What to Look for in a Player

When selecting a team or forming a unit once you have already chosen your team, what elements of skill and personality are important? Over the years I have put together teams I thought would do very well based on their skills. That always turns out to be just a part of the whole picture. Great attitude and leadership are the key. A player who comes to practice everyday ready to give you and her teammates her all, is the player I want every time. I have made some bad picks, not knowing what lurks inside that player's soul. I have also made some excellent picks based on that special ingredient. For a young player to be a great leader without coming across "bossy"; that is a very positive attribute to have. Of course, we all want that great athlete who is also the strong, positive leader. I think it is more difficult to find the leader who is respected by her peers, than it is to find good athletes. Those great leaders lead by example. They practice hard and respect the coach's wishes without complaint. They don't get down on themselves or their teammates for mistakes made. They encourage other players when they make an error and they move on from their own errors. Players should definitely be taught these positive teammate skills, but it helps when they start out being receptive to your physical and mental coaching. Start hunting for those great leaders!

Preparing Muscles for Playing Volleyball

How many of you are tired of having your players run laps to warm up for practice or a game of volleyball? There are some new, exciting ways to warm up your muscles and work on agility skills that are fun for the players. According to Jesse McFarland, athletic trainer at the Sisters, Oregon Athletic Club, dynamic stretching and agility drills are the best way to prepare for the explosive game of volleyball. Jesse was selected to train the US Olympic team prior to the 2008 Bejing Olympic Games. Jesse came back with the latest information about the most efficient ways to prepare for your sport. In my upcoming book I will share the dynamic stretches and agility drills that I have used with my teams. The agility ladder, which many of the top collegiate teams are using, is a fun way to teach the players quickness and direction changes. There are many drills and patterns you can teach, and it is surprising how fast the players pick it up. Jesse did suggest that you switch up patterns of the drill to challenge the coordination of your players. There will be more to come on this subject. Lots of fun things to try!

Setting Your Expectations

Setting y0ur expectations for your team is critical for your sanity as well as for the understanding of your players and parents. Be clear about what you expect of your players in practice; their work ethic, their attitude, their treatment of their teammates and the respect shown you, their coach. I hear people say that kids are different these days and you're just going to get players that are not up to the standards you want. I don't agree. I think if you set your standards high and you have a good program, the type of player you want will be happy with strong guidelines. The key parts here are "a good program" and the "type of player you want". If you offer a solid volleyball program, you can be choosey about the players you will accept to coach. We've all been burned by that player who is a good athlete, but creates a poisonous atmosphere on the team because of a negative attitude or by talking about other players behind backs. Those types of players need to be stopped immediately. If they can come around and become a positive teammate, they get to stay. If they continue their negative ways after talking with them as well as their parents, they need to be released. I kick myself for the times I have stuck with a player, when looking back, I should have dealt with the problem sooner and made a decision. It's always better to have a bunch of kids with good attitudes, even if they are not the top athletes, than it is to keep a bad apple just because they're a good player. Any stories from you coaches?

Communication with team and parents

Before beginning any season with your team, you need to plan a parent meeting with players also in attendance. Players and parents need to hear the same thing from the coach, and all three parties need to start the season on the same page. Coaches, you need to explain your philosophy to the players and parents. Let them know what to expect during practices and games. Any questions about playing time and what a player can do to improve should come from the player, not the parent. Have the player learn to communicate with the coach and her fellow teammates. Speaking respectfully to each other is important at all times, and will be crucial when the team is in a tension filled moment during a match. Role play on the court between your players so that can feel how a comment (good and bad) would affect them. Telling a teammate who has just missed the ball, "You should have gotten that ball!" instead of saying, "Nice try. You'll get it next time", is a lesson to be learned by all players (and coaches). So communication between coaches, parents, and players is so important when trying to get through a sports season. Keep the parents up to date on the progress of the team by sending e-mails or flyers. If a problem arises with a player that you feel the parents need to know about, such as a persistent negative attitude, don't let it wait. Have a family meeting right away and nip it in the bud immediately. Poison attitudes can ruin a team. Let them know what you expect and hold firm. Hopefully both of you can work together to mold a new, positive attitude. So this just touches on the importance of communication between all parties involved with a team. Push and positive and squash the negative.