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 ;)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment