active network espn
Active Home | Directory | Community | eteamz | Results | Support Support | Event Directors & Organizers
community only   all active.com

Ask Coach Houser : February 2008

Previous Next
0


Coach Houser:

I understand that coaches are human, and can get emotional, but my daughter's coach is extreme. So negative and mean to the girls. Some of them actually hate him. Is this normal? We've only dealt with a few coaches, and the majority of them are mean. I'm sorry for the bummer email. I guess you hear stuff like this a lot.

Your email wasn't a "bummer". It was real feeling from a real person.

And as for "he's human," that's not a good excuse for abusive, ridiculous behavior.

Sometimes I'll do something stupid, and my wife will support me saying, "You're human". I answer, "Yeah, but I'm a 47 year old human and I should know better. I must know better."

When coaches do stupid stuff, then they (a) better apologize reallyt fast or (b) better have a really good reason for it! Otherwise, their skill at working with their present team will vanish; and, their future ability to recruit players and the train players will suffer greatly!

If a person is coaching because they enjoy kids, then they won't abuse the kids.

If a person is coaching for some other reason (winning, the feeling of power, etc), then the coach may believe that the kids deserve that rough treatment. But, no. The coach is wrong. No one ever needs or deserves abuse. Especially defenseless children!

I hold coaches up to a higher standard than the average adult. I always have. Even when I was a teenager, I expected coaches to be better than the average adult. I thought that (and still do think!!!) coaches are supposed to be leaders and role models. And if they don't want to those things, then they should not be coaching.

Even when I was 26 and in my 1st year of coaching, I expected great things from myself. But, I didn't really know what I was doing. It seems I was screwing up daily. A strategy would backfire. Movitvational speeches would actually damage my team's efforts. A statement would hurt a player's feelings. My principal would just shake his head.

As I've gotten older, I've realized one very important thing. I hope that your daughter's coach will realize the same thing eventually. I've learned that I'll get more effort, dedication and loyalty from my players by smiling, being concerned about their school work, listening, encouraging, complimenting, being there for them, telling them how awesome they are, etc. Inversely, the meaner I am, the more I fuss, the more I embarrass the players, then the worse they'll perform. And who's to blame?

Tom Houser

Head Coach, 2008 and 2007 Roanoke Juniors 15's Open

Head Coach, 2006 Roanoke Junior 15 Nationals, JOVC Qualified

Director, STAR Volleyball Camps

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


http://www.coachhouser.com/

0 Comments Permalink
0


I have a question: While waiting for a ball to be set to you, which foot should be in front before you do your spike approach? Even though I was a setter most of camp, when I got a chance to hit, I couldn't remember for the life of me. I remember everything else that you taught me though - high reach, snap, "L". I think it's finally coming together for me, and I got some compliments about my hitting last night.

There is no correct answer to your question. But there is a preference. Here is mine, and I think it's logical.

I want my right-handed players to start with their left foot in front.

There are a number of advantages of having your left foot forward!

  • the hitter can wait longer to start their approach, thus can judge the set better;
  • since the first step can't take the hitter as far, the hitter won't be as likely to get in the net;
  • the hitter doesn't have to get as far off the net;
  • yet, with only 3 steps, you lose no power.

If a hitter starts with their right foot forward, then the disadvantages are just as numerous!

  • the hitter must start her approach earlier, thus committing herself to a set before she's aware of where it's going to be;
  • the hitter is more likely to get in/under the net;
  • the hitter has to get further off the net.

How's that? If you have a coach who says, "Right foot forward for right-handers," then I understand. Many coaches say that. But do me a favor, please. When you hear a really good reason for it, email it to me! haha. I've never heard a good one.

Tom Houser

Head Coach, 2007 Roanoke Juniors 15's Open

Head Coach, 2006 Roanoke Junior 15 Nationals, JOVC Qualified

Director, STAR Volleyball Camps

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

www.coachhouser.com

0 Comments Permalink
Click to view CoachHouser's profile

CoachHouser

 Member since: Jan 10, 2008

Coach Tom Houser is the head coach for the Roanoke Juniors 15s, as well as the director of STAR volleyball camps. He is the author of the "I Can't Wait" Drill Collection and the "I Can't Wait To Coach" Ebooks. www.coachhouser.com

View CoachHouser's profile

Recent Comments

No recent comments.