Coaching Management 16.11

Coaching Management VOL. XVI NO. 11

VOLLEYBALL ■

Coaching Your Daughter

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Strength Through Sleep

POSTSEASON

EDITION

FUN IN THE SUN The explosion of sand volleyball

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$7.00

2008

Circle No. 100

Coaching Management Volleyball Edition Postseason 2008

CONTENTS

Vol. XVI, No. 11

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LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Fun in the Sun

Top high school players to compete in inaugural All-America match … Former Tennessee-Martin coach sues school for retaliation … Expanding the officials pool … Two college teams combine to host a special clinic … How to promote your high school squad.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Sandy Fussell, Head Coach at Assumption High School in Napoleonville, La., talks about coaching Olympian Kim Willoughby, building a winning tradition, and taking on the athletic director duties at her school.

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The NCAA is considering adding sand volleyball to its lineup of championship sports. Coaches weigh in on the pros and cons of the idea and what it might mean for the indoor game.

COACHING LIFE

The Right Approach

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Is it a good idea or a bad idea to coach your child’s athletic team? It all depends on how you approach the challenge.

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

Strength Through Sleep

VOLLEYBALL COURT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 COACHING AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Continued On: the Web

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The latest research shows that there is one very easy way for an athlete to enhance her workouts and performance: by getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 On the cover: Florida and South Carolina compete in the Southeastern Conference Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships last spring. Story begins on page 14. Photo by Allen Siorek.

Publisher Mark Goldberg Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editors Dennis Read, Greg Scholand Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, Mike Phelps

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Business Manager Pennie Small Art Director Pamela Crawford Photo Research Susan McGinn Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

The Coaching Management Volleyball edition is published in April and November by MAG, Inc., and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada.

Copyright © 2008 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD H.S. All-Americans To Compete

every level can observe running through a series of drills to display their skills.

Top high school football and basketball players have been showing off their skills in endof-the-season All-America games for years. Now, volleyball standouts will get the same chance. As part of its Future Star Sunday, this year’s American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Convention, held in Omaha, Neb., Dec. 17 to 21, will feature a high school All-America match.

Hamilton says the main goal of the All-America game is to expose the sport to the masses. “Volleyball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and we want to continue its promotion,” he explains. “Volleyball had incredible success at the Olympics and this will help the sport continue to become even more popular.”

While this will be the third year the AVCA is selecting high school All-America teams, it is the first time the 24 honored athletes will compete against each other. “It’s a great opportunity to bring the top high school players together so we can show the Omaha community, the coaches who attend, and the nation some of the best and the brightest from around the country,” says Todd Hamilton, AVCA Assistant Executive Director.

Coach Claims Retaliation Amy Draper spent three seasons battling for the University of Tennessee-Martin on the court as Head Coach. Now she’s fighting the school in court.

After being fired in January 2008, Draper filed a lawsuit against the school claiming sexual discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments, Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the Tennessee Human Rights Act. She believes she was fired in retaliation for raising questions about inequities in the way female teams were treated at UT-Martin as compared to the men’s teams.

The game is sponsored by Under Armour, which was integral in making it possible.

“The sponsorship allows us to fly players in from all over the country, which otherwise we couldn’t afford to do,” Hamilton says. “And Under Armour is supplying further resources to help us promote the match.”

The All-American players are selected based on their statistics and other accolades earned throughout the year.

To nominate an athlete, a coach must be an AVCA member and enter the player’s stats at MaxPreps.com, which has partnered with the coaching organization to help it better organize the collection of statistics.

“Before we started using the MaxPreps site, we would get nominations in all forms, including recommendation letters from ministers and stats that couldn’t possibly be correct,” says AVCA Awards and

This year, for the first time ever, those selected to the AVCA High School All-America team will come together to compete against each other in a special event. Missy Harpenau (above), of Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati, was one of the 24 players selected for 2007-08 All-America honors.

Membership Manager Ashley Beil. “The new system provides the selection committee with an easily accessible database of statistics that makes it possible to compare athletes from California, Texas, New York, and Michigan.”

The two teams will be coached by the AVCA National High School Coaches of the Year,

and convention attendees receive free admission to the match. Those not at the convention can watch the event on television, though it will not be a live telecast.

Earlier Sunday, the AVCA will host its Girls’ Talent Showcase.

The event is open to all uncommitted juniors and seniors, whom college coaches from

The suit is currently in the discovery phase and is unlikely to go to trial until next year.

Draper has also filed a separate complaint alleging additional Title IX violations not related to her employment, which are currently being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

“A lot of this began when Coach Draper was trying to get a full-time assistant coach for her volleyball team,” says Meg Penrose, Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and one of Draper’s attorneys. “Title IX requires equity in coaching, and while Coach Draper was at

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD UT-Martin, there were only two programs that did not have full-time assistant coaches— women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. Every other program had at least one full-time assistant, and several of the men’s programs had more than one full-time assistant.

need to have an assistant coach. It’s the only way my players will have the opportunity to get better.’ And she raised the issue of gender bias very directly because she knew that men’s programs were getting benefits that her team was not.”

After completing the 2007 season with a 10-22 record, Draper says she was told that if she didn’t resign, she would be fired. She received her formal termination notice on Jan. 18, 2008, two days after she allegedly complained that the mid-year revocation of a vol-

pensatory and punitive damages to be determined by a jury. “This has been a devastating blow to Coach Draper,” says her lead attorney, Don Donati, Senior Partner at the Donati Law Firm in Memphis. “On a personal level, she wants to be compensated

“We think this case is significant because of the importance of the retaliation portion of both Title IX and Title VII in the context of this case ... as well as the broader context of coaches who face the same dilemma that Coach Draper did.”

“The athletic director gave Coach Draper assurances that if a student fee increase was put into place, she would receive a full-time assistant,” Penrose continues. “The increase passed, but she didn’t receive the full-time assistant. She then said, ‘I

Draper first voiced her concerns about unequal treatment in November 2006, through an e-mail to the athletic director.

She then sent another e-mail in the summer of 2007 saying she believed the denial of a full-time assistant coach was discriminatory.

leyball player’s scholarship by administrators violated Title IX and NCAA rules.

Now Head Coach at James Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas, Draper is seeking back pay and benefits, future lost earnings, and other com-

for the substantial loss of income, her reputation, and her coaching career. She wants to be vindicated once the athletic community knows that she stood up for the rights of her student-athletes and was a victim of retaliation and discrimination.”

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD On a broader level, Draper also wishes to have other alleged inequities at UT-Martin corrected. Her complaint claims several areas of unequal treatment for the women’s volleyball team, including facilities, scheduling, and equipment.

She also complained that coaches of women’s teams are required to take personal leave time to work at camps while male coaches are not.

The path to the Title IX retaliation claim was blazed by Roderick Jackson, an Alabama high school girls’ basketball coach who successfully sued to get his job back after being fired for speaking out about inequities at his school. And in July 2007, former Fresno State University Coach Lindy Vivas was awarded $5.8 million in a case that included a Title IX retaliation claim. The amount was later reduced to $4.5 million, which Fresno State is still appealing.

R ES OURCES

Donati says that although retaliation is still a developing area of Title IX law, it’s a well established part of Title VII, which prohibits discrimination in employment. “Both Title IX and Title VII prohibit gender discrimination and many of their remedies are the same,” he says. “The whole idea of addressing retaliation in the statutes is to allow the unfet-

tered ability to complain about what you believe is not fair without fear of damage to your career.

“We think this case is significant because of the importance of the retaliation portion of both Title IX and Title VII in the context of this case,” Donati continues, “as well as the broader context of coaches who face the same dilemma that Coach Draper did.”

Despite laws that are written to protect coaches from retaliation, Donati and Penrose say that coaches who find themselves in similar situations should tread carefully.

“If the athletic department environment is one that is resistant to Title IX, you may find yourself in a very precarious place simply by raising the issue,” Penrose says. “It can be risky.”

“One bit of advice to coaches who find themselves in this position is that they should contact a knowledgeable lawyer who can help them maneuver through it and provide some support,” Donati says. “What they perceive as a Title IX violation may not really be occurring, or they might be viewing the situation too narrowly and there’s a broader complaint that should be filed.”

For more information on Title IX, including links to important Title IX cases, visit:

www.TitleIX.info.

The Women’s Sports Foundation offers details on Title IX, including a primer on schools’ responsibilities, at:

www.womenssportsfoundation.com.

Click on the link, “Issues & Research.”

To view articles on Title IX from our sister publication, Athletic Management, go to www.AthleticManagement.com and type “Title IX” into the article search window.

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To help expand the officiating pool, Terry Tinich (above) has started a class for students at Louisburg (Kan.) High School on how to become an official. Those enrolled learn the specifics of the rules, get advice from veteran officials, and are afforded hands-on experience.

Expanding the Officials Pool If you’re like many other high school coaches, you worry about having enough officials to cover your games. You see the graying of the profession and the lack of new faces on the stand.

Terry Tinich, a volleyball official for the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA), is one person working to reverse the decline in officials. At Louisburg (Kan.) High School, where he is a teacher and Head Girls’ Basketball Coach, he offers an officiating class for students. “I had been mulling the idea for a while,” Tinich says. “There is a need to recruit younger offi-

cials, and I knew this would be one way to help do so.”

Now in its second year, the officiating class is offered each semester. The first semester covers basketball and softball, while the second is for volleyball and baseball. Students learn how to keep a scorebook in each sport, study the official high school rulebook—which they are tested on throughout the semester—and get some hands-on experience.

“For the hands-on portion of the semester, I ask some local officials to come in and help,” Tinich says. “We all go down to the gym and they go over proper mechanics as well as some nuances and details of how to officiate a game. We’ll

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD talk about how in basketball, for example, an open hand indicates a violation while a closed hand is a foul, and that the elbow needs to be locked when making a call. We show them where to stand in front of the scorer’s table, and how to make sure the scorers are looking at you.

“Those things aren’t necessarily the coach’s responsibility, but they can work with their athletic director on them,” he continues. “The small details like that make a big difference.”

“I also have the students match up with a veteran official at some point so they can shadow each other during a scrimmage situation,” Tinich continues. “When the student refs, the official can say things like, ‘You need to be a little more to your left, this is what you look for in this situation, you missed this right here, and you need to be watching for that.’ The hands-on parts are just as beneficial, if not more so, than the book learning we do.”

Most college volleyball camps and clinics are about getting talented young athletes into your gym and making some money. That’s all well and good, but sometimes you have an opportunity to do more. For the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, last March was one of those times.

Tinich also brings in guest speakers from the KSHSAA offices. “They talk about the importance of officiating, why we need new officials, and how important it is that they’re taking the class,” he says.

So far, several students who were enrolled last year have started officiating for pay.

“Each student covers at least one middle school game during the year to see what it’s really like, and I think that generates a lot of interest in pursuing it further,” Tinich says. “When these kids go off to college, they can have a pretty good part-time job.”

While working to get more officials into the pool, Tinich also has some advice for coaches on how to keep new officials from leaving. “Issues with game management can be frustrating for us,” he says. “It’s important that the courts are properly marked, there is someone there to meet us when we arrive, and there is someone to pay us before we leave.

For more information on Tinich’s class, e-mail him at: TinichT@usd416.org.

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Teaming Up For Kids

The two universities went against the norm by combining their efforts to run a free clinic at St. Francis de Sales High School in Chicago. The day centered around a scrimmage the universities had already scheduled, and was for students below the ninth grade.

St. Francis de Sales is located midway between the two universities and in the kind of community the teams wanted to reach out to.

“We thought if we were going to scrimmage with another program, why not do something together to impact the community?” says Don Hardin, Head Coach at Illinois. “St. Francis de Sales is in an area that is under-serviced. Most of the students can’t afford transportation to get to a lot of events, venues, camps, and clinics, and they don’t get a lot of exposure to volleyball. So we thought we would come to them.

“Volleyball is in danger of becoming a country club sport in which only kids who can afford it get involved,” continues Hardin. “They have to be able to pay for club teams and the extensive travel that goes along with it. Many kids simply can’t pull that off. If we don’t expose all kids to volleyball, they will likely get involved in other sports, and you can’t blame them.”

Hardin and Assistant Coaches Kevin Hambly and Jen Oldenberg started planning the clinic last December and attempted to make it as uncomplicated as possible.

Attendees rotated through

several stations where they learned different skills from the college coaches and players. They played their own matches, and then watched the university teams scrimmage. The colleges decided not to invite players above eighth grade in order to stay in line with NCAA compliance rules regarding recruiting.

Susie Johnson, Head Coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, felt the day was a very positive experience for her athletes.

“I think my players got more out of it than anyone,” she says. “Volleyball athletes are typically from a very similar background, and they aren’t exposed to a lot of different socio-economic areas. The event opened their eyes— they saw that they could make a difference in someone’s life in just a couple of hours.”

Both Johnson and Hardin encourage other coaches to put on similar non-traditional clinics, and to not let the logistics scare them off. “We have a shortage of such efforts, and I really believe coaches worry too much about compliance and bureaucracy,” Hardin says.

Last spring, the Universities of Illinois and Wisconsin-Milwaukee teamed up to offer a free volleyball clinic for youth in Chicago. “Most of the students can’t afford transportation to get to camps and clinics, and they don’t get a lot of exposure to volleyball,” says Illinois Head Coach Don Hardin. “So we thought we would come to them.”

“Yes, there are headaches and issues with anything new like this, but don’t let it stop you.

Reach out and be a resource for people in your area.”

A Big-Time Feel

Neither Jack nor Head Coach (and wife) Leslie Hamann knew much about Web sites or had any idea how to write HTML code, but they found a program that did all the technical work for them, so they only had to enter the text as they

From there, the Hamanns have been able to secure funds and prizes for promotional activities. “We have serving contests like at a college game, T-shirt contests, pizza and cupcake giveaways, and other fun stuff like that,” Jack Hamann

band puts on a performance.

“Fans come from other schools just to hear the band,” Jack Hamann says.

Now, the Hamanns are concentrating on how to keep the Web site fresh and cur-

Looking to get a little more fan support for your high school team without spending any money? Garfield High School, in Seattle, has some great ideas, which begin with an impressive Web site.

Despite charging admission to matches, the team draws the highest number of volleyball fans in its league and tallied the most revenue of any girls’ sport at its high school last year. It has a jazz pep band in the stands, entertainment, contests, and giveaways sponsored by local businesses.

“It all started with the Web site we put up about 10 years ago simply as an avenue to post and update our schedules,” says Assistant Coach Jack Hamann. “Our motivation was to stop kids’ excuses like, ‘I didn’t know where or when that practice was.’ It also helped us get information to parents. I remember the first day the Web site really took hold—we realized we didn’t get any calls or notes that day because people looked at the site.

“A few years after our initial start, we slowly began adding more things like our coaching philosophy, our idea of ‘team,’ and how we run tryouts,” Hamann continues. “It’s neat for people to see inside our program, and coaches write us all the time about our philosophy.”

The site also includes the current season’s schedule, team roster, game summaries, and coach biographies. It has a blog section written by the coaches on issues facing the sport, items from local newspapers, the team’s year-round training program, photos, and lots of current information for athletes, parents, and fans.

Coaches at Garfield High School in Seattle go the extra mile to promote their squad, which has resulted in corporate sponsorships and the largest number of volleyball fans in its league. Above, the team partners with Redmond High School to sponsor a “Dig Pink” match, an event that raises money for breast cancer research and promotes awareness of the disease. wanted it to appear on the screen. “If we could do it, anyone can,” Jack Hamann says.

“There are quite a few easyto-use programs out there that do most of the work for you. It does take a time commitment to keep everything updated and fresh, but it’s worth it.”

One of the greatest advantages of the site is that it gives the Garfield program a big-time feel, which makes it easier to get others involved.

“The Web site gives our sponsors confidence,” Jack Hamann says. “If I tell someone who’s thinking about sponsoring us to Googlesearch ‘high school volleyball,’ our site is the first to pop up.

Their next comment is, ‘How can we help?’”

says. “High school kids go to football and basketball games because they love halftime.

And now we’ve garnered the same atmosphere at our volleyball matches.”

The jazz band came on board almost 10 years ago when a student asked Leslie Hamann if she’d like some musicians to liven up the atmosphere.

She immediately agreed. Garfield administrators were able to secure an exception to the NFHS rule that requires teams to play all five varsity games back-to-back, so there is a break between the second and third games when the

rent with the times. “We’re in the process of figuring out what’s best to keep or get rid of,” Jack Hamann says. “For instance, it was initially very unique for us to have individual profiles of all the players.

But now, 99 percent of high school kids have their own Web pages through Facebook and MySpace, so that puts a lot less emphasis on the profiles.

“My biggest piece of advice,” he continues, “is to decide each year what’s popular and what’s not and then to put your time into the important stuff.”

You can check out the Garfield Volleydogs’ Web site at: www.garfieldvolleyball.com.

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Circle No. 105

Sandy Fussell Assumption High School, Napoleonville, La. All coaches want to see their athletes succeed. But few can say they’ve coached an Olympic medalist.

Sandy Fussell, Head Coach at Assumption High School in Napoleonville, La., joined that small group this summer when former player Kim Willoughby helped the U.S. women’s volleyball team capture a silver medal in Beijing.

Coaching a future Olympian is just one of Fussell’s many accomplishments in her 26 years at Assump-

CM: What was it like to watch one of your former players on the Olympic stage?

Fussell: It was indescribable. Kim has been an amazing story since she started here at Assumption. While she was in high school, she went through a tough time when her mother was in a car accident and suffered two strokes. But she still managed to be an all-state athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She got a volleyball scholarship to the University of Hawai’i, where she was a three-time All-American and national player of the year. She has had success professionally in Italy, and ultimately became a U.S. Olympian.

Q&A

tion. One of 13 members of the Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association (LVCA) Hall of Fame, she has won 20 consecutive district titles and seven state championships. She has frequently served on the Board of Directors of the LVCA and was its President in 1996. Fussell has also worked with Assumption’s softball team for the past 23 years and became athletic director at the school in 1994.

In this interview, Fussell talks about coaching Willoughby, motivating athletes, dealing with hurricanes, and working with her husband.

it just means that you’ve given everything you’ve got. Getting beat is another thing.

When you get beat by someone, that means you didn’t put forth the effort you needed to, and you didn’t prepare the way you needed to.” That always stayed with me.

had teachers, classmates, and teammates help her get through those struggles.

How did you help Kim through the difficult times when her mother was ill?

I tried to provide anything she needed, and so did many other people. Our community has always been willing to lend support to anyone who needs it. From middle school through high school, she

How do you maintain the success your program has seen year after year?

I think the word tradition is pretty powerful. The younger players come in expecting to win. It’s certainly been very rewarding along the way to see each group of players know the expectations

She also took a lot on herself. Sometimes athletics can be an escape, but never once did she fail to accept the responsibility of taking care of her mom as well.

It has all been pretty special to see, to say the least. We’re a tight-knit community, and everyone is very excited about her achievements.

AP PHOTO/ANDY WONG

While coaching Kim in high school, did you ever think she could be an Olympic athlete?

She possessed a tremendous amount of athletic ability and God-given talent, and we did jokingly talk about it. But looking back, I believe sometimes Kim really did think about it while she was in high school. She was a very driven young lady and very conscientious when it came to athletics. It’s been no surprise to me that she has achieved so much because that’s just the type of athlete she’s always been.

What did you tell her before she left for the Olympics?

To make the best of it, which I knew she would do because that’s a big part of who she is. Kim has always gone after what she wants and known how to give it her all. Once, after we had lost a pretty grueling and emotional match, she said to her teammates, “It’s okay to lose because

Coach Fussell says there are simply no words to describe how proud she was watching Assumption High alumna Kim Willoughby compete at the Beijing Olympics this summer.

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11

that are in front of them, and then rise to the occasion.

Now, you can’t win all the time, and the day is coming when we won’t win the district title. I just hope it’s not soon.

What is your goal setting process like?

Each and every year, our goal is to win another state championship. We know in order to do that we need to first prepare in the preseason and compete for the district title. I often say that it’s a bit unfair to our players to have that expectation year in and year out, because it adds pressure. Sometimes it even takes away from the true meaning of high school athletics, which is to compete and build relationships. But in all honesty, if we do fall short of a state title, we feel we weren’t as successful as we wanted to be.

and that’s where I started to understand the game. Then, I went to clinics, talked to my mentors, and learned the game as I went along.

I’ve always found that the best way for any coach to gain respect is to work hard, not to necessarily be a great player yourself. If my players see me dedicating myself to the program, that, more than anything else, brings about their respect.

I think my players know they are very important to me, and that I am going to do whatever is needed to make them successful. When they see my work ethic, it has a tendency to improve their work ethic, and that is what has made our program so successful.

Is it difficult to coach and be athletic director at the same time?

Honestly, the job of athletic director has become a lot more involved since I started. But I believe I have a good system in “I consciously go after my younger playplace, and as with anyers more aggressively than my veteran thing, once you get your players as a motivational tool. Others own system, it makes the job a lot easier. I’ve also perceive it as being negative, but these had tremendous adminisplayers know me from the middle school trative support from our program. I feel the more aggressive I principal, assistants, and coaching staff. am, the deeper my players dig. At the

same time, I am also very quick to praise and commend a job well done.”

What are your strategies for motivating players?

Different times and players require different strategies. I think you need to know who you can go after aggressively and who you have to guide more passively. A coach’s ability to see that helps them deal with different situations.

Another thing that’s helped is that my family is very involved in athletics here. My husband coaches softball and football at Assumption, and my two daughters played volleyball and softball.

So even when I’d work late nights or early mornings, we’d all be here together. It makes the experience even more meaningful and the time commitment a little easier on all of us.

This year, I have a young team, and I consciously go after my younger players more aggressively than my veteran players as a motivational tool. Others perceive it as being negative, but these players know me from the middle school program. I feel the more aggressive I am, the deeper my players dig. At the same time, I am also very quick to praise and commend a job well done, and that’s not always measured in wins and losses. Just because you lost doesn’t mean you didn’t prepare and do everything you could to try to win.

What advice would you have for other coaches looking to get into athletic administration?

I’m sure that all schools are different as far as expectations from their administrations, but I look at the athletic director position as an extension of a coaching position. As an athletic director, you need to have a system to oversee each of the sports. I would like to think that in this position I have done that. I have taken my coaching philosophy and my organizational skills, and expanded them to assist all the other coaches.

Not being a volleyball player yourself, how did you learn the game?

As an undergraduate student, I was a manager and a statistician for the volleyball team at Nicholls State University,

What has it been like dealing with the hurricanes in your area in recent years?

It’s been very trying. Katrina, and then what happened this year, were just devastating to the area. We had to cancel

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big tournaments the year Katrina hit. This past season, we cancelled two tournaments with these back-to-back storms.

When you prepare during the off-season and the preseason, and then you’re forced to take a two-week layoff, it’s almost like you’re starting over again. At the same time, of course, it also gives you a greater appreciation for what you have, and what we’re able to do on a daily basis.

How long have you been coaching softball with your husband?

I was the head coach when we started the program in 1985. My husband took over the head coaching duties four or five years ago and I became an assistant, which helped me balance my athletic director duties. It’s been very rewarding to have the opportunity to coach our two daughters with him.

It helps that our coaching philosophies are very similar. When we do disagree on something in coaching, our daughters are taken aback. We laugh about it afterwards.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing high school volleyball right now?

A lot of people think club programs are taking away from the high school game.

But I don’t know that I agree because I haven’t seen the drop off in volleyball that I’ve seen in softball or basketball. It might be different in the bigger cities, but in our community, we have a lot of two- and three-sport athletes. I think it’s so unfair to ask a child to specialize at a young age when they have the ability to play multiple sports.

In our little community we simply don’t play a lot of club ball. Our financial base is not what you see in the big cities, and we don’t have the resources that those programs have. I believe it’s important for the younger girls in the area to at least have the opportunity to get involved in the game, so we host clinics in the spring. But we don’t have a full-fledged club team.

What are your future goals as a coach and athletic director?

I just take things one year at a time. At the end of last volleyball season, I very strongly considered becoming athletic director full-time. But I realized I’m still driven to coach. I love the competition, the chemistry, and the relationships that you build with players and other coaches.

Exactly when that flame subsides and the drive is not there is something I can’t put a time frame on. I just hope that when it happens, I know it and am able to make my decision without any regrets and without having to look back.

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VOLLEYBALL

Practice to Perfection

COVER STORY

N U F

Players from the University of Florida and University of South Carolina compete during the inaugural Southeastern Conference Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships held in April. It was one of six beach or sand volleyball tournaments for college teams last spring. PHOTO BY ALLEN SIOREK

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UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY WOM-

EN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM FINISHED

THE 2007-08 SEASON BY WINNING its third America East title in four years and capturing the program’s first NCAA Division I Tournament victory. In order to prepare his team to continue that success this year, then-Head Coach Kelly Sheffield put together what he called an “unbelievable” spring schedule, featuring a number of nationally ranked opponents.

But his players immediately focused on another addition to the schedule—an indoor beach volleyball

BY MIK E PHEL PS

tournament in Rochester, N.Y. “All spring, the only thing they kept talking about was the end-of-the-year beach tournament,” says Sheffield. “That’s what they were looking forward to—getting out there and playing in the sand.”

The Rochester beach tournament was one of six held for college teams last spring and is part of a movement to expand college volleyball beyond its traditional boundaries. The move to the beach began in April 2006 when players from eight top programs participated in the Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship at the Collegiate Nationals, a made-for-TV event that featured a num-

ber of non-traditional sports and activities, and was televised by CSTV, now called the CBS College Sports Network.

The participants came back with good reports, and coaches started talking about opening up the experience to more players. In response, the 2007 Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship expanded to add more athletes from each school, and 2008 saw the introduction of several new tournaments.

These included the Sunshine State ColMike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: mp@MomentumMedia.com.

CoachingManagementOnline.com

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COVER STORY

legiate Beach Volleyball Tournament for Division II squads, the Southeastern Conference Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships, the Big West Collegiate Beach Volleyball Tournament, the Division I Florida Invitational Beach Volleyball Tournament, and the Rochester Hot Shots Collegiate Beach Challenge.

With each tournament a rousing success, the NCAA announced this summer that it would consider granting sand volleyball, as the game will be called, “emerging sport” status, which could lead to official competition at the Division I and II levels within three years. The game holds the promise of more scholarships and more publicity for the sport of volleyball.

But how would the new game work, and is it really feasible? Can schools in colder climates accommodate the sport?

And what might it mean for the high

school game? The answers will determine whether sand volleyball gains enough traction to become a full-fledged NCAA sport or gets washed out to sea.

Making It Happen While there’s plenty of excitement over the potential of sand volleyball as a viable college sport, it’s far from a done deal. Even if it receives approval from the NCAA as an emerging sport, only roughly half the sports with that status have gone on to earn full sanctioning.

Rich Feller, Head Coach at the University of California, says sand volleyball could do a lot of good by raising general awareness of the sport. Still, he holds reservations about overcoming the logistical challenges involved.

“My concern is that no one has answered all the questions that go with the reality of starting a new NCAA sport,”

For high school teams, the sand game may not be in the immediate future, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Tom Teeters, Head Coach at Northville (Mich.) High School, is doing what he can at his school to make the idea happen.

“I think that if we get some innovative and creative athletic directors on board, sand volleyball can be a viable varsity-level sport,” says Teeters, a 34-year high school coaching veteran who is in his first year at Northville. “Sand volleyball is not a moneymaking thing, but it’s not moneylosing, either. You don’t need a lot of land. And you don’t have to take care of it like a soccer field or a baseball diamond.

“Everyone is still putting in soccer fields, and they can’t even afford to mow the grass half the time,” he continues. “On the four sand courts I’ve helped create in Michigan, maintenance has consisted of simply adding a little bit of sand every six years.”

To start at Northville, Teeters is working on setting up sand game-size courts. Northville’s gym-

he says. “Issues like staff, scholarships, player count, competition dates, and facilities all have to be considered. Now, that doesn’t mean I won’t be for it once those questions get answered.”

Kathy DeBoer, Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), is helping to figure out the details. She believes the idea has great potential, especially after an Olympic summer in which USA beach volleyball gold medalists Misty MayTreanor and Kerri Walsh frequently were shown on prime-time television.

“There are not a lot of obvious sports to put on the NCAA emerging sport list to add participation opportunities for women,” DeBoer says. “So when you have one that’s a popular Olympic sport, is played at the professional level, and has a growing participation base, it makes a lot of sense.”

nasium, which measures 160 feet by 116 feet, is currently configured as a three-court facility.

Teeters is looking to transform it into a six-court gym, and then design six sandless indoor doubles courts within the traditionally sized courts. A standard sand court is approximately three feet thinner and seven feet shorter than an indoor court.

To pay for the additional net systems, his team is conducting fundraisers.

“It will be a good intermediate step from the indoor game to outdoor doubles,” Teeters says.

“It can create success and help feed into the sand game much more quickly. I will also use it as a training mechanism for our indoor teams.”

Once he is established at Northville, Teeters plans to host league-wide doubles tournaments to give student-athletes additional opportunities to play volleyball. Then, he hopes to put in an actual sand court at the school.

“I really believe it’s going to take off,” Teeters says. “You could even have co-ed doubles teams.

It’s the perfect sport for high schools to teach men and women to work together, while being competitive.”

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In an effort to appeal to a wider audience, the sport is being called sand volleyball, rather than beach volleyball.

While the word “beach” conjures images of Southern California or Florida, sand volleyball isn’t limited to those areas.

“We wanted to make sure people in the Midwest and in the mountains—and every place else in the country—know that this is a sport for the masses,” DeBoer says.

The most likely format for sand volleyball matches would be similar to tennis’ structure. Each school would have five doubles pairs competing against each other to earn points for their team.

Individual matches would be scored like Olympic beach volleyball—best of three games, with rally scoring up to 21 in the first two sets and to 15 in the third, if necessary. The sport would be contested in the spring.

But before that, several steps remain as the sport is sent through the NCAA legislative process. In January, the Division I legislative council and the full membership of Division II will vote. If approved, sand volleyball will be accepted as an emerging sport with competition beginning as soon as 2011. Division III has decided to not look at the sport this year.

If sand volleyball clears the above hurdles, it will need to be offered by at least 40 schools—across all divisions— within 10 years to gain championship status and become an official NCAA sponsored sport. “Then you have to go into a budget cycle and appeal for funding,” DeBoer says. “But historically, once a sport has reached the numbers needed, the NCAA will put it in the cycle to fund its championship.”

Mick Haley, Head Coach at the University of Southern California, favors the addition of the sport as long as it results in additional scholarships. “If a coach was given 16 scholarships [instead of the current limit of 12] to fill out the indoor and sand teams, then we’ve done a great thing for our sport,” he says.

“That may be the real deal right there.

In fact, that might be the only deal. If they add scholarships, I think everybody might go for it.”

Haley wouldn’t advocate for the two teams operating completely independent from one another and doesn’t think administrators would either. “That increases expenses and would just never

fly,” he says. “The way it would fly is to structure it like cross country and track. Athletes run cross country in the fall, track distance races in the spring, and score points for both. That would increase opportunities without increasing costs.”

However, DeBoer believes both the player and coaching pools will eventually differentiate themselves, creating two separate entities between the indoor and sand teams. “This will start with somebody from the indoor staff being designated to coach in the spring,” she says. “That’s one of the things that makes it appealing to universities—you can use some of the expertise you already have and make it a more affordable option.

“But then, over time, people will specialize,” she continues. “The two sports are remarkably different. It’s actually not the same as running cross country and then running the 5,000 meters for the track team.”

Susie Fritz, Head Coach at Kansas State University, says additional scholarships could change the way she evaluates high school prospects. “There would certainly be some new strategic elements to how you approached recruiting,” she says. “I’m certain you would recruit at least a couple athletes to be primarily outdoor players.”

Sam Cibrone, Head Coach at Division II Saint Leo University, which participated in the Sunshine State Collegiate Beach Volleyball Tournament, believes the addition of sand volleyball could open up scholarships for more all-around players.

“Being able to do everything well doesn’t always result in a college scholarship to play indoor volleyball,” he says. “With the beach game, though, those 5-foot-8 outside hitters who just aren’t big enough to play at upper NCAA levels indoors can be competitive beach players.”

Another question is whether schools can add a sand court to their facilities.

DeBoer doesn’t see this as a big hurdle, especially if a team is willing to share the courts with its campus recreation depart-

ment. “Several programs have expressed interest in getting together with their recreation departments and building something in the middle of their campuses,” she says. “Relative to other sports, the cost to add sand volley-

did a the all s e ev lleyb ari l e b d vo hol nd e n o r f san up sc -arou b i C no n e all oot-8 e p o i t ld o mor -f ust 5 u e r s co ps fo Tho who j play shi yers. “ itters gh to s pla side h enou level etiout n’t big NCAA comp are pper an be ers.” at uoors c h play ball ind beac courts outdoors, or to even tive put a sand volleyball court inside the indoor facility, is pretty low. Many schools already have suitable indoor practice facilities for their other teams.”

“I’m certain that if there is a sand season, my administration would do everything it could to support us,” Fritz says.

“We already have two very nice sand courts on our campus, and it’s just a matter of whether or not we could get out there enough in March. But it’s no different than baseball. Even if you have to play outdoors in 40-degree temperatures, you figure out a way to make it work.”

Some skeptics wonder whether coldweather schools would really embrace the concept. Jill Hirschinger, Head Coach at the University of New Hampshire, which participated in the Rochester tournament, believes they would.

“If you go to the beach in New Hampshire, you see lots of volleyball nets,” she says. “If programs are willing to commit to it, it’ll grow. There’s a huge spectator interest in watching sand volleyball.

“We had a great time at the beach tournament last spring,” she continues.

“It gave the team great exposure, and made them better all-around players.”

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Sand Skills As an avid sand volleyball player, Cibrone understands what it takes to be successful in the outdoor game.

That’s why, with his team scheduled to participate in the Sunshine State Collegiate Beach Volleyball Tournament last spring, he set aside practice time to help his athletes make the transition.

The main component Cibrone worked on with his players was ball control. Playing volleyball outdoors introduces a number of elements that are absent in a gymnasium. Players must learn to pass and set in the wind and deal with the glare of the sun in their eyes—not to mention the difficulty of running and jumping in the sand.

“We also worked a lot on our attack,” Cibrone says. “You don’t make a lot of shots indoors. You either tip or you hit.

I taught them how to make good roll shots and how to be more deceptive

when they’re hitting—to look like they’re swinging and at the last second cut the ball. They liked learning those concepts, and I haven’t seen any bad habits this fall as a result of the beach training.”

Feller notes other differences between indoor and outdoor play. “The hand set is almost gone,” he says, “and bumping to set is a different skill. Also, the percentage of time that somebody hits the ball hard on sand is pretty low compared to the indoor game, so defensive movement patterns are a lot different.”

Teaching game strategy is more important since coaches aren’t permitted to interact with their athletes during play. “This requires the players to be more independent and see the game at a higher level,” Cibrone says. “They have to coach each other.”

The additional experience carries over to the indoor game, according to

For the NCAA and individual institutions to agree to sponsor sand volleyball, athletic administrators will need to embrace the idea. Their concerns with the sport focus on money and student-athlete welfare.

“From an administrator’s standpoint, we need to understand the costs,” says Beth Miller, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at the University of North Carolina, who serves on the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics. “We don’t see the sport producing revenue, but we expect requests to increase the coaching staffs and add scholarships in the near future.

“We really have to think about whether we’re willing to fully support it, which will also require funding for travel, facilities, and equipment, before we decide to add it,” she continues. “If we make it a collegiate sport and then look at these things after the fact, we’re going about it the wrong way.”

Another aspect administrators are considering is whether or not adding sand volleyball would truly

Cibrone. “The players really have to understand the game, and their volleyball IQ immediately goes up,” he says.

“Their vision gets better, and they just understand what is happening a little more.”

In terms of choosing your team, most coaches agree that the best sand volleyball players are generally those who possess an exceptional all-around game.

While many indoor players specialize at their respective positions, sand players need to be able to do everything—and do it well.

“You must have a lot of first-step quickness,” Cibrone says. “Indoors, you’re responsible for such a small area, but in the sand it’s just you and one other teammate to cover the entire court.”

“The players who have a high level of control, in terms of shot selection, are probably the ones who will be the best in the sand,” Fritz says. “For the most part,

create new opportunities for female athletes. “If one of the goals is to increase participation, but the majority of sand players are the same as those already playing indoor volleyball during the fall, are we really accomplishing the goal?” Miller says.

“Some administrators might feel like they’re not going to increase participation much, while facing increased costs.”

And would the addition of a full spring season overstress collegiate volleyball players? “That is something else we have to consider,” Miller says.

“But I don’t think it would be a deal-breaker. It’s similar to athletes running cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. I don’t think it would be too much for them.”

Even with so many questions surrounding sand volleyball, Miller sees the potential in the sport and believes it could have a positive effect on an entire athletic program. “From an administrator’s view, it’s an exciting game,” she says. “It’s not only exciting for the participants, but it’s something that fans enjoy watching. It’s a good fit for an athletic department.”

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COVER STORY

those are outside hitters—the players who can block and serve and have wellrounded skill sets.”

When Cibrone was forming pairs to compete this past spring, he looked for three things. First, he tried to place a player with good ball control skills with one who was a talented blocker. “That’s what all the best teams have,” he says.

“That’s Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, right there.”

Next, Cibrone looked to match players who worked well together and motivated each other. Finally, he tried to pair a player who prefers to hit from the left side with one who plays on the right.

“It’s very important to let players stay on their dominant side,” he says.

Playing Host If you’re ready to jump on the sand volleyball bandwagon, one of the best things you can do is organize a tournament yourself. Sheffield says the Rochester Hot Shots tournament was planned completely by coaches from the schools involved—without any help

ing st o d ’re the fir u o y for n of go. e d h g n “W ethin ’re ki you to some, you up as hard tim king it orked first ma we w e the the , But ke sur ce for un one g ma erien as a f ld brin expyers w it wou to pla that ople in and e pe somtch.” that features wa both indoor and

from administrators—with the first discussions happening in November.

“We wanted to show our administrators it could be done, and that it could be a lot of fun,” he says. “I didn’t want them to see barriers, only possibilities.”

In brainstorming ideas for a venue, upstate New York was not originally at the top of the list. At first, the coaches discussed holding the tournament in Virginia Beach or Baltimore.

Soon, the conversation began to turn.

“Our budgets are tight, so being able to pack up your team in the spring and go south is a challenge,” Sheffield says. “And what if we fly somewhere to play and there’s a thunderstorm? Then what would we do?”

The solution was to play the tournament at Hot Shots, a facility in Rochester

outdoor sand courts. “I called them, and they were fired up immediately,” Sheffield says. “When you’re doing something for the first

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COVER STORY

time, you’re kind of making it up as you go. But we worked hard to make sure the first experience for the players was a fun one, and that it would bring some people in to watch.”

Sheffield says Hot Shots saw the potential in the tournament and did its share to help. It organized meals for the teams, created T-shirts, hired a DJ to entertain spectators, and didn’t charge for use of the facility. The final expenses for the participating teams were travel costs and officials.

“We were very lucky to have that facility partner with us,” Sheffield says.

“Obviously, not everybody has that luxury. Still, any school could do this. Any conference could do this. The cost can be what you want it to be.”

Although Sheffield has moved on to become Head Coach at the University of Dayton, he believes the tournament will continue to grow. “The first year, we wanted to make sure that whatever we did, we weren’t getting ourselves in over our heads,” he says. “We just wanted to play some volleyball in the sand, have a good time, and have people come watch. Next, we hope it becomes a little bigger, a little better.

“The thought is that you turn it into an event,” Sheffield continues. “That’s what the AVP Tour does. The place is packed, and it’s exciting. If it’s just a sport, that’s one thing. If it’s an event—a place fans are having fun—people will support it.”

The Dream In addition to his duties as Head Coach at Saint Leo, Cibrone owns a volleyball club for children. While many kids start playing soccer, baseball, and basketball at an early age, Cibrone says most don’t take up volleyball until they’re 11 or 12 years old. He hopes that if sand volleyball is added at the NCAA level, there will be a trickle-down effect into the high schools, and eventually to younger children.

“I go to the beach every weekend, and I see kids tossing a Frisbee or playing catch with a football or baseball, but I never see them passing a volleyball,” he says. “I think the beach is where the game could really start growing. And once kids get the bug, next thing you know they’re playing indoor, playing sand, and playing in the Olympics. It has to start somewhere.” ■

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Circle No. 110

COACHING LIFE

Jaclyn Richards was coached by her father, Jack Richards, at Buena High School, in Ventura, Calif., as were her two older sisters.

THE RIGHT APPROACH Is it a good idea or a bad idea to coach your child’s athletic team? It all depends on how you approach the challenge.

I

BY DR. LARRY LAUER

t is the start of preseason and there are 101 tasks to be completed. One of those early season hurdles, the parents meeting, is usually a no-brainer. You have always felt comfortable walking into a room full of your studentathletes’ parents and discussing your rules and philosophy.

But this year, the thought of the meeting is accompanied by some anxiety. One of the members of the current squad is your daughter, and it’s a situation you’ve never faced before. A friend tells you there is talk that you have already decidLarry Lauer, PhD, is Director of Coaching Education and Development at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, where one of his research interests is parents’ involvement with their children’s athletic teams. He can be reached at: lauerl@msu.edu.

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COACHING LIFE

ed your child will be the starting setter.

Another rumor is that your daughter and her friends are receiving preferential treatment in practice.

Coaching is a tough job. Unlike most professions, you work with young people under public scrutiny. Furthermore, people tend to measure success and failure only by what is on the scoreboard, not the teaching you do in practice.

Now you are going to add to the pressure by coaching your own child?

Sharing a team experience with a son or daughter can be a wonderful, positive opportunity, but it can also be a disaster.

Before you embark on the endeavor,

there are some areas to think through and decisions to be made.

Pros & Cons Veteran high school and collegiate coach Jerry Reeder is a proponent of coaching one’s own child. He has coached his two sons, and encourages other coaches to do the same.

“It is an opportunity to share in their successes and failures, and it strengthens your bond with your child,” Reeder says.

“You can laugh and cry with them and that is what makes a relationship stronger. It is a fantastic opportunity most parents don’t get to have.”

Jack Richards coached all three of his daughters during their high school volleyball careers and says he would do it again in a second. But he knows the experience would not have been as positive if he hadn’t done some up-front strategizing.

“I developed a specific plan,” says Richards, Head Coach at St. Bonaventure High School, in Ventura, Calif., and former Head Coach at Buena High School, also in Ventura, where he coached his daughters. “The first thing I did was find out how each of my daughters felt about me becoming their coach. They were very honest discussions and I explained all the possible ramifications.”

He didn’t sugarcoat anything. “I told them, ‘Everyone’s going to say I show favoritism even when I don’t,’” Richards says. “‘If you make a great play, you were lucky. If you make an error, you should come out of the game. Any award you get, nobody will believe you deserved it. And I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to work twice as hard as everybody else to prove yourself.’ Then I asked them if they still wanted me to be their coach, and they all said yes.”

When issues came up during the season, Richards always made sure to talk to his daughters. “There were instances when I had to remind both myself and the girls that they had made a choice and we had made a deal,” he says.

Another key to Richards’s plan was being up front with the other athletes’ parents. “I always have a parent meeting in the summer before the volleyball season starts and I put it right on the table that my daughter would be playing for the program,” he says. “I assured everyone that I would treat her like any other player. And I said, ‘I want you to know that if you ever have a problem with something you might view as favoritism, I’m as approachable as anybody.’

There are other benefits, too. A child can learn to understand and respect the profession of the parent. And the parent can have new insight into his or her child’s interactions with teammates, authority figures, and opponents. Furthermore, parent-coaches can observe, in the trenches, their child’s reactions to losing, winning, and many other situations that reveal their character. It can also help parents form a less biased view of their child’s abilities.

On the flip side, coaching your son or daughter can put you, your child, and the team in a precarious position. The most obvious concern is the almost auto-

“I found it important to follow through on that claim,” Richards continues. “I have had parents come to me because their daughter wanted to start in a position one of my daughters played, and I always gave the player a chance. I also used my assistant coaches to get a truly objective view of the team and my daughters. I openly sought their advice and asked if I was being fair, or if my daughter should come out after an error.”

Richards had one difficult season when an athlete’s parents told him they planned for their daughter to set at an NCAA Division I school, and wanted her setting every time she was on the court. But Richards’s daughter was also a setter, and he felt both players had proven themselves talented enough to share time at the position.

“The other problem with having this girl set all the time is that she was the number-one hitter in the league. We ran a 6-2 offense and we needed her to hit,” Richards says. “I told the parents, ‘Your daughter will set in Division I—she’s extremely talented—but our team needs her to hit, too.’ The parents issued a complaint to the principal, which was immediately rejected.

I was fair about the situation and I played it right. They shared time and that girl indeed went on to set at a Division I school.”

Richards was also very aware of separating his parenting role from his coaching role. “There are two different ways that my daughters have always started a conversation with me,” he says.

“It’s either, ‘Hey Dad’ or ‘Hey Coach.’ That meant that sometimes I needed to put on my coaching face even at home.”

All three of Richards’s daughters, the last of whom graduated from Buena in 2008, went on to play college-level volleyball and have dabbled in coaching. His middle daughter Lauren currently assists him at St. Bonaventure. “I would have coached a few more daughters if we had them,” Richards says. “It was a great time in all of our lives.”

—Abigail Funk

THREE’S A CHARM CoachingManagementOnline.com

25

COACHING LIFE

matic reaction from others that your child will receive favoritism—a starting position and playing time without having to compete for them.

Reeder felt this was the greatest threat.

“You have to do your best to negate any perceived favoritism,” he says. “If you don’t, it can divide a program.”

Rumors and second-guessing a coach come quickly when the coach’s child is in the starting lineup. It is often fueled by parents who are frustrated their own child is not receiving playing time. Players on the bench may also begin to question why the coach’s son or daughter is playing, and most importantly, question the coach’s fairness.

Several years ago in Indiana, a basketball coach’s son was sitting on the bench after having just broken a county scoring record, when a player on the court passed the ball to the seated teammate. The gesture was meant to show the team’s frustration with the coach, whom many felt was making his son the sole focus of the team’s offense. The student section erupted in laughter and it turned out that

parents were also involved in initiating the prank. Although those involved were disciplined by the school and the athlete went on to play NCAA Division I ball, I’m sure the embarrassment of the player and coach have stayed with them and soured the team experience.

The second concern comes from a reaction to perceived favoritism: being too hard on your child. Parent-coaches can be tougher on their kid because they expect more, putting more pressure on the child.

The frustration of the child is, “Why do you expect more of me than anyone else?”

Coach Bill Stone at Fruitport (Mich.) High School, who coached his daughter last season, struggled with this dilemma. Because of his desire to seem fair, he felt he was sometimes too tough.

Coach Reeder also found himself being hard on his sons. His boys would be the first to sit if the game was out

of hand. He cautions that this can be detrimental to family life, creating tension between parent and child, and even between spouses.

Talk openly to your child about the realities of coaching them, as well as the payoffs and pitfalls.

And then, listen. Some children handle being coached by a parent better than others. It is your job to find out if your child is willing and able.

Circle No. 112

This leads to the third concern, which is the inability of the adolescent to separate the parent’s coaching role from the parenting role. At practice you may give your child negative feedback, thinking

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COACHING LIFE

what’s on the court stays on the court.

In reality, it does not.

“You are not going home with the other athletes on the team and living with them 24/7,” Reeder warns. “The situation can put pressure on the child and strain the parent-child relationship.”

Is It Right For You? So how do you know if the positives will outweigh the negatives for you and your child? To start, take some time to think about why you want to coach a team with your child on it.

If the reason is to make sure your son or daughter reaches their potential and goes on to the next level, you may be heading down the wrong road. If it’s because you want to mend a difficult relationship you have with your child, that’s another misguided reason. However, if you have been coaching the team for a while, your relationship with your child is on solid ground, and you like the idea of sharing the team experience with him or her, you are off to a good start.

The next step is to think about how the

situation will affect your son or daughter.

Talk openly to your child about the realities of coaching them, as well as the payoffs and pitfalls. And then, listen. Some children handle being coached by a parent better than others. It is your job to find out if your child is willing and able.

Sometimes, a parent is eagerly anticipating coaching their child on a varsity team, not realizing that the child is actually dreading it. Teenage years are ones of learning to be independent of your parents, and having a parent involved in your extracurricular activity can cause resentment. On top of that, the child may worry that he or she will be treated differently by friends on the team if mom or dad is coach.

In addition, discuss the situation with your spouse. Talk honestly about whether your child will be able to deal with the prospect of you being tough on them in practice. Consider these questions: ■ Knowing my child, how will he or she respond to me as a coach?

■ Will my child be able to separate my parent and coach roles?

■ How well will I be able to separate my roles as coach and parent?

■ Will it create strain within our family?

In Coach Reeder’s case, he knew his boys were willing to accept the higher expectations and the bench time. Coach Stone had witnessed a situation where a coach’s child was unwilling to separate the coach and parent roles and it turned into a nightmare—so he took a lot of time to think about how his own daughter would react to certain decisions and conflicts.

Finally, assess how the parent-coach role will work for you. Think about what type of coach you are and whether that will create strain between you and your child. For example, are you overbearing as a coach? If you are, you likely will be too hard on your child.

Also, consider how the members of the team, and their parents, would respond to you coaching your own child.

For example, is your child a borderline starter? If he or she is a star player, questions of favoritism are usually moot.

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Circle No. 116

COACHING LIFE

However, if he or she is battling for a starting position or playing time, then you may face criticisms of being unfair.

Will these be surmountable?

Keep in mind that a longtime coach with a history at a school will be given more leeway and respect that he or she is coaching the team, not just their child. If you choose to coach a team just as your son or daughter joins it, parents will assume you place your child’s interests first and you will have to prove otherwise.

Laying The Groundwork For those brave of heart and willing to coach their child in interscholastic sport, you still should not jump into it headlong. Instead, you need to prepare a game plan so that the situation does

call him “Coach” while around the team.

“When we stepped on the practice field, I was Coach Reeder, not Dad,” he says.

“That’s how they would address and treat me.”

Although Coach Stone did not ask his daughter to call him “Coach,” he did make sure to continually separate the dual roles. Sometimes, he would even spell it out for her. For example, in game situations when emotions were a little higher, he would say, “I’m telling you as your coach, not as your dad.”

It’s also important for the coach to be ready to shift into the specific roles. When coaching, take a coaching mindset and treat your child like any other member of the team, always being realistic about their playing abilities. Reeder mentioned that he makes it a point to not single out any player, and he did the same with his boys. He attempted to praise the team effort to avoid perceptions of favoritism.

And when you are a parent, be a parent. Provide unconditional love and support away from the gym. Try not to bring things home that happened in practices and games. Refrain from turning dinner table conversation into coaching critiques.

And talk about things other than sport with your child.

Finally, consider communicating openly about the situation with your team. Reeder felt it was critical to talk to his players about the situation in the first meeting. Let your athletes know your expectations in terms of having respect for you and each other.

When meeting with parents, be clear about how you will determine playing time and starting positions. Also, clarify that assistants have a role in making these decisions and will help to keep it fair. Finally, reinforce the fact that the athletic director will be monitoring the situation to make sure it is handled well.

Reeder says that meeting this head-on was important to staving off potential problems on his teams.

When meeting with parents, be clear about how you will determine playing time and starting positions. Also, clarify that assistants have a role in making these decisions and will help to keep it fair. Finally, reinforce the fact that the athletic director will be monitoring the situation. not negatively affect your relationship with your child, the team, or your child’s performance.

Reeder feels that laying out ground rules is particularly important. First, you have to know how you are going to deal with any team-related disciplinary issues with your child. In Reeder’s case, he had his assistants handle it to help keep the parent-coach roles separate.

The second ground rule Reeder communicated to his sons was that they must treat him like any other coach and not expect preferential treatment. At this time, a coach may even want to talk about why he or she might be a little harder on the child and how that shouldn’t be taken personally, but as an attempt to make the team realize there is no favoritism.

Another area to navigate is how to best separate the parent and coach roles.

For Reeder, it worked well for his sons to 30

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In-Season Assessment Having ground rules in place will set you on the right course for this endeavor, but you will also need to assess the situation throughout the season.

While coaching, it is important that you

become very observant of your behaviors and of your child’s reactions. Is your child feeling pressure? Do problems at practices or games come home? Are your conversations dominated by sport?

Is the team becoming divided or isolating your child? Is your child not talking to you, or always arguing with you?

It’s a great idea to ask a trusted assistant to observe you while coaching to see if you are playing favorites, or are being too tough on your child. Sometimes when you are in the middle of coaching it is hard to be self-aware.

If any problems arise, it is time to have a heart-to-heart with your child. Revisit the discussions you had before you made the decision to coach your child so you can both think through your actions.

Talk about how you both might do a better job of separating the coach and parent roles. If needed, meet with the team to talk about fairness issues.

If rumors surface that you are playing favorites, it is important to address this head on, even though it will be uncomfortable. Talk to trusted parents about what the concerns are and if they are related to any particular coaching decisions. Then, determine how best to squash the rumors. Depending on the specific situation, you may choose to meet privately with those affected or set a team meeting to discuss concerns.

A proactive way to minimize rumors is to have an e-mail newsletter sent to all team members’ parents discussing your philosophy, the team’s training methods, and how the season is progressing. If you create this informational newsletter do it with caution, however.

Be sure you are not divulging too much information or confidential discussions.

Moreover, it should be matter-of-fact in its tone and not a letter defending every move you make.

Coaching your child can be a wonderful experience, but it also can create problems, some of which are not completely within your control. Your child will experience your involvement differently than any other player you have coached. But if you think through the decision, lay the groundwork, and monitor the situation, it can be some of the best times of both of your lives. ■ A version of this article is appearing in other sport-specific editions of Coaching Management.

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OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

Strength

Through Sleep

NAOMI SHEA

I

N THE PAST DECADE, recovery has become one of the hottest buzzwords in the athletic performance world. Athletes today go to great lengths to ensure that their post-workout habits help them recover optimally after practices, weightroom sessions, and competitions—whether that means following a special nutrition program, performing a carefully planned cooldown routine, or using a modality such as hydrotherapy.

BY ART HORNE

The latest research shows that there is one very easy way for an athlete to enhance her workouts and performance: by getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

With so much time and money spent on recovery aids like these, it’s ironic that many athletes overlook the most easily accessible, affordable, and timetested recovery booster of all: sleep. And the value of sleep isn’t limited to recovery. Study after study show that a good eight hours of shut-eye is critical to putting forth a strong practice or gameday performance.

Yet how many athletes on your team truly take advantage of this information?

If you’ve ever looked around your team

bus and seen heads bobbing up and down as players doze off during even short trips, it means they are probably sleep deprived.

By educating your athletes on the topic, you can help them realize that better sleep habits—or “sleep hygiene,” as our team physician Dr. Gian Corrado has called it—can be a secret weapon to Art Horne is Associate Director of Sports Medicine at Northeastern University. He can be reached at: a.horne@neu.edu.

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35

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

improve performance and recovery. The latest research on how sleep affects mental and physical ability suggests that the time athletes spend on the pillow can be just as important as the time they spend in the gym and weightroom.

Sleep 101 Let’s begin with a short primer on exactly how sleep works. Every human brain has a built-in clock called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which regulates our circadian rhythm. The SCN is located in the brain’s hypothalamus, just above where the optic nerves cross—and that’s important, because light exposure is one factor that can greatly affect circadian rhythms and feelings of sleepiness or alertness.

If you could remove all the external elements of daily life that affect sleep patterns, including stress, schedule demands, alarm clocks, and next-door neighbors’

barking dogs, research indicates that most adults would sleep for about eight hours a night (slightly more according to some studies), and high school and college students would sleep for approximately nine hours. This amount of time produces optimal physical and mental health, and in an ideal world, it’s the goal everyone should strive for.

What exactly goes on during those hours? Analysis of brain activity during sleep reveals that it can be broken into five unique stages. Stages one and two comprise what is commonly referred to as light sleep, and stages three and four constitute deep sleep. The fifth stage, rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, is the dreaming stage, and in most cases it occurs only after we have passed through the first four stages. During a typical night of undisturbed sleep, we complete the five stages of sleep roughly every 90 minutes.

Each stage has its own function, and stages three and four—deep sleep—are of particular importance to athletes.

This is when the natural physical and mental processes of restoration are at their peak, and when growth hormone secretion occurs. Growth hormone is essential for building and rebuilding muscle and other body tissue, so when an athlete doesn’t sleep long enough to complete several cycles of deep sleep, they deprive themselves of key physiological benefits.

athletes’ internal clocks. For instance, if you usually practice at 3 p.m. in Boston and you’re traveling to Rome (which is six hours ahead), try holding your first practice at 9 p.m. As your schedule allows, gradually move practices, workouts, and even scheduled games “backward” to ease players into the new time zone and minimize circadian rhythm disruption.

flights that will allow players to get a full night’s sleep their first night in the new time zone.

It’s the opportunity of a lifetime: Your team has been invited to play in a tournament in Hawai’i, or is finally taking that trip to Europe you’ve been dreaming about. After months of planning, anticipation, and excitement, the plane touches down and your athletes can’t wait to pull on their uniforms and compete. But when they meet for their first morning practice, they’re groggy, out of sync, and tiring much more quickly than usual. Jet lag has set in.

■

Adjusting to a new time zone can be a major challenge for teams that travel long-distance, and unless there’s some advanced planning, a dream trip can turn into a performance nightmare. Here are some pointers on making a smooth transition: ■

Whenever possible, adjust practice and workout times to accommodate

■

Athletes may be tempted to take long naps the first few days after arriving if they’re tired out by jet lag, but this should be discouraged. It will only delay adaptation to the new time zone, as the body attempts to stick to the sleep schedule it’s used to back home.

If a player must nap, a short doze of around 10 minutes can have some restorative effects without delaying time zone adaptation.

Departure and arrival times can play a major role in jet lag, so try to schedule

In Debt Anyone who has pulled an all-nighter is familiar with the concept of “sleep debt.” When the body fails to get an adequate amount of shut-eye, everything from mood to cognitive function to motor skills can suffer. But what about athletic performance in particular?

From a clinical perspective, the actual

■

Tell athletes to avoid caffeinated foods and beverages on the plane if the team is arriving at its destination in the evening. Caffeine affects individuals differently, but for many, it can make falling asleep difficult for several hours after consumption.

■

Remember that jet lag is worst when flying eastward, so a trip to Europe will require greater adjustment than a trip to Hawai’i, even if the actual difference in hours is the same. That’s because you “lose” hours when you travel east, winding the clock forward instead of backward. A westward trip may even afford an opportunity for players to resolve minor sleep debts by using the “gained” hours to get a great night’s sleep upon arrival.

TIME TRAVEL 36

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OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

definition of sleep debt is still up for debate. Several researchers have attempted to set parameters for it and quantify its effects, while others have questioned whether the concept is scientifically valid

a decrease in time to exhaustion during activity. In prolonged performance tests, subjects who have gotten less sleep consistently tire more quickly than those who have gotten more.

ecy, since tired athletes expect physical activity to be more strenuous and difficult due to their tiredness.

The mental effects of sleep debt, meanwhile, are much more pronounced.

Research has shown that reaction time, stress level, alertness, irritability, and overall energy level or vigor are all negatively affected by sleep deprivation ... For example, one study found that chronically sleep-deprived people were outperformed on a reaction time test by well-rested people who were above the legal alcohol intoxication limit for driving at the time. at all. For this discussion, we’ll define sleep debt as what happens when “how much a person should sleep” and “how much they actually do sleep” are different enough that physical and mental effects are noticable.

For athletic performance, both the physical and mental dimensions are important. On the physical side, sleepdeprivation studies have shown that the primary negative effect of sleep debt is

Other key physical parameters, such as power output and aerobic and anaerobic performance, are not usually impacted by mild to moderate lack of sleep.

However, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) are almost always affected when a significant sleep debt is present: Athletes feel they are working harder when sleep deprived, even if performance metrics say otherwise. Some study authors have attributed this to a self-fulfilling proph-

Research has shown that reaction time, stress level, alertness, irritability, and overall energy level or vigor are all negatively affected by sleep deprivation.

And for sports like volleyball, in which decisions must be made in the blink of an eye and concentration is at a premium, this is important. For example, one study found that chronically sleepdeprived people were outperformed on a reaction time test by well-rested people

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OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

who were above the legal alcohol intoxication limit for driving at the time.

Sleep debt can also wreak havoc on another key process for athletes: motor learning. It’s well known that practicing a given skill leads to improved proficiency, and that the passage of time after practicing further enhances the gains—this is one of the concepts behind “muscle memory.” But a recent landmark study suggests it’s not the passage of time itself that makes the difference, but rather time spent asleep that causes additional proficiency gains to occur.

In the study, two groups were tested in a specific motor skill, and then retested

deprived athletes got that way because they don’t know exactly what they’re doing wrong.

The first priority to address is time devoted to sleep. The aforementioned goal of nine hours per night for teens and college students will seem unrealistic to many, but the closer they can come to that number, the better they’ll feel and the more they’ll enjoy the health, recovery, and performance benefits of sleep.

Consistency in sleep time is valuable as well. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day takes maximum advantage of the body’s natural circadian

■ Turn off the ringer on your phone(s) before going to bed. Remember that interrupted sleep can deprive you of the deeper stages of the sleep cycle, which have so many crucial benefits.

■ Engage in progressive relaxation activities as you prepare to go to sleep.

Being very physically active late at night, exposure to bright light right before bed (for instance from a computer monitor or television), or eating less than two hours before bedtime can delay “sleep latency,” making it harder to fall asleep and robbing you of total sleep time.

■ Set the room at a cool, comfortable temperature for sleep. Some people

Consistency in sleep time is valuable as well. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day takes maximum advantage of the body’s natural circadian rhythm, while having different bedtimes and wake-up times every day can throw off the internal clock. Once a routine is established, athletes will find they are able to fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly. in the same skill 12 hours later. Members of the first group were initially tested at 10 p.m. and went to sleep shortly afterward. Members of the second group were initially tested at 10 a.m. and did not sleep afterward. When the groups were re-tested, those who had slept showed a statistically significant improvement in performance, while those who had not slept showed no improvement. However, it’s interesting to note that after 24 hours, once members of the second group had gotten a good night’s sleep, their performance at the skill improved significantly as well.

Perhaps most notable of all, several studies have shown that test subjects who suffer cognitive and motor impairment due to sleep debt are often unaware of their decreased ability. This might help explain why athletes don’t take sleep habits as seriously as they should. They don’t realize how much a lack of sleep may be hampering their alertness, mental processing speed, reaction time, and other skills essential to athletic success.

Better Nights Ahead If you could improve athletes’ sleep habits simply by summarizing the research described in this article and then telling them to hit the hay, I could stop here. But in reality, most sleep38

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rhythm, while having different bedtimes and wake-up times every day can throw off the internal clock. Once a routine is established, athletes will find they are able to fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly through the night.

Remember how the suprachiasmatic nucleus is located near the optic nerves?

Even small amounts of light can affect levels of melatonin, the major hormone that regulates sleepiness, and that’s just one example of why creating the right sleeping environment must be a priority as well. This can be difficult for studentathletes, particularly college students living in dorms, so here are some helpful tips to pass along: ■ Eliminate as many light sources as possible when going to bed. This means turning off computer monitors, using dark curtains over dorm windows, and even rolling up a towel and putting it at the base of the door to block light from the hallway. If these steps are not possible, use a sleeping mask to cover your eyes.

■ Try wearing soft foam earplugs to eliminate nighttime noises that might interrupt your sleep. Or, if you’re used to some ambient noise at night, use a fan, humidifier, or other appliance that creates “white noise” to make you more comfortable.

prefer warmer sleep environments than others, so when your team travels, try to find a roommate with a similar temperature preference.

Much To Gain Serious athletes will do whatever they can to get better at their sport. That’s why they come early to practice and stay late, wear themselves out in the weightroom, and spend countless hours on their own, honing their skills. It’s your job to help them realize that devoting more time to sleep isn’t being lazy or slacking off—it’s enlightened self-interest.

Luckily, the research suggests that a moderate sleep debt can be cured with just a few consecutive nights of prolonged sleep. And once athletes develop better sleep habits, the performance advantages should show themselves fairly quickly.

Well-rested athletes may soon find they’re recovering faster after workouts, performing sport skills with greater accuracy and proficiency, enjoying improved cognitive and motor function, and feeling better all day long. ■ A version of this article was previously published in Training & Conditioning, a sister publication to Coaching Management.

More articles from T&C can be found at: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

Volleyball Court Aalco Mfg. 800-537-1259 www.aalcomfg.com Swingline custom-designed ceiling-suspended volleyball systems are available with electric operation or a wall-mounted manual winch.

Internal net height adjustments and convenient folding for overhead storage make this an ideal system for any single- or multi-court facility. A safety catch is standard on all Swingline systems. Custom colors are available, and the system is protected by a 25-year structure warranty. Visit Aalco’s Web site to learn more.

Circle No. 500 The patented Spikeline system from Aalco allows you to adjust the net while it is at full tension. An internal bevel gear drive mechanism ensures exact net height with the turn of a handle, and the safe, simple worm gear winch design achieves proper net tension every time. The winch post weighs 48 pounds, and the end post weighs 40 pounds. The Spikeline system features an outer telescoping design and an anodized aluminum finish.

Go online to see this and other quality Aalco volleyball products.

Circle No. 501 Spalding 800-435-3865 www.spaldingequipment.com Spalding manufactures top-quality volleyball equipment for competitive, recreational, and physical education use.

Spalding’s volleyball product line includes systems, uprights, referee stands, pads, nets, training equipment, and accessories.

Spalding’s experienced sales and customer service professionals provide customer support that is second to none.

Spalding is the official net systems supplier to USA Volleyball and the official equipment supplier to the NFHS. Circle No. 502 Spalding is the official sponsor of the NFHS for volleyball equipment, basketball equipment, and foam-backed carpet for cheerleading. Spalding manufactures a complete line of quality-driven basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading equipment, including basketball backstops, backboards, and goals, volleyball systems, protective padding, foambacked carpet, and accessories.

Circle No. 503

Bison, Inc. 800-247-7668 www.bisoninc.com Store up to four complete courts on a compact cart with the Bison Multi-Court Storage System. Eight posts, four nets, eight post pads, four pairs of antennas, and up to 12 volleyballs can be neatly stored and easily transported from storage room to court. Floorfriendly casters will support even the heaviest steel standards and still allow this cart to move easily. The durable tubular frame has a silvergray powder-coated finish. The cart is designed to protect nets from dirt, poles from damage, padding from tears, and antennas from breakage. Ask Bison to customize your cart with your school or mascot name.

Circle No. 504 Lighter than aluminum and stiff as steel: That’s the CarbonMax composite volleyball system from Bison. With a 32# non-winch end, CarbonMax is lighter than most aluminum systems, deflecting up to 60 percent less than popular aluminum standards and no more than the most rigid steel. The precision machined

26:1 worm gear winch, which has a lifetime warranty, and the two-inch tensioning strap eliminate backlash. An internal net height adjuster allows height adjustment even when the net is tensioned.

Safety padding is included in your choice of 16 colors. Padding lettering is also included. The posts have a lifetime limited warranty.

Circle No. 505 Schelde North America 888-SCHELDE www.scheldesports.com The Portable Pro volleyball system is a smart solution for arenas or facilities where traditional floor sleeves and anchoring systems are impractical or impossible.

Every component (including the referee stand) is contained in the rolling base for quick and easy setup and storage. The integral ballast and friction bar allow super-tight net tensioning and prevent sliding on most playing surfaces. This system is fully padded for optimum safety, and the posts and winch carry a limited lifetime warranty.

Circle No. 506 Schelde’s Telescopic Pro volleyball system sets a world standard for quick setup and elegant design. The spring-assisted, lightweight aluminum telescoping posts feature pin-set net height settings for men’s, women’s, and junior competition. The adjustable base allows the posts to be set to a precise depth in the floor sleeves.

The base also has a floor-protecting rubber foot. Setup and takedown can be performed by one person in five minutes or less. The posts and high-torque winch carry a limited lifetime warranty.

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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY

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Aalco (Spikeline system) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aalco (Swingline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Active Ankle (Volt ankle brace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ballgirl Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Bison (Multi-Court Storage System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

California University of Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cardinal Publishers Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Coastal Sol (indoor volleyball apparel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

College Coaches Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

HighSchoolSports.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OPTP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Perform Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power Systems (Economy Power Jumper) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power Systems (S.A.Q. Training Blocks) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Schedule Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Schelde North America (Portable Pro) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Schelde North America (Telescopic Pro). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spalding (NFHS official sponsor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spalding (volleyball product line) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spike Volleyball (Ichiban volleyballs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spike Volleyball (Matrix Zeus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Attack (Attack II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Attack (Attack Volleyball Machine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Imports (Coaches Box) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Imports (Vertec Jump Trainer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Volleyball Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Worldwide Sport Supply (Net Winder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Worldwide Sport Supply (Wave Lightning 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PRODUCTS DIRECTORY

With AthleticBid’s online Buyer’s Guide, you may: View the complete product lines of companies listed.

View catalog pages or spec sheets from many of the top companies.

Read a profile or description of select companies.

Send an e-mail directly to a supplier or make a request to be contacted by a company representative.

Request catalog and sales literature from companies.

Quickly find the products, services, and deals you are looking for

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Company Q&A

A Volleyball Machine with Functional Design and Versatile Performance

Kurt Brenner grew up in the sports training equipment industry spending summers working in the family pitching machine business. With over 20 years of field sales experience, he now leads all sales teams in all sports at Sports Attack.

Founded in 1995, Sports Attack is focused on being a leader in innovative, quality sports training equipment that will enable athletes at all levels to reach their full potential and allow coaches to develop championship teams. The company does not just design its products—Sports Attack professionals explore, scrutinize, analyze, and engineer the products. After fabrication and prior to shipment, every aspect of every unit is tested thoroughly. This process represents what Sports Attack is all about: distinctive and exclusive design, detailed and quality manufacturing, resulting in innovative, effective training equipment.

Sports Attack has deep roots in the baseball industry. Why did you decide to bring that technology to the sport of volleyball?

The purpose of a machine in any sport is twofold. First is to deliver a difficultto-replicate part of the game, be it a particular pitch in baseball or a challenging serve in volleyball. The second purpose is to provide hundreds of repetitions of this ball delivery. Of course, the more versatile the machine is relative to all aspects of the game, the more valuable it becomes to the coach and each player.

How did you go about researching the needs of volleyball coaches?

We relied heavily on the expertise of successful coaches at all levels, from young club coaches to international teams. We analyzed countless practice sessions to further identify key features necessary to develop players and support the training needs of coaches.

Sports Attack P.O. Box 1529 Verdi, NV 89439 800-717-4251 Fax: 775-345-2883 info@sportsattack.com www.sportsattack.com

Were there any unique challenges you faced in designing the volleyball machine?

With the advent of the jump serve, the game changed—serving became a much more dominant factor. This means that a volleyball machine intending to exactly replicate every aspect of the game has to be able to deliver serves from a high release point with considerable velocity.

So what was your final set of necessary features?

We concluded that while our machine needed to be able to provide a low ball-release point for setting, it was imperative that it also provide a much higher above-the-net release point for exact replication of serves and spikes for digging drills. In addition, to produce the all-important jump serve, the machine had to deliver high velocity, controlled top spin, and floaters that could be repeated. It was evident how important variability was to matching game-like play, so the ability to instantly change ball placement on the court was also crucial.

There are several options when selecting a throwing mechanism.

Why did you choose wheels to propel the ball?

We did so because of the need for spin, velocity, and the elevation of the throwing head. Wheels are compact and are the only way to efficiently impart variable spin and speed. Wheels are commonly used on baseball, softball, football, soccer, and tennis machines.

The serve is just one aspect of the game—to provide a game-like environment, you need to easily change ball placement between throws at all heights. How was this accomplished?

We incorporated a dual-axis throwing head that allows the operator to instantly pivot the head in any direction and place the ball in any desired location on the court, quickly changing between throws. This provides game tempo and realistic repetition of sets, serves, spikes, and entry passes.

Has your design proven to be successful?

Today, 90 percent of the teams reaching the final four in college competition have used our machine as a key training tool throughout the season. With our explosive growth internationally, the Attack machines have truly become the number-one volleyball machine in the world.

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Team Equipment Active Ankle Systems, Inc. 800-800-2896 www.activeankle.com The new Volt ankle brace is engineered to include the latest carbon fiber technology. The polypropylene shell is reinforced with carbon fiber— the same high-performance material used in racing cars and bicycles. It also features a molded bearing-design performance hinge for smoother range of motion, strengthening ribs for a thinner profile, and fabric-backed EVA foam pads for durability and comfor t.

Call today for more information.

Circle No. 508 Ankle protection isn’t black and white anymore. With the All-Sport Chameleon from Active Ankle, athletes can choose from eight bright interchangeable strap covers that come with each brace.

The solid U-shaped frame ensures maximum strength, and the molded, fabric-lined EVA padding provides lightweight comfor t. Get great style and the same great protection that has made Active Ankle an industr y leader.

For more information, visit www.getchameleon.com.

Circle No. 509 Ballgirl Athletic 877-268-7778 www.ballgirlathletic.com Ballgirl Athletic, the first company to focus exclusively

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on women’s team-oriented uniforms and active spor tswear, is a leading choice for the female athlete. The company provides female athletes with uniforms designed by women, for women. Its design team focuses on apparel that fits right and feels good, allowing the female athlete to excel in whichever spor t she plays, whether it’s softball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball, or tennis. With a wide array of color and styles, Ballgirl is your source for team uniforms and active spor tswear.

Circle No. 510 Jump Stretch, Inc. 800-344-3539 www.jumpstretch.com “Don’t Ice that Ankle Sprain!” by Jump Stretch founder Dick Har tzell and Dr. Michael Shimmel will introduce you to the FlexBand Ankle & Strengthening Traction Technique, which is designed to reduce pain and swelling and to speed recover y time from ankle injuries.

You will never deal with a sprain the same way again. This 85-page book includes a companion DVD, and covers horizontal traction, ver tical traction, deferred pain, and more. It also includes testimonials from athletes and healthcare professionals.

Circle No. 511 Power Systems 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Improve speed, agility, and quickness with a unique new set of training blocks. S.A.Q. Training Blocks add versatility to countless drills. Use them as hurdles, agility markers, and steps, or per form high-steps, hops, and shuffles.

Made of durable, high-density foam and covered with vinyl for moisture protection,

these indoor-outdoor blocks include a built-in handle for easy transpor t.

They are sold as a set of three.

Circle No. 512 Improve the jump height and reaction time of your athletes with the Economy Power Jumper from Power Systems.

This portable plyometric training device adds approximately 32 pounds of resistance at 100-percent elongation to challenge your athletes. Its userfriendly design and por tability make it ideal for training athletes in role-specific situations. The Economy Power Jumper is available with a shoulder harness or a waist belt.

Circle No. 513 Worldwide Sport Supply 800-756-3555 www.wwsport.com The Net Winder/Antenna Cart volleyball net storage system eliminates tangles and allows for easy net setup. The unique horizontal orientation of the Net Winder makes net system teardown simple and more efficient. Nets stay in a rolled position until the next use without unraveling or tangling. This sturdy item is capable of storing up to four nets and two pairs of antennas. Call for pricing and a shipping quote.

Circle No. 514 Mizuno’s new Wave Lightning 4, available from Worldwide Spor t Supply, has been a big hit this season and is bound to see some extra

Team Equipment cour t time this club season. Stylish and sleek, this shoe is designed to enhance agility and is built for rapid response.

The patented Mizuno Wave Plate helps disperse shock throughout the sole, saving knee joints from the jolts of repetitive jumping and hard landings.

Circle No. 515 Spike Volleyball 800-SPIKE-IT www.spikevolleyball.com Spike Volleyball is your exclusive source for Ichiban volleyballs. They feature super-soft composite leather

for camp, instructional, recreational, or competitive use. These volleyballs are available in black, navy, royal, red, and pink. As a coaches’ special, you can buy five Ichiban balls and get the sixth free. Ichiban volleyballs are now in stock at Spike Volleyball—your source for ever ything volleyball.

Circle No. 516 Spike Volleyball offers the exclusive Matrix Zeus fitting sleeveless jersey.

This revolutionar y jersey has highper formance Adrenaline fabric for a per fect fit and feel. It’s a great look for ever y school team, club team, and camp. Team pricing for 12 or more units is just $19.99 each. Uniform packages are available for as low as $34.99. More than 20,000 jerseys are now in stock.

Circle No. 517

Volleyball Market 866-999-3004 www.volleyballmarket.com

by the company. Custom boards are also available.

Circle No. 535

Volleyball Market’s exclusive Budget Saver custom teamwear program has been expanded for 2008. The program utilizes durable, heavyweight 100-percent cotton T-shir ts and cozy fleece that’s screenprinted in your team colors. For as little as $9.97 per player, you can outfit your team in two-color Match Ts, which include the team name and consecutive four-inch to six-inch numbers on the front and back. Team or practice T-shir ts run as low as $3.97 for a one-color print on a white body, $4.97 on a gray body, or just $5.97 on a colored body. Team fleece hoodies are available for just $19.47 with a one-color print. Camp T-shir ts based on classic template designs are available for as little as $3.97 with a one-color print, or $5.97 with a two- or three-color print. Coming soon is a line of team bags and backpacks that will cost as little as $18.97 and include your team name.

Circle No. 518

Perform Better 800-556-7464 www.performbetter.com

Austin Plastics & Supply 800-290-1025 www.athleticrecordboards.com Athletic record boards are ef fective tools for motivating your athletes to do their best. Visit Austin Plastics’ Web site to view examples of boards such as of f-season strength and conditioning record boards, player-of-the-week boards, goal boards, and volleyball record boards.

Engraved record nameplates are available, or you can print your own using per forated card stock supplied

Per form Better now of fers Prostretch, an amazingly af fordable, simple, and ef fective way to stretch lower-leg musculature and increase skin and calf flexibility.

Prostretch is par ticularly great for warmups and cooldowns. It’s por table and easy to tote with you.

Printed instructions are included, of fering a variety of stretches.

Circle No. 536 OPTP 800-367-7393 www.optp.com The B.O.I.N.G. from OPTP is an oscillating exercise device that provides a combination of isotonic, isometric, and plyometric resistance for the upper extremities.

Employing rapid and repetitive movements with the B.O.I.N.G. facilitates subconscious motor mechanisms and increases concentric and eccentric force output. The B.O.I.N.G. is easy to use, promotes comfor table rhythmic exercise, and is great for use with postinjur y athletes.

Circle No. 537

Your source for fundraising tips, support, and suppliers:

www.fundraisingforsports.com

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Coaching Aids Airborne Athletics, Inc. 888-887-7453 www.aircatvolleyball.com For coaching or individual training, nothing is better than AirCAT. It enters a consistent ball and lets the player focus on technique. Powered by air, it’s more precise, consistent, adjustable, and powerful than other drill machines, and it is also very safe.

AirCAT can deliver perfect, powerful floater serves— up to 1,200 balls per hour. It’s the digging, spiking, setting, tipping, serving, passing, blocking, fully automatic, battery-operated drill machine. For a free video, call toll-free or go online today.

Circle No. 520 Manage your players and your space with NetworKs from Airborne Athletics.

NetworKs catches and collects volleyballs, so you don’t waste valuable training time.

Use it as a training station for hitting, ser ving, setting, or passing without taking up a court. The volleyball net is 10 feet wide and adjusts from six to nine feet high. A 12-foot backstop net collects the balls and funnels them to a trap door. NetworKs is ideal for in-season or off-season training at school or in a driveway. It sets up and collapses in seconds.

Visit www.networksvolleyball.com or call today to request a free video.

Circle No. 521 Cardinal Publishers Group 800-296-0481 www.cardinalpub.com The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Sports series is one of the most comprehensive, up-to-date sport-specific training series in the world today. Each book contains descriptions and photographs of nearly 100

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weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises. Each book also contains year-round sport-specific weight training programs and comes with links to free recordkeeping charts.

The clean design and well-illustrated instructions make each book a valuable tool for those looking to get themselves into top athletic condition.

Circle No. 522 HighSchoolSports.net 800-258-8550 www.highschoolsports.net Simplify your life with HighSchoolSports. net. Anytime you have a cancellation, postponed game or practice, or change of facilities, you can notify parents instantly with HighSchoolSports.net. Parents and fans can be notified of any event change via text message, e-mail, or both. An easyto-use Parents Guide is available at www.

ScheduleStar.com to easily communicate this feature to parents. Get started today at www.HighSchoolSports.net by clicking on Coaches.

Circle No. 523 Sports Attack 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com If the jump ser ve is the challenge in your game, the Attack volleyball machine is the answer. It offers extreme ball control at internationallevel speeds.

National teams, college teams, and club teams can all benefit from the Attack’s power ful gamesimulating repetition of drills from floaters to jump ser ve receiving, digging, spiking, passing, and setting, all delivered from a realistic over-the-net (men’s) release point.

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The Attack II volleyball machine from Sports Attack has a unique design that provides complete ball control, unlimited spins, and professional-level speeds.

Drills from floaters to jump serve receiving, digging, spiking, passing, and setting are all delivered from a realistic over-the-net (women’s) release point at non-stop game tempo to make every minute of every practice effective. Depend on the topselling volleyball machine in the world: the Attack II. Circle No. 525 Sports Imports 800-556-3198 www.sportsimports.com Lower-body explosive power and vertical leap are vital to peak performance in many sports. Sports Imports is the exclusive source for the Vertec Jump Trainer, used by virtually all professional and college sports teams.

The Vertec measures standing reach or vertical leap reach from six to 12 feet in half-inch increments, providing immediate, accurate feedback for measurement and training. It’s easy to set up and reset, and also available in a swing-away wall-mounted version.

Circle No. 526 The Coaches Box from Sports Imports is a lightweight but sturdy coaching platform that puts you or your athletes at volleyball net height to isolate specific skills and game experiences.

You can deliver the ball from the top of the net to simulate game-like blocks and kills, or focus on hitting or blocking skills without worrying about jumping. The Coaches Box has a large platform, nonskid top, and rubber feet, and it weighs only 28 pounds. It folds to a closed position of three inches for easy storage.

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Coaching Aids Sports Tutor 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com

Dimensional Software 877-223-8225 www.ace4vb.com

Both the Gold and Silver models of the Volleyball Tutor can vary ball trajectory and speed to produce any desired set or pass while 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 5-1/2 feet high, and it features a separate dial to control the amount of topspin and underspin. Volleyball Tutor models start under $1,000.

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The TapRecorder version 2.04 for Palm and Pocket PCs adds functionality and Pocket PC compatibility to this revolutionary handheld software tool from Dimensional Software. Combined with PracticeStats™ templates for volleyball, the TapRecorder is an excellent tool for recording and summarizing information right on the court. Customized TapRecorder applications quickly and easily record the data you need. This flexibility allows you to track counts and ratings. It also lets you monitor performance on practice drills and selected stats during scrimmages.

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Volleyball Ace version 7 for Palm and Pocket PC handhelds adds several new features to this popular volleyball stats program from Dimensional Software.

It includes box scores, ser ve and pass

ratings, and hit charts. New features include points per rotation centering wheel, sideout percentage, ser vice points, create/convert reports, transition/ser ve receive comparisons, comparisons by type of opponent action, and termination reports. Upload data to a Windows PC or Macintosh for printing and further analysis.

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Calling Cards Here is what these companies are most known for:

Superior technology.

Superior training. www.aircatvolleyball.com

Winning taste... Championship results. www.cytosport.com

A leader in innovative, quality sports training equipment. www.sportsattack.com

Blazer is athletic equipment from start to finish since 1974. www.blazerathletic.com

Daktronics is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of scoreboards and displays. www.daktronics.com

Antimicrobial, antiseptic skin cleanser--part of an effective defense against MRSA. www.hibigeebies.com

Supplier of top-quality volleyball systems for more than 30 years. www.sportsimports.com

Go green in your locker room with Lyon antimicrobial lockers. www.lyonworkspace.com

Official volleyball and basketball equipment supplier to the NFHS. www.spaldingequipment.com CoachingManagementOnline.com

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Company Q&A

Net Systems That Maintain a Competitive Edge Brad Underwood is the President of Sports Imports, the exclusive distributor of Senoh volleyball net systems. “I am proud of our more than 30-year history of service to the volleyball industry,” Underwood says. “Our customers have come to rely on us as a resource, not only for equipment and court design, but also for training and industry information.”

What is your company’s background?

Since 1976, Sports Imports has helped coaches understand the benefits that a quality net system can provide to their players and programs. We’ve also offered ways to demonstrate that value to athletic directors. We are a great resource because we know the sport— we play and coach volleyball ourselves.

We’ve seen first-hand how the legacy of a sub-standard net system can haunt a program for years, when purchasing managers and contractors make decisions based on limited knowledge or short-term goals.

Why is having a quality net system so important?

Nothing is more embarrassing than not achieving proper net height for competitive play. Referees continually tell us about game delays and setup problems caused by a system that cannot achieve or maintain competition net height. And that’s not to mention the headaches and frustration of setting up a sub-par net system for dayto-day practice.

What makes the Senoh design different?

Senoh is the acknowledged world leader because our net system design is the most durable and reliable on the market. It’s simple: Our uprights achieve accurate net height every time and never lose the ability to maintain it. And coaches are thrilled with the easy setup and storage. Also, our steel uprights are nearly indestructible— just ask our customers who are reconditioning their uprights purchased in 1978.

Sports Imports P.O. Box 21040 Columbus, OH 43221 800-556-3198 Fax: 614-771-0750 info@sportsimports.com www.sportsimports.com

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Who uses Senoh net systems?

Our systems are installed at more than 17,000 gyms and arenas across the country, including 90 percent of all NCAA Division I college programs.

Our equipment is the most respected by coaches, and Senoh is the only net

system ever to be endorsed by both the FIVB and the American Volleyball Coaches Association. That’s why the NCAA selects Senoh for its national championships year after year, and why every Olympic volleyball competition has been played on our systems, including both indoor and beach volleyball.

Our system, unlike others, quickly adapts to all other floor sleeves without destruction of your floors or any modification of our superior design.

Do good uprights mean good value?

Yes, you definitely get what you pay for. We hear it every day: Lesser-quality products wear out and diminish the quality of play. Too many times, we see coaches upset about a purchase by a contractor or purchasing manager who made a decision based only on price.

Senoh’s durable system will provide you with decades of high-quality play— and we guarantee it with an unmatched warranty. You cannot buy a higherquality, more durable net system.

We love to see 15-, 20-, and 25-yearold uprights sent to our warehouse for cosmetic reconditioning. We quickly put these uprights into “like new” condition and ship them back. After all our years in business, we do not yet know the true life span of a Senoh steel upright.

To me, that is value.

Overall, our advice to coaches, no matter what system they decide on, is this: Spend the time to be directly involved in the buying process. Do the research. Make sure you understand all aspects of the system you are buying and its long-term value. We promise: Quality means a competitive edge for your program.

More Products California University of Pennsylvania 866-595-6348 www.cup.edu/go California University of Pennsylvania has helped build the character and careers of its students for more than 150 years.

Cal U’s dedication to providing highquality, in-demand programs to its students continues through the University’s Global Online 100-percent online programs of study. Through an asynchronous format, Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework anytime, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information.

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the company’s significant growth. Justin May is Smack’s newest Regional Sales Associate—he will assist customers in the upper Midwest, as well as parts of southern California and Florida. Ryan Wills has also become a Regional Sales Associate, in charge of the Midwest to the mid-east coast.

Russell Randall was hired to oversee production, fulfillment, and quality control. All three new hires have extensive volleyball experience. Call Coastal Sol today to experience the topnotch customer service available from dedicated employees like these.

Circle No. 532 Schedule Star 800-258-8550 www.schedulestar.com

Coastal Sol Enterprises, Inc. 866-762-2588 www.smacksportswear.com

Schedule Star is a leading athletic scheduling solution for athletic directors,

Smack Sportswear, a leader in customdesigned indoor volleyball apparel and So Cal inspired beach apparel, recently hired three new employees to keep up with

leagues, and league assignors. It is fast, easy to use, and instantly saves you

time. Schedule Star delivers information automatically to the public, cutting down on phone calls. It interfaces with the Arbiter officials assignment program and is the only “Schedule once, use everywhere” solution. Schedule Star utilizes patented technology and is available for all computers. Go online today for a free 60-day trial.

Circle No. 533 College Coaches Network 866-426-3883 www.collegecoaches.net College Coaches Network was created to make recruiting more efficient and cost-effective. This unique Web site, developed with input from hundreds of college, high school, and AAU coaches, brings athletes and coaches together.

Detailed spor t-specific athlete profiles, online game and highlight videos, and athletic and academic stats are freely accessible to college coaches. Log on today for details.

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Web News Whatever Your Sport, Sports Attack Delivers Sports Attack has quickly become a leader in innovative sports training equipment. Volleyball: More than 90 percent of the teams reaching the final four in college competition have used a Sports Attack machine as a key training tool throughout the season—the Attack or the Attack II. Baseball: Because of the features of the Hack Attack, Major League coaches are now using a pitching machine not only all season long in practices, but also prior to games during warmups.

Softball: Sports Attack’s three-wheel machine delivers every softball breaking pitch, from the riser to right- and left-handed drops. Visit the company’s Web site to learn more about all of its innovative sports training equipment.

www.sportsattack.com Shouldn’t Your Athletes Get the Same Nutrition Boost as the Pros?

The CytoSport Web site offers visitors a look at product offerings, information, usage suggestions, and more. Featured athletes include Rookie of the Year stars: football’s Adrian Peterson, baseball’s Ryan Braun, and basketball’s Brandon Roy. You can also read about Chrissie Wellington, the current

women’s Ironman Triathlon champion. There are testimonials from athletes who have found success with CytoSport products, and in-depth Cyto-Science information explaining why the company’s products can work for your athletes. Visit the site today to see all these features for yourself.

www.cytosport.com Sports Imports Puts Its Nets on the Net Sports Imports’ interactive Web site offers complete product and service information, customer testimonials, and a video on setting up your net system. 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 Senoh Volleyball Net Systems video can help you set your system up in five minutes or less. The online store enables you to view pricing information and place orders. The site also includes answers to many frequently asked questions, along with links to the industry’s most useful Web sites.

www.sportsimports.com

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OVER THE NET

CONTINUED ON… CoachesNetwork.com There’s no offseason in coaching, so Coaching Management keeps the information flowing all year long on our Web site: www.CoachesNetwork.com. Here’s what you will find when you visit.

Coaching Videos: Libero Learning: Getting the most from your libero means making sure she is always in the right place.

Viking Strength Trying to build your players’ upper-body strength? Viking pushups can be adapted to fit athletes of varying ability levels.

More Articles: Weekly and archived articles designed to help you in your job.

Coaching Life

Injury Prevention Student-Athlete Welfare Strength & Conditioning

Setting clear roles is one of the keys to dealing with parents.

Just because the game or practice hasn’t started, doesn’t mean your players are immune from injury.

When athletes want to play two sports in one season.

V isit daily for link s to stories of s pecial int erest to coa ch es from ne w spapers a cross th e coun try.

“No pain, no gain” can easily be carried too far.

www.CoachesNetwork.com 48

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Quality & Innovation in Net Systems

X Patented system allows you to adjust

the net while at full tension Internal bevel gear drive mechanism allows exact net height with the turn of the handle Safe and simple worm gear winch design achieves proper net tension 10-year limited warranty Winch post 48 lbs., end post 40 lbs.

Outer telescoping design Aluminum anodized finish

X

X X X X X

Relieves Tension Headaches!

Patent # 6,800,04381

X Custom designed ceiling suspended

volleyball systems Available with either electric operation or wall-mounted manual winch Internal net height adjustments Single or multiple court design Electric operation available in key switch, radio control or the TouchMate

X X X X

SWINGLINE CEILING SUSPENDED VOLLEYBALL

A family tradition since 1946 1650 Avenue H St. Louis, MO 63125 • 800.537.1259 • fax: 314.544.2386

www.aalcomfg.com • sales@aalcomfg.com Circle No. 119

®

AirCAT , the digging, spiking, setting, tipping, serving, passing, blocking, fully-automatic drill machine!

Powered by Air! (no spinning wheels) • Air is more precise, more consistent, more

Do The Math...

adjustable, more powerful • Air is safe • Air means no ball wear

• Air means no ball wear.

• No ball wear means the AirCAT costs less!

AirCAT will help you win • Trains players in every facet of the game • Free coaches to coach • More reps in limited training time • Allows players to train on their own “I’ve been using the AirCAT in my gym for over 6 years. During our season the AirCAT station is always set-up for individual spiking work. It sets a consistent ball, taking the uncertainty of set location out of the equation and allowing the hitter to focus on technique.

I find it especially useful during our off season training when the NCAA allows no more than four players to train at one time.

Using the AirCAT to enter balls into a drill, whether serving, spiking or to set an attacker, is like having an extra player in the gym.””

- Dr. Mike Hebert, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, University of Minnesota.

–2006 NCAA Div 1 Elite 8 –2004 NCAA Div 1 Champion Finalist –2003 NCAA Div 1 Final Four –2002 NCAA Div 1 Sweet 16

“AirCAT will train your players in every facet of the game!”

Karch Kiraly For a FREE video, please call toll-free 1-888-887-7453 or visit: aircatvolleyball.com Circle No. 120

Airborne Athletics, Inc. Superior technology. Superior training.

116 West Main St. • Belle Plaine, MN 56011