As One Ends....Another
Begins
-By Dave Cross
Unless a club team has qualified for the USA Nationals in Reno, or they are
going to the AAU Nationals in Orlando, their season has come
to an end.
High school coaches across the nation are in transition from the club scene
to the summer pre-season. It's a time to re-charge those batteries,
get some yard work done and reacquaint yourself with the family dog.
But, it's also a very important time for the school
program that shouldn't be overlooked.
AS ONE ENDS...
Coaches, make sure you meet with each of your returning players
that played club this year and discuss their season:
1. What did they learn?
-Sometimes kids are reluctant to use a new skill or strategy they've learned
during club back at school-because you didn't teach it to them! Other
times, that month-long break is enough time for them to forget. Talking
face-to-face with them about it, even having them write it down before you
talk, can help them to take what they've learned into your summer program.
(And if they unfortunately did learn something you'd rather they forget,
you can make this understood before they get on the court for you.) :)
2. What did they improve at?
-Having a player tell you what they feel they have improved at is very important.
This can be a big confidence booster for them when they see your positive
and pleased reaction. It also makes them accountable for continuing
to perform at this new level. ("I told coach I got better at this, I've
got to show them now!")
3. Who was their favorite teammate and why?
-I always thought this reaped huge benefits in our program. Invariably,
players will speak highly of a teammate who was positive, encouraging, hard
working and energetic - the exact qualities you want from your own players!
On the other end, you can also get them to tell you who their least favorite
teammate was pretty easily (and why). Again, the reasons will be pretty
consistent: Lazy, negative, mean, etc. Whenever I got a response
like this from one of my girls, I would use it to get them to appreciate
their school teammates even more. Quite often it could be used to help
strengthen the bond between two of my players who weren't the best of friends.
"Sure does make you appreciate 'Jill' a little more, doesn't it?
She does all the things you liked in 'Sally'". This discussion
can also be used to reinforce how you want this player to behave like herself.
"So I guess 'Suzie' really helped you play better, eh? Yeah, it's really
important that everyone be like that to help our team do its best this year."
ANOTHER BEGINS...
During this meeting, it is very important to start putting what has been
discussed since last November into place in preparation for August:
1. Have each player bring to the meeting with them their goals for
the summer. We all know that setting goals and having a plan
on how to achieve them is vital to the improvement of every player, so why
wait until August to get this all-important process started? Tell them
to focus on what they want to be better at by tryouts, and how they are going
to achieve this improvement. Make sure their plan is specific to achieving
the goal, "I'm going to work hard at it in open gym", is not specific.
"I'm going to tell myself before every approach to drop my thumb
right before I contact the ball so I can cut it hard to my right", is.
And, as we always stress, make sure they put these
goals (with their achievement plan) on index cards and put them up around their house,
inside their gym locker, etc., where they will constantly be reminded of
them.
2. Hand them a detailed schedule of your summer schedule. By
doing this, you eliminate the, "But, I didn't know we had that scheduled",
excuse that drives us all nuts when they finally tell us they are going to
miss something. This also helps you to see who is really going to commit
themselves to their own and the teams goals, and who isn't.
3. Clarify with each player their commitment to
attending everything you have scheduled for the summer. Sure,
most are going to miss something due to a family vacation, especially if
you have an aggressive schedule in place, but make it clear that missing
to work, etc., is not in their best interests-or the teams.
4. Talk to them about their grades one last time. (You better had
already been on top of this!) But making it a point of discussion one
last time helps to further cement in their understanding the importance of
making sure they stay on top of their academics.
5. Share with them your goals for both them and the team. Get
each player to understand what you are expecting. They will either
get on board, or they won't-and the sooner you know who you can and can't
on this fall the better!
6. Finally, be very clear with them in terms of
what they must improve at to have a successful high school season.
Leave nothing to interpretation. Make sure they understand. The
clearer your lines of communication are with each of your players, the better
the chance you will get them, (or enough of them), to do what you are asking
them to do to be successful.
WRAPPING IT UP....
Yes, this is going to take some planning, time and effort on your part...
Yes, you are probably pretty beat right now...
No, none of that matters...
Don't tell me you don't have time, or this all can wait...
Not if you want to have the best season you can have next fall!!
Get to work, Coach - and Good Luck!!
-Dave Cross
National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball
