Pet Peeve

I have had the opportunity to work with some young middle years athletes the last few years.  I find that they are very keen and want to learn.  With YouTube and the FIVB website the young athletes have so many more opportunities to watch high level volleyball than before.

This summer I saw at Jasper volleyball camp a young guys court really play volleyball at a high level for their age.  The coaches of that group ran many game style drills that challenged them to grow.  Taught them to run a faster middle and backrow attacks.  Most of the guys on that court were attempting jump spin or jump floats serves.  It was a lot of fun to watch that court.   Of course, the drill was sloppy at times as players made errors.  However, the error was brushed off and another ball was put into play. 

It reminded me of a link John Kessel had on his blog of a U12 championship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJmpZSNoIzY  That video is a great example of what can happen if we enter into a gym with no expectations or stereotypes of what the level of volleyball should be.

On another court the coaches of a young girls group had them trying to jump float.  There was a young 11 year old who couldn’t get the serve over the net with a standing over hand serve. Her camp coach suggested she try a jump float. The athlete was walking with the ball anyways trying to generate momentum.   By the end of the lesson, she was getting the ball over the net a few times. It was fun to see her excitement in this achievement.

Well I met this young athlete again and asked her how the jump float was working.  She said that her school coach won’t allow her to use it.  She needed to get 10 serve in a row in practice before they can use it in a match.  I was shocked.  The creativity and excitement this athlete had was being held back.  Seriously, I do not know if many university level players can make 10 game serves in a row. 

As coaches sometimes, we need to get out of the way and let the athlete experience and explore their skill level.  That is what is happening at the skate parks. The young athlete watch and try to emulate what they see.  We should be encouraging athletes to watch high level matches.  Then let them experiment with what they see.  

First Week Of School

First week of school

I find it hard to believe that it will be 35 years since I first walked into Camrose Lutheran College to start my university.  I was lucky because I had a great friend from high school going there with me and we became roommates. It was two very important years in my development

Before I left a friend of mine gave me some advice I pass on to my players every year. 

• Try to meet someone new the first day.  Then try to meet someone new in every one of your classes.  They probably don’t know anyone else in the class either.  Just start by saying Hi and asking where they are from.This advice was awesome for me.  I made some of my closest friends that first week.  I was able to catch up to some of them this past summer and had a great time reminiscing.
•   Make friends outside of your sport.  This is very important because we seem to be trapped in our little bubble.  When you are in university and playing sports it encompasses your whole life.  Your friends outside of the sport do not see it that way.  If you have a bad practice and feel down.  They appreciate you for who you are not what you did on the court. They still will watch a movie with you.  When you are with teammates all the time small sets backs feel larger than they are.
• 3.       Do not forget to eat.  If you have met me in the past few years, you will see I mastered this one.  However, my first year was so crazy we needed to schedule food.  I was on a meal plan so we all ate at the same time and it was very much a social event.  Nevertheless, I have been in some study sessions where time flew by. 
•   Try new things.  University is a time to explore what you want.  Night golf is fun if you have not tried it.  Glow bowling is great, just to name a few adventures.
• Everything is going to come up fast.  Midterms are not in the middle of the term.  They might be the third week.  Papers are due quickly; use the student services. If there is a writing center, go see them.  Every instructor wants a little different citing.  Remember every first year is in the same situation.  Second semester is so much simpler.  Ask for directions if you are lost.
• This first year will test you and will reward you.  Just live it day by day and stay positive.  Remember everyone else there is in the same situation as you.  It only feels like you’re the crazy first year who is lost and behind.