & agility as well as strength. Develop control on lifting weights as well as movement skills helps the athlete control their body. Jump train is important but I would suggest speed & agility and strength as the bases for any sport.

Secondly, volleyball fundamentals are next step in summer training. No matter how long your child has been playing going back to the fundamentals is important. Reviewing footwork and basic skills helps to refresh the mind and prepare for the more advanced skills. Once there has been a review of basics then you move on to the advanced skills as well as game knowledge.

Thirdly, and most often overlooked, is the mental aspect of competition. This is hard to train and very few people approach this part of the game. We spend all our time working on volleyball skills but never talk about what an athlete should be thinking about in competition. Not only should we be teaching athletes how to think, concerning their views about themselves and their abilities as well as during tension moments of the game. But we should also consider how we would like an athlete to behave when they are not in competition. We often speak of winning and losing gracefully or playing with integrity but how often is our sport, as well as others, demonstrating poor sportsmanship or even lying in order to win. I wonder if teaching the mental aspect of the game is more important in the long run?

Because of my philosophy of training during the summer I have developed a program through Southwind that covers ever aspect that I discussed above. It is our Summer Intensity Program, and it is unlike any other volleyball camps or training programs in the area. If you'd like to know more about it visit the club website: www.southwindvb.com.

One of the best things you can do for your athlete is individual or small group training with a good coach. What an athlete can learn and work on in a session by themselves or a small group far surpasses a typical volleyball camp.

Good luck this summer and train hard!

Why I Love to Coach

2011-04-05T10:42:00.004-05:00

There are many things I "love to do"... eat a great breakfast, cuddle with Henry (my cat), shopping, working out at the track on a warm spring day. But one of the things I love to do the most is coach!

I recently read an article from a California high school student on why she loves to play volleyball. She talked about the different skills of the game and how it felt to be able to play so well. I loved the article and thought about how I love to coach. As I began to think about why I love coaching volleyball it really comes back to one thing, I love developing people.

I believe great coaches must sincerely enjoy people and love coaching for the athlete and not themselves. We all gain satisfaction from a job well done and we are all motivated by personal interest but the truly great coaches invest in their athletes and assistant coaches. They develop people because they sincerely like/love people.

I love seeing an athlete developing the muscle skill to control the volleyball in order to execute skills at a high level. Making the perfect pass, running a quick offense, attacking for a point... these are exciting things to see develop. Having your libero aggressively get to the ball and then gracefully pass it to the setter or having your middle blocker read the setter to close the outside block for a point is fun to watch. But even more fun is watching the expression of success on your athletes face, to see them recognize their new skills and abilities and see their confidence grow is just as exciting as winning the big match.

Seeing these young adults come into their own, to see their confidence grow on the court always affects their confidence off the court. When players begin to understand why their integrity is important and that hard work really does pay off is part of the reason I love to coach. But not only do I enjoy developing athletes I also love seeing coaches in the club gain new confidence in their skills. To work along side someone and help in their personal development is really the reason I love to coach.

Over the years there have been many players and coaches that I have positively affected but the truth of the matter is that these people must be accepting to my help and input. People must be "coachable" and when they are great things have happened.

Of course, there are people who have not been "coachable" and closed to any input, reason, or integrity. When these athletes or coaches come across my path I have learned that there is nothing I can do for them. It use to weigh heavy on me that people would behave inappropriately and I would carry their failures (even the ones they did not admit to) for them. But I have learned that there is only so much I can do and I have learned to release those athletes or coaches and move forward with others who are interested in the best that life has to offer. Age has nothing to do with their "coachability", I have meet 13 year old athletes who "get it" and I have meet 40 year old women who can not see reason.

Our job as professional coaches is to see where our athletes and coaches are and accept them wherever they may be. And if they are ready to learn and to develop into the best they can be everyone wins. And if they are not capable of that development you let them go, you do not compromise yourself and you stand firm in your conviction, but you wish them the best and hope someone else can affect their lives for the positive.

Having over 30 years in the sport, 20 as a coach, and 14 as a club director I have learned that personal integrity and character will win every time... and if you can apply that to the development of people then we are authentic to ourselves and others. We develop people and we develop ourselves so that we all become the men and women we were intended to become. That is why I love coaching.

Which coach are you?

2011-03-27T19:13:00.006-05:00

I have been involved with the sport of volleyball for about 30 years nows. I have been an athlete, a club director, official and a coach. I've been coaching longer than any of the other roles I've had in volleyball and over the years I have seen many styles of coaching. But I believe there are really only two types of coaches.

The first type of coach is what I refer to as the "ego" coach. I believe many get into coaching for selfish reasons, to get a personal need met from coaching children or young adults. Some coaches need the power that they are in control and it's easy to maintain control of children. I believe these types of coaches use fear to keep their athletes "in line". These are the coaches that yell, threaten, and have that "look" (you know the one, the evil eye).

Other "ego" driven coaches need the affirmation of being liked and admired. They develop relationships with their athletes that border on "family" relationships. There is no doubt times that coaches, players, and parents "click" but there always needs to be a professional relationship where the athlete recognizes that the coach is the "coach", not a mother/father, sister/brother, or aunt/uncle. (Unless, of course, they really are.)

Then there is the "ego" coach who needs to be powerful and successful, not that they necessarily will be both but that is the ultimate goal of this coach. This is the coach that will lie, cheat, or steal to make this happen. If they do not lie, cheat or steal they will get very close to it and personal integrity is not high on the list of character traits. If you find a coach that will ask you or your child to compromise your personal integrity beware, it won't be long before their lack of character will affect your child in a negative way.

These "ego" coaches can be one of the above or all of the above. I see many coaches like this, in many different sports and it's disheartening. "Ego" coaches will do whatever they can to "save face". What are we teaching our athletes, our children and young adults, by allowing them to compete for them and be influenced by them?

The other type of coach is the "giving"coach. These are the coaches who have either gotten into coaching for the right reasons or have matured enough that they have reached this place in their coaching careers.

How you can you tell if you've found a "giving" coach? These are the men and women who have the child's best interest at heart. They are constantly teaching and instructing the game and the skills. They have a fair sense of discipline but also allow the athletes to have fun. There is no sense of fear but of respect for a "giving" coach. Although these coaches enjoy being admired and liked they are also willing to be disliked for doing the "right" thing. Public image is not the driving force behind this type of coach; personal confidence, satisfaction, and integrity are the things that drives this coach. A "giving" coach will make decisions that are best for the athlete and team without lying, cheating or steal. Their personal integrity is more important than power, winning or being admired.

What type of coach are you?

Vision for Southwind

2010-11-28T15:39:00.008-06:00

I've spent the last 30 years of my life involved in volleyball. I began in 5th grade and have continued until this day. I have always enjoyed playing but my passion for the game didn't come from just playing. Although I do love to play and I love the way my body feels while I'm on the court, my love of the game came from having an amazing coach. I was blessed to have a coach who knew that sports could be used for more than just competition. It was in 8th grade that Mr. Shirley headed up our team... and his passion for the game was very clear to us young ladies. But more than just teaching us volleyball he also instilled a confidence in us, he used the game to develop not just volleyball players but young ladies. (Thank you to Mr. Kevin Shirley.)

I have had some extra time this past month to really think about my vision for this club. I usually spend more time visiting with the coaching staff but due to an unforeseen circumstance I have not had the privilege to spend time with every coach. I was thinking about what I would want them to know about Southwind and our "mission". And I thought it has been my life experiences that have brought me to this place and has really developed the vision for this club.

I have spent the last 14 or 15 years as a club director and founded Southwind 7 years ago. Each year I recruit a number of athletes, I speak to numerous families, and I interview and recruit coaches. I am "married" to the job. :) My efforts have me invested in the success of every team, every coach, and every player. I am blessed to do something I love and that is what drives my personal vision for the club and I hope affects every person involved in Southwind. My hope is that Southwind is more than just an elite level volleyball club... the following is my personal vision of a volleyball club... a vision of Southwind.

1) That above all else we manage the club with integrity, we provide the role model for all of our athletes. That we say what we mean and we mean what we say. That we communicate openly and honestly (as well as tactfully) with the athletes, their families, and the club staff.

2) That when it is all said and done, our energy and our efforts are spent on our athletes. We all coach for different reasons, some are passionate about the sport, some have a need for power, some want to give back, others a need to feel loved and accepted, and so on... but the bottom line is coaching is not about us... not about the coach. Coaching is about the athlete, are we helping them to become better athletes? Are we helping them to become the adult they were meant to be? Our role is of "professional" coach, laying aside any personal needs in order to be the coach our athletes' need.

3) Sports provide an opportunity to teach more than just sports. Team work, discipline, work ethic... whether or not we mention these qualities by name they are still apart of a well run team. Learning about these qualities have a life long effect allowing our athletes to walk away from their season as better people. Working towards these qualities gives our athletes confidence in themselves and their abilities... building character in each young life we touch.

There is no doubt I'll have to add another blog entry because I didn't hit all the topics of my vision, but these three aspects are what came to mind. Southwind has affected so many lives in a positive way... my hope is that continues.

Thoughts? :)

Seasons of Life

2010-11-26T09:27:00.003-06:00

I am not sure how many of you have come to this weblog to see if had posted anything about my current situation. I plan to continue this weblog but with content relating to coaching. I have also decided to have a personal weblog and if you are interested please feel free to visit it at http://web.me.com/rachelmagana.

Someone's Child

2010-07-30T20:39:00.010-05:00

As the summer comes to a close and with school right around the corner there seems to be a lot of talk about the upcoming high school volleyball season. I have been coaching for the past 20 years and every year parents approach me to ask me my thoughts on the their child's chances of playing for their high school. "What position do you think they should tryout for?", "What areas does she need to work on?", "Do you think she'll have a chance to play on the varsity/junior varsity/freshman A team?".

I think these questions weigh heavily on the minds of all the parents with children that play sports at the high school level. What I have found over the years is that although I have many years of experience coaching, as a club coach, a high school coach, and even a collegiate coach I can not foresee what decisions will be made by a high school coach. Many times I disagree with the coaching decisions I see at the high school game. There are even times I question high school coaches about their motives, their tactics, their logic.

I have heard of high school coaches who make promises to their players but then do not follow through on what they have promised. Athletes are told they'll get the chance to play with varsity on a given tournament date and it does not happen. I wonder, would that coach tell their own child they will take them to the movies and later not take them... I believe anyone who has children or work with children know that the child will remember what they were told. Parents learn not to promise or even mention the plans they have because the child will remember and be disappointed if they do not come to pass.

I can not say why a coach would push an injured athlete to continue to practice when they can see the child is in pain. I have had players come back to us after a high school season rehabbing an injury due to overuse and pushing from a head coach at the high school level. I have even been informed of an athlete who had developed a major back injury, that she can no longer play at the competitive level, due to a coach who continued to push her to play through the pain. I wonder would that coach push their own child past the pain to finish a season, a match, or even a practice.

Yes, I wonder many times about the decisions made at the high school level. When I think about them and the decisions that are made I come back to myself. I can only speak to what I know.

I am aware that there are times that people do not understand my decisions when it comes to running a club. But what most people do not understand is that there is more to the story than what they see. I believe in being a person of integrity, someone who is honest, compassionate, and intelligent. I know for myself that the decisions I must make have to come from that place of integrity and that most people are not aware of the entire situation that leads to difficult decisions and choices.

I make decisions based on honesty, what is the truth of a situation... the good, the bad, and the ugly. I do not hide from the truth and I am willing to look at myself in the midst of a difficult situation. I am also keenly aware that other people do not know the truth or are made aware of only part of the story. So in making difficult decisions I must know it is the "right" decision whether it is popular or not. I must stand by that decision when others disagree and are vocal about their disagreement. But as a woman of integrity it is not may place to persuade the world that I have made the "right" decision I must know that I have done the right thing.

I am compassionate about the decisions to be made. How does this affect the people involved? I am responsible for the players, the coaches, and the club as well as myself. I have a very good friend who also runs her own business and just the other day she told me "I am the one taking the risk. I am the business owner and it comes back on me. I have to make the best and difficult decisions, especially when it is not popular." She was right, my responsibilities are wide and cover many people including myself. I have to consider more than just my emotions, I have to consider many people and because of that someone is bound to feel they have been slighted. The decisions I make have to come back to that place of integrity, I have to do the right thing.

I strive to be an intelligent woman and part of intelligence means learning new things as well as learning from my mistakes. I have to be willing to become better at teaching skills. (That does not mean that ever time I go to a coaching clinic that I change the way I teach or train. I believe an intelligent coach pulls the best from where ever they go and place that in their coaching. I have worked with coaches who attend one clinic and decide to change their entire approach to teaching a skill or even running their program. Perhaps it is my science back ground, I majored in biology, but science is about the search for truth. Christianity is also the search for truth... but that is for another blog. In science you develop a theory and then search for the truth. If it holds up then it becomes law, if it does not then it remains a theory. College should teach us to think... we should not read a book and take it as truth. As intelligent people we learn from everyone around us and take the best and be willing to develop our own understanding. But this is also a topic for another blog.) I have to also be willing to learn to work better with people. And I have to be willing to learn to become a better director as well. I have had over 30 years of experience in the sport of volleyball and I have no doubt that I have made mistakes a long the way. But it is because of those mistakes and my willingness to learn from them that I can now make the difficult and unpopular decisions, I know that I am doing the right thing.

I believe any coach who has less than 8 years of experience as a coach is still a novice coach. I believe after 8 years time you can look back and see the development of your athletes and glimpse them as adults. When you can look at them and recognize the growth you have influenced or even the mistakes you have made at their expense and can learn from them then you begin to understand the impact and the responsibility you truly have as a coach.

Many high school coaches are young or new to the world of coaching and making difficult decisions are part of the job. Just like the rest of the world they learn on the job and many times the decisions they make have more components then parents are aware of... perhaps they have guidelines they choose to follow in making the difficult and unpopular decisions. If they are a good coach they will learn from their choices... they will see the positive outcome from a good decision and they will learn to deal with the consequences of a bad decision.

So when parents ask me about the coming high school season I can not even guess what decisions a coach will make. The only thing we can look to is their track record... what decisions have they made in the past? And do they continue to make better decisions as they continue to coach? I can not say that I fully understand the high school coaches but I do know that they are under pressure and there are situations that we are not fully aware of, we must give them the benefit of the doubt. They make the best decisions that they can and although difficult and unpopular they are the courageous person living with their decisions.

I am not sure that this entry will give you any sense of peace about the challenges your child will face. At the beginning of each season and throughout the season I remind our coaches "that we are dealing with someone's child... that this young person is someone's baby and is the most special person in the world to their parents. Treat them with compassion and respect but discipline them for their benefit". What I would say to you is that this coach, who you will be dealing with for the next few months, is someone's child... to someone out there this is the most special person in the world... treat them the way you would want your own child to be treated.

Will the workout ever end?!

2010-07-14T23:43:00.012-05:00

For over 20 years my life has involved sports... for over 20 years I have loved every aspect of being involved in team sports. Of course, there are days that I have found myself frustrated or upset over volleyball but, by far, I have enjoyed my time playing and coaching.

We all have different reasons for coaching, some need the recognition of having a "great team", others feel the need for self-fulfillment in influencing young lives, and still others fill the need for personal relationships. Whatever the reason we all tend to be very passionate about the sport and about coaching.

I can think of many things that I have learned from playing a team sport, including developing personal relationships with teammates; learning to take feedback and instruction and utilizing that for my benefit; finding ways to get along with difficult teammates/coaches/officials; time management; and a great work ethic. To this day I continue to add physical fitness to my already busy schedule.

Having spent the last 20 years training athletes I have never been able to pay for a trainer or a gym membership for that matter. I have all the knowledge to train myself... question is, do I have the discipline it takes to actually get and stay in shape?

Each summer I make an effort to get back in shape. For some reason, there is a huge misconception about coaches... Since we are in the gym so often many people mistake us for being in shape, but the mere presence of a coach in a gym does not mean we are actually in shape. :) More often than not we are training others to be in shape but our own health is not always on the top of our priority list. As I get older I recognize the importance of maintaining my health and have made a more consist effort in maintaining my physical fitness. Each summer I begin my regime of walking, running, "stairs" and overall physical fitness training and every summer I have to talk myself into doing my workouts. Will this effort of convincing myself to workout ever end? ugghhh!

As I drive to the track field, which is where I do my personal training, I have to say things to myself including "you'll feel better after you do this", "think of all the athlete's you training and how good they look, don't you want to look the same", "size 8, size 8, size 8". As I begin my run my self talk continues, "we are temples of the Most High, it's our duty to stay in shape", "your stomach is finally going down", "the body is meant to be used, so keep running".

Where is that self discipline I had as a young adult? I could run and run without thought and train for hours in the gym. I wonder where it went... I wonder is it still there... I wonder how I can tell my athletes to work hard and stay in the drills if I am not able to finish my laps?

Being a coach does not mean we have to be the best athlete on the court, although some coaches do feel the need to feed their personal ego by being the best athlete on the court, but that does not mean we have to be great athletes in order to be great coaches. Being a great coach involves so many other aspects... rapport with our athletes, ability to communicate clearly, organizational skills, teaching skills.... and more. However, when I think back to my playing days it was a hard sell to respect a coach who was not, at the very least, in shape. Then I think about my athletes... I ask them to work harder than they have, I ask them to train longer than they have, and I ask them to perform skills beyond their current ability and they do all these things and more. I am so very proud of the athletes I coach as well as all the athletes involved in our club programs. Then I think about my own training....

When I go for my runs there are times I don't feel like training but then I think about what I ask from my athletes and what I expect from them. I want more from them than they want for themselves and I demand more from them than other coaches have. If I can demand more from them than why not myself? If I expect their respect than I must earn it as well as having self respect. So when I am working out I tell myself that I can do more, that I will do more, that I must do more. If we demand our athletes train hard then we should also be willing to train hard ourselves.

Are you where you should be? Perhaps its time to take a long hard look in the mirror and see if you can live up to your own standards, those would be the same one's you place on your athletes.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-05-31T13:15:00.006-05:00

I realize that today is Memorial Day but for the past week I have been thinking about how grateful I am for so many things. I usually go for a walk each day and I take that time to consider many things going on in my life and I continually come back to the blessings I have.

I am grateful for my family who loves, encourages, and supports me. I am not sure if the rest of the world has what I have but when I think about all they have done for me and stood by me I am grateful for my parents and three wonderful brothers.

I am grateful for my friends. When I think about the people I am surrounded by, and the people I have become friends with throughout my life, I am amazed by the quality of people I have in my life. People who also love, encourage and support me.

I am grateful for my health, each day I walk or run I am grateful that I can still workout. How many people in our own lives have lost their health. I am grateful for the minor aches and pains because they are minor and remind me that I am still blessed to be able to dress myself, feed myself, and play.

I am grateful for the many physical blessings that I have... shelter, food, cars, money.... and so much more.

Are there times that I wish my family had more power or influence? Yes, but when I think of my three brothers and their tremendous support and encouragement I could not ask for better siblings. They are there when I need them and even when I don't.... these are the "good guys" that so many people believe don't exist. When I think of all the encouragement and support from my parents... even to this day, I would not change their position in life or their wealth because they have given me riches that can not be counted.

There are many times in life that I am frustrated with people around me but when I stop and think about the people who call me "friend", I think about their values, love, and encouragement I feel secure in those relationships. I am sure there are many people who are also frustrated with me and some people who just don't like me very much. But if everyone liked me I wouldn't be human. When I hear about someone who doesn't care for me I consider it confirmation that I am doing something right. When you look at great figures throughout history they are either loved or hated... they inspire great emotion... I consider myself in good company. But those people whom I call "friends" have my best interest at heart and they stand by me no matter the cost. I am grateful for their friendship, I am grateful for their insights, I am grateful for their love.

There are moments when I think about my "glory days", if I only realized just how good I looked I would have dressed differently, I may have even gotten a belly button ring. ;) But now, as my body ages I some times feel sad that I may never recapture that youth. But then I think about my goals as a young girl, believe it or not, I wanted gray hair. Why?! I believe gray hair is a sign of wisdom and above all I have always wanted to be considered wise. I am not sure that others would agree that I have wisdom but the knowledge I have from my years of living far surpasses the knowledge I had as young, athletic woman. I am grateful that even as I age I am still capable of being athletic. I am grateful that medical science affords us a better life than what my parents or grandparents had.

Do I dream of having more "things"? Our society places pressure on us to buy the newest gadgets, to have the biggest homes we can afford, to purchase not just one but two cars. We are pressured every day we turn on the t.v. or radio to want more and to acquire material goods. But do we really need all of them... do we need the 3 flat screen t.v.'s? Do we need the extra computer? I love the things I have but what I love more is that I am given the freedom to have anything I want from material goods to position in life. What I love is the FREEDOM provided to me by this great nation. I am grateful for the men and women who have made our lives so comfortable and meaningful. I am grateful for those who have chosen to serve our nation in our military.

We can get caught up in the "things" we want but let's remember what makes it all possible. From the founding fathers who fought and were willing to give their lives to our freedom, to the men and women who traveled around the world to Europe, Asia, Middle East, as well as other places and have given their lives for our freedom. I know there are countries around the world who do not have a high opinion of our nation but do they understand that it is the blood shed by our nation that has afford peace to so many around the world? Do they understand that in times past our economy has proved a higher standard of living for them as well as ourselves? Do they understand that our "warrior" mentality is not due to our lack of education but rather to a sense of higher calling, a passion of freedom and human rights? I am grateful for our nation and the men and women who have served us.

So yes, it is Memorial Day but let us remember our fallen soldiers with a grateful heart.

Inspired by Greatness

2010-05-20T12:24:00.006-05:00

Although it may be hard to believe, I actually took a vacation recently. It seems every year, its decided for me, that I need to step away from volleyball and take some time for myself. And as well meaning as people are I never really step away from volleyball. I am blessed to do something that I love and that I continue to strive to become better at.... it's not a "typical" job that I need to walk away from. Coaching volleyball and directing a club is as much a hobby and passion as it is a job. How do you separate yourself from something that you love to do? Yes, there are moments away from the gym, away from volleyball, but my drive brings me back to what I love to do.

I fully recognize that my self worth and purpose is not directly tied to volleyball. I am a woman of faith whose purpose and worth is determined by my personal relationship with God. I am just blessed that God has placed this desire in me and given me the ability to pursue what I love to do. Do I have other passions and desires? Yes, without a doubt, and perhaps I'll be given the opportunity to pursue those as well in the future. But regardless of what I am doing, what I am pursuing, where I am in life I am always amazed to find others who inspire me to become more.... to become a better coach, a better director, a better daughter and sister, a better friend, a better person.

I am not sure if everyone feels this way but I am inspired each time I hear our national anthem. To consider what our founding fathers went through to "make" a nation brings me close to tears. When I consider the cold nights that Washington and his men went through, when I imagine Jefferson drafting the bill of rights, when I think about Franklin in lively debate in the continental congress I am in amazed. Thinking of those simple men who were placed in great opportunities and living up to their potential inspires me.

Each time I fly on a plane a I am reminded of the creative genius it took for the Wright Brothers to develop our flying ships. To think of a plane, breaking the rules of physical science, going against gravity and carrying people from one location to another is miraculous. Where do others gain their dreams, their visions, their ideas and then carry them out. Leonardo Da Vinci had such dreams and ideas and he too inspires me when I think of all he did. Considering Da Vinci did not live in the age of technology and yet he was still capable of envision great inventions and then developing them. There are many things that amaze me, and inspire me to become more and to become better.

On my recent vacation to San Diego, California I was once again inspired.... One of the places I love to visit when I'm in San Diego is Balboa Park. It's a beautiful park that houses the San Diego Zoo as well a numerous museums and gardens. While I was there I went to the Timkin Art Museum and was surprised to find a special exhibit on Rembrandt's etchings.

There are many things I would like to see in my life time that I wonder if I'll ever see with my own eyes. The day I saw the Parthenon in Athens, Greece was one of those moments that I will always cherish. The day I stood on the temple mount in Jerusalem, Israel was another. And too see work done by one of the greatest artist of all time was another moment that I will always remember. To see his work so closely and to study what this man could do, even only for a brief time, brought me close to tears.

As I stood in the room with approximately 15 etchings it inspired me... this man, this artist, could be something bigger and greater by what he accomplished... what could I accomplish in my life time? For whatever reason this moment in time I am a coach and a club director seeing these etchings makes me want to become an even better coach and club director. Rembrandt is not a role model for me but an inspiration for what a person can do.... when you consider the awesome power that this person had as well as the other great artists, inventors, scientists, politicians how does it not inspire us all to want to live lives of greatness? I challenge anyone reading these words... become the person you were meant to be, dream your dreams and live your visions... inspire greatness and live legendary.

To be or not to be.... ?

2010-04-04T11:53:00.015-05:00

Each year that I coach, each season that I work with young athletes I wonder to myself "when is it all too much"? I am not certain what the rest of the world thinks or feels when it comes to sports, however, in the U.S. sports play a predominate role in our lives.

I am proud to be a U.S. citizen, our values, our morals, our understanding of how the world should work is embedded in each moment we live. The history of our forefathers and battles they fought to establish this great nation never ceases to amaze and inspire me. Our grandparents continued to hold on to those beliefs and many of them gave their lives to the cause of "freedom" for our nation and those of us alive today. Even our parents, our brothers, our sisters continue to fight by serving in many ways. And although the world may not agree with us or even care for us we, as a nation, still determine so much of what the world is doing and becoming.

It is this "fighting" nature, of pride, determination, and wanting for "better" that drives us as a nation. And it drives us as individuals... it has become so much of who we are that it has become our "fighting' nature that drives us in sports. We are looking for that "cinderella" story, the underdog fighting to get ahead, people overcoming unbelievable odds to win the championship. Think of how often we celebrate sports, there is super bowl sunday, the world series, march madness... not to mention the numerous college games, matches, and events... high school rivalries, conference winners, and state championships. We are constantly driven to become better, to become more, we envision our success and work towards it non-stop. We establish our goals and work to attain them. And once a goal is reached?... then what?.... what is our next step?..... WE SET ANOTHER GOAL!

So I think to myself... when is it too much? I have worked with children as young as 8 and young adults seeking college scholarships as well as adults that are weekend warriors. All setting goals and working towards them. But we are HUMAN "BEINGS" when are we meant to just "BE".... when are we suppose to accept who and where we are? We are not HUMAN "DOINGS", is there a moment that we can just "be"?

I debate this issue with myself many times over the course of a season, whether it's a 8 month season or an 8 week season. Although I only spend 2 - 14 hours a week with an athlete my influence can be overwhelming and I wonder what am teaching this athlete? I would hope that part of what they take away from me as a coach is self-confidence but if I am constantly asking them to do more and become more do they learn to trust who they are?

But as I seek to understand my role in these young lives I am also reminded that we are all part of the HUMAN "RACE". A marathon runner is always working towards finishing the race... it would be madness to run a marathon without training.

So here is the dilemma.... how to balance "being", encouraging young athletes to accept themselves for who and where they are. While preparing them for the "race", challenging them to become more, working with them to attain goals.

I am not certain that I have the answer but I believe it is a delicate balancing act and must be modeled by us first. Self-confidence comes from accepting ourselves, our strengthens and our weaknesses. Realizing that we have much to offer to the people in our lives and yet be willing to accept love and help from those same people. Doing all we can when we can and taking the time to enjoy what we are doing as we are doing it. But also realizing when we can do nothing and offer our prayers and allow others to run in the "race" as we sit by just "being".

"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened." Lao Tzu

2010-01-15T17:51:00.006-06:00

The Chinese Taoist Philosopher Lao Tzu has a wonderful quote... so many of us who coach are concerned with the players we have. What motivates our athletes? How do we approach them to get the most from them during practice and competition? What's going on in their lives keeping them from their best performances?

We are always trying to find out about others in an effort to become better coaches. But how often do we take a look at ourselves to find out what motivates us? Why do we coach and are our needs affecting the way we coach in a negative or positive way?

I recently read an article by Darlene A. Kluka, Ph. D and JGU van Wyk, Ph. D titled "Building an Ethical Framework in the Volleyball Team Environment". (This article was published in the AVCA bi-monthly journal.) These authors present a need that all coaches need to consider. As a Junior Olympic Volleyball Coach and Director I view myself as a professional and hope others in our organization do the same. But more than that I hope that all coaches present themselves in a professional manner because doing so only makes my job easier. The premise of this article is a need for self-assessment because our personal needs can affect the way we handle our sphere of influence as a coach.

It is our own personal vulnerabilities that can lead us to behave in unethical ways. I remind our coaches on a regular basis that our position in the lives of our athletes need to have obvious boundaries. Our influence is the strongest when we remember that we are their coaches and not their friends, their parents, or their siblings. Once we, as coaches, step over those professional boundaries we lose their respect and any chance of truly affecting their lives in a positive way. So what do we, as individual's, bring with us into the gym or on the field or any other arena of competition?

The article suggest we evaluate our personal needs to see if any of those are trying to be filled in our position as coaches. The article list 7 areas of personal vulnerabilities:

Burnout

Insecurity

Need for control

Personal life crisis

Stress

Limited social/sexual outlets

Unexamined personal fears and desires

The article goes on to explain each of these in a better detail and warns coaches to be aware of any vulnerabilities as it could affect our athletes in a negative way and in turn ourselves. But in addition to the warning the article goes on to express the need to see our strenths as well... and to realize their limitations. We all bring a wealth of experience with us and taking time to self assess only helps us become better coaches.

Maybe its time we all take a few moments to assess ourselves... although knowing and understanding others is wise.... its when we truly know ourselves that we become enlightened.

"Sports do not build character, they reveal it." John Wooden

2009-10-20T23:26:00.012-05:00

With club season quickly approaching I'm reminded of how much competition can bring out the best... or the worst in people. There are so many aspects that I love about sports... as an athlete I learned what it meant to desire something and then make every effort to attain it. I learned what it meant to have a goal, work towards that goal and achieve it. I learned part of working towards that goal meant sacrifice, sweat, and at times, tears. I learned what it's like to meet that goal and I've learned how to handle defeat and walk away gracefully. I've learned what it means to be a teammate and to be a competitor... to win with confidence and to lose with integrity. I've learned that I am capable of more than what the world would expect from me and in turn am able to give the world more than they deserve from me.

It is the things listed above that drive me to coach, to teach, to give part of myself to the next generation. I look at my players and pray that they are my legacy... that they live up to the expectations that I have for them... not the empty expectations of a shallow worldview.

However, it saddens me to learn about others in the sports world who believe the very opposite... they take what is good about sports and taint it with their own selfish desires. Forgetting along the way that we are affecting young lives... and at times even adult lives. When a competitor has only negative things to say about myself or the club (which offends me for my coaching staff)... or when a competitor has delusions of grandeur about themselves and "their"coaching... or when a competitor is so self involved that they fail to communicate honestly with their own players it saddens me.

Where are the traits of "personal integrity", "self-confidence", and "character"?

But then I'm reminded that sports do not develop character... they only reveal it.

We're all just little kids!

2009-09-04T07:36:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago we hosted some coaching clinics for the parks and recreation departments. I have really come to enjoy those clinics and the people who attend. It's always a good time of sharing and learning and even the Southwind coaches who work the clinics learn new things... especially about people.

One of the lessons I've learned over the years is that we are all still little children... and that's a good thing. And all children like to play... and I think we some times forget that.

During the coaching clinic we try to introduce some "games" as warm ups or to break up a practice. We play line tag, bridge tag, zoo race... and it's amazing to see how quickly adult men and women can enjoy the simple act of running, chasing and being chased. The screams of laughter and delight as well as the effort they put into the games is amazing. I can envision each of them as 12 year old children and what their personalities must of have been like at that age. It reminds me that we all need to take time to play... to enjoy life... and giggle every once in a while.

But more than that, when I coach I not only have to deal with children and young adults but many times I have to work with their parents. Conversations about their children, commitments to the club, schedules for practices and training. And it's inevitable, there are times of conflict resolution. I remember that even though they are adults there is still a child in there... and I can many times see that child within the parent as we discuss or deal with difficult issues.

I have dealt with people who believe they are always right (but they do not recognize it)... and I can see that stubborn child. I have talked to people who are intimidated by my position of authority... and I can see that quiet child who never spoke up. I have had meetings with people who don't like to have meetings but understand the importance of dealing with difficult issues... and I can see that responsible child. I have had to corner parents who refuse to admit there are issues to deal with... and I see the child who avoids conflict at all cost. There are have been parents in the club who share their opinions (no matter how off base they may seem to us) to everyone and produce drama that was never there... and I see a child who desperately wants attention and needs to feel in control.

So yes, I still see the child in many of us... including myself. So in dealing with people I have to remind myself that I am not only dealing with children and young adults on the court but also off the court. I remind myself of this because it is just as important to be patient with the parents of our players as it is to be with our players. Although adult men and women can choose how to interact or respond to the world around them in challenging situations they almost always go back to what feels most comfortable for them and many times it's the response they had as children.

When I remind myself that each of us still have that child inside of us it makes it much easier to understand the families I work with. And it's also a reminder to me that I have to take time out to play and have fun just as much as I allow others to play.

Future Plans

2009-08-08T11:44:00.006-05:00

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Some times when I sit back and think about all the things I "want" out of life I realize I am no where near my dreams or at least the "dreams" that this world finds so important. But my "wants" are not always my needs. That is not to say that what I desire from life is unattainable because I believe our dreams place in our "heart" (not the notions of dreams from the world's standards) are from God to be attained... but ultimately I rest in the fact that God has a plan for my life and I am doing all that I can to follow His plan for my life.

There are many things I could have but I have chosen a path that does not afford me all the luxuries that I see others have. But what I do have is a sense of purpose, a sense of pride in what I do and I am happy. I believe my happiness comes from following God's purpose and plan for my life. I believe when we follow the design for our lives we can not help but to be happy. I am always amazed to meet people who are unhappy... most unhappy people are that way because they choose to be, however, many have placed themselves in situations that add to their unhappiness. I am grateful that I am happy and am surrounded by people who support and encourage me in my heartfelt dreams.

I think about this now because I am hearing about so many athlete's in our volleyball community making changes from one club to another. I believe people always think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, however, no matter where you are the grass will still needed to be maintained and mowed. But ultimately I think the decision needs to come down to where the player, the athlete, the child is treat in such a way that they are happy. What a difficult position parents find themselves in... to have to help or to make decisions for their child. But I am always amazed to see the decisions parents make to allow their child to be placed in a environment that takes away their happiness. There are different styles of coaching and different philosophies to the game but the bottom line is the child.

It is easy to get caught up with the ideas and desires we "believe" (many times we see what the rest of the world expects and make decisions based on the world's expectations) are best for us or our child but are they the design for our lives/their lives? I think there are a lot of ways to know whether or not we are following the "plan" for our lives but the bottom line is "am I happy".... is my child "happy". My hope is that as these athletes move from one club to another, from one coach to another, that they can rest assured that it is the best decision for them... are they happy and will they continue to smile when they go to practice and tournaments?

We must find the place where we are meant to be... that is when all the desires from our "heart" (not our mind) are met, that is when we see the plan for our lives become reality, that is when we, as well as the rest of the world, see what success truly is.

Where I am meant to be!

2009-07-21T07:54:00.005-05:00

Another year older and, hopefully, another year wiser... and so very certain that I am exactly where I am meant to be.

Over the years I have held many jobs... I've worked in the "real world" in many different offices, I've found myself in bookstores, clothing stores, and even a hardware store. I've worked as a zookeeper and spent many years at the Deanna Rose Farmstead. I've enjoyed many of my jobs but as I look back I know, without a doubt, that this is where I am meant to be.

I've never had a tougher job than coaching and directing volleyball... it's hard to manage the many administrative duties, the players and their families, and all the other aspects that come along with this position. Each year brings new challenges but also lessons from the past. Coaches come and go... I've seen players leaving and moving on but each year I also see new athletes who are excited and ready to begin a new journey. Each year I find myself questioning why I do this and each year I come back to the same answer... I love coaching this sport! Even with all the ups and downs I would not change it... it is the most rewarding position I have ever had, it is where I am meant to be.

With every success (and there is more to this sport than just winning) I am rejuvenated. And with every challenge I become more determined.

I can not imagine living life any other way. I some times think about other professions.... doctor, lawyer... and I have no doubt if i committed to attaining another profession I could do so. But my choice, my desire, my God-given gift is to remain here... yes, this is where I am meant to be.

Mission Statement

2009-06-20T08:09:00.009-05:00

Southwind Volleyball Club is dedicated to youth and young adult athletes. Our primary focus is developing the fundamental skills for a successful life by teaching the fundamental skills of volleyball.

Goals in attaining our Mission:

1) Developing elite athletes with sports training that emphasizes, physical development and proper nutrition.

2) Educating youth and young adults in the areas of volleyball skills and strategy, as well as the mental aspects of competition including work ethics, commitment, and team.

3) Training players in the areas of leadership and communication in order to build a successful club, successful teams, and successful individuals.

I was thinking the other day... I began playing volleyball in fifth grade, that's 11 years old, and will be entering my 40's soon! I've had almost 30 years of experience in the sport of volleyball, I could hardly believe this myself. But what's even more amazing is the fact that I'm still passionate about the game! I love the way the game is played and the qualities a person learns through competition as well as being part of team. In addition to "loving" the game I also love coaching the game... and that was not always the case. The first 3 -4 years of my coaching career I wanted to remain a player but now I would much rather be on the sideline giving instruction and developing players and teams. It was a tough transition for me but now I believe there is a divine purpose for my coaching the "game".

Over the years of playing, coaching, officiating, and directing the club I've come to a place that I know exactly why I'm doing this... I have my mission statement (see above). I am lucky enough to have others who have joined this same vision and coach very similar to myself. I believe every coach should have a mission statement before they begin their first practice... and definitely before their first competition. It is the key in answering all the tough questions before you ever get to the tough questions.

Looking back over my volleyball career I can see how this mission statement was developed and why I can stand on this statement no matter the situation. I firmly believe God places us in positions for a reason... no matter what the position we are called there and expected to do well. I can remember well those people who answered this call and spoke into my life in a positive way. I can remember the effort and sacrifices they made for myself and so many other young athletes... they are the reason many of us have decided to coach.

But yet, there were also many people in my life who did not answer the call... former coaches as well as other directors whom God intended to use. In the world we live in there are many people who should be doing more but for whatever "brokenness" they have in their lives are unable to do so, it is not a reason for bitterness but a resolution to make certain that I would respond differently.

While those people who influenced my life in such a tremendously positive way are the reason I'm here it is those people that did not that have inspired me to excellence. It is the reason I feel the need to develop the whole person and not just the volleyball athlete. It is our position to influence these young lives in a positive way... and you do that by speaking "life" to them. The Bible says "there is the power of life or death in the tongue", when our feedback is always negative or always critical there is only death. Is it any wonder why some coaches do not have the respect of their athletes... when the only comments that come from them are always critical? Although these coaches usually see themselves as giving "feedback" to listen to their tone of voice as well as watch their body language and then to see the affect their words have on their players it is obvious the young athletes' spirit is being "killed". But to see a coach who provides feedback in a positive way and is excited to see progress it is obvious in the way the young athletes begin to blossom like a spring flower coming to life after a rain shower.

The biggest part of developing the whole person is to have an idea of where the player should be when they are finished competing with you. A mission statement is a road map of where the athlete needs to go as well as the final goal for our young adults. If I can assist them in their personal self confidence and ability to communicate well then they will be ahead of the "game" by the time they leave us for college. Self confidence is developed by building the athlete up with words but also knowledge and actions. What are we teaching our young adults about taking care of themselves... nutrition, personal care, how to speak well in order to communicate for the betterment of all? What responsibilities are we allowing them to take on to teach them and give them a sense of self worth? I have come to the conclusion that I am not capable of providing everything my athlete's need so many times I go outside of myself for help. It is our responsibility to give our athletes the knowledge and the experience to grow into the women they were called to be... and that means stepping outside ourselves and our shortcomings to provided the very best for them. With a club mission statement, a common calling, we can all bring our best to the athlete's in order to make them their best.

But to me the most important aspect of developing the whole person is setting healthy boundaries and a mission statement helps us to do that. We are meant to influence these children/young adults in a positive way and that includes teaching them healthy boundaries by setting those boundaries. I will be the first to admit that each year I develop a bond with my players but I must always come back to the fact that I am their coach. I am not their friend nor am I their parent and by no means am I their counselor... when we step over the boundaries then we are no longer doing what we are called to do. Every child has a parent as well as friends... our role is to maintain the level of respect of player and coach. If a child needs a friend or a parent it is our role to find the help they need not to fill that role... if they need a counselor it is not our role to become a listening ear. By trying to fill roles that we are not intended to, we step out of our role as coach, we then undermine the role of "coach" and respect is lost. Without respect nothing can be accomplished.

I would also warn that our role with the parents of the athletes is one of a position of authority over their children. We can enjoy the parents and families but we are not in this place to befriend them. We may have many things in common and feel as though they are our friends or even like family but we do not have the luxury of being transparent with our athlete's families. Once we step over the boundaries of "coach-player" it is very difficult to get it back... and many times can be damaging in the end.

I love coaching because it calls us to become the very best! Just like we want our athlete's to be their best we are challenged to become better than who we are today.

My last point in having a mission statement is that it brings back to us the very things we expect from our athletes. My questions to you are:

Are you coachable? Do you listen to feedback from others and respond in a positive way? We ask our athlete's to listen to us and change but do you listen to others, more experienced coaches or others in positions of authority, and make an effort to listen and change? How can we expect our athlete's to respond appropriately if we do not?

Are you introspective? We ask our athletes on a regular basis to "find it within themselves" to become a better player. Do you take the time to re-evaluate your attitude? If we fail to see our shortcomings, and we all have them, then how can we expect our athletes to see their own and change them?

Are you willing to sit the bench for your team? So many times we ask our players to sit on the sidelines as others play and then expect them to have a great attitude... can you take a back sit and allow other coaches to step in for you? And do you have a good attitude about it?

Are you a good leader? This one is tricky because in order to be a good leader you must first be a good follower. I see many coaches on "power trips" who boss their players around and expect them to be happy about it. Do you follow the lead of others around you well... and when you are in a leadership position are their people following you? You can not be a leader without followers.

I have to ask myself these questions on a regular basis... and I'm grateful to have people in Southwind who keep me grounded in these principles. When I look at the staff of coaches I am amazed at the quality of people we have attracted... people who look at this mission statement and want to be a part of developing people. Coaches who want to become better than they are today.

Keys for a Successful Practice

2009-05-29T17:40:00.005-05:00

1) Never end a drill artificially. Teach your players to play every drill out, regardless of the drill's objective.

2) Create a competitive environment. Players can compete with themselves to raise a new standard for individual drills. That competitive element makes the players comfortable with winning, losing, and scoring points and it fosters a head-in-the-game attitude right up to the end.

3) Try not to talk too much. Coach effectively in a concise manner. Most coaches (including me) talk too much. When you coach, don't stop the exercise or drill unless it's absolutely necessary. Coach while the activity continues by talking directly to an individual or a small group. On those rare occasions when you must stop the entire activity and bring something to the attention of the team, do it quickly and succinctly. Then get back into action immediately.

4) Positive feedback elicits a better response than negative feedback. Praise when it's warranted; otherwise say nothing.

5) Give your drills names that your players will remember. The next time you do a specific drill, you won't need to waste time explaining it. Just name it and run it.

6) Make sure the players understand the objective of each drill. Tell them what they are trying to accomplish.

7) Adjust and modify the scoring system of a drill to increase the complexity of drills that your players particularly enjoy. Doing this will keep the drill effective. Move gradually from having your players accomplish a certain number of successful contacts, to a certain number of successful contacts out of the total number of efforts, to a completely competitive situation in which both sides of the net have an objective. One side wins, and the other side losses.

8) Give your players simple practice rules to follow consistently at every training session, perhaps nothing more than starting on time with a certain sequence of events, using a particular method of receiving instruction, and taking breaks at predetermined times. Rules of practice should provide structure and create a comfortable environment for your athletes.

9) Normally, practice is not the best environment in which to do physical training. You can accomplish that more effectively outside practices, when physical training can be the first priority.

10) Be sensitive to the moods and flow of a practice. If things simply aren't going well, it may be better to end practice prematurely than continue to practice poorly. On the other hand, abbreviating practice too often is not the way to develop a high-caliber team.

From Seeking Excellence in a Program-Going for Gold by Doug Beal found in the book The Volleyball Coaching Bible.

Just something to consider when practicing with your own teams. The book is very good and has a lot of great information concerning both the tangibles as well as the intangibles of the game.

A moment to reflect

2009-05-15T22:47:00.004-05:00

It seems that my days are filled with lots of "things" to do... if I'm not in the gym training then I'm working on preparing for the training. If my mind isn't focused on the actually training then I'm researching the training. If my mind isn't focused on any of the training then I'm preparing other activities of the club... the leagues, the camps, the clinics. If I'm not preparing for the activities then I'm brainstorming for new activities. If I'm not focused on the activities then I'm building the organization... looking at buildings, researching "administrative" activities (business plans, contracts, etc.). It seems I'm always busy with one thing or another and although there are moments where I slow down it hit me tonight that I need to re-evaluate, what am I doing and why?

I know I visit with all our coaches about personal coaching philosophies but it's been a while since I've looked at mine. I've taken time, in the past, to reflect on what it is I want to accomplish as a coach but I've come a long way since I first did that. So the questions now... what's important to me now? how do I want to affect the world around me? what are my strengthens and how do I best use them?

The final question now is why do you coach?... I'd like to hear some of your personal thoughts on why we do what we do.

Leaving unsaid the wrong thing...

2009-05-08T12:37:00.000-05:00

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." Benjamin Franklin (US author, diplomat, inventor, Physicists, politician, and printer 1706-1790)

I believe coaching is much more than just learning the game and teaching it to others. Coaching, to me, has as much to do with developing people and not just athletes. I believe as a coach I have the opportunity to influence the young lives of my athletes and also the lives of the coaches who work along side me. I don't claim to have all the answers or all the amazing ideas when it comes to teaching, training, developing athletes but in my years experience coaches have an opportunity to affect many lives. We get to choose how we affect those lives, in either a positive or negative manner.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned in my own life and one I believe is important to pass along has to do with the quote above. There are many amazing men and women in history but Benjamin Franklin is one of my favorites. I am brought back to this quote often... especially when I coach and work with the families of my athletes. How many times as coaches do we want to "spew" some harsh criticism... and we feel as though we can because we are the "coach". We're expected to give some "feedback" and we feel entitled to say those negative thoughts that would be considered mean and cruel in the company of our peers. Yet, when it comes to working with youth we are willing to say things to them or about them that do not add to their game or to their lives.

I'm not advocating giving false praise. We do need to "coach" and that means giving feedback that will assist the player without saying something to destroy their love of the game. Giving only negative feedback or being sacrastic leads the player into a position of distrust and some times genuine dislike of their coach. If they do not like us or trust us how much influence do we really have over them as people and as athletes.

When I am tempted to say something that will bear "no fruit"... when I am tempted to say something that will cause more drama... when I am tempted to say something that will break down a child's self image... When I am tempted to be sarcastic... I stop myself and wonder what and how I can communicate with the athlete that will bring her to a new level. Yes, for those of you who know me, I have said some "stupid" things along the way but, believe me, there are many more "stupid" things I have not spoken because I have remembered to keep my mouth closed.

We are the adults... we have other people, adults, we can share our thought and ideas with. There are other coaches who will keep our confidence when we need to share frustrations and disappointments. My encouragement is that we all take a moment to think about our comments before we say them to our young athletes and their families. Take a moment to weigh our comments... is our sarcastic humor really that funny? In our moment of frustration or anger is saying something harsh to the team really what they need to believe in themselves?

What are the things we want to say that are better left unsaid?

Remember the Alamo!

2009-04-27T20:46:00.000-05:00

Finally had a chance to get out of "Dodge"... well, out of Kansas City. I'm sitting at the River Walk in San Antonio enjoying a Texas steak. I've visited San Antonio a number of years ago and really enjoyed it and being here again I remember why, it does not disappoint.

I am not a native Texan but I do love Texas, ever since I read James Michener's novel "TEXAS" I fell in love with this state. What a great history this young state has... belonging both to Mexico and the United States and at one time they're own nation. The one piece of history that San Antonio is probably best known for is "The Alamo", the mission where some of Texas' bravest men fought. They fought to keep and hold it from Santa Anna, the Mexican general determined to get the state of Texas back into the hands of the Mexican government. Although the battle was not won, in fact, it was a massacre it became the battle cry for the rest of the state/nation.

It seems a day has not gone by that I have not re-evaluated this past volleyball season. There were many highlights along the way and I am so very proud of all the girls and coaches within the club but there has been a disappointment as well. I expected us to get a few teams to qualify for "Nationals" this year and it did not happen. I am blessed to be coaching and doing what I love for a living so this is in no way a complaint... just an evaluation of what I did and could have done better.

As I sit here in San Antonio and think about "The Alamo" and how in its defeat it sparked this small nation (Texas) into action... enough to defeat one of the largest armies of it's time and become it's own nation. I believe we must take these moments in our own lives to accept the defeat but use it as a battle cry... "never again" will I let the chance to make it to Nationals slip by.

In the midst of this disappointment and sadness I have begun to rebuild, in my own mind, how I will begin again. What steps I will take and how I will develop players and teams, how I will help our coaching staff to reach their success... "never again" will I come that close to a National bid without achieving it.

I am Blessed

2009-04-23T23:27:00.000-05:00

Although I do not have any teams playing this weekend and I have not had practices during the week I have yet to catch my breath. The last couple of months I have put off the administrative work load as well as my personal responsibilities of "real" life. So although it may seem I have time to sit back and relax I have been sitting but it has been in front of a computer catching up with emails, phone calls, and preparing for our summer activities. I have been making an effort to get things in order before our summer leagues begin in the next few weeks and I'm sure families who have signed up are waiting with baited breath for information about practices and competition.

But in the midst of all the "paper work" and clean up (getting equipment moved, collecting uniforms and all the other things that must be done for the end of the season). I have been giving thought to the people that surrounded me this year... I am truly blessed.

Throughout the season I have recognized the talented, passionate and inspiring coaches but even more so as the season comes to an end. I am amazed at the group of coaches that Southwind has attracted and I openly admit that many of them have been "prayed" in. There have been numerous times I have asked the Lord for quality people with volleyball knowledge to make their way to Southwind and looking at our staff God has answered that prayer.

Coaching is a demanding position, we find ourselves filling many roles... coach, teacher, counselor, creative designer, sports psychologist, travel adviser, administrator, problem solver, facilitator, motivator... and so on. All coaches fill these roles, some better than others, but we all have many shoes to fill. When I consider the coaches on staff and how well they handle themselves and growth of their players I am amazed at the talent we have within our club. What is even more amazing is that all of the coaches on staff not only coach their own teams but spend time with one another as well as other teams to assist, encourage, motivate, and some times just listen to one another... and they all do it with joy and gratitude.

I know our club has very few challenges throughout the season and I believe it stems from a coaching staff who models the behavior of elite athlete's full of confidence but yet exhibits humility towards those around them.

To the coaches of Southwind Volleyball Club I thank you for your sacrifices, time, and energy. I could not ask for a better group of people with whom to build an elite level Junior Olympic Volleyball Club. May God richly bless you and your families.

A Time for Everything

2009-04-22T22:02:00.000-05:00

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven... A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance... A time to be silent and a time to speak. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

After a long weekend of volleyball regionals I am still tired. I recognize that part of my fatigue has to do with the end of the season and catching up on administrative work. Another part is at the end of each season I'm a little sad to see it end... although that sadness usually doesn't last long since I have to prepare for the next "season". The final reason for my sluggishness this week has to do with the teams not getting a bid to "nationals". I had two teams with a great chance of getting bids this past weekend and, unfortunately, they did not make it.

As I think back over the season and evaluate my coaching there are lots of thoughts that go through my mind. I have made some decisions for the next season, things I'll do differently, and skills I'll focus on more. But I also know that allowing myself to feel sad is part of the process, not to wallow in self pity, but allow myself to realize how much I wanted these teams to earn their bid. Feelings are not a bad "thing" but how we handle them tells us a lot about ourselves and our world view. It would be easy to be upset and cry about it (I did shed some tears Sunday evening) but being the competitive athlete that I am I have determined not to let this happen again. With teams as well trained, skilled and capable of earning a bid I am determined to do everything within my power to help them attain their bid.

No matter what the outcome this season I am still very proud of both of these teams.

My Journey

2009-04-21T16:21:00.001-05:00

Well, it's time... I've been putting it off but it's something I've wanted to do for a while. Working in youth sports and developing an elite volleyball club I've come to realize how my personal philosophy has changed over the years. I've also come to realize how my coaching strategies have been revamped from my first few years of coaching till now. Although not everyone will gain from this blog, it is my hope to pass along some of the wisdom I've gained. So, once again, I begin "blogging".

I laugh now at how much I thought I knew when I first began as a 20 something year old. Working hard and fast was all I wanted from my players... learn the game and win matches. I've come to realize that working hard and fast is important and it does have its place but there is much more to this game than just sweat and speed. There is the understanding of the game, the strategy from a coaches view point. There is the development of the whole athlete, to think, to understand, and to self motivate. There is the overall training of an elite athlete that takes us off the court and into the weight room. Development of relationship with other coaches who can assist you as a coach in getting to the "next level", as well as help to develop your players. I've come to realize that there is a whole world wrapped up in this sport we call volleyball.

Perhaps over the course of writing this blog I'll have made more sense of my personal journey as I share it with you.

Volleyball Training

2005-07-19T14:13:00.000-05:00

Interested in individual volleyball training?

As the director of the Southwind Volleyball Tribe I work with volleyball players of all ages, both male and female. Over the years I have worked with thousands of athletes in the sport to help them become more successful on the court. I have been trained as a setter but love developing middle hitters as well as outside hitters just as much as I enjoy working with setters. Defensive specialist are always a treat to work with, they have a desire and drive that add character and determination to a team.

As much as I love to develop volleyball athletes my passion is to develop well rounded, renaissance young women who will be our future leaders. There are many life lessons one can learn through competitive sports and for young women in our society those lessons are even more important; it is time we "step up" and prepare them for the future. If you're interested in finding out more about myself, the club or would like to find out about individual training you can contact me at the following email rachelmagana@southwindvb.com or feel free to leave a comment.