Making the transition from a player to a coach is similar to the transition from being a teenager to an adult. You slowly begin to develop a new identity based on things you enjoyed in the past and people who you admired. This is also the stage in your coaching career that you grow and learn the most. I am fortunate that I have played and been around some of the best volleyball coaches in the nation to start my transition from playing to coaching in the right track. I feel that sometimes when collegiate players finish up their eligibility and decide to start coaching, they think they know it all. Yes, they may know a lot of drills from all the practices they attended in the past, but do they truly know how to make their team improve on a consistent basis? Here are some ideas that I think will help young coaches make a smooth transition from playing to coaching.
1. "Failure to prepare is preparing to fail" - John Wooden
Be organized and plan what you are going to do ahead of time. Plan out your practices so you can effectively work on areas that are weak and know what your team will be doing during pre-game warm ups. Knowing what drills you are going to run and how to run them and assigning player roles in those drills before practice will save time.
2. Explain why things are the way they are.
When correcting a player's form or movement, explain to them what corrections they need to make and why that correction is better than their previous form/movement. It is also very helpful to make an analogy to explain a correction.
3. Players can only improve when they acknowledge they did something wrong or incorrect...the same goes for coaches.
Coaches make mistakes also and a lot of young coaches have power trips because of the title "coach". If you make a mistake or did something wrong acknowledge it/apologize, learn from it, and move on. Your team will have greater respect for you in the long run. Ignoring mistakes is what hinders growth as a player and a coach.
4. "You don't know unless you go"
That was a saying my setter and one of my best friends told me (I think he heard it from Jeff Stork or Marv Dunphy. As a coach you have to be willing to take risks and think outside of the box. Maybe it's coaching your team in a totally different system than what you played in college, or training players in positions they never played before, either way you may come across something valuable. The fear of failure often keeps people restricted to "safe" ways and actions when it impairs their ability to learn and grow. "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."
-Bill Cosby
5. Be a sponge
Being a coach may mean you're in the gym all day seeing the same people day in and day out. You must go out and see the rest of the volleyball world. Meet and talk with other coaches, stop by and watch some tournaments just for entertainment and not recruiting purposes. Here at Wichita State I hear our head coach Lambo talking to numerous coaches throughout the day on his cell phone, talking about a different theories or philosophies. The more viewpoints and philosophies that you pick up from others will allow you to create a greater unique coaching identity that one day might influence another young coach in the future.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Kinda Good Vball Nut!!
For those of you who want to reach volleyball enlightenment...or maybe just a good laugh. Check out http://www.kindagood.com think of it as Saturday Night Live: Volleyball Style! I'm currently addicted to these guys and it turns out that they will be at the Crossroads tournament! I think I need to bust out a WSU Shocker Volleyball shirt for the Kinda Good crew.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Diving in men's vball vs women's vball
So my 182 team is preparing for the upcoming Crossroads tournament in Denver and I'm trying to expand their defensive range. I made sure all the girls knew how to dive(I taught them he barrel role because it's what I believe creates a greater range of diggable balls) properly for efficiency and safety. Then it hit me as to why men don't dive the same way women do. Now I'm aware of the physical differences between the male and female body and I know that is a big reason for the difference in diving techniques, but I wonder that if barrel rolling allows the player to have a broader range of playable balls then why don't guys do it.
The block in the men's game takes away so much more court than the women's block so maybe defensive floor range isn't a main priority in the men's game. Rather it's about siding out or first swing kills. I see women get more diving digs against the opponents in system attack as opposed to the men's game. After all an in system attack in the men's game is so much harder and faster that you really don't have time to dive. Instead you need to be in position after that set is made or pray to the volleyball gods that when you get dotted the ball goes up and is playable. Call me crazy but that's just what I think.
The block in the men's game takes away so much more court than the women's block so maybe defensive floor range isn't a main priority in the men's game. Rather it's about siding out or first swing kills. I see women get more diving digs against the opponents in system attack as opposed to the men's game. After all an in system attack in the men's game is so much harder and faster that you really don't have time to dive. Instead you need to be in position after that set is made or pray to the volleyball gods that when you get dotted the ball goes up and is playable. Call me crazy but that's just what I think.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Why am I coaching?!?!!?! part 2
Another weekend of club volleyball tournaments. I ended up coaching a 161 team for another coach at a tournament on Saturday and lost in the semis, but that isn't the point of this blog post. At the tournament I ran into some very influential people that just happened to be at the same tournament site. First, was my club director from when I played club volleyball. Definitely much respect to him as he took a chance and started the only boys club volleyball team in Kansas City at the time. Of course we had the conversation where I asked "how are things going with the club?" and he asks "where are you at now?" Upon the conclusion of the conversation he says, "I'm really glad that you took the route that enables you to share your love and passion of the game onto others." Never really did I ever think I did this to share my love of the game. I'm ashamed to say but right now I'm just trying to learn as much as I can to become a successful coach and find a way to make a stable living off of it in the future. But then I realized, that all the work and time you put in as a coach is subconsciously spreading your affection and love for the game.
At this tournament was one of the most respected volleyball athletes in the Kansas City volleyball community. A guy which I made sure I watched play when my team didn't have a game or had to ref when I played club. He was a stud who was nationally known. He actually was on the national team until he had a career ending knee injury. I actually had a conversation with him and my old club director at the same time. My club director was actually introducing him to me when he asked "RJ, do you know Mike?" and I'm like "of course I know Mike!!!" Mike responds, "I know RJ. He was the setter that had the hands who would always be on my court watching us play. Never did I think he would actually remember me as the fan hungry to learn and enjoy by watching him bomb balls and here are all three of us at a tournament as coaches. Another example of how coaches can subconsciously spread the love for the game.
Towards the end of the tournament I notice there is a boys club team playing a girls teams. The guys just happened to be a team part of the club I played for. I sit in the bleachers in excitement as it brought back memories when my team played in girls tournaments (of course in those tournaments it wasn't about getting better or experience, but getting girls to watch you play and see how sick of a set I could dish out hehe). I grab a seat in the bleachers next to the "active" parents who love to celebrate for every little point almost as if they were one of the players on the court celebrating. I first asked if they were Mav's (my club team) parents because I definitely didn't want to sit with the opposing team. Luckily I grabbed a seat in the right section. I asked how old the team was and mom explained that they are registered as a 14s team but really only guy on the team was in the 14s age category and everyone else was way younger...what do you know, it was just like my team who was registered as an 16s team with 12-16 year olds on the team. I told the mother that I played on the first Mav's boys team and that seemed to catch the other parents around us attention. Then came the questions "What are you doing here", "did you play in college", "could you please talk to the boys". Well I gave them my story and I ended talking to some of the guys. Ya they didn't know me but they talked to me like I was some superstar when...heck I'm the developing coach (refer to my previous post about Pettits article) that was worried about when everyone will figure out that I don't know what I'm doing!!! But the guys I talked to were to fascinated that they have a future in the sport of volleyball even if it is predominately ran by girls (especially in Kansas City!!).
The last person I bumped into was my very first volleyball coach from 5th grade. I honestly wouldn't have noticed him if he weren't on the other side of the net coaching against my MAV's boys. After the game I walked up to him and introduced myself and he thought it was preposterous that I had to introduce myself because he remembered me. He told me that, "as a coach, it's one of the greatest feelings to have one of your past players get back in touch with you. It's even better to see you giving and spreading your love for the game to others". It's funny to hear that for the second time of the day. But I guess it must really mean something.
The next day (superbowl sunday!) I had to coach my 121's team in a tournament Lawrence. Let me tell you...I've never coached a team that young and it seems like babysitting!!! Anyone who loves coaching the little ones please email me or something because I need help!!! hehe But back to the post...My 12's only won one game and didn't make it out of pool play. I wanted to head on out of the gym as soon as possible so I can make the 3 hours drive back to Wichita in time to catch some of the big football game. As I push my ball cart full of volleylites through the facility, I notice my coach from my 18's year. I sit right next to him and ask "is this seat taken?" he responds with "it is now". We go through the typical protocol of conversation between former player and former coach quickly, then we get to more enticing information on volleyball theories and philosophy. Now this guy is from the Netherlands and he coached at the college I was "supposed" play at. He was a big on bringing foreign players into men's collegiate volleyball (that is a whole other topic which I can rant on but won't)...which ultimately made me not want to play for that university. So we get to talking about how USA volleyball differs from volleyball all over the world. And I begin to understand as to why other countries produce players and teams which seem a lot more advanced than the US national teams. I start to realize how hard headed I was for being so ignorant about foreign players coming to the US collegiate game and realized how I would have learned so much more if I went to played for that university. But it was awesome to exchange words with my old coach as a fellow coach.
Yes i realized that I've ranted a lot about my weekend but there was a quote in the movie Hitch that really stuck me (Will Smith is the man by the way). The character Hitch says something like "You'll never know where you are going unless you know where you've been" (I can't remember the quote word for word). This weekend I happened to see the people who influenced me most in the game of volleyball....with an exception to Karch which would have been sweeeet. Volleyball is a sport of community and fellowship, and that's what makes it so unique. It has given so much to me, that I can only hope to give some back....whether I do it directly or subconsciously. I got to remember where I came from and see who molded me, and it is nice to know I'm on the right track...at least until I have my next 12's practice hehe ;)
At this tournament was one of the most respected volleyball athletes in the Kansas City volleyball community. A guy which I made sure I watched play when my team didn't have a game or had to ref when I played club. He was a stud who was nationally known. He actually was on the national team until he had a career ending knee injury. I actually had a conversation with him and my old club director at the same time. My club director was actually introducing him to me when he asked "RJ, do you know Mike?" and I'm like "of course I know Mike!!!" Mike responds, "I know RJ. He was the setter that had the hands who would always be on my court watching us play. Never did I think he would actually remember me as the fan hungry to learn and enjoy by watching him bomb balls and here are all three of us at a tournament as coaches. Another example of how coaches can subconsciously spread the love for the game.
Towards the end of the tournament I notice there is a boys club team playing a girls teams. The guys just happened to be a team part of the club I played for. I sit in the bleachers in excitement as it brought back memories when my team played in girls tournaments (of course in those tournaments it wasn't about getting better or experience, but getting girls to watch you play and see how sick of a set I could dish out hehe). I grab a seat in the bleachers next to the "active" parents who love to celebrate for every little point almost as if they were one of the players on the court celebrating. I first asked if they were Mav's (my club team) parents because I definitely didn't want to sit with the opposing team. Luckily I grabbed a seat in the right section. I asked how old the team was and mom explained that they are registered as a 14s team but really only guy on the team was in the 14s age category and everyone else was way younger...what do you know, it was just like my team who was registered as an 16s team with 12-16 year olds on the team. I told the mother that I played on the first Mav's boys team and that seemed to catch the other parents around us attention. Then came the questions "What are you doing here", "did you play in college", "could you please talk to the boys". Well I gave them my story and I ended talking to some of the guys. Ya they didn't know me but they talked to me like I was some superstar when...heck I'm the developing coach (refer to my previous post about Pettits article) that was worried about when everyone will figure out that I don't know what I'm doing!!! But the guys I talked to were to fascinated that they have a future in the sport of volleyball even if it is predominately ran by girls (especially in Kansas City!!).
The last person I bumped into was my very first volleyball coach from 5th grade. I honestly wouldn't have noticed him if he weren't on the other side of the net coaching against my MAV's boys. After the game I walked up to him and introduced myself and he thought it was preposterous that I had to introduce myself because he remembered me. He told me that, "as a coach, it's one of the greatest feelings to have one of your past players get back in touch with you. It's even better to see you giving and spreading your love for the game to others". It's funny to hear that for the second time of the day. But I guess it must really mean something.
The next day (superbowl sunday!) I had to coach my 121's team in a tournament Lawrence. Let me tell you...I've never coached a team that young and it seems like babysitting!!! Anyone who loves coaching the little ones please email me or something because I need help!!! hehe But back to the post...My 12's only won one game and didn't make it out of pool play. I wanted to head on out of the gym as soon as possible so I can make the 3 hours drive back to Wichita in time to catch some of the big football game. As I push my ball cart full of volleylites through the facility, I notice my coach from my 18's year. I sit right next to him and ask "is this seat taken?" he responds with "it is now". We go through the typical protocol of conversation between former player and former coach quickly, then we get to more enticing information on volleyball theories and philosophy. Now this guy is from the Netherlands and he coached at the college I was "supposed" play at. He was a big on bringing foreign players into men's collegiate volleyball (that is a whole other topic which I can rant on but won't)...which ultimately made me not want to play for that university. So we get to talking about how USA volleyball differs from volleyball all over the world. And I begin to understand as to why other countries produce players and teams which seem a lot more advanced than the US national teams. I start to realize how hard headed I was for being so ignorant about foreign players coming to the US collegiate game and realized how I would have learned so much more if I went to played for that university. But it was awesome to exchange words with my old coach as a fellow coach.
Yes i realized that I've ranted a lot about my weekend but there was a quote in the movie Hitch that really stuck me (Will Smith is the man by the way). The character Hitch says something like "You'll never know where you are going unless you know where you've been" (I can't remember the quote word for word). This weekend I happened to see the people who influenced me most in the game of volleyball....with an exception to Karch which would have been sweeeet. Volleyball is a sport of community and fellowship, and that's what makes it so unique. It has given so much to me, that I can only hope to give some back....whether I do it directly or subconsciously. I got to remember where I came from and see who molded me, and it is nice to know I'm on the right track...at least until I have my next 12's practice hehe ;)
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