In light of the holiday we would like to share some of our "thanks!"
We are thankful for...
1. The athletes in our club! We are so incredibly blessed to coach such AMAZING young women! Each year brings new blessings!
2. The parents of the athletes in our club. We are thankful to have you all on our "team" as we teach your daughters the game of volleyball and, of course, some life lessons along the way.
3. Our amazing club directors. Hands down they are absolutely THE BEST club directors in our area... and beyond!! The hours they put in would absolutely astound you. For those of you who don't know, to survive being a club director you have to really REALLY love these kids! haha
4. Our awesome head coaching staff. They all help formulate our club-wide coaching systems to be sure that our athletes are receiving the best, most up-to-date skill instruction available!
5. Our coaching staff. Hands down they are the most experienced, dedicated, and caring coaching staff in our area!! The behind-the-scenes work that goes into coaching club oftentimes outweighs the work that all can see. We are incredibly grateful for the time they give of themselves to all of the athletes in our club.
We hope that this week you will ponder on all that you are thankful for and enjoy the holiday!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM AMARILLO JUNIORS!!!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
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
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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Monday, October 8, 2012
What to expect at tryouts and how to get noticed!
With so many athletes vying for positions on teams during tryouts, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. How do you get noticed at tryouts and more importantly, be remembered?
A peek into the coaches tryout process will help you, the athlete, know what to expect...
Yes, it's true that coaches do, typically, have a good idea of who will be attending tryouts and therefore who they have to choose from for their team selection that year. Occasionally there are athletes that show up as a surprise, however. Also, teams in ages 12u-14s are not solidified until the final day of tryouts.
First, coaches get a sneak peek of who is coming to tryout at pre-tryout clinics.
Next, coaches get to watch athletes at tryouts, take notes on them, and discuss their individual abilities with other coaches for further input on who to place where. You will see coaches walking around with clip boards and likely whispering to one another as you and the other athletes play. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SHINE!!!
Following tryouts the entire coaching staff gets together to discuss who they have selected for their team or who they are considering. It is important to know that the head coach and assistant coach are NOT the only ones who have made the placement decision for the athletes on their team. Other coaches in that age group and throughout the club that attended tryouts have the opportunity to give their input, and the club directors' opinions are also heavily weighed in. Our club operates as a unit, which means our coaching staff helps one another in our decision making and each coach is guided by the club directors and head coaching staff to make the best decisions possible.
That evening, after final decisions are made, calls will be made to athletes at the phone numbers given on tryout registration forms to inform them what team they made. Remember to STAY NEAR YOUR PHONE. It is easiest for coaches to be able to contact each individual athlete one at a time, and not have to bounce around on their list (or be interrupted while calling another athlete by an athlete returning their previous phone call). At this time you have the opportunity to accept or reject your team offer so BE PREPARED WITH YOUR ANSWER AHEAD OF TIME. Coaches do not have time to wait around on your decision. Additionally, everything is thrown massively out of whack if coaches receive a phone call late that evening or the next day (or even later...) that the athlete chose not to accept her offer.
Now that you have a better idea of what actually happens "behind the scenes" during the tryout process, here are a few tips to help get noticed at tryouts and be remembered!
1. BE LOUD!
It is extremely important to talk and communicate on the court AT ALL TIMES. This includes calling the ball, shadowing other players, discussing what kind of ball is coming and where it's going to go, who is covering what, etc.
On top of just the regular court communication (remember, this is important no matter how old you are!) encouraging the other athletes trying out is a huge factor that helps get the attention of coaches. It shows you are a team player and willing to celebrate others' success.
2. HUSTLE!
Whether you are going to get water during a break, shagging a ball, or going from one place to the next in a drill, hustle is extremely important and noticed by every single coach in the gym. Coaches need to see that you are willing to work hard without being told to do so. This also hints at your level of coachability.
3. BE COACHABLE!
When a coach gives you instruction, take it and apply it immediately. Making mistakes is not the issue; the issue is making the same mistakes over and over again. This is frustrating for a coach and shows that you are unwilling to change your bad habits. Even if you are playing at the upper level of the talent at tryouts, being uncoachable means that eventually your competition (your teammates vying for your spot included) will outplay you! Do as the coach says and try your best to apply it immediately. They don't talk just for the sake of talking. What they say to you is for a reason, and that reason is almost always to make you a better volleyball player and all-around athlete!
4. RELAX!
It is easy to get yourself so stressed out about tryouts that you can barely function. Remember, coaches do not expect perfection! Coaches are looking for an athlete that is willing to try their best 100% of the time. Volleyball is a game of mistakes. Try to not repeat your mistake more than once, but be mindful of the fact that mistakes are OK! No one is going to gun you down for missing that hit, serve, pass, and so on. Coaches want to see your willingness to try and you being aggressive on the court. Those two things are always accompanied by the occasional mistake. Once it's made, LET IT GO AND MOVE ON! Having a "next ball mentality" can be your most valuable tool as a volleyball athlete.
Good luck and see you at tryouts!
- Amarillo Juniors
A peek into the coaches tryout process will help you, the athlete, know what to expect...
Yes, it's true that coaches do, typically, have a good idea of who will be attending tryouts and therefore who they have to choose from for their team selection that year. Occasionally there are athletes that show up as a surprise, however. Also, teams in ages 12u-14s are not solidified until the final day of tryouts.
First, coaches get a sneak peek of who is coming to tryout at pre-tryout clinics.
Next, coaches get to watch athletes at tryouts, take notes on them, and discuss their individual abilities with other coaches for further input on who to place where. You will see coaches walking around with clip boards and likely whispering to one another as you and the other athletes play. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SHINE!!!
Following tryouts the entire coaching staff gets together to discuss who they have selected for their team or who they are considering. It is important to know that the head coach and assistant coach are NOT the only ones who have made the placement decision for the athletes on their team. Other coaches in that age group and throughout the club that attended tryouts have the opportunity to give their input, and the club directors' opinions are also heavily weighed in. Our club operates as a unit, which means our coaching staff helps one another in our decision making and each coach is guided by the club directors and head coaching staff to make the best decisions possible.
That evening, after final decisions are made, calls will be made to athletes at the phone numbers given on tryout registration forms to inform them what team they made. Remember to STAY NEAR YOUR PHONE. It is easiest for coaches to be able to contact each individual athlete one at a time, and not have to bounce around on their list (or be interrupted while calling another athlete by an athlete returning their previous phone call). At this time you have the opportunity to accept or reject your team offer so BE PREPARED WITH YOUR ANSWER AHEAD OF TIME. Coaches do not have time to wait around on your decision. Additionally, everything is thrown massively out of whack if coaches receive a phone call late that evening or the next day (or even later...) that the athlete chose not to accept her offer.
Now that you have a better idea of what actually happens "behind the scenes" during the tryout process, here are a few tips to help get noticed at tryouts and be remembered!
1. BE LOUD!
It is extremely important to talk and communicate on the court AT ALL TIMES. This includes calling the ball, shadowing other players, discussing what kind of ball is coming and where it's going to go, who is covering what, etc.
On top of just the regular court communication (remember, this is important no matter how old you are!) encouraging the other athletes trying out is a huge factor that helps get the attention of coaches. It shows you are a team player and willing to celebrate others' success.
2. HUSTLE!
Whether you are going to get water during a break, shagging a ball, or going from one place to the next in a drill, hustle is extremely important and noticed by every single coach in the gym. Coaches need to see that you are willing to work hard without being told to do so. This also hints at your level of coachability.
3. BE COACHABLE!
When a coach gives you instruction, take it and apply it immediately. Making mistakes is not the issue; the issue is making the same mistakes over and over again. This is frustrating for a coach and shows that you are unwilling to change your bad habits. Even if you are playing at the upper level of the talent at tryouts, being uncoachable means that eventually your competition (your teammates vying for your spot included) will outplay you! Do as the coach says and try your best to apply it immediately. They don't talk just for the sake of talking. What they say to you is for a reason, and that reason is almost always to make you a better volleyball player and all-around athlete!
4. RELAX!
It is easy to get yourself so stressed out about tryouts that you can barely function. Remember, coaches do not expect perfection! Coaches are looking for an athlete that is willing to try their best 100% of the time. Volleyball is a game of mistakes. Try to not repeat your mistake more than once, but be mindful of the fact that mistakes are OK! No one is going to gun you down for missing that hit, serve, pass, and so on. Coaches want to see your willingness to try and you being aggressive on the court. Those two things are always accompanied by the occasional mistake. Once it's made, LET IT GO AND MOVE ON! Having a "next ball mentality" can be your most valuable tool as a volleyball athlete.
Good luck and see you at tryouts!
- Amarillo Juniors
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Follow us on Twitter!
Check out our Website!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Get your bikini body on! Summer workout tips...
Can you believe it? Regular season is almost over. WOW! It just flew by. To add to that, summer is creeping up on us! If you are like most of the women and men out there you probably had a mixed reaction to that... a sigh of relief at thoughts of fun in the sun, followed by a gnawing, nauseous feeling in the pit of your stomach at having to get back in that bathing suit.
Well, join the club.
It's no secret that physical fitness is wicked beneficial in more ways than just athletically. Check out this little picture we came across...
That about sums it up, doesn't it?
That said, here are a few tips that will help us all get ready for bathing suit season!
1. Stay hydrated.
We know, we know. You've heard this a million times before. But really, how often do we take this information to heart and actually apply it? During the summer months it's no secret that the temps are up and the sweat is pouring. Be sure to replenish what you lose! A good 8 glasses of water a day should do it (minimum 8 oz. per glass). Interesting fact? Water isn't the only way to stay hydrated, according to this article. Fruits and veggies are actually 50% water and help us stay hydrated. So throw some color into your meals! Another fun fact? Our muscles are made up of water and protein so drinking enough to keep our metabolism up helps us prevent weight gain. Convinced? Yeah, us too.
2. Stay active.
There's nothing quite like a lazy, hot summer day, is there? If you're like us, heat makes you feel sleepy and drained. The worst thing we can do, however, is let that heat keep us horizontal. Pick a time to do your workout when the rays aren't pounding (this will also help you avoid heat exhaustion). This is typically in the morning hours. Not an early bird? Wait until the sun is setting to take that walk or go on a run. Enjoying a morning sunrise or evening sunset is sure to make your daily exercise routine a little more pleasurable! Or perhaps your prefer the gym? Use that air conditioned facility to your benefit and get a quick workout in 3-5 times a week. Also, trade in some of your more "routine" activities. Doing new things stimulates our bodies and our brains. Trade that Saturday morning sleep in for an early hike in the Canyon. Or maybe turn your typical movie night into an outdoor game of sand volleyball, frisbee, football in the yard, or whatever it is you enjoy. Don't let summer rays keep you down!
3. Create a plan.
We definitely know you've heard this before, because we've talked about planning many times in this blog. Its usefulness is astounding, so we're going to keep driving our point home. Take 5-15 minutes of your weekend to plan out your week. For you, maybe this includes both a food plan AND a workout plan. Or perhaps it's just an outlined sketch of the workouts you plan to fit in that week. Whatever the case may be, putting our plan down in writing will help you stick to it on those days when, well, you simply don't want to!
- Amarillo Juniors Volleyball
Learn more about our summer camps and clinics HERE!
Keep up to date on the events we have going on and connect with us HERE!
Read inspirational quotes and club updates HERE!
Well, join the club.
It's no secret that physical fitness is wicked beneficial in more ways than just athletically. Check out this little picture we came across...
That about sums it up, doesn't it?
That said, here are a few tips that will help us all get ready for bathing suit season!
1. Stay hydrated.
We know, we know. You've heard this a million times before. But really, how often do we take this information to heart and actually apply it? During the summer months it's no secret that the temps are up and the sweat is pouring. Be sure to replenish what you lose! A good 8 glasses of water a day should do it (minimum 8 oz. per glass). Interesting fact? Water isn't the only way to stay hydrated, according to this article. Fruits and veggies are actually 50% water and help us stay hydrated. So throw some color into your meals! Another fun fact? Our muscles are made up of water and protein so drinking enough to keep our metabolism up helps us prevent weight gain. Convinced? Yeah, us too.
2. Stay active.
There's nothing quite like a lazy, hot summer day, is there? If you're like us, heat makes you feel sleepy and drained. The worst thing we can do, however, is let that heat keep us horizontal. Pick a time to do your workout when the rays aren't pounding (this will also help you avoid heat exhaustion). This is typically in the morning hours. Not an early bird? Wait until the sun is setting to take that walk or go on a run. Enjoying a morning sunrise or evening sunset is sure to make your daily exercise routine a little more pleasurable! Or perhaps your prefer the gym? Use that air conditioned facility to your benefit and get a quick workout in 3-5 times a week. Also, trade in some of your more "routine" activities. Doing new things stimulates our bodies and our brains. Trade that Saturday morning sleep in for an early hike in the Canyon. Or maybe turn your typical movie night into an outdoor game of sand volleyball, frisbee, football in the yard, or whatever it is you enjoy. Don't let summer rays keep you down!
3. Create a plan.
We definitely know you've heard this before, because we've talked about planning many times in this blog. Its usefulness is astounding, so we're going to keep driving our point home. Take 5-15 minutes of your weekend to plan out your week. For you, maybe this includes both a food plan AND a workout plan. Or perhaps it's just an outlined sketch of the workouts you plan to fit in that week. Whatever the case may be, putting our plan down in writing will help you stick to it on those days when, well, you simply don't want to!
- Amarillo Juniors Volleyball
Learn more about our summer camps and clinics HERE!
Keep up to date on the events we have going on and connect with us HERE!
Read inspirational quotes and club updates HERE!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Regional Rankings Released!
We have 8 of our teams ranked regionally in the 2012 SURVA Regional Rankings! Woohoo!
17 Royal - ranked 3rd of 20
15 Royal - ranked 1st of 27
14 Royal - ranked 4th of 41
14 Black - ranked 27th of 41
13 Royal - ranked 2nd of 27
13 Black - ranked 7th of 27
12 Royal - ranked 1st of 17
12 Black - ranked 5th of 17
Rankings are calculated by team average finish in the four bid qualifying tournaments according to Mark Noble with the Sun Country Region.
Way to go teams! We are proud of y'all!
- Amarillo Juniors
Club info, summer events, and Team of the Week HERE
Contests, photos, and current happenings HERE
Live tournament updates, quotes, and tournament photos HERE
17 Royal - ranked 3rd of 20
15 Royal - ranked 1st of 27
14 Royal - ranked 4th of 41
14 Black - ranked 27th of 41
13 Royal - ranked 2nd of 27
13 Black - ranked 7th of 27
12 Royal - ranked 1st of 17
12 Black - ranked 5th of 17
Rankings are calculated by team average finish in the four bid qualifying tournaments according to Mark Noble with the Sun Country Region.
Way to go teams! We are proud of y'all!
- Amarillo Juniors
Club info, summer events, and Team of the Week HERE
Contests, photos, and current happenings HERE
Live tournament updates, quotes, and tournament photos HERE
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Coach tips for practice planning
For those of you coaches who are practice planners, you've seen its importance proved time and time again. Creating a detailed plan for practice can be of huge benefit to the structure or your practices which then results in more constructive practice time for your athletes. Want more organization in your practices? Need them to run smoother? Not fitting everything in you would have liked during your practice time? Plan it out. It's amazing what can be accomplished with a solid plan in place.
Some tips for successful practice planning...
1. Create a backwards timeline
Our Director of Coaches, local 4A high school coach Jason Culpepper (also on our head coaching staff) advises coaches to sit down pre-season and ask yourself a simple question, "Where do I want my team to be when we are __________________?" Fill in that blank with your answer, and create your practice plans accordingly. Start from end season practice or even mid-season practices. Create them based on where you would like to be, and progress backwards. This process does take time, but it's worth it. You can also use this system moving forward through your season chronologically. Remember, allow yourself some flexibility. No one can prepare for exactly what the season will hold because the future isn't certain (for instance, player injuries can't be accounted for ahead of time), but having your season's practices planned out allows you the freedom to adjust accordingly.
2. Save and pull
So you don't want to plan all of your practices at once? Perfectly OK! But our second tip for you is this... save your past plans! Put them in a document or a binder, or somewhere you can access at a later date. This will give you a great idea about the percentage of time you are spending during practice focusing on a certain skill set, or perhaps give you insight as to how much time you are spending on single-phase drills as opposed to multi-phase or team drills. Also, you can reuse drills you particularly liked in the past. It's OK to reuse drills and allow athletes to get familiar with them and attempt to master them. This is constructive. But remember, to always set up new goals and continue to push your athletes outside of their comfort zones.
3. Make notes
During practice be sure to allow yourself some room on the side of your practice plan to make notes regarding certain drills. This comes in handy big time when creating future practice plans. Drill didn't flow like you wanted it to? Did it take too long to complete? Next time, make the adjustment and give it a time cap. Was the level of the drill too high or too low for your caliber of athletes? Adjust and make the modifications. Note taking is an overlooked tool that can do coaches an amazing amount of good when applied during practices. After all, there are typically so many things going on it's hard to remember all of your "mental notes" the next time you sit down to plan. If you have notes to refer to, you won't have to worry about that!
4. Modify
Do not be afraid to take a drill and make it your own! Modifying a drill is a brilliant way to get what you need out of it. Many of our coaches on staff have one base drill with 5 or more modifications of that same drill. Don't get caught saying, "Well I don't need that drill because it's too advanced for my athletes." Not true! Modify and tailor it to fit your team's needs. After all, no teams' needs or skill sets are going to be cookie cutter. Make it work for you.
5. Create your own drills
What areas need work on your team? Now, write those areas down. Take different elements of the game and skill sets and smoosh them together. Combine old drill concepts with new. Have a drill that only uses passing and setting? Add a hitter! Have a single-phase hitting drill? Make it multi-phase by throwing in a pass and a set. Don't be afraid to try new drills that YOU have created. Then, make notes about their effectiveness! You might surprise yourself with the awesome drills you can come up with!
6. Ask yourself questions about your practice drills and format
Oftentimes we see the teams that by all accounts should be performing well on the court. Yet, somehow, they're easily beatable. Maybe they all have spectacular individual skill sets but just can't seem to put it all together as a team. Or maybe they are heavy and strong in one area (say, defense) but obviously weak in another (maybe offense). Or possibly you have a team that has every skill set they need, but can't keep up with the pace of the game. This could in fact be a direct reflection on your practice structure and drills. It's important to continue self-evaluating your practices throughout the season. Are they fast-paced enough? Are you stopping entire drills to give instruction to just one player? Could that instruction have been given in a short key phrase (more on the use of key phrases in a future blog post) while the player continues participating in the drill? Are your drills conducive to game-like situations? What percentage of your practice is focused on single-phase drills, multi-phase drills, and team skills? These questions are important and need to be answered. The advancement of your team depends on it.
This blog posts we found through the Junior Volleyball Association's (JVA) Facebook page hits the nail on the head and asks, "Are your practice drills part of your team's problem during play?" Click HERE to answer 8 fundamental questions that will help you analyze the drills you are using during practice.
Just like so many other things in life, as a coach, if you're not growing you're dying. Be ready and willing to expand your skill set. Maybe even ask another coach you look up to or respect to view your practice and give you some insight. What did they like? What do they think could have been done better? How was the flow? Was it conducive to the time of season you are in? Practices can't just be something a team trudges through in between game time. Practice is where it counts. Successful practices breed successful athletes which in turn mold successful teams.
- Amarillo Juniors
Some tips for successful practice planning...
1. Create a backwards timeline
Our Director of Coaches, local 4A high school coach Jason Culpepper (also on our head coaching staff) advises coaches to sit down pre-season and ask yourself a simple question, "Where do I want my team to be when we are __________________?" Fill in that blank with your answer, and create your practice plans accordingly. Start from end season practice or even mid-season practices. Create them based on where you would like to be, and progress backwards. This process does take time, but it's worth it. You can also use this system moving forward through your season chronologically. Remember, allow yourself some flexibility. No one can prepare for exactly what the season will hold because the future isn't certain (for instance, player injuries can't be accounted for ahead of time), but having your season's practices planned out allows you the freedom to adjust accordingly.
2. Save and pull
So you don't want to plan all of your practices at once? Perfectly OK! But our second tip for you is this... save your past plans! Put them in a document or a binder, or somewhere you can access at a later date. This will give you a great idea about the percentage of time you are spending during practice focusing on a certain skill set, or perhaps give you insight as to how much time you are spending on single-phase drills as opposed to multi-phase or team drills. Also, you can reuse drills you particularly liked in the past. It's OK to reuse drills and allow athletes to get familiar with them and attempt to master them. This is constructive. But remember, to always set up new goals and continue to push your athletes outside of their comfort zones.
3. Make notes
During practice be sure to allow yourself some room on the side of your practice plan to make notes regarding certain drills. This comes in handy big time when creating future practice plans. Drill didn't flow like you wanted it to? Did it take too long to complete? Next time, make the adjustment and give it a time cap. Was the level of the drill too high or too low for your caliber of athletes? Adjust and make the modifications. Note taking is an overlooked tool that can do coaches an amazing amount of good when applied during practices. After all, there are typically so many things going on it's hard to remember all of your "mental notes" the next time you sit down to plan. If you have notes to refer to, you won't have to worry about that!
4. Modify
Do not be afraid to take a drill and make it your own! Modifying a drill is a brilliant way to get what you need out of it. Many of our coaches on staff have one base drill with 5 or more modifications of that same drill. Don't get caught saying, "Well I don't need that drill because it's too advanced for my athletes." Not true! Modify and tailor it to fit your team's needs. After all, no teams' needs or skill sets are going to be cookie cutter. Make it work for you.
5. Create your own drills
What areas need work on your team? Now, write those areas down. Take different elements of the game and skill sets and smoosh them together. Combine old drill concepts with new. Have a drill that only uses passing and setting? Add a hitter! Have a single-phase hitting drill? Make it multi-phase by throwing in a pass and a set. Don't be afraid to try new drills that YOU have created. Then, make notes about their effectiveness! You might surprise yourself with the awesome drills you can come up with!
6. Ask yourself questions about your practice drills and format
Oftentimes we see the teams that by all accounts should be performing well on the court. Yet, somehow, they're easily beatable. Maybe they all have spectacular individual skill sets but just can't seem to put it all together as a team. Or maybe they are heavy and strong in one area (say, defense) but obviously weak in another (maybe offense). Or possibly you have a team that has every skill set they need, but can't keep up with the pace of the game. This could in fact be a direct reflection on your practice structure and drills. It's important to continue self-evaluating your practices throughout the season. Are they fast-paced enough? Are you stopping entire drills to give instruction to just one player? Could that instruction have been given in a short key phrase (more on the use of key phrases in a future blog post) while the player continues participating in the drill? Are your drills conducive to game-like situations? What percentage of your practice is focused on single-phase drills, multi-phase drills, and team skills? These questions are important and need to be answered. The advancement of your team depends on it.
This blog posts we found through the Junior Volleyball Association's (JVA) Facebook page hits the nail on the head and asks, "Are your practice drills part of your team's problem during play?" Click HERE to answer 8 fundamental questions that will help you analyze the drills you are using during practice.
Just like so many other things in life, as a coach, if you're not growing you're dying. Be ready and willing to expand your skill set. Maybe even ask another coach you look up to or respect to view your practice and give you some insight. What did they like? What do they think could have been done better? How was the flow? Was it conducive to the time of season you are in? Practices can't just be something a team trudges through in between game time. Practice is where it counts. Successful practices breed successful athletes which in turn mold successful teams.
- Amarillo Juniors
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Thursday, March 15, 2012
Club Awesome
So we just had to use this week to BRAG about one of our volleyball teams because we are so proud of them! Our 13 Royal team took time out of their Spring Break schedules to do some volunteer work for a local children's rehab center (Turn Center). How awesome is that?! We love how our athletes come together to grow AND reach out in our community. 13 Royal, we are proud of y'all!
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