Coaching Management 13.11

Coaching Management VOL. XIII, NO. 11

VOLLEYBALL

POSTSEASON

EDITION

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$5.00

2005

STRONG CONNECTIONS Inviting alumnae players back into the fold

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Making Career Decisions

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Simple Strategies for Boosting Energy

Circle No. 100

Coaching Management Volleyball Edition Postseason 2005

CONTENTS

Vol. XIII, No. 11

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24 LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Strong Connections

NCAA coaches adjust to having more subs … Arizona high school teams are fighting to move from three- to fivegame matches … Coaches in Pennsylvania threaten to strike … Iowa surveys its athletes on supplement use …

Administrators question the use of male practice players.

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Football teams have done it for a century. Today, volleyball coaches are discovering the tremendous benefits of making alumnae players a part of their current team.

THE COACHING LIFE

A Fresh Start

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Your athletes get to start over every time the whistle blows. As a coach, how do you know when it’s time to make your own fresh start?

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

NUTRITION

Lynne Malloy, Head Coach at North Springs High School in Atlanta, talks about working with parents, motivating her players, and why she doesn’t coach club.

Please Pass the Energy

UNIFORMS & APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 THE VOLLEYBALL COURT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Publisher Mark Goldberg Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Art Director Pamela Crawford Photo Research Dina Stander, Signs of Life Studio

Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editor Dennis Read Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson Kenny Berkowitz Abigail Funk David Hill Greg Scholand Laura Smith

Production Manager Kristin Ayers

Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

Production Assistant Jonni Campbell

Administrative Assistants Sharon Barbell Melinda Tiszttarto

Prepress Manager Adam Berenstain

Circulation Manager John Callaghan

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On the cover: Sacramento State’s Jennifer Ferguson connects against Weber State during a special reunion-weekend match this fall. Story starts on page 14.

Business Manager Pennie Small

Circulation Director Dave Dubin

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If your athletes’ energy levels easily sag, the problem may be their nutritional intake. Consider these simple strategies, which can lead to a more productive and focused team.

Asst. Prepress Manager Jim Harper IT Manager Mark Nye

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD NCAA Coaches Get More Subs Thanks to some off-season work by the NCAA Volleyball Rules Committee, coaches this year were allowed to increase their number of substitutions per game from 12 to 15. While it’s been a topic of discussion among coaches for years, Suz-

ie Fritz, Rules Committee Chair and Head Coach at Kansas State University, says the committee voted overwhelmingly in favor of the change.

“The issue is brought up to the rules committee every year,” says Fritz. “Some would like to see the rule fall in line with international volleyball, which has only six substitutions. Oth-

ers would like to see no limit at all, like in NAIA volleyball.

There is supporting rationale for both sides, but when it came right down to it, this is what most of the coaches wanted, and we like to follow their recommendations.”

The biggest difference coaches saw this season was the more frequent use of a 6-2 offensive formation. “With the availability of the added substitutions,” says Cathy George, Head Coach at Michigan State University, “you can basically go through an entire match using a 6-2 offense.

Previously you might have been able to get through only two or three rotations of it depending on where you needed to sub.

“Before, I’d have to leave my front row players in the back row except for the sub,” George explains. “Now I have the ability to run the 6-2 and make front row and back row substitutions throughout the match, rather than having to choose.”

Fritz says coaches are definitely using the additional substitutions to play different offensive systems, but she also notes that some coaches don’t see that change as a positive. “We’ve heard that this won’t allow coaches to create ‘complete’ volleyball players,” she says. “If you’re a team that specializes, having more subs allows you to utilize specific personnel that are good at specific roles.”

“In the long run, players may not be as well rounded,” George admits. “But I think that will be largely based upon how a coach goes about training his or her athletes.”

At Michigan State University, Coach Cathy George has used the increase in substitutions to run a 6-2 offense more frequently. Above, senior setter Mickey Davis gets the Spartans’ offense going.

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Fritz says the only other complaint she’s heard is of games slowing down due to more substitutions. “But the officials are getting the subs in and out pretty fast, so I’m not seeing a disruption,” she says.

Three Games or Five?

After a 28-11 season and victories in the first three rounds of the state tournament, the Ironwood Ridge High School Nighthawks were one match away from the 2004 Arizona 4A championship. Facing topseeded Scottsdale Chaparral High School, they expected a battle. What they didn’t expect was that their hopes would be dashed in disturbingly short order—they were swept by Chaparral in a championship match that lasted just 35 minutes.

Perhaps it was fitting that the contest was roughly the same length as a television sitcom, because for Ironwood Ridge’s players and Head Coach Bill Lang, it seemed like a bad joke. “You’d think that to reach the state championship and drive two hours to compete for the title, it shouldn’t be over in half an hour,” Lang says. “Who benefits from that?

It’s not benefiting the coaches, or the parents who came all that way and paid to see a match. And it’s certainly not benefiting the kids.”

Arizona is one of a handful of states that opted to make all its varsity volleyball matches follow a best-of-three format beginning in 2004, the year the NFHS made rally scoring mandatory. The state had switched to rally scoring in 2003 and used the best-of-five format, but the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Legislative Council voted after the season to adopt best-ofthree after some administrators said matches were running later than necessary. This was especially problematic for visiting teams that had long drives home.

Armed with the support of over 90 percent of Arizona high school volleyball coaches, Lang is leading the charge to convince the AIA to switch back to best-of-five. In a pre-

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD sentation to the association’s 4A Executive Board before this year’s vote, he offered some compelling figures. He pointed out that, according to national averages, the typical best-offive match lasts just 60 to 75 minutes (shorter than an average contest in most other sports), and a five-game match usually lasts 90 minutes. In Arizona during the 2003 season only 13 percent of matches were forced to a fifth game, while 68 percent were over in three games. He also told the board that with less playing time to go around, fewer stu-

something we’re going to give up on,” he says. “Our players train just as hard and put in just as many hours as the participants in other sports. They see basketball, softball, and soccer games last an hour and a half, and football games last three hours, and they wonder, ‘Why are we only playing for 30 minutes?’”

nobody would score,” he says.

“You could have a five-game match under side-out scoring go an hour and a half, or it could go three hours. Now, somebody scores a point each time the ball hits the floor, so it only takes a certain amount of time before one team reaches 25. Even if a match goes to five, you know about how long it’s going to take.”

In states that have chosen the best-of-five format, there has been occasional grumbling from parents or school officials that matches are running later than they had under side-out

Dzubay says that with matches taking on a more uniform length, one of the biggest changes for his team has been a decrease in the importance

In Arizona, Ironwood Ridge High School Coach Bill Lang is leading the charge to change state match rules from a best-of-three format to best-of-five. Above, Ironwood Ridge’s Kara Bauman splits the defense against Catalina High School in a match Ironwood won, 25-9, 25-13, this fall. The shorter format has meant many games are completed in just 30 minutes. dent-athletes—particularly bench players—have the chance to compete.

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

“Before, you had no idea when a match would end—if nobody could win points serving,

of endurance. “We have always worked hard on conditioning, so if we ever went five long games under the old system, we knew we were going to win,” he says. “I remember two state championships where we lost the first two games but forced a fifth, and we won because we were in better shape than the other team.

With match-length more uniform now, I think we’ve lost some of that advantage.”

When Slippery Rock University opened its 2005 season with a perfect 4-0 weekend, the players and Head Coach Laurie Lokash had more reason than usual to celebrate. Just days earlier, they learned that a new contract agreement had been struck between coaches in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The deal ended the looming possibility of a coaches’ strike, which had threatened to bring sports in the NCAA Division II conference to a screeching halt.

Around 360 PSAC coaches— those who are not under faculty contracts at their schools— are members of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF), the only union in the country that represents college coaches. They had been working without a contract since their last one expired in 2004, and with unresolved issues on the table, in June 2005 they authorized APSCUF to call a work stoppage. The official strike date was never made public, but newspaper reports speculated that if a deal were not in place by late August, teams at the 14 PSAC schools would likely find themselves at least temporarily without coaches.

When a tentative agreement was announced on Aug. 23, Lokash says she was relieved that the long period of uncertainty was over. “We were told that the general membership would know 48 hours before a strike was called,” she says.

“Knowing that we didn’t have to worry about that timeframe anymore allowed us to concentrate on our season. But honestly, I don’t think that we prepared our teams for this season any differently. How could we have?”

JEFFRY SCOTT/ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Lang’s effort came up one vote shy of the three-fifths majority needed to adopt the longer match format when the board voted in March, but he says the fight isn’t over. “When you have such a large majority of coaches, players, and parents who want this change, it isn’t

scoring. But John Dzubay, Head Coach at Stewartville (Minn.) High School, where best-of-five has been the law of the land under rally scoring for three years, says that the biggest impact on match times is that they are now more predictable.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Most difficult of all, Lokash says, was coping with the possibility that her players would see their season interrupted.

She kept an open approach in talking to her team about the situation, and was heartened to see the athletes respond with understanding and support.

“The first thing they said to me when we spoke about it was, ‘We’ve got your back,’” Lokash says. “They said, ‘We know that we’re only passing through here for four years, but this is your job. There are certain times when you’ve got to take care of yourself, because the rest of the time you’re taking care of us.’

They were going to be disappointed if they didn’t get to play, but they also knew that we wouldn’t do this to them intentionally.”

ization because they realize it gives them critical leverage in collective bargaining. Before coaches unionized under APSCUF, many had very low salaries. The first contract they secured through the union, which took effect in 2002, set salary ranges for full-time head coaches ($30,000-$85,000) and assistant coaches ($25,000$50,000), as well as minimum salaries for part-time coaches.

Coaches also felt they had little job security before unionizing. “When you’re not unionized, things can be very arbitrary,” Lokash explains. “We didn’t have any guaranteed vacation time or sick leave, there was no raise schedule, and if your university wanted to ask you to work 365 days a year, it could. There was really nothing to guarantee us benefits or job security.”

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

IHSAA officials were pleased to learn that far fewer athletes are using the substances they’re most concerned about. Only 17 percent of males and one percent of females reported using creatine, and one percent or less of both genders said they used androstenedione (commonly known as andro), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), or beta-hydroxy methylbutyrate (HMB).

Around 360 coaches in the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference threatened to strike this fall just as the season was set to begin. Slippery Rock University volleyball players (Lindsay Weber is shown above) supported their head coach through the negotiations.

One number, however, did cause concern. Thirty percent of males and 17 percent of females said they use energy-enhancing products, such as highly caffeinated energy drinks or gels, many of which also contain other stimulants not regulated by the FDA. “That did raise a bit of a red flag for us,” says Alan Beste,

DAVE MILLER/SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

While the threat of a strike was difficult, Lokash says most coaches in the PSAC strongly support the concept of union-

With all the messages high school student-athletes hear about performance-enhancing substances, what are they actually choosing to put into their bodies in an effort to get ahead? This spring, officials at the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) decided to ask. The IHSAA conducted an anonymous statewide supplement survey, gathering information from 3,200 athletes at over 100 schools. The results contained mostly good news, but also identified one area of concern.

In general, the substances Iowa student-athletes reported using most aren’t the ones likely to put them at risk for health problems. A large majority—95 percent of males and 93 percent of females—reported consuming sports drinks to enhance performance. Thirty-nine percent of males and 36 percent of females take vitamin supplements, 37 percent of males use protein bars or powders, and 13 percent of females use meal-replacement bars or drinks.

Of the labor issues that needed to be hammered out, pay increases topped the list.

Under the new contract, coaches will receive a threepercent salary increase for 2005-06 and again for 200607, with the potential for an additional performance-based raise of up to 2.5 percent per year. Full- and part-time coaches with at least 10 consecutive years of experience also received a one-time cash payment of $50 for each year they have coached.

Other points of contention involved health insurance copayments and tying contract renewals to performance evaluations—something coaches wanted in order to protect job security. The coaches did not secure a direct link between performance evaluations and contract renewals, but as part of the new agreement, a university president will have to provide written justification whenever a coach’s contract is not renewed.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD IHSAA Assistant Executive Director and Wellness Coordinator, “because those products can have some negative effects if used improperly.”

supplement use. As a result, the association is preparing a PowerPoint presentation on supplementation, as well as a new printed pamphlet about energy enhancing products.

The survey also asked athletes to identify their main sources of information about performance-enhancing products.

Topping the list for both males and females were friends (44 percent for males and 50 percent for females), parents (37 percent for both genders), and coaches (37 percent for males and 35 percent for females). No other single group—doctors, athletic trainers, school nurses, or athletic directors—polled above 15 percent for either gender.

A survey of high school athletes in Iowa on supplement use found that only a small percentage of females take creatine, andro, DHEA, or HMB, but that many do use energyenhancing products not regulated by the FDA.

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When the IHSAA Board of Control met this summer, members discussed the survey findings and decided that promoting education was the best way to combat potentially risky

“We have always believed that if we don’t inform athletes about nutritional supplements, and in particular weight-gain products and substances like creatine, they may start relying on them,” Beste says. “And when they aren’t satisfied with the outcome, the next thing they turn to could be andro or anabolic steroids.”

Men on the Practice Court?

When the playoffs loom and the next match is against a front line of All-America candidates, who wouldn’t relish the chance to scrimmage against a stronger, higher-leaping scout team to simulate the formidable impending challenge?

And if the best female players on campus are already on the team, why not recruit a corps of male practice players to stand in for the opponent?

Who could argue with that?

The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) could. Members of the CWA, while acknowledging the motivations for using male undergraduates as practice players for many women’s teams, agreed this past summer that doing so may violate the spirit of gender equity and recommended that institutions limit the practice.

CWA Vice-Chair Janet Kittell, Associate Director of Athletics at Syracuse University, says male practice players take participation opportunities from the rightful members of a team.

“The women on the team are not getting the same amount of practice time when you have a team of men practicing against your first string,” she says.

While the NCAA doesn’t count male practice players toward scholarship limits because they don’t receive athletic financial aid, administrators should view the male athletes as participants that count toward Title IX, Kittell says. “If the women’s basketball team has five male practice players, I’ve got to have five more women—that’s a whole golf team—to balance them out in terms of gender equity and compliance if I’m looking at participation rates, which we all should be,” she explains.

The CWA didn’t propose banning male practice players, but

wants input from other groups.

The NCAA Division I StudentAthlete Advisory Committee recommended limits, such as caps on the time males can participate in a practice session and tying their number to how many team members are out because of injuries. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) hasn’t spoken on the issue, nor has the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee, but the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee have endorsed continuing the practice.

Beth Launiere, Head Coach at the University of Utah and NCAA Division I Representative to the AVCA Board of Directors, does not use male practice players, but would like to. She has approached Utah’s men’s club team and men who want to coach after college, but has not gotten any takers.

“The advantage of male players is their ability to play the game strongly and higher above the net,” Launiere says.

“The downside is that those players are sometimes taking practice opportunities from female players. I have 16 players on my roster, and it’s difficult getting that many players practice opportunities later in the season when we’re in scouting situations—that’s also when we would use the male player more often because he can replicate the stronger opponents we’re going to see.

“But we’re also here to win volleyball matches,” she continues. “That’s our job. If having male practice players is going to help, then I’d be willing to find practice opportunities, maybe on court two, for some of my other players.”

Russ Rose, Head Coach at Penn State University, doesn’t see the two or three men he uses during part of practice sessions as reducing opportunities for his players. “I feel

comfortable that every player in my gym has the opportunity to make progress because they are allowed to come in and get individual instruction anytime they want,” he says. “I always tell my players, ‘We practice four times a week, and we play two times a week. You have twice as much time to improve your game and show us why you should play.’”

need your starting team on one side and a formidable opponent on the other.”

Stanford University Head Coach John Dunning does not normally use male practice players, but says he understands the pros and cons.

“Good coaching is learning how to balance: to create in players a sense of self esteem

Penn State Head Coach Russ Rose is one of a handful of coaches who use male players at practices, an idea that is coming under scrutiny by the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics. The committee feels that it takes away practice opportunities for females.

Rose typically assigns male practice players to the front line to simulate an upcoming opponent and raise the bar for the first team. He finds them especially valuable when preparing for particular matchups. “If I have one guy who’s left-handed, I might say, ‘Make sure you’re here because we’re playing so-and-so this weekend, and we need to get some looks against a lefty,’” he says.

“I think it would do more damage to my second team to have the first team beat the heck out of them every day,” Rose continues. “Now, the second team has a chance to beat the first team on a daily basis, and some of those second-team kids get a chance to elevate their play. You can’t spread all of your good players across both sides of the net and develop a team. You

balanced with pushing them to get better,” he says. “So it makes sense to want to create a setting in practice that’s harder than games by having better people on the other side of the net. I think that can work if there are talented people in control of it. But there’s also a chance it would not address the needs of everyone if not done properly.”

NCAA rules currently state that males who regularly practice with women’s teams must meet the eligibility standards of intercollegiate student-athletes, but they can’t receive athletic financial aid or be paid by the athletic department.

They can get minimal gear such as practice uniforms, but they can’t travel with the team.

The CWA hopes to revisit the issue after it receives more feedback.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Q&A

LYNNE MALLOY North Springs High School

Although the state of Georgia is not known as a hotbed for volleyball, there are a handful of pioneers who have worked long and hard to elevate the level of play in the state. Lynne Malloy, Head Coach at North Springs High School in Atlanta, is one of them.

A 1974 graduate of North Springs, Malloy has been a physical education teacher at the school since 1979, coaching volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and track and field, as well as serving as athletic director for a period.

Thanks to Title IX, she has been able to devote her energy primarily to volleyball for the past decade, and that focus has paid off. She recently notched her 500th win and her squad is regularly ranked in the top 10 in the state.

Malloy has served on the Georgia Athletics Coaches Association Board of Directors and on the National Federation of

CM: When North Springs became a magnet school, did you change the way you coach?

Malloy: I have great kids here at North Springs, and our teams have had some of the best academic records in school history, both before and after the magnet school designation. But one thing that has changed is that I have to work harder on developing my student-athletes’ competitive nature—their intensity and fire. For many of them, academic success has come so easily that they are not used to pushing themselves as hard as I ask them to. I am a very demanding coach. And for some of them, that’s difficult to adjust to.

State High School Associations’ Volleyball Rules Committee.

She currently serves as Georgia’s 6AAAA Area Coordinator and has been instrumental in drawing regional, sectional, and state tournaments to North Springs.

With no middle school teams or feeder programs in her school district, most of Malloy’s players arrive on the court with no previous experience. They also have a passion for their schoolwork, as North Springs is a dual magnet school that accepts students by application to its performing arts and mathematics/science programs.

Most proud of the consistency of her teams, Malloy talks in this interview about motivating players, working with parents, and the new rules the high school game has recently employed.

hard to achieve excellence. I tell them, “You might have lower expectations of yourselves than I do, but my job as your coach is to expect excellence from you.”

come to ask. Then I tell them, “As long as you and I can understand each other and you know why I’m doing what I’m doing, I do not care what your parents think.”

How do you explain your coaching style to athletes and parents?

First, I tell my kids that if they ever have a problem with anything on this team, I have an open door policy. They can ask me anything. They may not like what I have to say, but they are more than wel-

That might sound like an extreme position, but it works. I’ll give you an example. I had one player recently who ended up going to play at the University of Mississippi. Throughout her four years playing for me, I did not let up on her at all in practice or in contests. Her

How do you teach them to push themselves?

By making sure they know I believe they can achieve athletically at a very high level and I will accept nothing less. I expect them to go out every day and serve perfect serves, execute perfect passes, and make perfect hits. I am well aware that they are not always going to do that. But I do not let them settle for aiming at mediocrity.

You’ll rarely hear me tell a player, “That was okay. You’ll get it next time.” I want them to understand that if they strive for mediocrity, they may not even reach mediocrity. But if they strive for excellence and they fall short, they’ll still be pretty darn good.

So that is what I bring to the table for these young ladies. Academics have come easily to them, but in my realm, they are going to have to work very

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

To keep North Springs a top-10 team in the state, Coach Malloy insists on excellence in practice every day and keeps an open dialogue with her players. “In the end, it’s about knowing the feeling of giving everything you’ve got,” she says.

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Q&A dad was supportive at first, but then he thought I was being too hard on her.

So one day I pulled her to the side and said, “Do you want to play college volleyball?” And she said yes. So I said, “Do you want to play it because you want to play it, because your dad wants you to, or because you think I want you to?” She said, “Coach, I really want to play.” So I said, “I know your dad doesn’t understand why I am doing what I’m doing, but if you can play for me, you can play for anybody and you’ll know what it takes. Do you understand that?” And she said yes. The player went back to her parents and told them that she understood why I was pushing her so hard.

They relaxed, and it worked out.

I also work with parents to make sure they know my philosophy. I explain to them that my job is to put a team out on the court, not individual players, and I will

thing counts. A serve is now one of the most important weapons you have. If you are a poor-serving team, that is really going to hurt you in the long run. Now if you miss a serve, not only does the other team get a point, they are also going to get the momentum.

How do you build relationships with your players?

I make sure they know that if they have any concerns, they can come to me and I will listen. Even if I don’t take the action they want, I will take their input seriously.

For example, I brought my seniors in yesterday because I didn’t feel our team chemistry was what it needed to be. I asked them, “What do you think is going wrong here? What would you like to change?”

We had a great dialogue. One of them said, “Coach, we always do the same drills in practice.” So I said, “Okay, you seniors set practice up for tomorrow “Make sure you are as prepared and we’ll run whatever as you can be for each practice ... you want to run.” I know 3,000 drills, and I choose After 27 years, when I create a the ones I think are most practice plan, I still designate important. But if they want a different practice, that’s exactly what I’m going to do from okay. I want them to have one minute to the next.“ input, and I want to give them ownership.

make the best decisions for the team. I have a preseason parents’ meeting every year, and I tell them that I’m going to play each player where I need her. I am not going to sacrifice what’s best for the team to make things better for an individual.

How do you like coaching with the libero position?

When you’ve been coaching a long time and a new concept comes in, you’re leery of it. I didn’t really understand it and I didn’t know if it was going to fit my system. Now that I’ve begun to adapt, I think the libero has some important benefits.

It puts a tremendous defensive player on the court for the majority of the game. It’s also great for saving substitutions.

I’m using a libero for part of the rotation this season, and that decision is based on my personnel. I have two potential liberos, but one is also a great server, so I don’t use her as a libero. I’ll adjust my strategy with the libero from year to year based on my personnel.

Do you like rally scoring?

I love it. It has made the game fasterpaced and more intense because every-

12

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Why don’t you coach club volleyball?

I do not discourage my players from participating in club if they want to, but I don’t get involved, and there are several reasons for that. One is that I’m not a big fan of specialization at the high school level. I think a child should have as many arenas to excel in as possible, and different sports complement each other. It’s also good for athletes to take a break and not have to concentrate on just one sport year-round.

I had an all-state volleyball player who graduated last year and she never played one day of club volleyball because she is also a basketball player at my school.

She is only an adequate basketball player, and some coaches would have urged her to specialize in volleyball, but I am not one of them. I was never going to say, “You are not going to play college basketball, but you could get a college scholarship by playing volleyball and you need to concentrate on that.” I knew she loved basketball and she loved representing North Springs.

The other problem is that sometimes when my kids get back from playing

club, they think they’re better than they are. Or the club coach did something one way, but I do it a different way. I truly believe club is more about the individual, so it can be more of a problem than a benefit.

What advice do you have for beginning coaches?

Make sure you are as prepared as you can be for each practice. Be organized.

Go into every practice with a solid idea of what you want to do, how you want to do it, and what you want to accomplish that particular day. After 27 years, when I create a practice plan, I still designate exactly what I’m going to do from one minute to the next.

Always try to keep learning. If there’s anything you can do to improve your knowledge and enhance your coaching, do it. Every year, I try to go to clinics and stay updated.

You have been very involved with the development of high school volleyball in Georgia. What do you see as the future of the sport in your state?

It’s really exciting because it’s expanding by leaps and bounds. Until recently, most Division I schools would not recruit Georgia volleyball athletes. Well, I have a player at Georgia Tech right now who was a walk-on and Georgia just signed one girl for this year and one for next year from schools in my area. The skill level and the interest have just skyrocketed. It’s finally taking off.

What are your personal goals for the future?

To touch these young ladies’ lives in some positive way. When they look back in 10 or 15 years, I hope they remember this team as one of the best experiences they’ve had.

I want to turn out players who have a passion for playing volleyball. If you look at the number of kids from my program who have gone on to play college volleyball, it’s not a large percentage, and that’s okay with me. These kids are not playing volleyball to get scholarships.

They’re playing because they love the game and it makes them feel confident about who they are.

It’s not about wins or losses. In the end, it’s not even about volleyball. It’s about getting kids ready to go out into the world and hold their heads up high. It’s about knowing the feeling of giving everything you’ve got, and learning never to settle for mediocrity. If I can give them that, I’ve done my job.

Circle No. 106

BY KENNY BERKOWITZ

WENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, the Sacramento State University women’s volleyball team won its first national championship, the 1980 AIAW title, and the next year it won the inaugural NCAA Division II championship. This fall, the school celebrated those achievements’ anniversaries with a gala reunion weekend. Twenty of the 22 players on the teams returned to campus and were feted all weekend long, along with being inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

“It was an absolute blast,” says Debby Colberg, Head Coach at Sacramento State. “I knew it would be fun, but I had no idea it would be that much fun. It was a lot of work, because I had to run six matches in eight days, on top of helping to compile a highlight film of the ’80 and ’81 teams and preparing a speech. But I would do it again in a minute.

“The night of the reunion, we took a picture of the two returning teams together with the present team, and having everyone up there on the stage was a very special moment for me,” continues Colberg. “As coaches, we give a lot to our players, and moments like that make it

clear how much we get back—probably more than we ever give.”

Beyond the celebration being a feelgood experience, it was a way to help the current program connect with its past. “It’s important for your players to understand that they’re part of a bigger picture,” says Colberg. “It’s important for them to see that there were athletes who came before them, who really laid the groundwork for their program, and that there’s a tradition they need to live up to.”

Colberg is not alone in working hard to bring alumnae back into the fold.

Coaches at every level are finding that when former players are celebrated, or even just invited into the picture, current players understand more clearly the significance of their own participation.

Connecting with the past can also bring out a program’s most basic philosophy.

“Your former players are one of your greatest assets because they build a family atmosphere for your program,” says Mary Wise, Head Coach at the University of Florida. “And a family atmosphere builds tradition.

“It also shows our current studentathletes that we will follow through on our commitment to them for the longterm,” continues Wise. “When we recruit

our athletes, we talk about how the relationships they will build in their four years here will affect them their whole lives, and that has been one of the keys to our success.”

Stephanie Schleuder, Head Coach at Macalester College, has found that the alumnae connection helps to put goals into perspective. “Everybody wants to win, but that can’t be our ultimate goal,” says Schleuder. “Our goal is to have people recall their experience fondly and remember the people who were a part of it. When they graduate, they’re not always going to keep in mind the individual wins and losses, but they’ll always know how they felt about being here. To understand that, our student-athletes need to gain that historical perspective.”

Honor The Past For many volleyball teams, there is not a strong alumnae tradition. Until recently, few administrative resources have been channeled into keeping female athletes in the fold. Therefore, the first step in the alumnae-relations Kenny Berkowitz is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: kb@MomentumMedia.com.

In September, Sacramento State University celebrated its national-championship alumnae with a special reunion weekend that included bonding with the current team, Hall-of-Fame inductions, and a walk down memory lane. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOB SOLORIO

14

COACHING MANAGEMENT

COVER STORY

STRONG CONNECTIONS Football teams have done it for a century.

Today, volleyball coaches are discovering the tremendous benefits of making alumnae players a part of their current team.

COVER STORY

process is to get former athletes back on campus so you can connect with them face-to-face.

The best way to do this is to honor them in some way. Sacramento State’s anniversary celebration started on a Friday afternoon with both teams being inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame and continued that night with a banquet attended by past and present

“The alumnae were treated like royalty, and they felt really appreciated,” says Colberg. “They loved seeing each other, and everybody who walked into that reception was just mesmerized by their reactions to one another. It was a truly magical event.”

The University of Nebraska held a 10th anniversary celebration of its 1995 NCAA Division I national champion-

Nevada has enjoyed success with alumnae matches.

“It shows our current athletes how important it is to continue their relationships with their teammates, and it starts them thinking about coming back for alumnae games years from now.”

Hornet volleyball players. The next day, the championship teams were formally introduced at halftime ceremonies during the football game and honored again at that night’s volleyball match.

The event was organized by the athletic department, alumni office, and booster club, all working together.

ship team this summer, which included video clips from the title match and oncourt introductions for each member of the team between games. “After the match, we invited the alumnae into the locker room and introduced them to our current players,” says Nebraska Head Coach John Cook. “Everybody

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The returning players were just as pleased. “Alumnae want to reconnect, even if they haven’t always been able to keep in touch,” says Dee Wood, alumnae liaison to Nebraska’s Match Club, its volleyball boosters. “Our job is to create that opportunity, and the key to bringing them back is to acknowledge what they’ve given to your program.”

At Macalester, Schleuder recently assisted the athletic department in holding an event to celebrate the history of women’s sports at the school. There was a dinner for 500 people. A highlight reel was shown and archival photos decorated the walls. A hundred alumnae representing seven decades of women’s sports received varsity letters.

“There were women who had graduated as far back as the 1930s talking

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about the struggles they had endured— coaching themselves, making their own uniforms, setting up their own travel,” says Schleuder. “And the overriding message was how much their desire to play had propelled them over one hurdle after another. It was a heart-warming experience, and after listening to those stories, people had tears in their eyes.

“It took a lot of help from many different offices on campus, but it was a great thing to do,” she continues. “It took coordination among the special events office, the president’s office, the alumni office, and the athletic department. It was all more than worth it to honor the people who have come before us, to hear the amazing stories they have to tell, and to share that historical perspective with our student-athletes. It was one of the best events I’ve ever attended.”

At Florida, when volleyball athletes come back to campus, they can see their achievements perpetually honored, as the department has dedicated one wall of its building to the story of Gator women’s athletics. “There are

pictures of former teams and highlights documented on the wall, and alumnae bring their children to see their place in history,” says Wise. “Women’s sports haven’t been around for very long, but at the first opportunity, we’ve tried to record that history.”

Alumnae Matches Another great way to get your former athletes back on campus is to organize an alumnae match. At Nebraska, Cook holds an alumnae night once a year in late summer or early fall, when former players return to Lincoln for a match against each other, followed by a redwhite scrimmage of current players.

“The alumnae love it,” Cook says.

“We have people fly in from all over the country.”

“It felt absolutely wonderful to be back on the court,” says Wood, who at 53 was the oldest player in last year’s alumnae match. “It was so exhilarating. It took me right back to when I was in college, but with a much bigger crowd—we had 3,000 people come to see our alumnae match. The announcer knew some-

thing about each of us, which was great.

And after the match, we were able to visit with the student-athletes.

“I was able to tell the current team what a thrill it was to come back after 30 years, and how playing collegiate volleyball is going to stay with them for the rest of their lives,” she continues. “It’s a life-changing experience, and I think they realized that.”

The University of Nevada has also enjoyed success with alumnae matches.

Head Coach Devin Scruggs involves her current athletes by having them sit on the bench with the former players and cheer for them. “They sit on the bench talking with the alumnae, and it gets to be a real rivalry for everyone, because no matter how old the alumnae are, their competitive drive comes right back,” says Scruggs. “It shows our current athletes how important it is to continue their relationships with their teammates, and it starts them thinking about what they’re going to do when they come back for alumnae games years from now.”

As with any event, planning and organizing an alumnae match takes

A R U N N I N G D ATA B A S E

A

fter graduation, many of your athletes will move from city to city and job to job, and over the years there will be countless opportunities for them to drop out of touch. To keep them connected to your program, you need a system for finding them and keeping track of them.

Of course, the easiest way to stay in touch with your alumnae is to never lose contact in the first place. At Sacramento State University, Head Coach Debby Colberg makes sure she has the most up-to-date information before her student-athletes graduate, and maintains a contact list of former Hornets over the past 30 years. “I keep a running database of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of everyone who’s graduated from the program,” she says. “That way, when I need to reach any of my alumnae, I know where to find them.”

Being at the same school for so many years is a huge bonus for Colberg, but she’s found other solutions, too, like partnering with the athletics booster club to create an online questionnaire for former players and coaches. On the department Web site, a dialogue box reads: “Where Are You Now? Former Student-Athletes and Coaches Click Here,” which takes the alumnae to a very short survey. The survey asks for the most basic data about their years, sports, and

degrees at Sacramento State, and alums can also request information about tickets, camps, schedules, and membership in the Hornet Club.

The Internet is also a useful, inexpensive tool for finding lost alumnae, especially www.google.com, which indexes newspapers, magazines, and Web sites, and www. switchboard.com, which collects information from the nation’s telephone directories. Another idea is to ask alumnae to set up an e-mail chain, in which you send an e-mail to a former athlete, who forwards it to some of her teammates, who forward it again, until all of the team has been located.

“Just start networking,” says Erin Appleman, Head Coach at Yale University. “If you have only one person’s e-mail address, start networking with that one person. Then, whether you’re at home or on the road, make yourself available to alumnae.

When they come to campus, invite them out, spend time with them, and show them you care. Ask questions like, ‘Are you in touch with other alumnae? Do you have their telephone numbers? Can you forward me their e-mail addresses? Do you know how we can get them involved in the program again?’”

To view Sacramento State’s alumnae questionnaire, go to: www.hornetsports.com/prospective/questionnaire.asp.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

17

COVER STORY

time. The keys, says Scruggs, are to schedule the match for the right weekend and to find former players who are motivated to bring their teammates back to campus. “It really helps to have someone who was a leader during her era,” she advises. “If you can get a player to coax her teammates to come, it will make a huge difference. And I always schedule the match for a weekend when there’s also a home football game, so people have multiple reasons to come to campus.”

At Central Michigan State University, Senior Associate Athletic Director and former Head Volleyball Coach Marcy Weston hosts a spring golf tournament for all athletic alumnae, and a fall match for volleyball alumnae. Her advice? “Pick a date as soon as you’ve got the volleyball schedule,” says Weston. “Choose one when your former coaches can be there, because the more ties you have to the past, the more alumnae will want to return.”

Macalester’s Schleuder also emphasizes the importance of planning in

advance. “The earlier you can set the date, the more people will be able to come from out of town,” she says. “Hold a picnic or a cookout in conjunction with an alumnae match to make it more of an event, not just a game. And get officials for the match, so it doesn’t look thrown together and your alumnae can see you’re taking them seriously. As soon as you can, sit down with the people in your alumni office to plan how you’re going to work together. An event like this doesn’t just happen. It has to be thought through.”

Keeping Contact In addition to once-a-year alumnae matches and anniversary celebrations, some coaches also try to connect with their former athletes on a more regular basis. At Yale University, Head Coach Erin Appleman regularly sends all Bulldog alumnae an e-newsletter. “During the season, I send it out on Mondays, writing about who we played over the weekend, how we did, and who we’re going to play that upcoming weekend,”

she says. “And any time I run into alumnae, I make sure to mention them in the e-mail, saying, ‘It was great to see so-andso. We’re thrilled that she could come to a match and we’re hoping you can, too.’

“Then, during the off-season, I send the newsletter out about once a month, letting alumnae know what we’re working on,” continues Appleman. “I don’t give them specific information about any one athlete, but I write about what we’re doing as a team, so they’ll remember what it felt like when they were going through the same thing. It makes them feel they’re still a part of our program.”

Colberg sends out a printed newsletter, which also goes to her booster club members. “I update them about the current team, profile our players, and inform them about any upcoming events,” she says. “Plus, I always have an alumnae section where I talk about things like the people who have gotten married and the babies that have been born.”

If your program doesn’t already have a newsletter, Colberg suggests you start simple and grow. “It doesn’t have to be

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elaborate or fancy,� she says. “What matters is that you’re keeping contact.

People just like to stay connected, and if they get something in the mail that has your name on it, they’ll be very appreciative. If you make the effort to create a newsletter, you’ll be rewarded.�

Nebraska’s Wood writes a feature for the Match Club newsletter, profiling one

a result of talking with them, some of them have joined the Match Club, and I keep running into people who pass on suggestions for the next column.�

At Florida, Wise uses both print media and the Internet to keep her alumnae informed, starting with a booster club newsletter and supplementing it with regular e-mails to former players. “We

“I invite alumnae into the locker room, introduce them to our players, and ask them to talk about the things they think are most important. It’s a great way to provide our athletes with mentors who’ve shared their athletic experience.� former player every month. “I call the column ‘In Touch,’ because it’s about getting in touch with alums, finding out where they are and what they’re doing,� she says. “I do a phone interview, and I ask them what they’re doing career-wise and family-wise. Regardless of how many years they’ve been away, every person I’ve spoken with still plays volleyball. As

have a very active booster club, which does a great job of sharing updates on what our alums are doing,� says Wise. “The Internet has also been a wonderful way for us to stay connected, with e-mails passing back and forth about wedding announcements, birth announcements, and other personal news.�

In every piece of correspondence,

Wise invites her alumnae to visit with the current players. “Every time I communicate with them, I say, ‘I hope you’ll come by,’� she says. “Each time a former player comes back to Gainesville, whether it’s to watch a match or just to see a practice, we make a point to introduce her to the team. That allows me to explain who she is, which team she was on, and in some cases, point to the banner she helped win. We always want our former players to feel welcome and appreciated, because they’re the ones who put our program on the map.�

Schleuder invites alumnae to come early to home games, and hosts a chalk talk before every contest. “It usually lasts about an hour, and we provide pizza and pop,� says Schleuder. “I talk about our team, discuss our strengths and weaknesses, and then I share the same scouting report that I’ve given to my players, offering some insight into what we’re going to do that night and how we match up with our opponent. “I also ask them questions like, ‘When you were playing, did you have

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Circle No. 111

COVER STORY

scouting reports?’ and ‘What strategy would you have tried on your team?’” she continues.

Yale’s Appleman uses a similar opendoor policy every time the team goes on the road. “Whenever I see alumnae at our away matches, I ask them to speak with our team after the match,” she says. “I invite them into the locker room, introduce them to our players, and ask them to talk about the things they think are most important. It’s a

great way to provide our athletes with mentors who’ve shared their athletic experience.”

At Macalester, Schleuder also fosters mentoring relationships for student-athletes, inviting alumnae to speak with the team after matches and offer advice from their own experience. “When alumnae come down, I have the players introduce themselves and talk about where they’re from, what year they are, and what they’re majoring in,” she says.

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“Then the alums do the same thing, and hopefully people can start networking.

“To expand on that, our department has started a career night to bring back alums from all sports,” continues Schleuder. “It’s a way for our athletes to get their foot in the door at any number of different companies, which is one of the things we’ve seen in the past with men’s athletics. Plus, it’s another way to get past and present players to connect, and to involve our alumnae with the lives of the people on our team.”

Schleuder also keeps alumnae connected to the current team through audio Webcasts of home games, hosted by a pair of former Scots who contribute their insiders’ perspective to the play-by-play and color commentary. The broadcasts can be heard live on the athletic department’s Web site and are archived for the rest of the season.

“The two people who host the show really enjoy themselves,” says Schleuder.

“They’re very outgoing, they know the players, and they keep our listeners feeling connected.”

Building The Future Although it is not their main reason for connecting with former players, coaches find alumnae networking can eventually lead to raising funds for their program. “It’s a step-by-step process, but there’s a huge connection between bringing back alumnae and raising funds for your program,” says Weston. “It’s all part of letting people know they’re valued, cultivating the relationship, and keeping them connected. Send them updates, invite them to games, and announce them when they come back. Make them feel important.

“While you’re still in the planning stages, sit down with people in development and tell them what you want to do,” she continues. “Get out of your office, walk across campus, and meet with them. Ask them to come to your games. Ask them for help. And if you think you don’t have the time, you need to find it, because reinvolving your alumnae is crucial to the success of your program.” ■

For more articles on reconnecting with alumnae, search “former female athletes” at our Web site: www.AthleticSearch.com.

Circle No. 112

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Circle No. 113

THE COACHING LIFE

YOU’VE

JUST FINISHED UP AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH SEASON AND YOU’RE READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL. The athletes didn’t seem moti-

vated, their parents drove you crazy, and your athletic director was off playing golf whenever you needed a helping hand. You worked your tail off for the team and all you got in return were complaints.

You’re about to hand in your letter of resignation, but then again, you’re not really sure you want out. You do love coaching—working with the kids and the thrill of competition.

Ever have a season like that? Most all of us have at some point in our coaching careers. How do you decide if it’s time to leave and start over?

I recently left the school where I’d been coaching for 16 years. It was a difficult decision, but one that was ultimately in my best interest. It took a lot of reflection, thinking about my options, and getting ready for new challenges. But there I was, at age 58, a rookie head coach in a new school with more energy than I’d had in years.

BY LEM ELWAY Your athletes get to start over every time the whistle blows. As a coach, how do you know when it’s time to make your own fresh start?

24

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Lem Elway is in his second year as Head Baseball Coach at Black Hills (Tumwater, Wash.) High School and Head Football Coach at Rochester (Wash.) High School, where he teaches special education. A member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame, he has coached sports at the middle school, high school, and college levels.

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A FRESH START

What Went Wrong?

There are many factors that might make a coach want to resign. Sometimes it is because a painful situation arose with parents. Maybe the time commitment has become too overwhelming.

For some, lack of support from administration and a shrinking budget is the impetus. Others just feel they’ve lost their passion for coaching, and they’re not sure why.

Before you write that resignation letter, it’s important to reflect on why you

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Circle No. 115

THE COACHING LIFE

are thinking about calling it quits. A critical and unemotional look at the situation is essential to making the right choice.

This is the only way to figure out if you truly want to quit coaching altogether, if you should move to another school, or if you just need to change some of your strategies before the next season starts.

Here are some areas to think about: Parents: When I started coaching, working with athletes’ parents was not an issue. Parents rarely dared to question a coach and they were quickly told to mind their own business if they did.

Today, working with parents is a big part of the job, and it can run even a veteran coach ragged.

If you are thinking about moving to another school because of issues with parents, you should know that parents in another district are probably not going

Think about what you want in a job, as well as your overall coaching goals ... How has your experience prepared you for the next step? to be much different. Every team, no matter what school district you coach in, has parents who will question your decisions, overprotect their children, and not understand the greater good.

The simple truth is you need to embrace working with parents if you want to continue coaching.

However, some schools are better at supporting their coaches through parent problems than others. If your current athletic director and central administration do not have procedures in place for parent questions and do not back you up in parental disagreements, you might want to look for an administration that will.

This issue can be especially sensitive when it comes to disciplining athletes who break school or team rules. One of the reasons I left my former school was that I was verbally attacked (as were members of my family) after the administration disciplined five seniors from my team who were caught breaking the team no-drinking rule. Some of the parents

of these student-athletes were relentless in trying to get me fired. Although the administration backed me and I stayed at the school for another five years (and we continued to have a winning program), the negativity took its toll. Having a fresh start at a new school was what I needed to preserve my enthusiasm for coaching.

School Climate: Sometimes the overall climate of the school and athletic department make coaching difficult. A coach I know relocated after seeing his budget cut year after year and the administration not giving him the support he needed to do a good job. He found a position at a school with a strong athletic director and a community committed to high school athletics.

On the flip side, some coaches become frustrated with a climate that puts too much emphasis on winning. A new generation of parents who want the team to bring home a regional championship every year might not be your idea of a good time. If that’s more pressure than you want, then it may be time to say good-bye.

Time Commitments: Being a head coach is much more time-consuming than it was 10 years ago. If you aren’t spending enough time with your family, you’ve got a very good reason to take a break from coaching. Whether you’re juggling childcare with your spouse or taking your kids on weekend college visits, there are things in your family life that you can’t afford to miss.

In most cases, you can return to coaching when the time is right. Even if your old job has gone to someone else, there will be opportunities to coach in just about every community. I’ve seen head coaches leave one post, then return to coach a different team. I’ve also seen former head coaches return as assistant coaches with great success.

Mistakes Made: This is hard to do, but it’s critical that you think about the mistakes you’ve made that contributed to the negative situation. We all make mistakes, but only those who can analyze their missteps will learn from them.

Conduct a critical evaluation of yourself and write down what you could have done differently.

For example, maybe you didn’t make your expectations clear enough at the beginning of the season. Maybe you are struggling with evaluating the talent on your team. Maybe your strate-

gies weren’t well thought out. Maybe you haven’t found the right balance of being strict yet understanding with your athletes. Maybe you tried to skirt parents’ questions instead of dealing with a situation. Maybe you neglected to ask for help when you needed it. Maybe your practices weren’t focused enough.

Be honest with yourself about the mistakes you’ve made. And then be honest about figuring out your role in avoiding similar problems in the future.

Is Repair Possible?: With a complete understanding of what went wrong and your role in the problem, you next need to think about whether the situation can be repaired. If you feel that, by doing some things differently next year, you can avoid the same problems, then write down your goals for how you want to change and stay where you are. In some cases, you might also need to talk to people to repair any damage done.

If you honestly don’t feel the problems will go away no matter what you do, then hand in your resignation letter and think about your next step: Do you want to stop coaching altogether, or look for a new position? To help make this decision, think about going to practice next season at a new school: Are you pumped up as you imagine yourself meeting new athletes (and parents)? Or would you be forcing yourself to be upbeat at that first meeting? If you still feel a genuine spark of excitement, keep reading.

Putting Out Your Resume Before you decide to look for another job, understand that there is work to be done and there are decisions to be made. First of all, think about your parameters. “Is it possible to relocate or do I need to look for a job in the area? What are my financial needs? What are my family’s needs?”

Family considerations cannot be overlooked. Having a family partnership is critical on a short- and long-term basis.

In my early days of coaching, I had an opportunity to move to the junior college ranks, but my spouse was not eager to move because of the lifestyle changes that would result. Looking back, I am so glad I did not accept that job offer. In my most recent coaching change, it was not until my spouse said she was ready to move that we made our decision.

Think about what you want in a job, as well as about your overall coaching goals.

COACHING COACHING MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

27

THE COACHING LIFE

What has your current school taught you about what gives you job satisfaction?

What has it shown you about finding a work environment that suits you? What have you learned about the qualities to look for in your next athletic director?

How has your current experience prepared you to take the next step?

Once you know what you want, start researching and networking. I found it

■ If possible, meet with the former coach of the team to get his or her perspective on the history of the program.

■ Meet teachers, counselors, and secretaries in the building to establish professional relationships.

■ Establish lines of communication with parents who might be involved with your program in any way. Make sure there are multiple ways they can contact and communicate with you.

■ Meet with local radio and newspaper outlets to introduce yourself and facilitate ways to satisfy their needs for information.

■ Attend and be visible at as many school and community activities as possible to show your support for other programs.

■ Meet with the booster club to get members’ sense of the program and begin to work on projects together.

■ Meet with “feeder” coaches to provide leadership, information, and support for their programs.

■ Talk to the principal and administration about the issues they see as important.

As you talk with people, find out the history of your sport at the school and any significant issues from the past. This will give you an important perspective that will help guide your decision making. For example, understand why the former coach left and what people liked and disliked about him or her. Get a sense of whether the best athletes at the school are involved in your sport, and if not, why not. Find out how problems have been handled in the past and how parents have responded.

Once you have secured a new position, plan to work hard in that first year to get off on the right foot.

To start, establish relationships with as many people as you can. helpful to talk to other coaches at schools that had openings and in communities I was interested in moving to. I asked them about working with the athletic director and other administrators, how problems with parents are handled, what type of students attend the school, whether the coaches on staff get along, and the history of my sport at the school.

Next, get your resume and a list of personal recommendations in order.

Supply occupations, addresses, and phone numbers to the committee.

Review your interview skills, making sure obvious questions have been studied and your answers practiced. Talk to others who have recently gone through the process for tips. For example, in today’s world, questions about handling parents and program philosophy are at the top of the list. Make sure you have practiced answers to a list of possible high-priority interview questions, which will give you interview confidence. (See “Interview Questions” at right.)

New Coach on the Block Once you have secured a new position, plan to work hard in that first year to get off on the right foot. When taking leadership of a program, there is much to learn and communicate.

To start, establish relationships with as many people as you can: ■ Meet with prospective athletes to introduce yourself and learn about their goals and objectives.

28

COACHING MANAGEMENT

It’s also a good idea to understand the coaching dynamics in your new school. As time passes, you can put your personal touch on the program to reflect your style, but to start, follow the standards set by veteran coaches.

For example, if coaches are supposed to lead individual booster clubs, then do so. If they are supposed to follow the lead of a booster club president, then don’t step on anyone’s toes.

Other things to find out: ■ Do the school’s talented athletes specialize or play multiple sports?

■ What is the success level of other sports at the school?

■ What outside influences in the community are related to athletics and your sport?

■ Do players participate in club sports during the off-season?

■ How strong is the involvement and support of parents?

■ What is the expectation level of the program from the athletes, school, and community?

If there are assistant coaches to be hired, work with your athletic director to get the best folks on board. If possible, it’s great to have a veteran coach of another sport work as your assistant to help you with the details of the program. If you’re hiring all new assistants, make sure to do your homework on prospects.

With some background knowledge, start the season by communicating your expectations to athletes. Some coaches draw a line in the sand about rules, but when starting new, it often works best to set some guidelines, and then adjust gradually. Most important is to communicate everything well. As a new coach, your rules might contradict the past, and so you must use positive and diplomatic skills to make the transition

I N T E RV I E W Q U E S T I O N S Here are eight questions you should be prepared to answer as a coaching candidate: ■

Why should anyone hire you?

■

How are you different from other candidates?

■

What can you offer to make a program better?

■

What are your strengths?

■

What are your weaknesses?

■

How do you handle problems with parents?

■

How do you deal with conflict?

■

What is your coaching philosophy?

Circle No. 116

THE COACHING LIFE

smooth and constructive. Pick your battles carefully. Starting a new program means selling your procedures, expectations, and philosophy, which can’t be rushed.

In addition, don’t assume anything.

It’s easy to forget about the little things, but if they aren’t addressed frustration

of getting angry, I quickly set the rules straight and explained why I banned CD players on the bench.

Another example is the role of seniors on a team. Some new coaches like to work only with the younger athletes and think toward the future.

In my new positions at Black Hills and Rochester, I elected to work with the seniors and make them the leaders. Seniors often have a high level of anxiety with a new coach. My attitude was that, as long as they work hard, provide enthusiasm, and are coachable, I would find a role for them on my team.

My number one priority was to change the attitude of the program (which will eventually lead to higher performance levels) and I felt it would work best if the seniors could help me do this. Whatever you decide to do, remember that how you handle seniors is important.

It’s also critical to explain your expectations to parents. A parents’

It’s also critical to explain your expectations to parents. Parents can only support policies they know and understand. and anxiety can result. For example, when I took over the baseball team at Black Hills, cell phones and CD players became a big issue. I’d always allowed CD players on the bus, but not on the bench. Players brought them on the bench without my knowledge at first, and I was surprised. However, instead . ! t.. . l e our urt b a C o u Yo V a l The e C h Is n e tO gT m I i n T ize ri im pa e ax

No

tP

A version of this article has appeared in previous editions of Coaching Management. To read other articles by Lem Elway, search “Elway” at our Web site: www.AthleticSearch.com.

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meeting needs to occur a month or so before the start of the season, at which time you cover all aspects of your program’s operations, expectations, and procedures—including discipline procedures. This can easily become the most important meeting for your program and your leadership. It puts you in a proactive mode and opens the lines of communication. Parents must be encouraged to ask questions, and they should receive good, clear answers.

Parents can only support policies they know and understand.

Starting over can be a painful or exhilarating experience. To make it a rewarding one, take the time to think deeply about your desires and your options. Then, have an organized, systematic approach, stay positive, and communicate well. The future is in your hands. ■

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Circle No. 117

Circle No. 118

Circle No. 119

NUTRITION

PLEASE PASS THE ENERGY

A

AP WIDE WORLD/PHOTOS

BY MICHELLE ROCKWELL

If your athletes’ energy levels easily sag, the problem may be their nutritional intake. Consider these simple strategies, which can lead to a more productive and focused team.

thletes show up in my office every day seeking strategies for increasing their energy levels. They tell me they feel sluggish on the court, yawn through their classes, and nap every chance they get.

It’s no wonder that energy is at such a premium—student-athletes not only have rigorous training and competition schedules, but also squeeze in classes, work, rehab, study hall, volunteer activities, and fun as well. Days start early, end late, and include very little down time.

So what do I tell them? After a nutritional evaluation to rule out any significant nutrition or hydration problems,

and with the team physician’s okay that no major medical or psychological needs exist, I go straight to work on the little stuff.

Why not make big changes right away? Two reasons. First of all, asking an athlete to make a major diet overhaul creates resistance. Individuals are Michelle Rockwell is the former Coordinator of Sports Nutrition for the University of Florida Athletics Association and now serves as a nutrition consultant for individuals and teams. She can be reached at: michellerock1@aol.com.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

33

NUTRITION

very attached to the foods they like and are used to eating. Working within athletes’ preferences and typical eating habits makes them more like to comply with the changes I suggest. Second, athletes commonly tell me they don’t have time to eat well, making big changes unrealistic. When athletes see that the changes I’m asking for are quick and easy, they are much more willing to give them a try.

Below are seven simple energyenhancing strategies that can easily be incorporated into almost any athlete’s diet. Time and time again, athletes who

make poor choices in the cereal aisle.

Sugary, low fiber cereals are extremely popular, but they are the nutritional equivalent of a king size candy bar in terms of sugar and fat content (and have little likelihood of being energizing). Fortunately, whole grain, fortified, high-fiber cereals are becoming tastier and more available all the time.

Whatever foods the athlete chooses, the most important guidelines are to eat breakfast within an hour of waking up, include a little protein such as lean meats, eggs, nuts, or low-fat dairy, and include some healthful carbohydrates.

I’ve had teams compete in peanut butter and jelly-making relay races to show just how quickly a good breakfast can be prepared. have consistently followed these strategies report back to me delighted that they truly have more energy for training, performance, and life.

Start Right When I ask a group of young athletes to raise their hands if they ate breakfast that day, usually less than half of the hands go up. For some reason, consistently fitting breakfast into their morning routine is a real challenge for athletes. Since eating breakfast is known to jump start metabolism, fuel morning workouts, and enhance energy levels throughout the day, we need to find realistic and attractive ways to get that toast toasting.

Athletes say they can’t eat breakfast because they don’t want to wake up any earlier, but a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to take a long time to prepare.

Elaborate breakfasts like pancakes, omelets, and fresh-squeezed orange juice are unnecessary. (Save them for weekends!) In fact, breakfast doesn’t even need to be “breakfast” foods at all. Trail mix and 100 percent fruit juice, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat bread with low-fat milk, or even leftover spaghetti and meatballs can be excellent options, and these take less than five minutes to prepare. I’ve had teams compete in peanut butter and jelly-making relay races to show just how quickly a good breakfast can be prepared.

Cereal can be another quick, energizing breakfast. However, it’s easy to 34

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Athletes who work out first thing in the morning face the added challenge of not wanting to exercise on a full stomach, but it’s still important for them to eat something. They should aim for a minimum of 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrate. For ease of digestion, plain, non-acidic foods like bagels, oatmeal, and graham crackers often work well. An alternative is to “drink your breakfast,” using fruit juice or a sports drink to get the needed carbs.

train in the morning or afternoon. I tell my athletes that this strategy is like leaving home for an eight-hour road trip in the morning and then finally getting around to gassing up the car at 9 p.m.— it doesn’t work! Instead, athletes need to eat throughout the day.

In addition, eating small to moderatesized meals and snacks throughout the day (rather than two or three large meals) improves energy levels, particularly for active individuals. Athletes need to fuel their bodies when they need it the most throughout the day and forget the adage to eat “three square meals.”

Simple strategies for athletes: Set the countdown function on your watch to beep every three hours during the day. This can be your reminder to fuel up!

■ Use your daily planner or palm pilot to plot eating times into your daily routine. Pre-planning helps make regular eating a priority and a habit.

■ Keep “emergency” snacks in your backpack, purse, or locker. These should be nutritional choices that appeal to you enough to eat them when you don’t have time for something else, but nothing so tempting that you’ll munch on it just because it’s there. For a basketball player I recently worked with, apples, fig newtons, and beef jerky fit this description perfectly.

■

Simple strategies for athletes: Pre-pour bowls of whole grain cereal into a sealed container in the evenings and leave on the kitchen table for the next morning.

■ Stock your backpack, car, or coat pocket with trail mix, energy bars, and/ or dry cereal for breakfast on the run.

■ Make breakfasts on the weekends to eat during the week. For example, make large meat/cheese/veggie subs and eat a portion each morning, boil several eggs and keep them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or keep pre-mixed pancake batter in a pitcher in the fridge and toss a serving into a skillet each morning.

Switch to Whole Grains Improving the nutritional quality of the carbohydrates athletes eat can lead to a more consistent level of energy and increase the consumption of vitamins and minerals associated with energy production. The USDA 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that individuals consume three or more servings of whole grain foods each day, and it could be argued that athletes require even more since their overall carbohydrate needs are typically higher. To add whole grains to their diets, I advise my athletes to make simple switches in the foods they consume regularly.

Eat Frequently Many athletes eat insufficient amounts of food during the daytime due to time constraints, which leaves them making up for lost calories in the evenings. In terms of energy provision, this is not ideal because most athletes

Simple strategies for athletes: Snack on whole grain cereals or popcorn instead of chips and candy.

■ Switch from grits or cream of wheat to instant oatmeal packets (which are whole grain). Even better than the presweetened packets would be plain oat-

■

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Box Score

Attack Chart

North Team Statistics

Saturday, September 3, 2005 1:15 PM League game at Memorial Field House

North Mustangs 3, South Bears 2

m attack chart for:

Custo 2005 North 1 match (7/1/2005)

Individual Game Scores:

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

30 23

28 30

24 30

30 19

17 15

North Mustangs

End location

Kills 19 14 13 18 9 73

1 --

20

6

13

--

Game 1

North Mustangs South Bears

s court: Total attack All grades Statistic shown on ns, All attack types, All games, All rotatio Criteria selection: Start location

Errors 4 9 5 7 2 27

Tot Att. 32 40 33 40 25 170

1

--

3

19

14

4

17

3

Player 1 Brown 5 Hudson 7 Larkin 8 Scott 9 Griffen 14 Clark 17 Johnson 19 Elmwood 21 Jackson Team Match Totals

--

3

2 --

Total

TA 14 6 10 10 6 7 53

Kill 5 4 3 6 4 4 26

Err 4 2 2 1 2 1 12

Pct .071 .333 .100 .500 .333 .429 .264 Pct .217 1.000 .500 .500 .264

Grade: 0 4 2 2 1 2 1 12 Grade: 0 12 0 0 0 12

Attack charts...

TA 46 1 4 2 53

Attack Type Spike Tip Dump Set over Total

Kill 22 1 2 1 26

Err 12 0 0 0 12

1 2 0 3 2 0 1 8 1 6 0 2 0 8

2 1 0 2 1 0 0 4 2 3 0 0 1 4

4 5 4 3 6 4 4 26

3 2 0 0 0 0 1 3

4 22 1 2 1 26

3 3 0 0 0 3

Avg South Mustangs 2.14 Player 2.67 2 Tolles 1.90 4 Fredrick 2.8010 Henry 2.6721 Jones 2.8622 Hill 2.4328 Clarkson

Attack GP 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 5

K E 1 0 14 4 12 1 7 5 2 1 19 6 18 10 0 0 0 0

5 73 27

170

K E 1 0 14 4 12 1 7 5 2 1 19 6 18 10 0 0 0 0

Box score...

33 Reading Avg19 Victor 41 Goodson 2.37 Team 4.00 Match Totals 2.50

5 73 27

Ast 1 4 0 0 57 1 1 0 4

A 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

E 2 3 0 2 3 4 0 0 1

4

15

.271

68

TA .PCT 3 .333 31 .323 19 .579 22 .091 8 .125 52 .250 35 .229 0 .000 0 .000

Ast 1 4 0 0 57 1 1 0 4

A 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

E 2 3 0 2 3 4 0 0 1

68

4

15

170

Errors 7 9 5 9 3 33

Set Serve Srv Rtn

TA .PCT 3 .333 31 .323 19 .579 22 .091 8 .125 52 .250 35 .229 0 .000 0 .000

Attack GP 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 5

Kills 15 15 19 7 11 67

…..………. Game #1 …..………. …..………. Game #2 …..………. …..………. Game #3 …..………. …..………. Game #4 …..………. …..………. Game #5 …..……….

Totals

Err .PCT 0 1.000 1 .900 1 1.000 0 1.000 0 1.000 1 .909 0 1.000 1 .500 0 .----2 .333 5 .889

Set Serve Srv Rtn

.271

Err .PCT 0 1.000 1 .900 1 1.000 0 1.000 0 1.000 1 .909 0 1.000 1 .500 0 .----2 .333 5 .889

Tot Att. 35 41 41 38 23 178

DEF S 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

68

4

DEF

Game 2 21 30

MP 1 1 1 0 0 1

MS 1 1 1 0 0 1

K/G 10.00 11.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 8.67

Dig 7 3 5 0 0 15

Dig/G 7.00 3.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 5.00

Game 3 15 12

tics

Game Number Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Team totals

.PCT .229 .146 .341 -.053 .348 .191

A 0 3 4 7 4 2 2 0 0

(continu

Game 1 30 25

Game-by-game Statis

Block

Dig 13 5 2 2 5 16 5 1 19

Team Statist (vs. South, 07/01/05, W 2-1)

Statistics

Score by game North Opponents

South Mustangs .PCT .469 .125 .242 .275 .280 .271

North Mustangs

Rotation # Rotation 1 Rotation 2 Rotation 3 Rotation 4 Rotation 5 Rotation 6

Cumulative Team

E BHE 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

22

0

0

Block

Dig 13 5 2 2 5 16 5 1 19

S 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

A 0 3 4 7 4 2 2 0 0

E BHE 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

68

4

22

0

0

GP 1 1 1 0 0 3

Game Number Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Team totals

RE 4 4 0 0 0 8

K 10 11 5 0 0 26

S 1 0 1 0 0 2

Rotation Statistics Rotation Number Rotation 1 Rotation 2 Rotation 3 Rotation 4 Rotation 5 Rotation 6 Team totals

Rotation Number Rotation 1 Rotation 2 Rotation 3 Rotation 4 Rotation 5 Rotation 6 Team totals

GP 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

RE 2 0 1 2 2 1 8

MP 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

MS 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Dig 3 0 5 4 1 2 15

Dig/G 1.00 0.00 1.67 1.33 0.33 0.67 5.00

K 5 4 3 6 4 4 26

A 4 4 2 0 0 10

K/G 1.67 1.33 1.00 2.00 1.33 1.33 8.67

S 0 0 1 1 0 0 2

Attack E 4 6 2 0 0 12

A 6 2 0 2 0 0 10

TA 21 21 11 0 0 53

Game 4 0 0

Pct .286 .238 .273 .000 .000 .264

Ast 10 11 5 0 0 26

Blocking Total B/G 5 5.00 4 4.00 3 3.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 4.00

Attack E 4 2 2 1 2 1 12

TA 14 6 10 10 6 7 53

Pct .071 .333 .100 .500 .333 .429 .264

Blocking Total B/G 6 2.00 2 0.67 1 0.33 3 1.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 4.00

Game 5 0 0

Set A/G 10.00 11.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 8.67

E 3 1 0 0 0 4

Ast 5 4 3 6 4 4 26

E 2 0 1 0 1 0 4

Rotation stats...a nd more.

BHE 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Serve A/G 5.00 3.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 3.33 1

A 5 3 2 0 0 10

BHE 0 1 0 0 0 1

Set A/G 1.67 1.33 1.00 2.00 1.33 1.33 8.67

Total 66 67

Pts 18.0 16.0 9.0 0.0 0.0 43.0

A 0 4 1 3 2 0 10

Pts 8.0 9.0 5.0 11.0 6.0 4.0 43.0

Pts/G 18.00 16.00 9.00 0.00 0.00 14.33

Serve A/G E 0.00 4 1.33 1 0.33 1 1.00 2 0.67 3 0.00 2 3.33 13

Pts/G 2.67 3.00 1.67 3.67 2.00 1.33 14.33

3.00 2.43

Date printed: 06-22-

2005

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2005 Date printed: 06-22-

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Circle No. 120

NUTRITION

meal with fresh fruit, raisins, or fruit yogurt.

■ Routinely purchase whole wheat bread, English muffins, bagels, and pasta instead of traditional varieties.

■ Select brown rice or wild rice (instant is fine) over white rice.

■ Add popcorn to your diet. Of course, leaving the butter in the movie theater is recommended. Air-popping or microwaveable varieties are fantastic options.

Lower Fat Consumption Eating foods high in fat sometimes is not problematic for the energy-seeking athlete. In fact, occasional consumption should be encouraged, since high levels of fat in foods are often associated with high levels of taste. Foods that are consumed habitually, however, can often be replaced with lower-fat versions.

Small changes in fat content can go a long way in improving the energy potential of the athlete’s diet. This is because fatty foods are digested slowly and can cause a feeling of sluggishness. Also, ath-

croissant sandwich, hashbrowns, and whole chocolate milk was consuming 72 grams of fat daily before 8 a.m.! Her energy level throughout the morning and during her early-afternoon run was improved by switching to a bagel, egg, and cheese sandwich, cantaloupe, and skim milk (20 grams of fat).

Simple strategies for athletes: Think low fat when it comes to condiments. Purchase reduced-fat salad dressings, sour cream, cream cheese, and mayonnaise.

■ If you use butter or margarine regularly, switch to whipped butter over regular butter (for less fat) or lower-fat/ trans fat-free margarine.

■ Cut fried foods out of your daily routine. Anything deep-fried contains a lot of fat.

■

Work Out with Sports Drinks Many athletes benefit from replacing water with a sports drink during training. Research has repeatedly shown that

The three key ingredients of a good post-exercise refueling snack are fluids, carbohydrates, and a little protein … Try a bagel sandwich and fruit juice, yogurt and a banana, or some trail mix and a sports drink. letes who are eating too much fat are rarely eating adequate carbohydrates, which are the primary source of energy.

Getting athletes to try reduced-fat and low-fat versions of their favorite foods is a good starting point. I enjoy hosting taste tests where athletes try the same foods with varying fat content (examples include yogurt, milk, cheese, ground beef, cream cheese, salad dressing, and mayonnaise). They are often shocked that they either can’t tell the difference between regular and fatmodified products, or that they actually prefer the lower-fat versions! Remember, though, it is important to verify that a reduced-fat product is actually nutritionally superior to the regular version.

Sometimes food manufacturers replace fat with sugar or artificial sweeteners that are in fact less nutritious.

It’s also beneficial to offer athletes lower-fat alternatives to high-fat foods they routinely eat. For example, a runner I worked with whose typical breakfast included a sausage, egg, and cheese 36

COACHING MANAGEMENT

carbohydrate ingestion during intense exercise in addition to good hydration status enhances performance. Sports drinks can help delay energy deficits or “hitting the wall” during exercise.

Many athletes tell me they can’t tolerate any fluids at all during training, let alone sports drinks. My best tip is to teach them to “train their tummies.” I have them start by drinking a very small amount of sports drink (even just a sip) every 15 minutes during exercise and gradually increase over time to gulps and then to at least eight ounces every 15 minutes.

Simple strategies for athletes: Make sure cold sports drinks are readily accessible at regular intervals during training.

■ Keep individual servings of powdered sports drink and an empty bottle in your sports bag to mix with cold water provided at practice.

■ Freeze a bottle of sports drink overnight and take it with you to hot outside ■

workouts. By the time you’re ready for it, it should be thawed out.

Refuel After Exercise Athletes have an important window of opportunity to replenish energy stores in the post-exercise period that they need to take advantage of. Research has shown that muscles are especially good at taking up carbohydrates during this time. Stocking up on energy levels after today’s workout can be a great way of preparing for tomorrow’s workouts.

And when athletes have multiple practices or competitive events in the same day, refueling after the first session is beneficial for promoting optimal energy for subsequent workouts.

The three key ingredients of a good post-exercise refueling snack are fluid, carbohydrates, and a little protein.

Good examples include a bagel sandwich and fruit juice, yogurt and a banana, or some trail mix and a sports drink. Many athletes find sports recovery beverages and bars convenient and useful after workouts.

Simple strategies for athletes: Keep a week’s worth of refueling snacks in your locker or sports bag for after practice.

■ Divide and conquer recovery nutrition with teammates. Assign each day to a different athlete. On that day, the athlete is responsible for providing teammates with nutritious refueling foods and beverages.

■

Include Enough Iron Iron is a mineral involved in the formation of hemoglobin and myoglobin, two proteins that help supply oxygen to cells. Iron deficiency is common among some types of athletes, primarily due to rigorous workouts and dietary iron deficiency. Iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia are associated with low energy levels, decreased exercise tolerance, and an increased risk of infection.

Good dietary sources of iron include beef, poultry, fish, beans, whole grains or fortified cereals, nuts, and green leafy veggies. Athletes should routinely incorporate at least three or four servings of high iron foods into their diets each day. A multi-vitamin containing the Recommended Daily Allowance for iron can be good insurance that needs

NUTRITION

are met. However, athletes should not supplement with iron tablets unless specifically screened for iron deficiency.

Simple strategies for athletes: ■ Eat beef three times each week.

Beef is one of the best sources of iron since it is well absorbed by the body.

■ Purchase cereals fortified with iron at a level of at least 40 percent of the Daily Value (check the nutrition label).

Eat this for breakfasts and snacks.

■ Routinely drink orange juice with breakfast. The vitamin C in the juice will help you absorb iron from whole grains and cereals.

Avoid “Energy” Supplements Many supplements that contain caffeine or herbal stimulants promote their ability to enhance energy levels.

These range from tablets to bars to shakes to sweetened beverages. It’s important to realize these supplements do not actually increase energy—they increase perceived energy and stimulation. The same goes for consuming caf-

feinated drinks, such as coffee and some sodas.

What’s the harm in supplemental stimulation? Some dietary supplements contain unsafe levels of stimulants. Even though permitted by the FDA, these stimulants can cause significant side effects, including gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular issues.

Supplements containing lower levels of caffeine may not be nearly as harmful, but depending on them on a regular basis is strongly discouraged. Once your body becomes accustomed to the caffeine consumption, it will need more and more to achieve the effect of a stimulant. High levels of caffeine intake can then disrupt sleep, cause anxiety, deprive the body of calcium absorption, and lead to upset stomach or acid reflux.

Athletes should strive for optimal energy levels by instead eating appropriate carbohydrates at appropriate times. They should also pay attention to getting enough sleep instead of using caffeine to keep them awake.

Simple strategies for athletes: ■ Give yourself a curfew. Go to bed by a set time every night and aim for seven or more hours of sleep. This will decrease the likelihood that you will feel the need for energy supplements.

■ Be sure you are taking in carbohydrates every three hours throughout the day.

■ Reserve caffeinated energy drinks for very special and extenuating situations when you really need them.

Taking baby steps to make little nutritional changes one day at a time can add up to a huge impact on energy, performance, and health. When athletes eat energizing food on a regular basis, special eating occasions are negligible. Advise your athletes to slowly make small changes, and those changes will translate into that extra burst of energy so many of them crave. ■ A version of this article has appeared in Coaching Management’s sister publication, Training & Conditioning.

JV PRO Scoring Tables

NEW! LED Possession Arrows & Bonus Lights Brighter, Bigger, Safer • Two styles to choose from, Free-Standing or Bleacher.

• Heavy duty padding in your choice of school colors.

• High quality laminated table top with safe, rounded corners.

• Bleacher will also convert to Free-Standing style in seconds without tools.

• Folds to 16 inches for storage, extends only 14 inches on to the court.

• All models include locking casters for easy placement.

• Enclosed UL light fixtures.

Heavy duty chairs in your school colors with logo or mascot are available to match your scoring table.

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Circle No. 122

Circle No. 121 COACHING MANAGEMENT

37

Uniforms & Apparel Ballgirl Athletic 203-359-8700 WWW.BALLGIRLATHLETIC.COM Made from a lightweight and breathable closed-hole mesh, the Cita sleeveless jersey is designed with V-neck styling and a choice of color-blocked or solid shoulder yoke and side panels. It offers the best in performance, fit, and comfort for female athletes. These jerseys are available in both home and away team colors. This style is featured in the “Design Your Own” program on the company’s Web site, allowing teams to discover and order their own unique color combinations.

Circle No. 500 The Medalista Five-Inch Short from Ballgirl Athletic is designed to give the female athlete the best in performance, fit, and comfort.

It is the only volleyball short on the market to offer six panels enhanced with flat-lock seaming. The fabric, a polyester/spandex blend, was selected with comfort in mind. This product is also available with a three-inch inseam (style #5014) and in team colors.

Circle No. 501 Fergo Athletics 888-OK-FERGO WWW.FERGOONLINE.COM Fergo Athletics is an apparel manufacturer that passes huge savings directly to teams. It custom-designs athletic apparel for high schools, colleges, clubs, and recreational leagues in every sport. As part of its dedication to schools, Fergo will meet any quote or bid in price, quality, and style and then write your team, school, or club a 10-percent royalty check on the total order. Call the company for more details about this offer and to find out more about all Fergo products.

Circle No. 502 Fergo Athletics’ custom-made volleyball apparel line features three packages: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The Bronze Package includes custom-made 100-

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percent polyester jerseys designed in a basic style with a choice of colors and printed logos and names. Shorts are made of 100-percent nylon taffeta with a one-andone-half-inch multi-needle waist with draw cord.

The Silver and Gold packages include all of the Bronze features and optional embroidery details and custom-designed tops. All packages are available for men and women. Contact Fergo Athletics for more information.

Circle No. 503 Russell Athletic WWW.RUSSELLATHLETIC.COM Russell Athletic’s Spike jerseys and shorts are made with a new 100-percent nylon crepe fabric designed to enhance athletes’ comfort on the court. This new fabric is lightweight, stays close to the body, and contains moisturemanagement capabilities to keep an athlete cool and dry. The unique design, which includes a collar, differentiates this style from standard stock uniforms, making it a great choice for select travel teams and high schools. The Spike jersey style is available in 16 color combinations.

Circle No. 504 Russell Athletic introduces a new design to its popular Dri-Power® collection of volleyball uniforms. This body-skimming style includes a contrasting collar, shoulder insert, and piping. The Dri-Power stretch technology enhances fit, performance, and mobility for players on the court and pulls sweat away from the body to keep players cool and dry. These lowrise shorts, with a threeinch inseam, was inspired and made popular by beach volleyball players and elite athletes. Together, these two garments will provide your team a unique, custom look while on the court.

Circle No. 505

Spike Nashbar 800-774-5348 WWW.SPIKENASHBAR.COM The Mizuno Matrix® women’s jersey is made of 100-percent MzO™ microfiber polyester with Lycra®.

A revolutionary closeto-the-body design, stretch fabric, and moisture-management system make this jersey a great choice for any volleyball team. It is available in sizes XS through XL, and comes in white, navy, red, royal blue, black, forest green, and maroon.

Circle No. 506 The Volleyball Market 866-999-3004 WWW.VOLLEYBALLMARKET.COM The Volleyball Market is offering an exclusive “Budget Saver” custom team program, featuring multi-colored, heavyweight, screen-printed T-shirts from top-quality American manufacturers, such as Hanes, Gildan, Fruit of the Loom, and JerZees.

Custom match jerseys are screen-printed T-shirts with school logos, team names, and consecutive numbers front and back, available as low as $5.97 each. The one- and two-color motivational T-shirts are available as low as $3.97 each, and the custom practice T-shirts sell for as low as $5.97 each.

Circle No. 507 Players will love the stylish look and improved fit of Volleyball Market’s NoLogo Spandex shorts, featuring playerapproved, moisture-wicking DriFX®, a 90-percent Polyester microfiber/10-percent Lycra® Spandex fabric that cools the body and fits great. The CoolMax®-lined crotch panel and smooth flatseam stitching create the ultimate in comfort and prevents chafing. The “California low-rise” cut with a four-inch inseam provides an improved-fit for 2006— players will have no need to roll down waistbands. DriFX Spandex shorts are available in black or navy blue.

Designed and proudly manufactured in Orange County, Calif.

Circle No. 508

Team Equipment Airborne Athletics, Inc. 888-887-7453 WWW.NETWORKSVOLLEYBALL.COM

Nonstop Volleyball 800-747-9007 WWW.NONSTOPVOLLEYBALL.COM

Manage players and space with NetworKs from Airborne Athletics.

NetworKs catches and collects volleyballs so coaches don’t have to waste valuable training time doing it themselves.

The front net is 10 feet wide and adjusts from a height of six feet to nine feet, making it ideal for all ages and skill levels. Practice hitting, serving, setting, or passing into NetworKs. Use it during the season for an extra training station or in the off-season to keep your players sharp. It’s perfect for team or individual use. Airborne Athletics has reduced the price of NetworKs and redesigned it for easier storage. Visit the company’s Web site for more information and to request a free video.

Circle No. 509

Nonstop Volleyball, a division of First to the Finish, is a complete source for all of your team’s volleyball needs.

Nonstop offers a complete line of team uniforms, warm-ups, shoes, bags, equipment, and accessories at competitive pricing. The company is dedicated to serving coaches and athletes as a reliable source for volleyball apparel and equipment. Its 50,000-square-foot warehouse, online inventory, and knowledgeable customer service staff make ordering simple. Call toll-free for a free catalog today.

Circle No. 511

Airborne Athletics, Inc. 888-887-7453 WWW.AIRCATVOLLEYBALL.COM AirCAT™ TEAM from Airborne Athletics is an air-powered training machine that does much more than just serve. Use it for spiking, setting, passing, and digging drills, too.

It’s perfect for all volleyball programs, from youth to adult.

The AirCAT features a 10-ball automatic feeder, remote control or timer operation, adjustable ball speed and trajectory, and a rechargeable battery. Easy set-up and portability around the court make the AirCAT effective in team practices as well as during individual workouts. Visit the company’s Web site for more information and to request a free video.

Circle No. 510

If your coaching budget is tight, spend your volleyball budget right with Nonstop Volleyball, a division of First to the Finish. Call Nonstop or log onto its Web site to find select volleyball merchandise. Nonstop offers all the famous brands, such as Asics, Mizuno, Nike, adidas, Tachikara, Mikasa, AAI, and many more. Mention this ad to receive a free screen-printing set-up with your purchase of 12 or more team uniforms. Get it all at Nonstop Volleyball.

Circle No. 512 Power Systems, Inc. 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM The Volleyball Power Program by Power Systems is a 12-week training program designed to improve the performance of volleyball athletes. The package includes the necessary equipment athletes need to develop speed, agility, and quickness. The program includes: the Pro Agility Ladder™; the six-pound Power Med Ball™; the Lateral

Stepper™; the VersaDisc™; a fourpound Power Grip ball; an economy Power Jumper; a nylon carry bag; a Power Program manual; and a choice of a VHS tape or a DVD. The video demonstrates proper equipment use, and the manual illustrates the program step-by-step. Visit online or call toll-free for more information on the Volleyball Power Program, to place an order, or to request a new 2006 catalog.

Circle No. 513 Power Systems’ VersaDisc is an allin-one training tool for athletes who want extreme balance, challenge, and versatility during their sport-specific fitness workouts, functional training, and rehabilitation. Use the VersaDisc to Intensify core strength while targeting large muscle groups and auxiliary stabilizing muscles often overlooked during exercising. The air-filled cushion may be used for standing, sitting, stepping, lying, and kneeling movements.

Incorporate medicine balls, dumbbells, and weighted bars for sport-specific workouts, fitness, Pilates, and rehabilitation. Visit online or call toll-free for more information on the VersaDisc, to place an order, or to request a new 2006 catalog.

Circle No. 514 RI Blast, Inc. 401-932-9106 WWW.PRECISIONPASSER.COM The Precision Passer is a net-suspended target that offers big advantages over its competition. Its lightweight but durable set-up is simple, and the collapsible frame allows for easy storage and transport. The Precision Passer hangs on the net rather than sitting on the ground, making it a safer choice for players.

For budgetconscious coaches, the biggest advantage may be the price—the Precision Passer is available at a fraction of the cost of other targets.

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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY CIRCLE NO.

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Active Ankle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 AirCAT (Airborne Athletics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC AVCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Ballgirl Athletic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Blazer Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Digital Scout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Fergo Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Gatorade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Jaypro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 JV Pro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 LRSSports Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Mateflex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 NetworKs (Airborne Athletics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

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Nonstop Volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Precision Passer (RI Blast) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Rip Tide Volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Spike Nashbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC Sport Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports Imports (Attack Volleyball Machines) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Sports Imports (Senoh Volleyball) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Volleyball Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 VIC Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Volleyball ACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Worldwide Sport Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Xvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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Active Ankle (All-Sport Chameleon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Active Ankle (Dorsal Night Splint) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Airborne Athletics (AirCAT TEAM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Airborne Athletics (NetworKs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ballgirl Athletic (Cita jersey) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ballgirl Athletic (Five-Inch Short) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bison (CarbonMax) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bison (Centerline Elite) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Blazer Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CyberSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Digital Scout (Stat Manager) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Digital Scout (Statware) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dimensional Software (TapRecorder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dimensional Software (Volleyball Ace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fergo Sports (athletic apparel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fergo Sports (volleyball apparel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gatorade (Endurance Formula) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gatorade (Nutrition Shake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jaypro (Flexnet) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jaypro (Floor Sleeve/Hinged Cover) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JV Pro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LRSSports (Gamer video editing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LRSSports (GamerEZ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mateflex (ProGym) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mateflex (TileFlex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Nonstop Volleyball (apparel/equipment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Nonstop Volleyball (merchandise) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Power Systems (Power Program) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Power Systems (VersaDisc) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Precision Passer (RI Blast) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Recruiting Pro Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Rip Tide Volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Russell Athletic (Dri-Power) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Russell Athletic (Spike jerseys/shorts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Spike Nashbar (Mizuno jersey) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Spike Nashbar (Pro Spike Trainer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Sport Court (Response) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Sport Court (Sportgrain Plus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Sports Imports (Attack Volleyball Machine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Sports Imports (Senoh net systems) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 The Volleyball Market (Spandex shorts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Volleyball Market (T-shirts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 VIC Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Worldwide Sport Supply (catalog) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Worldwide Sport Supply (Gel-Sensei) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Worldwide Sport Supply (kneepad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Xvest (Don Chu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Xvest (Fire Fighter model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

PRODUCTS DIRECTORY PAGE NO

Your online puchasing resource for athletic equipment and more!

www.AthleticBid.com 401-932-9106 Circle No. 123

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Team Equipment Sports Imports 800-556-3198 WWW.SPORTSIMPORTS.COM The Attack Volleyball Machine from Sports Attack, distributed by Sports Imports, challenges men’s and women’s volleyball programs.

Ball speeds of up to 70 mph with accuracy and repetition are assured in ever y drill. The throwing-head release points adjust from five feet to nine-and-one-half feet for ever ything—from setting to men’s overthe-net ser ving and spiking heights. Horizontal and vertical throwing-head movements allow coaches to instantly target any point on the court, simulating real game situations.

Circle No. 516 Spike Nashbar 800-774-5348 WWW.SPIKENASHBAR.COM The Pro Spike™ Trainer from Spike Nashbar improves spiking technique, power, approach, arm swing, and endurance. It teaches players to hit correctly on top of the ball and allows for increased repetitions without having to chase balls around the gym. This trainer adjusts in height from six-and-one-half feet to 11-1/2 feet in twoinch increments. The ball is not included.

Circle No. 517 Sports Tutor 800-448-8867 WWW.SPORTSMACHINES.COM Both the gold and silver models of the Volleyball Tutor can vary ball trajectory and speed to produce any desired set or pass, delivering serves at speeds up to

60 mph. The gold model can automatically throw six volleyballs at intervals ranging from five to 20 seconds. The unit is completely portable, and is available with either AC or battery power.

The silver model’s release point is fiveand-one-half feet high, and features a separate dial to control the amount of topspin and underspin. The Volleyball Tutor starts under $900.

Circle No. 518 Worldwide Sport Supply 800-756-3555 WWW.WWSPORT.COM Dig, jump, spike, and dive with the Asics® Competition 3.0G Kneepad.

A total volleyball experience demands a total volleyball kneepad.

The kneepad features GEL® Cushioning System and Ortholite insoles that attenuate shock, as well as Aeroskin that wicks away sweat and Kinetofoam™ that provides comfort and support around the knees. The Asics® Competition 3.0G Kneepad is sold in pairs and is available in black and white. Visit Worldwide Sport Supply’s Web site for item ZD0500. Worldwide Sport Supply—Fueling champions since 1981®.

Circle No. 519 The Asics® Gel-Sensei™, available through Worldwide Sport Supply, is a unique volleyball shoe that is engineered to produce great athletic responsiveness and a comfort fit.

During landing and jumping, the VolleyballSpecific Impact Guidance System (I.G.S.®) allows the feet to move more efficiently, while the SpEVA® transfers energy effectively and the GEL® Cushioning System attenuates harmful shock. The Biomorphic Fit Upper adapts to each foot’s curves, enabling better landing and jumping stances. Available colors include Silver/ Yellow (women’s), Silver/Blue (men’s),

and—new for fall 2005—White/Black (women’s). Visit Worldwide Sport Supply for more information. Worldwide Sport Supply—Fueling champions since 1981®.

Circle No. 520 Xvest 800-697-5658 WWW.THEXVEST.COM “I have found the Xvest to be an excellent tool for providing overloads in plyometric, strength training, conditioning, and rehabilitation programs. The fit and adaptability are excellent.

The Xvest allows freedom of movement and doesn’t interfere with any of the agility, bounding, or running programs that I write for a wide variety of athletes; collegiate and professional. The Xvest has proven itself in my programs. Thank you for all your efforts and help in improving my capability as a strength and conditioning specialist.”

—Donald A. Chu, Ph.D., PT, ATC, CSCS, author of Jumping Into Plyometrics Circle No. 521 Xvest has a new weight configuration, and it’s heavy: 84 pounds of heavy. The new Xvest, known as the Fire Fighter model, was developed especially for fire fighters and their rigorous training. It has the same basic design as the original Xvest, but internally it has a new weight configuration that allows for 84 pounds of weight. Because of its ability to adjust weight like the original Xvest, everyone from body builders to military personnel is buying them. For more information on all the Xvest models, call the company or visit its Web site.

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Team Equipment Active Ankle® 502-582-2655 WWW.ACTIVEANKLE.COM. The Dorsal Night Splint by Active Ankle features a unique clamshell design for firm support and a simple Velcro® fastener that makes it easy to put on and secure. While generously-padded, the splint is lighter, smaller, and cooler than other posterior braces resulting in comfortable, effective pain relief for up to 14 hours a day. Patients get increased benefits because they wear it longer. For more information, visit Active Ankle online.

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With the New All-Sport Chameleon™ from Active Ankle® Ankle protection isn’t black and white anymore.

Athletes can now choose from eight bright, interchangeable strap covers that come with each brace. The solid U-shaped frame ensures maximum strength, while the molded, fabriclined EVA padding provides lightweight comfort. Get great style and the same great protection that made Active Ankle a leader in the industr y. For more information, visit online.

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Rip Tide Volleyball, Inc. 888-288-5993 WWW.HOOPSPIKE.COM The Hoop-Spike by Rip Tide Volleyball is a spiking device designed for athletes playing at all levels of volleyball. A player or team can train with the device anywhere there is a basketball hoop. Repetition with Hoop-Spike strengthens players’ footwork, timing, and arm swing. The device is lightweight and sets up quickly, making it convenient for coaches at school and players at home. Call for more information, or visit online.

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Athleticbid.com 42

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Technology & Software Digital Scout 800-249-1189 WWW.DIGITALSCOUT.COM Digital Scout Statware®, Version 5.0, the official statistics software of USA Volleyball, is feature-packed. Record statistics and view analysis at matches; then after the match, you can print out attack charts. Statware’s new features include: data entry on hand-held, laptop, or desktop computers; enhanced box scores; custom attack charts; faster data entry; uploading capabilities to Web sites; Digital Scout’s Tournament/League Stat Manager, and libero-tracking. Statware tracks rotations and points per rotation and rates passing (0-3), serves, and attacks (0-4 or + /-/0).

Circle No. 526 Digital Scout’s Tournament/League Stat Manager, included in Version 5.0 of Statware®, is powerful enough to be a stand-alone product. Stat Manager aggregates multiple games in a tournament or league to generate scores, standings, and leaders. Tournament reports include standings, game results, team statistics, and individual leaders in kills, attacks, hitting percentages, service aces, set assists, digs, and blocks. Digital Scout has information on more than a dozen winning reports on the company’s Web site.

Circle No. 527 Dimensional Software 877-223-8225 WWW.ACE4VB.COM The TapRecorder™ is a revolutionary hand-held software tool from Dimensional Software. When combined with PracticeStats™ templates for volleyball, the TapRecorder becomes an excellent tool for recording and summarizing information right on the court. By combining a spreadsheet format and a single tap to record data, TapRecorder

applications can easily be customized to quickly process data.

This allows coaches to track counts and ratings and to monitor drill performances as well as selected stats during scrimmages. The Palm version is available now, and the Pocket PC version will be available in spring 2006.

Call toll-free or visit the company’s Web site for more information.

Circle No. 528 Volleyball Ace version 6, from Dimensional Software, for Palm and Pocket PC hand-helds, adds features and greater ease-of-use to this popular volleyball stat program. Stats include pergame and summary stats, box scores, serve and pass ratings, points per rotation, and hit charts. New features include desktop set-up of rosters and matches, automated data uploads for NAIA and NJCAA reporting, improved libero-handling, scrollable play-by-play logs, and support for beaming to share rosters and stats. Stats automatically upload to Windows PC or Macintosh computers, allowing for further analysis and printing.

Circle No. 529 LRSSports 888-LRS-0001 WWW.LRSSPORTS.COM Gamer™EZ from LRSSports is a one digital video editing system that every team can easily afford. GamerEZ is flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of team sports, such as volleyball and field hockey, as well as individual sports, such as gymnastics and track. Check out the GamerEZ demo on the company’s Web site to see how easy this product is to use. Then call LRSSports to find out how easy it is to buy.

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Gamer™ video-editing systems from LRSSports aces the competition with laptop or desktop, standalone, and networked solutions.

Gamer serves high-quality video and all the data needed for analyzing your team and opponents. From capturing video to creating cut-ups and generating scouting reports by player or rotation, Gamer makes video-editing and analysis easy.

Best of all, Gamer fits even the tightest volleyball budgets. Call or click online today to learn more.

Circle No. 531 CyberSports, Inc. 315-732-4333 WWW.CYBERSPORTSINC.COM CyberSports offers recruiting software that can help an athletic department optimize its recruiting process, maintain organization, and assist athletic directors in complying with all the rules of their leagues or conferences. The Recruiter 2000 and CyberPalm were the first recruiting and compliance software products to meet all the needs of a recruiting staff and compliance office.

Circle No. 532 Recruiting Pro Software 608-836-0052 WWW.RECRUITINGPROSOFTWARE.COM Recruiting Pro software is designed to assist coaches with all the facets of the recruiting process in one powerful, easyto-use package.

The company focuses on providing efficient, customized data management tools so coaches can focus on building relationships with recruits. From single-sport to department-wide installations, for small schools and major college programs, Recruiting Pro is your partner for recruiting success.

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Volleyball Court Bison, Inc. 800-247-7668 WWW.BISONINC.COM Do you prefer the rigidity of steel, or the lighter weight of aluminum? Whichever you choose, there’s Bison Centerline™ Elite equipment to meet your needs, with either steel or aluminum telescoping standards. A unique Auto Track spring-assisted height adjustment combined with a machined 26:1 gear ratio winch assures that the net is always bowstring-tight. The standards and winch are covered by a lifetime-limited warranty. The post padding is available in 12 colors and can be customized with school and team names. Bison is the official supplier of volleyball equipment for the NFHS. Circle No. 534 Bison offers CarbonMax, a volleyball net system with standards constructed of wound-carbon fiber that maximizes rigidity and minimizes weight.

CarbonMax is as lightweight as aluminum and as rigid as steel. A CarbonMax unit has 60 percent less deflection than popular aluminum systems from other manufacturers. These high-tech standards are coupled with premium features, including a wind-up internal net height adjustment, a lifetime warranty, 26:1 machined-worn gear net tensioning winch, Kevlar top rope net, and protective padding lettered on all four sides. CarbonMax meets all NCAA, NFHS, and USVBA rules.

Circle No. 535 Jaypro Sports 800-243-0533 WWW.JAYPRO.COM The diversity of the Jaypro Basketball Floor Sleeve & Hinged Cover’s unique locking feature works well with volleyball net systems. Sleeves are 3-1/2”

(inside diameter) x 10”D. The lockable hinged cover plate is 7-1/2” (outside diameter) and is made of heavy cast brass. A smaller version of the floor sleeve is also available at 3” (inside diameter) x 10”D. Circle No. 536 Jaypro has combined a classic style three-inch steel standard unit for volleyball nets with its patented Flexnet system. Tension is put directly on the headband of the net, so no extra cables, straps, or tie-offs are needed.

The strength and rigidity of steel (bottom section) is combined with the lighter weight of aluminum (top section). Uprights have pin stop-height adjustments ranging from six-and-onehalf feet to eight feet, two inches. The steel standard has a powder-coated finish and meets all NCAA, NFSHA, and USVBA specifications.

Circle No. 537 JV Pro, Inc. 800-962-2440 WWW.JVPRO.COM JV Pro offers custom-made, freestanding, and convertible bleacher-mounted scoring tables. Standard options include an LED possession arrow with bonus indicators, illuminated shatter-proof lexan panels, heavy-duty soft rubber casters for easy movement, and collapsibility down to 16 inches for easy storage. JV Pro also offers heavy-duty courtside chairs in school colors featuring your logo or mascot to complement your scoring table. These products create the perfect image for your sports program.

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Mateflex 800-926-3539 WWW.MATEFLEX.COM Mateflex offers a unique interlocking modular surface for volleyball flooring needs. ProGym™ features a solid-top design for indoor sports applications. It has a smooth solid surface for player safety and excellent traction. It is available in 16 standard colors for good court definition. Made from a speciallyformulated high-impact polypropylene, ProGym™ provides outstanding resiliency and durability. It is manufactured by the oldest American maker of modular sports tiles and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Circle No. 539 Mateflex, a leading manufacturer of modular flooring, offers the TileFlex™ solid-top tile for basketball, aerobics, and multi-use sports facilities.

TileFlex is unique because its highquality luxury vinyl tiles fit neatly into a base module to form a single snaptogether unit. A popular wood grain look is available for gymnasium applications.

The base features a specially-designed raised rim that protects the insert from chipping and other damage. TileFlex is made of high-impact polypropylene and has hundreds of support pegs that raise the tile above the existing floor to allow for airflow.

Circle No. 540 Sport Court 866-542-9406 WWW.SPORTCOURT.COM A “Gold Standard” for indoor volleyball play, Sport Court® Response® is the official surface of USA Volleyball, NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship games, NCAA Division I and III Women’s Volleyball Championship games, and NCAA Division I Women’s Regional

Volleyball Court Tournaments. Response is ideal for school gyms, multi-purpose facilities, and other high impact areas. For more information visit online, or call Sport Court toll-free.

Circle No. 541 Combine the advantage of cushioned vinyl with the look of natural wood and you get Sport Court Sportgrain® Plus, a multi-purpose floor that’s as easy to care for as it is aesthetically-pleasing.

The high-quality PVC foam backing provides the highest resistance to indentation and allows for more loading options. Sportgrain Plus comes in eight color options and several thicknesses. For more information visit online, or call Sport Court toll-free.

Circle No. 542 Sports Imports, Inc. 800-556-3198 WWW.SPORTSIMPORTS.COM Sports Imports, a world leader in volleyball net unit sales, supplied its Senoh net systems for all indoor and outdoor volleyball competitions at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Senoh has been the only net system used for Olympic competition—ever since volleyball premiered as an official sport at the 1964 games in Tokyo. Senoh was also selected as the official net system for beach volleyball when that sport was added to the Games in 1996. The unit is endorsed by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball and the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

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Vic Standards, Inc. 719-651-9389 WWW.VOLLEYBALLINCOURT.COM If you’re tired of hauling heavy volleyball poles, then worry no more. With the innovative technology of Vic Standards, the days of lugging poles from the storage room to the gym floor are a thing of the past.

Set-up and take-down are now a breeze. To set up, simply extend the telescopic poles from their permanent floor wells.

Average set-up time is less than three minutes; take-down is less than one minute.

Circle No. 544 Blazer Athletic 800-322-2731 WWW.BLAZERATHLETIC.COM Blazer has introduced the Exaiereo SelfStoring Volleyball Net System, which stores in the floor and sets up easily in just minutes.

Thanks to the Exaiereo system, you won’t have to lug heavy standards in and out of the equipment storage room anymore.

The standards are springassisted for ease of ascent and descent, and they are among the safest and most streamlined on the market because the net-tightener is internal.

The net is attached separately after the standards have been ascended to the desired height.

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Company News

Coaches Are Glad They Chose Senoh “I am so impressed with the quality of Sports Imports’ products that if any coach in the market for a net system asks my opinion, I always tell them to buy Senoh.”

Marilyn Tobin Athletic Director, college volleyball coach, and volleyball official Montana Tech, Mont.

“The Sports Imports staff is great to talk to when planning a facility, as well as when installing their net system into an existing system.”

Sarah Pelster College volleyball coach and former player Shenandoah University, Va. “Sports Imports provided us with such a durable and maintenance-free product that we’ve never had any problems.”

Beth Loehfelm High school volleyball coach Forest Hills Central High School, Mich.

“Twenty-nine years ago I made the single-most important purchase of my young career when I purchased the Senoh system, and I didn’t realize then what a value it was.”

Sue Gozansky Former player and current college volleyball coach University of California, Riverside, Calif.

Sports Imports P.O. BOX 21040 COLUMBUS, OH 43221 800-556-3198 INFO@SPORTSIMPORTS.COM WWW.SPORTSIMPORTS.COM COACHING MANAGEMENT

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More Products The Gatorade Co. 800-88-GATOR WWW.GATORADE.COM After years of extensive research, scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute have developed Gatorade Endurance Formula for athletes’ longer, more intense workouts and competitions. Gatorade Endurance Formula is a specialized sports drink with a fiveelectrolyte blend containing nearly twice the sodium (200mg) and three times the potassium (90mg) of Gatorade Thirst Quencher to more fully replace what athletes lose in sweat when fluid and electrolyte losses become substantial.

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Catalog Showcase Gatorade Nutrition Shake is a balanced nutritional supplement that’s ideal for use as a high-energy meal replacement, or a pre-event or between-meal snack.

Gatorade Nutrition Shake contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron, so it’s great for athletes who want to perform at their best and need to supplement their diet with a convenient, balanced, and nutritious product. Gatorade Nutrition Shake is available in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.

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Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

Worldwide Sport Supply 800-756-3555 WWW.WWSPORT.COM Worldwide Sport Supply has been a leading supplier of volleyball equipment for over 25 years, providing among the largest array of volleyball products available anywhere in the U.S. Its new Fall 2005 Volleyball Catalog has everything teams need for this upcoming season.

The 96-page catalog offers more than 40 manufacturers’ products, including Asics, Mizuno, adidas, Kaepa, Tachikara, Wilson, Molten, Mikasa, AAI, Tandem, Champion, Active Ankle, and many more.

Call WSS’s team specialists for all your screen-printing, embroidery, tackle twill, and vinyl applications, and visit its Web site to order a free catalog.

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Web News Web Site Offers Volleyball Equipment Videos and Demos Visit www.aircatvolleyball.com to see the AirCAT—the one-and-only, fully-automatic, battery-powered drill machine for digging, setting, tipping, serving, passing, and blocking. Visitors can watch online video, read testimonials from coaches of all levels of play, including Dr. Mike Hebert and Mike Beal, and learn what air power means to your machine. Learn about Airborne Athletics’ other great volleyball products—including NetworKs, a portable net system that catches and collects volleyballs; Block N’ Cover, which simulates blocking coverage; and the AirCAT ball cart, the volleyball cart that’s built tough.

www.aircatvolleyball.com Plan Your Own Facility Online with Sports Imports Sports Imports’ interactive Web site provides complete product and service descriptions, customer testimonials, a list of current customers by state, and an online store. The “Facility Planner” section allows you to plan your own facility and choose the equipment best suited to your unique needs. Drawings and equipment specifications are also available for download. The online store enables visitors to view pricing information and make purchases using a credit card, or to prepare a purchase order. The site also includes answers to many frequently-asked questions from customers along with links to the industry’s most valuable Web sites.

www.sportsimports.com Name Brands Featured on Spike Nashbar Web Site Spike Nashbar’s volleyball store is one of the largest, most-trusted online sources for volleyball equipment. Asics, adidas, and Spalding are just a few of the many brand names featured on this site. Teams looking for volleyball shoes, nets, uniforms, apparel, socks, protective wear, and more will find easy-to-read menu options that link to product descriptions, detailed graphics, and pricing and ordering information. There’s even an online-tracking center to check purchases. Visitors can order gift certificates and request a free catalog online, too. For more information on how to meet your volleyball needs, check out Spike Nashbar’s Web site today.

www.spikenashbar.com

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

www.FundraisingForSports.com TIPS & ADVICE

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Case Study

Net Results Are Perfect for New High School Gymnasium “I was worried enough about our first match in a new facility. The last thing I needed to think about was equipment that was unable to attain accurate net height. I contacted Sports Imports and they quickly delivered the system that best fit our program. It is comforting to know that I won’t have to worry about this equipment and I can focus on making my team better. I know these uprights will work right—and they will last.

We’ll never need to purchase another net system.”

Rikki Williamson Head Girl’s Volleyball Coach Sachse High School Sachse, Texas

Sports Imports P.O. BOX 21040 COLUMBUS, OH 4322 800-556-3198 INFO@SPORTSIMPORTS.COM WWW.SPORTSIMPORTS.COM

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

With the volleyball season fast approaching for Sachse High School, the situation could not have been worse. Rikki Williamson, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, was desperate to begin team practices, yet construction of the new high school had been completed just days before the preseason schedule. And, unfortunately, when she attempted to set up the team’s new volleyball equipment, she was faced with another serious issue: The upright unit could not attain accurate net height or tension—therefore it was inadequate for daily practice and incapable of meeting competition requirements.

During the construction process, the general contractor (GC) had been given the authority to choose all of the athletic equipment for the school.

As with some school construction projects, the volleyball equipment chosen by the GC was of low quality and was not adequate for high school-level competition. Fortunately, Coach Williamson had coached and played on Senoh net systems and knew these products were unmatched in competition play, durability, and value.

She contacted Sports Imports, the sole distributor for Senoh, to get the quality unit she needed—and within a very short timeframe.

When Sports Imports learned of Coach Williamson’s dilemma, its representatives made sure Sachse High School had the right system for practice and

competition. Within days, custom drop-in adapters were created for the school’s current floor sleeves, saving the school time and the expense of full-sleeve replacements. The new Senoh net system was shipped to the school and the team practiced on the equipment immediately, preparing for the school’s first volleyball season.

Coach Williamson was pleased with the responsiveness and product quality, and the school looks forward to decades of competition on this Senoh unit.

Sports Imports has been Senoh’s sole distributor in North America for almost 30 years. Senoh volleyball net systems are the only ones used in the Olympic Games and in over 90 percent of Division I College programs. Senoh net systems are also used in thousands of high schools, and they are the only net system endorsed by the FIVB, NCAA, and AVCA. Because these systems are durable, easy to set up, and backed by superior customer support, coaches nationwide turn to Sports Imports and Senoh products to fulfill their volleyball needs.

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