The Inside Scoop

Most people are innately nosey. Yes, we did just call you nosey.
For those of you that are willing to admit it (and, ok, those of you who aren't, too) here is a little peek at our first coaches meeting of the season!

Staff season theme: UNITY!
Unity is a noun. In fact, it is defined as, "The state of being one; a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one; oneness of mind, feeling, etc.; concord, harmony or agreement."
Anyone see a pattern here? How about the word "one"?
At Amarillo Juniors, we are focused on practicing what we preach. Individually, each coach in our club will preach "team team team" to our athletes all season long, doing everything short of pounding it into their heads with a hammer. (Ok so we don't really use physical violence to get that point across, but you see what we mean, right?) On that note, we believe it is essential for each of us as a staff to live out what we repeat season after season to our athletes - TEAMWORK!
One way our staff attempts to achieve that goal each year is by attending monthly meetings in which the entire staff gets together to discuss drill ideas, skill training, team building strategies, coaching techniques, and more.
One of our season quotes is, "The WE is greater than the ME." 
Yes, that means we have each other's backs. That means we work as a unit. That means that, despite some differences in our coaching styles and variations in our skills training our foundation is the same.
In fact, it was years ago that this same core group of people decided to begin coaching cohesively across the board as a staff. Our rockin' head coaching staff (Jason Skoch, West Texas A&M head coach, Jason Culpepper, Randall High School head coach, Scott Sandel, Tascosa High School head coach, Jan Barker, Amarillo High School head coach, and Stephanie Bankhead, head club director for Amarillo Juniors) establishes yearly how we are going to teach our volleyball fundamentals and foundations to our athletes.
Some of you might also be interested in learning that each year the Amarillo Juniors coaching staff each individually sign a "Coaches Code of Conduct." This means there is no just "talking the talk," but a whole lot of "walking the walk."
Now, does this mean that at some point a parent (or player, but in the spirit of honestly we're going to let you know it is more often a parent) will not be upset by one of our coaches coaching styles or coaching decisions? Absolutely not, and truth be told, that line is often blurry, much to the frustration of everyone involved. We encourage the parents in our club to remain mindful that your athlete's coach truly DOES have her best interests at heart, and never makes any decision without a reason behind it. Oftentimes that reason is something you never thought it would be. Bottom line? Let the coaches do their job, they really do care about your kiddo!
At our meeting we also discussed the fact that the parents of our athletes are entrusting their daughters into our care to help teach them excellent volleyball (and therefore life) skills for 5-7 months of the year, and each coach on our staff takes this role extremely seriously. Collectively, we understand how difficult it is to step back and entrust your child's emotional well being to us, all the while knowing that there's a possibility not everything will go her way.
Bottom line is, our staff is hyper dedicated to our teams, and therefore dedicated to each individual athlete. We are dedicated to doing the best we can as often as we can and as long as we can to train our athletes and bring them to into their highest volleyball potential, ultimately leading to a successful collegiate career, should they so choose. We are committed to staying unified as a club and going at it as a team.
We are so pumped for what all this season will bring, and truly appreciate how many amazing families have chosen to be a part of it with us!
- Amarillo Juniors

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Hit or miss; a "gamer"

Most have heard about or know someone who is considered a "gamer." A "gamer" is the athlete that, during practice and training, does not perform well, but in the face of a game can outplay most of those on the court, somehow morphing into a "stud."
There are many arguments as to whether this is intentional or "just the way a player operates."
So what are coaches faced with when they have this type of player? Their biggest question is, "Can I depend on this player?"
Most coaches determine playing time, positions, and overall team roles based on play during practice. Some coaches even utilize systems such as Gold Medal Squared's "Competitive Cauldron" (explained HERE). In this system, good play in practice is of the utmost priority to the athletes competing against one another.
The hardest part of determining whether a "gamer" is worthy of a more prominent role on a team is deciphering this particular athlete's work ethic. For instance, is the underlying issue that she/he simply does not want to work hard and focus during training and then turns up the heat during competition? If so, this player strikes up a point or two on the untrustworthy scale. A facade like that cannot be sustained forever, and ultimately this type of player will be "out-skilled" by her/his teammates in the long run.
Many coaches have argued, however, that some athletes simply thrive on the adrenaline rush of play; and therefore up the ante, so to speak, during competition. How do coaches combat this? Well, to put it simply, they can design more competition-focused practices.
In most sports, and especially in volleyball, your "gems" are your consistent athletes. These are the players you can trust to put a ball down in a crunch situation, or step back to the service line and serve aggressively without fearing the fact that they are serving on game point.
Coaches, if you are faced with coaching a "gamer" take your time to really evaluate the situation. How does she interact with her teammates during practice? What is her level of hustle? How much fortitude does she have when faced with chaotic drills designed to induce stress? Often, paying specific attention to the athlete's reactions during these situations will give you hints as to what is beneath it all. But take your time in doing this, and try not to jump to conclusions without a thorough investigation.
Players, if you feel like you play better during competition than during practice, you may be in need of a self-evaluation. What is your mental status before you practice? How does that change before the start of a match? How emotionally and physically invested are you in practice vs play? Do you think you thrive in a more competitive environment? What circumstances can you, personally, change to be sure you are benefiting from play AND practice? Have you discussed these issues with your coach? Plan a short sit-down session with your coach for their input on how you can make some changes in the right direction.
Not everything in sports is cut and dry - hence the existence of sports psychologists! However, with some careful evaluation of self or athlete the situation can be molded in a way that benefits both coach, player, and team.
- Amarillo Juniors

13 Royal - LTK - after their 2nd place finish!

 

 

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In the coaches' heads... What are they looking for at tryouts?

What are your coaches looking for during tryouts? 
Knowing what someone expects of you can be the key to your success. Let's take a peek into a coaches' head during tryouts...

1. How aggressive is she?

Photo from snugd.com
via Google images

Timidity in the sport of volleyball is never a good thing. Coaches have a keen eye for an aggressive player, and can typically spot one the second they walk into the gym. Be sure that you are playing aggressively. This includes calling the ball loudly, no matter WHEN you're passing it. A big mistake many athletes make is getting out of the "I got it!" habit when they are in single-phase drills. Just because you may be the only person passing that ball is a poor excuse not to call it. This goes back to the fundamental aspect of "you play like you practice." Always practice with the proper technique, form, and attitude and this will carry over come game time. Coaches are aware of this, so they look for athletes who play in this manner.

2. Does she have good court awareness?

Photo from atlantaputtinggreen.com
via Google images

Just because you can go up and bang a ball doesn't necessarily mean you are guaranteed a hitting position on a team. Swinging as hard as you can at every ball will create a high error percentage; coaches are looking for low-error, high-success hitters. This means they need someone getting a large margin more kills than they are making errors. Coaches really look for smart athletes who have good placement with the ball; be it a hit, serve, pass, or set. Always be aware of both your side of the court and the other side, making sure you take into account what is happening around you. A player who adjusts mid-play is a player every coach is looking for.


3. Is she afraid to make mistakes?

Photo from johngeddert.com
via Google images

Fearing making a mistake is a mistake in and of itself. Coaches are looking for a "go big or go home" player. Never be afraid to make a move because you think you might not be successful. If you think your jump float serve will get an ace because of the serve receive pattern on the other side of the net - GO FOR IT! This goes back to being aggressive. Always perform your task with the expectation that you WILL succeed, not with a fear that you won't.





4. If she makes a mistake, what is her response?

Photo from staugustineduckrace.com
via Google images

This is a theory that 15s coach and Amarillo Juniors Director Stephanie Bankhead calls "The Duck's Butt" theory. When a duck gets wet, the water rolls off his back smoothly and swiftly, leaving no trace of it in its wake. This is the mentality coaches expect you to have when it comes to mistakes on the court. When you make a mistake, be a "duck's butt" athlete - let it roll off and focus on your next job! A popular name for this is "next ball mentality" ... but we think duck's butt is cuter. :)




5. How does she relate to the other athletes on the court?

Photo from 123rf.com via
Google images

Are you encouraging the other athletes on the court? Are you cheering them on when they do something good and lifting them up when they make a mistake? This may be the most important thing of all to a coach, because these actions show coaches whether or not you will be a good team player. The bottom line is that each team must be focused on the "we" and never the "me." Your attitude towards the players around is a big, flashing sign to the coaches. It's your choice whether that sign says, "I'm a winner and a team player who will do my very best for the betterment of the TEAM" or, "I'm mainly worried about my own performance and myself so I don't take into consideration the athletes around me." It's up to you, so make it count!

Good luck to our 15s-18s teams this weekend at tryouts. And remember, "duck's butt!"

- Amarillo Juniors

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rumor squasher:

AMARILLO JUNIORS TEAMS ARE NOT PRE-FORMED. No team selections are made until tryouts are completed. In the older age divisions specifically, it is true that the coaches have typically seen the athletes play during school season and former club seasons, but their teams are not yet chosen. Help us out and be a rumor squasher!