Coach Houser:

I'd like to pick your brain a little bit about roster size for a team.  Our team is finally starting to taste some success (we're 6-5 in dual matches this year -- the first time we've had a winning record in October in seven years!).  I feel as though this in a large part to the junior high program begun four years ago.  I have also co-founded a new club team in our area that has contributed to our success.  It's the first club in our county that combines players from several different high schoolt eams.  We had three teams this past season (two 17's and one 16's) and we hope to have that many plus a 14's and 18's team this season (if we can find enough coaches).

We still have a ways to go to challenge the district power in our classification but we are starting to close the gap.  Over the weekend I spent some time thinking about what we need to do to continue the improvement.  While reviewing my practice strategies, I began to think that roster size may be something that I need to look at.

We have typically hadbetween 24 and 28 players on the JV/varsity squad.  This year we have 27.  Thireteen are on varsity and 14 on jv.  I'll be graduating six seniors, only two of which are major contributors on varsity, and I have six juniors on the junior varsity.  However, I'm really not seeing any of them stand out enough to think that they are going to step in and fill the voids left from the seniors.  Honestly, I can say that a freshman and an 8th grader are the two front-runners for a middle and outside hitter position.  Aside from that, I'm expecting at least 6-10 new players moving up from the middle school team next season, so I could be looking at possibly 30 players on theJV/varsity roster.

While I love the fact that athletics can be a positive influence on a lot of kids, I really think that it will be extremely hard to elevate our program to a high enough level to be competitive if we continue with these kinds of numbers.  I really think that if we can trim the number of players to 18-20 for both squads that we would be in a much better position to challenge our rivals.  Not only would they get more touches per practice, they would also get more attention from the coaches.  I had a talk with my AD today about reducing the number of players and he really doesn't like the idea of cutting.  He said that the decision was mine to make and he would back me if that's what I want to do, but he had another suggestion.  He said that he would prefer that I set a limit on the number of varsity players (say, 10) and have the rest play on the jv team.  He felt that enough players would "cut themselves" which would leave us with a more manageable number and would be easier on the players' psyche.

A few thoughts:

1. I’m not so sure that putting a senior on the junior varsity team and allowing her to "cut herself" would be more preferable to her not making the team after tryouts;
2. I’m not so sure that having underclassmen languish on the bench all season because of so many players is better than being cut. 
3. I also think that diluting the talent on the jv team will have the effect of weakening the varsity team in the long run. 

I'm certainly not saying that cutting players is an easy or painless process.  In my previous coaching stint, we had cuts a few times and I do remember the feelings of the players and the coaches.  But I also feel that the team was betterin the long run.

What are your thoughts on team size? 

Or on placing players on the jv squad and hoping they quit? 

Over my career we've had years when we had more players than we needed and other years when our numbers were lower than I would have liked.  Both situations present their own unique challenges.  I really see us having a steady stream of 8-10 players per class for a while, so I think that we will be facing the issueof team size for some time.

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Readers: 

Here is my answer to this coach! 

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Hey man!

Your email was fascinating. I was laying in bed last night, reading everyword. 

I can tell that I’m not chatting with a rookie coach who doesn't know what the heck he's doing.  Your email was thoughtful, caring, yet looking at the big picture.  You can see the forest, and aren't very distracted by thet rees. 

Let's "cut to the chase".  The question you must ask is: "What is in the best interests of the program?"  (In other words, what will do the forest the most good?)

Part I:  What the most successful programs do!
a) CLUB BALL is the AAA way to improve your program.  So I beg you:  concentrate on 13's, 14's, 15's, THEN your 15's - 18's will occur b/c most will be volleyball addicts by then. 
b) Getting to the girls in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade is the AAA-2 method.
c) Having them play, play, play is AAA-3:   Doubles. Open gyms.  Camps. 

If no one in your conference is doing all this, but you, then your team will be at/near the top every single year.  And it will occur very soon, my friend.

Part II:  Number of kids on your team. 
* The #1 Question:  What is in the best interests of your program?
* The #2 Question (and it MUST be #2):  What is in the best interests of the kids?

a) I like having 13 on varsity.  NEVER ANY MORE!  I tell myplayers, "For 3 months, I need you to sacrifice playing time for theteam.  The rest of the year, you can play doubles, club ball, open gyms,etc.  Three months is what I need from you, and I will try my darndest toput a banner on the wall, and special medal on your varsity letter".

     I like 13 on varsity b/c (1) it create competition among the girls at practice (2) it creates competition among the girls for playing time (3) I will bring up the stud 9th graders asap, regardless of theirplaying time, and I need room for them.  So, almost every good high schoolteam I've ever had has also had a few younger freaks who weren't going to playmuch, but WERE going to be MVP, players-of-the-year, etc, in the future.... soI wanted them to experience (1) and (2) asap. 

      If you cut down to 10 onvarsity, then there will be girls who will play every night, regardless of thescore, b/c you have no sub. In this situation, 99% of girls (and adults,for that matter) will not play their best at practice, in matches, etc. They will take plays off  because theyknow in their heart and brain that there is no one to challenge them. ALSO, ankle sprains, family emergencies, discipline issues ARE going tohappen.  When these situations occur, how will you adjust when you onlyhave 2 MB's?  2 OH's?  1 Libero?  1 setter? 

Hey, those freaky freshmen:  they may play for 5 minutes in the biggest (or easiest) match of the year, or they play in some critical spots because theolder, "better," girl is sucking it up.  PERFECT!  Benchtime solves A LOT of problems!  But, they may also have to step is up inthe conference championships because of an ankle sprain.  I remember in1998 when "T," a freshman, had to play MB 1st round state tournamentb/c of a torn ACL suffered by our junior freak. AND WE WON!  hahahaha.  I don't think "T" touchedbut about 10 balls the entire night (all block touches), but she had been onvarsity all year.  Keeping her on varsity was the right thing for ourprogram.  I knew it was at the time. 

b) I NEVER have had, and never will have a senior on JV. Why?  It does the program no good.  If she was good, she wouldn't beon JV.  But there are girls on JV who NEED the reps, they NEED attention,coaching.

c) JV can be larger, maybe 15 or 16, BUT ONLY IF the head coach has anassistant or two.  If she doesn’t, then I'd say 14 is maximum. Keeping more would be benefiting a few kids, while harming a LOT. While your JV coach is doing "volleyball day care" to 18 or 20 girls,your opponents down the road are learning/accomplishing/improving way more thanyour team is.

d) Cutting themselves?  OK, we're the adults.  Wemust/can/should do it.  Leaders don't hope their problems vanish. They confront/deal with them.  I will admit, that sometimes I'm weak inthe area of dealing with problems.  But every day, a message pops up in myinbox, "Deal with issues NOW!  No, don't put it off." 

The AD at a local school said similar things a few yearsago:  "Well, if the parents areupset, then we'll ..........".  Who runs these schools?  Theparents?  The kids?  Nope.  If they don't like it, they can goto elsewhere.     As long as I'm the teacher/coach/AD/principal,I'm going to do what I was paid to do:  Use my best judgment to look outfor my team/program. 

e) Yes, you can have a positive influence on kids.  As teachers, that is one of our jobs!  However, it's our #1 job as a coach to take careof the team/program.  For example, my friend had two 6'1" girls onthe bench. No, they couldn't win a starting MB job.... they weren't goodenough.  But he was running a 6-2 offense and leaving his 5’2” setters inthe front row.  OK, if he's looking out for his program, something has tochange.  "But my setters are seniors."  So?  Do youwant a championship or not?  "The 6'1" girls have never playedright." OK, so you teach them.  You practice 3 or 4 or 5 times aweek.  "But I LIKE my setters out there.  They areleaders!"  Hey man, I'm telling you what I would do to win achampionship.  You will see OH's this season that will devastate you, andyou'll finish 3rd or 4th in the state (AGAIN!!!).  Don’t you want more?  How many bannersdo you have?  "None."  OK, these big girls give you abetter chance.... don't you WANT to give your team their best shot? 

I heard someone say:  Cut a girl, and the parents holler for aday.  Keep a girl on a team who doesn't belong, and you'll be hearing theparents holler for 3 months. Which one is it?  Our heart cannotget in the way of team.  Our sentimentality cannot get in the way ofwhat's best for our program.

Dead Weight:  Have you read before what I ask seniors who I don't believeare going to play any?  It's in the ebooks.  Probably several times. Very quickly, I tellthem:  "You have two choices:  make the team and acceptsitting 97%, or just don't try out.  BUT YOU WILL NOT disrupt the team justbecause you're not playing.  If you do,then I WILL cut you that very day.  Idon’t care if your meltdown occurs 2 weeks or 2 months into our season. Is that clear?  If so, sign here.  Have your parents sign here. And I'll see you at tryouts."  

I don't know if I've answered all of your specific questions.  I tried to.
But always look out for your team/program.  If you do that, you can alwaysdefend your decisions, and you can always sleep at night. 

Later!
Tom

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We can't wait for Dec 1st!  That's the day that 2012 site camps are awarded to coaches who have sent in their deposits.  If you're interested in a fast moving, fun, yet intense & competitive site camp, you may visit us here. We have directed 27 volleyball camps the past 3 years, and four have already renewed for 2012.  I think when you visit our website, and look at the past 6 years of happy players and parents, you'll know why. 

Good morning!

This is for all you coaches! 

Summer camps are always so fun. I think I have a smile from 9am to 4pm every day! 

I'm  always fascinated by how fragile the little ones are.  They need  band-aids, lots of water breaks, they get blisters, have to go home,  miss a day of camp, leave early, come in late, etc.  I'm not a middle  school teacher, so I'm just not accustomed to it.   Then the older girls  come in.  No issues, no complaints, no blisters, they wait for water  w/o asking, they are motivated, they're on the floor going to balls,  etc.

I want to remind you of something that you already know:   If you coach high school, those kids are ready to not only listen &  learn, but to work hard and achieve.  When I see most of our STAR  campers hanging on every word we say, giving it their best effort,  wanting so badly to please their coaches, etc., it makes me pause and  think how fortunate I am to be working with these youngsters.

Note:   I'm not saying every girl is the model camper.  And I'm not saying that  my staff and I reach every camper.  Just last week, all of us were  laughing about "Lunch Girl," an 11 year old who told us at about 9am a  few years ago, "Well, I'm hungry, and I'm going to sit here until  lunch."  So, my rookie camp director just let her sit. 

But,  I am saying that if you and I say the right words, create the right  drills, etc. to 15's, 16's and 17's, they will give us great effort. and  make great strides.  Why?  B/c it is the inherent nature of most girls  that age to succeed, to please their coaches, to be honest, to be  reliable & dependable, to put team ahead of themselves, etc.

Our  job:  To find the right words, drills, expectations, etc. that will  allow those traits to come forth.  It can be done!  Right up the road  from me, the coach of the Virginia state champs in 02, 03, 04, 06, and  07 does just that everyday.  Her kids love her, she says the right words  b/c she knows the community, her expectations are right-on, she is  their role model, they give all they have for her, etc.  We can have a  program like this too; maybe, not as successful as hers, but every day  you and I can be better coaches than we were last month or last season.  All it takes is our commitment to being so!

OK, in the next few weeks, let's all do the following self-evaluation:
* What do I say to my players that get their attention positively.  Then I need to do more of that.
* What do I say/do that decreases their effort, makes their attitude worse, etc.  Then I need to avoid those words/actions.
* Are my expectations too high?  ridiculously too high?  or too low? 
* Does punishment help my players' performances?  or hurt?
* How are my players affected when I show disgust?  roll my eyes?  turn my back?
* Do rewards help their performance?  or hurt?
* Is there enough fun in my practices?  or too much?
* Is there enough criticism in my practices?  or not enough?  Is my criticism too personal?

These  are questions that all of us must answer... continually, each season,  each week & month.  The answers will change depending upon the  community we live in, the experience & goals of our players, the  confidence we have in our system and the confidence the girls have in  us, etc.  Then we must listen to those answer, and adjust our coaching  style; that is, if our team is our first priority. 

If we  are doing anything that hurts our team's performance, then we must  change.  We must.  No, we cannot just look in the mirror and say, "I  know my sarcasm and personal criticism hurts the performance of nearly  of the girls, but I am who I am.  They must adjust."  Wow, so you are  committed to not get your team's best effort.  Wow.

Always do what's in the best interests of your team.  Not what's in your best interests.  Not what you've always done.  There has to be a way to  adjust what you do so as to maximize the effort, the abilities and the  potential of your team.  Yes it is possible for all of coaches to avoid  saying & doing the things that bring our team down; and, the great  coaches do just that.

Finally, a new season begins in a few weeks.
Let's all do only those things that improve our team's attitude, effort, and camaraderie. 
Let's all pledge to avoid doing what limits our team from bonding together.

As the coach, we can say and do practically anything.   
But, that kind of power can be wasted, or it can be used.  It's our choice. 

Hope you have a great August!  Please contact us if we can be any help whatsoever!
Coach Houser

Coach Houser:
I believe that the vast percentage of matches at the high school level are lost, not won.  Its teams losing by players making errors on "routine" plays, and not winning by making spectacular hits or winning jump serves!  I’m going to tell my players that 90% serving in the court is an absolute must this year.  And girls who make more than 10% errors on hits will not be set. 

Privately, I agree with your thoughts about routine plays.  Yes, many teams lose matches because they miss too many serves, have too many doubles called on them, are in the net, etc.

However, for some reason, people look at volleyball to be different than any other sport when it comes to making mistakes.

Let’s look at softball.  There are many girls who swing trying to hit the ball hard.  They occasionally strike out.  Yet, there isn’t parent and coach outcry.  Wonder why?  Oh, you may say, “She can’t help but strike out some.”  You are right, if she and her coach believe that her swinging is in the long term best interests of the team, then she should swing hard at some balls.

Let’s look at basketball.  There are girls who try to hit three pointers.  They succeed maybe 30%? 40%?   Yet, you don’t hear people scream because the % isn’t 60 or 70.  Why?  Is a 30% success rate just accepted?  Odd.  But, again, she’s doing the right thing, if she and her coach both believe that a 35% success rate actually benefits the team.  Even girls who shoot layups probably miss 10%.  Where is the “If you miss one more layup, you’re running tomorrow,” or “You’re benched!”

So, on every team I’ve ever played on or watched, when the sball player gets “her pitch,” and when the bball girl gets “her shot,” she goes for it.  If she does everything right and she is athletic enough, she usually will be successful more often than her opponents, thus helping the team to victory.   Regardless of whether she makes a mistake 10% or 20% of the time.  Right?  Right.

Likewise, that’s what the mature volleyball coach understands and accepts.

Ok, before I go on, if there’s a 3^rd hit that has to be forearm passed, sure we want it to land in the court.  Or do want our girls to place the balls in the 1-zone?  The 2-zone?  If so, then our girls will miss a few of them.  When a 2^nd ball is coming to a hitter, do we want her to just forearm pass it over to the opponents.  No risk there.  Or do we want her to set it with her hands, thus allowing us to hit the 3^rd ball.  If so, she will probably be called for an occasional double contact.

As a mature coach, I think I know what is a good gamble for a player to take.  I know which girls can hit the 1-zone with a forearm pass, and I will encourage them, while forbidding others to attempt it.  I know which of my hitters will probably not be called for doubles, so I ask them to hand set every 2^nd hit, and forbid the rest of my team from attempting it until they become better.

Now, back to sball and bball.  There are girls on teams who I want to hit a home runs or pop a 3 when they think they have “their pitch” or “their open shot”.  If they fail, I hope their coaches tell the girls, “The next time you get your pitch(shot), swing at it.  I have confidence in you.”

Now to volleyball:  I have 14 year old setters on my teams, as during the season I usually start believing that they have the ability jump set to our OH.  As they get about a year older, I will start believing they can successfully set with their hands while falling.  When I start believing these things, I will expect them to “hit the home run”.  If they fail often during the first few weeks of attempts, then that’s fine.  But, it’s in our team’s best interest that they become proficient at these skills, because it will make us a better team in the long run.

Another volleyball example:  My teams serve tough in practice day after day after day.  My goal:  Tough serving at 85% in the court.  For most volleyball coaches, that’s just too low.  But for my team, serving tough is the only way we’ll be a team that’s much better than us.  It’s our only hope.  And, I guarantee my girls that we will see those teams.  So, do we play it safe, try to serve 98% vs. a good team and lose nearly every time?  Or do we play aggressively, take some chances, and lose to that team only two-thirds of the time?  Yeah, it drives the parents crazy when we beat a weak team 25-23 because we missed 8 serves.  We may even lose a game to the weak team because of our serving.

This exact thing happens every year.  In fact, my team was in Richmond in March, and finished 7-1.  We beat the #5 team in our region two straight.  Played great!  The set we dropped?  It was 22-25 to a 16B team from Lynchburg.  We won the next game 25-11.  Completely predictable.

But it’s something that I must accept, because if we serve well, we beat that 16B team 19 times out of 20.  And if we serve well, we beat many very good teams also!   Does that make sense?  If our goal is 98% or 100% serving, then yeah, we’ll beat the horrible teams; but, we would have almost beaten them by just showing up.  But 100% serving will almost never beat a team that’s better than your team; and, I want to beat those teams!   I imagine this past junior season, every team that served 95% or above against us lost.  I imagine the only teams that beat us served 85% or lower.

If I were a sball coach, I could ensure a non-strikeout rate of 95%; but, we will probably lose against every decent team because my girls would be doing almost nothing but bunting and slapping.  And I could probably ensure a 60% field goal rate in bball.  I would just tell my girls to NOT shoot the ball unless they are 5 feet from the basket.  But I imagine we would lose almost every game because while we’re hitting 12 of 20 from the field (we would often turn the ball over before we can get close enough to shoot), the opponents are hitting 20 of 50.  Assuming no 3-pointers were made, we would be trashed 40 to 24, while shooting 60%.

That’s just the way sports is:  Full of intelligent gambles.

I tell a hitter:  “You cannot worry about making some mistakes.  Sure, you can force yourself to make only 5% errors by tipping, rolling, etc.  But, let’s say you get 50 sets, and make 2 errors.  But by being so careful, you will probably only have 5 kills.  OK, so 5 minus 2 = +3, which indicates you’ve benefited your team 3 points on the scoreboard.  That’s nice.  But let’s say a more aggressive hitter gets those same 50 sets, and makes 10 errors.  Do we gasp?  Fuss?  No, because of the other 40 sets, she put down 25 of them.  So 25 minus 10 = +15!  She helping the team MUCH more, and will more likely be a starter, a star, an all-conference player.  Isn’t that what you want to be?  So when you get your set, go for it!  If you’re making too many mistakes, then I’ll help you find out why.”

Finally:  After a coach or parent reads this, I hope the next time your son or daughter is trying to perform a very difficult athletic feat, you will be more patient with his/her errors; especially if the coaches are!   Because in order to beat any team that any good, player must be free of fear to make mistakes.  Performing at a high level is hard enough; but, having the extra burden of pressure to limit mistakes makes playing sports that much more stressful.  No one has the maximum fun and reaches their potential under those conditions.

Coach Tom Houser
NRV 16 National Head Coach for 2011
Author of the “I Can’t Wait” Drill Collection and Ebooks
STAR Volleyball Site Camps and Private Lessons

www.coachhouser.com

Coaches and parents of athletes:

The following article is for you.

Back in November 2010, a college coach told me she was going to watch a state playoff match, and that she wanted to know about the seniors on one team.  Yep, in this case, I was the person to ask because I’d coached all of them in club ball.

One of the girls had played club ball for me for 2 years.  We’ll call her “Jennifer”.

I gave the coach a glowing report on Jennifer, NOT because she deserved it; but, because every bit it of was true.  She had earned it.

A few days later, the thought occurred to me that maybe Jennifer’s parents would enjoy having a copy of it.  I have pasted it below.  I also thought that after the high school season was over, the parents might want to share it with her.  Jennifer may be able to use it as a letter of reference in the future.  I didn’t care.  But I wanted the family to know how I felt. I also wanted Jennifer to know that doing the right thing, day after day, was noticed and that it had some benefits!

Well, a few months later, a few of my club players weren’t exhibiting the character that I preferred.  So, I thought they needed to hear about Jennifer.  So, I printed out the email that I sent the coach, gave them a copy of it, had them read it aloud to the team, and then said, “Is this what I’ll say about you in a few years?  If there’s anything in this email that doesn’t sound like you, then you can decide to change and be a better member of this team.  When a college coach contacts me about you, I’m telling you now that I will not lie for you.  I will tell the coach if you are team-first, or you-first.  Are you prompt?  Are you self-motivating?  Will you follow directions?”

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Hey [mother of Jennifer]:

A college coach will be at the Central/Western match tomorrow.  (This is something you may not want to tell Jennifer before the match.)   The coach asked me about the Central seniors.  I wanted to share with you what I told the coach about Jennfer.

Central’s Libero: Jennifer.  

Because of her aggressiveness, never-give-up and let's-get-it-on nature, I tell people Jennifer plays like a boy. She will go for any ball anywhere, any time.  Has never seen a dig she wouldn't try for.  Has played club ball for my team twice.  WONDERFUL kid!!  Has wonderfully supportive, encouraging parents..... regardless of the playing time she received on our club team that made Nationals where I alternated my two outstanding liberos each tournament.  She is the starting pitcher on the sball team.  She is a great teammate.  Teammates love her.   Incredibly low maintenance....all you have to do is tell her what you'd like for her to do, and it's done with 100% effort.  If I were a college coach, and Jennifer were on my team, my life would be easier and less stressful every day; and, if I saw a high school libero later who was a little more gifted physically, I wouldn't care.  Jennifer brings to the game all the intangibles that coaches crave..... leader, hustle, dependable, calm/thoughtful, happy.  She won't brag, taunt, or give you any reason to lose any sleep. 

Do I sound like I like this girl?   Want to know how much?  I am again employing her to work at my summer volleyball site camps!  Yes, for the 2^nd summer, she will be working with BOTH the rookies and the veteran girls!   Last year, she worked at a veteran camp as a court coach, not as an assistant.  She was creating starting lineups, explaining serve receptions, expecting her girls to cover, giving serving signals, etc.  All before her senior year of high school!  If I’m putting the success of my business in her hands, that tells you something.

If you want to talk about Jennifer, please email or call me anytime.
Coach Houser    

[Jennifer’s mom], this is about the most fun part of my job.

Thank you again for making my life easier every day you guys were part of my teams.  I won't forget it, and I will try to do whatever you need me to do to help her in any way I can!  (How about giving her more money this summer?  haha)

Tom

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By the way, it’s now 6 months later.  We’re a few months away from camps starting!  She’s pumped.   I will employ her for as many years as she wants to work for me.

Most ex-volleyball players, including most of Jennifer’s teammates, will never be allowed to work for me.  A few have asked; but, I’m sorry, not going to happen.  A job, like letters of recommendation, is earned.  They aren’t deserved.

Tom Houser

Head Coach, NRV Juniors

Roanoke,  Va

Director of the “I Can’t Wait” Volleyball Site Camps
Author of the “I Can’t Wait” Drill Collection and Ebooks.

Coach Houser:
We are new to volleyball, b/c my 13 year old daughter has played softball.  She has actually played travel sball for several years. So, we’re a dedicated softball family. My daughter became a fan of volleyball very quickly and now loves the sport as much as softball.  As a dad who loves softball I must say I’m beginning to sway a little myself after watching these kids grow and play over the last several tournaments.  Is this normal?  It's happening to all my daughter's friends, and they go to several different schools.  They're ditching the sports they used to love left and right. 

Volleyball has a lot of positives for girls who are becoming middle school age!!

(a) Action, action, action for the girls, and not  so much standing and watching.  This goes for practcie also.

(b) So  much momentum, so much excitement for players.  Heart stopping for  parents.  For example, this past weekend in Asheville NC, my team was undefeated and ahead 16-8 in the final game of the final match,  then moments later the score was 20-20.... oh my!  We also won a set 31-29, and beat a team from our own club 29-27, 25-23.  Shew.   Softball doesn't offer this type of excitement. 

(c) Volleyball players are also pretty.  I'm sure this hasn't  gotten past your daughter.  Girls who play other sports..... well, I better watch what I say.

(d)  Volleyball players also don't have to come in contact with opponents, which means:  no kicking, pushing, pinching, "taking her out," no hair pulling, etc.  My freak of nature soccer stepdaughter played vball for 1 year, then never had the fire for soccer again b/c she just wasn't into the tripping, pushing, etc. that soccer players are often expected to do.

(e) not as much conditioning.

(f) It's  indoors!  So you don't have to play in the rain, the mud, the boiling heat or the snow. 

I'm not trying to advertise.  But these are some of the reasons that many little girls gravitate towards volleyball as they get older.  I pity the basketball program of our local high school.  They rarely have a winning basketball team b/c every little girl wants to be another pretty state champion.  I had one of them grow up in my house as well.  Vball has been really good to her and to our family.

Nine site camps are scheduled for this summer!  Don't you want to be a part of a few of them?     If so, better touch this link, then hurry!  Some of the camps are nearly full. 

Coach Houser

Good afternoon everyone!

Every year, USA Volleyball offers High  Performance Tryouts for girls and boys.  This year there are 39  different tryouts spread all across the country.

There is usually a tryout the day before all the larger junior  tournaments in the USA.  It will last 3 or 4 hours.  For myteam, there  is a tryout the day before both our Capitol Hill tournament and our trip to Atlanta for the BigSouth Qualifier.

You may say,  "Exactly what is this?"  This tryout is an opportunity for a girl to be  invited to a National Team camp next summer.   A few girls are even be  invited to play on a Youth National Team that travels around the world!   Here is how one poster described it on PrepVball: It is really a multi tiered system.  Depending on the age group there is  the top 50 in the US that are in the top level.  Then the Continental  team which is for the next 30 in US.  Then a couple of tiers after that.  The bottom  tiers is pretty much college coaches running a camp using some of the  USAVB goals as the agenda.  Opportunity to play on the National team or A1 is definately  worth the time and $$$$.  Continental team also a good program but  travel if you want to watch is pricey.  A2 camps should be weighed between going to camps at  the colleges you may want to attend vs the HP camps.  Just my opinion  hope it helps.  

Here are my thoughts:  Unless a girl is a  to-this-point-unnoticed freak of nature, a USAV High Performance Tryout  is just a few hours of reps for $65.  There will be some club coaches  there being paid a little to run some drills..... I did that in  Baltimore in 2004 and was paid with a free polo.     During the  tryouts, there will be USAV coaches walking around looking at all the  girls, trying to decide if any of the girls should be invited to one of  the national camps in the summer.

To read more about it, the  USAV website is here:   http://usavolleyball.org/news/2010/12/09/2011-usav-hp-girls-tryout-schedule-announced/39944

You  can read the PrepVball post here:   http://prepvolleyball.yuku.com/topic/6794/t/HP-tryouts.html?page=1.

More here:   http://prepvolleyball.yuku.com/topic/6753/t/Youth-National-Tryout-Team.html.

My stepdaughter and some of her teammates attended these tryouts.  My  stepdaughter went to two.  Each time she received a letter a  few weeks later saying something like, "Thank you, but we can't use  you."   There are  other girls in our area who have been invited to A2 and A3.

Also, I  imagine that many of the older girls in your area have probably attended one.  If you can get in touch  with their parents, ask them what they think of the HP tryouts.

You  may also want to search through the PrepVball site to get more people's  thoughts on it.  You will see that some people think it's just a USAV  money maker and others think it's very worthwhile.

If you want to talk about this some more, just let me know.

Coach Houser

Director, STAR Volleyball Site Camps

Author, "I Can't Wait To Coach" Drill Collection and Ebooks

www.coachhouser.com

Coach Houser:

We are hosting regionals Friday 8 teams 2 days! I have all week to prepare. We have already locked a state birth. How would you approach this weekend?

Coach:

What do the players think?  At previou STAR camps that we've worked together, have you seen me do Anonymous Statements?  There are articles about  it in the ebooks.

If I were you, I'd ask my players some anonymous statements.  Before I read them, I'd tell my players this:
"Girls, respond to each statement with a number between 1 and 10.

1 means "Are you  kidding me?  I'd rather walk out in traffic.  That's ridiculous."

5  means, "maybe, don't really have an opinion".

10 means "I  believe that 110%.  I would do anything for that. YES, LET'S DO IT!!!"

You can also choose any # in between.  Fractions and decimals are OK.  haha."

Here are some sample statements.

1) I want to work hard this week. 
2) I want to win regionals Friday. 
3) If coach has  to raise his voice and get intense to make this happen, then so be it.
4) I want to make a statement in states.
5) I'm still enthused about our season!  I want to make it last as long as possible.

These statements can be whatever you want to make them; but, make sure they are useful.....what you want to know.  And I tell my girls up front, "Your answers will determine how I will coach you."

And these HAVE to be anonymous.  So hand out identical paper and identical  pencils.  Have them spin around where no girl can see each other's  papers.  This will ensure that the girls put down what they REALLY feel,  and not what they think their coach and teammates think they SHOULD  feel.

Warning:  You may get a few girls who answer one or more  them with a 5 or a 3 or something.  You CAN'T get your feelings hurt.  You wanted to know what they truly felt, right?  Well, you're getting  it.  It's OK if they put 8, 7, etc.  I hope you don't get 5's or 3's.   But if you do, then you do.

If the average of each one is  impressive (over 8.0), then post those answers on the wall somewhere.      Two years ago, when our answers to all the questions averaged to an astonishing 8.75, then we became "The Team Of 8.75".........it was everyone's jersey number  on the website for a while, we said it when we broke up from huddles, our team  mascot's jersey had "8.75" on it instead of a regular number, we placed signs in the gym with 8.75  written on each one and left them there for a few weeks, etc.

Maybe this will give you some ideas!
Tom

Coach Houser:
I play volleyball and the school questionnaire im doing is asking what  my standing reach , block jump reach,and spike approach is. im so  confused im 5'6.. can you help?

Here's what you want to know:

Standing reach:  with your feet on  the floor, and both arms stretched up the air (like you're blocking  flat-footed), how high can you reach?  Average for a high school vball  player is probably 7'.  If you're a MB, maybe 7'6" (that's about 1" over  the net)

Block Jump Reach:  Now, do the same as above, but bend  your knees then JUMP as high as you can.  How high can you reach?  The  average for a high school vball player:  probably 8' 6".  If you're a MB  maybe 9'.  Most girls do the standing and block jump up against a wall  where the inches have already been marked on the wall prior to jumping.

Spike Approach Reach:  Now, you get to SOAR!!!  Now, do your  spike approach and measure how high you can jump.  This should be the  highest of the three.  You can try to do this against a wall, but be  careful!!  Average:  8'10".  For a tall girl:  9'.  For a freak of  nature haha:  10'.....yeah, some girls can grab the basketball rim!!

Many  girls know a coach who has a "vertec".  Do you know what that is?  If  not, google it.  It's a safe, easy (and expensive haha) way of measuring  jumps.

OK, what else can I do for you?  Maybe I'll meet you  some day at a STAR volleyball camp.  The past 2 summers, we've done  nine!  The business just keeps on growing.....Alaska, South Carolina,  Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc.  We can't wait for next summer.  You can  see all about us at www.coachhouser.com.