Coaching Management 17.11 by Momentummedia

Coaching Management VOL. XVII NO. 11

VOLLEYBALL ■

Hosting a Tournament

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Update on Sand Volleyball

POSTSEASON

NET WORK

Scoring with social media Special New Section: AVCA Convention Preview

EDITION

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$7.00

2009

AVCA Booth No. 207

Circle No. 100

CONTENTS

Coaching Management Volleyball Edition Postseason 2009 Vol. XVII, No. 11

LOCKER ROOM

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 How the economic crisis is affecting volleyball … Texas high school coach wins award for rallying her team after Hurricane Ike … An update on sand volleyball legislation … NMSU’s Mike Jordan hams it up for the cameras … Latest hazing study reveals alarming statistics—and offers advice on prevention.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Lori Schwieterman discusses rebounding from a losing season, the college recruiting process, and her upcoming retirement.

On the cover Western Michigan’s Allyson Doyle drives a ball over the net in a game earlier this season. Off the court, WMU Head Coach Colleen Murphy works the social networking scene to promote her program. Story begins on page 16.

COVER STORY

Net Work

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Developing a great volleyball program takes a lot of work. And these days, that work includes joining the social media scene—to connect with fans, parents, alumnae, and recruits.

LEADERSHIP

Tourney Time

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Hosting a tournament can garner attention for your program and create great memories. Here’s how to get started.

AVCA CONVENTION PREVIEW

News about seminars and events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Advance information on exhibitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Advertisers Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 VOLLEYBALL COURT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 New Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

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 Business Manager Pennie Small Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter Circulation Director Dave Dubin Circulation Manager John Callaghan

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.

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Team Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Coaching Aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 on the web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Art Director Pamela Crawford Production Director Maria Bise Assistant Production Director Jim Harper Prepress Manager Neal Betts Production Assistant Natalie Couch Ad Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Dealing with the Downturn The current economic crisis is affecting millions of people across the country in all walks of life, and high school and college volleyball coaches are no exception. While some teams have been hit harder than others, virtually all programs are feeling the heat, whether it’s meant reduced travel, no new equipment purchases, or even the elimination of an entire program. Such was the case at Wagner College and the University of Maine, both of which dropped women’s volleyball this summer. Quinnipiac University also announced cutting its program, but a Title IX lawsuit brought by Head Coach Robin Sparks and players forced administrators to at least temporarily reverse that decision. At the national level, the NCAA Division II Presidents Council has approved several cost-containment proposals as part of its “Life in the Balance” initiative. The legislation is aimed at both reducing athletes’ time commitments and lowering costs, and affects all sports. One proposal would reduce the maximum number of contest dates in volleyball from 28 to 26. A second proposal decreases the length of the volleyball season by having players report to their first practices no more than 17 days before the first contest, or five days before the start of classes, whichever is earlier. Those dates are about a week later than current rules allow. The legislation will be voted on at the NCAA Convention in January. Division II has also been discussing possible changes to the format of regional championships competitions to reduce travel costs in several sports. Instead of each region having one institution host sev-

Coaching Management

en other schools, the Championships Committee suggested using more host sites, which would result in fewer teams needing to travel. In volleyball, regional format advisory groups decided to stick with the status quo of eight teams playing at one site. However, if the scenario arises where all seven teams would have to fly to the host site, the D-II Women’s Volleyball Committee would be permitted to designate two four-team brackets at the sites of the top two seeds. In Division I, the Championships/Sports Management Cabinet is reviewing its playing and practice season policies as well as championship regulations in an attempt to reduce costs. The Cabinet will take a close look at foreign tours, adjustments in preseason schedules, and its continued emphasis on determining cost-effective championship sites and brackets. Recommendations are expected at the group’s next meeting in February. Individual conferences are also working on ways to trim costs. The Division II Pacific West Conference will adopt a “pod” scheduling format beginning in 2010-11, which will result in teams playing unbalanced schedules. Schools will play more games against other schools in their pod or region, rather than the traditional home-and-home format against everyone in the league. The nine-team league will use three pods. One includes its four Hawai’i schools, another groups its three San Francisco area universities, and the smallest pod consists of the two Southwest schools. The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, which includes schools in nine states from Georgia to Colorado, is requiring its teams to schedule 10 percent fewer games

In the Pacific West Conference, volleyball will use “pod” scheduling next year, which means teams will play unbalanced schedules, in order to reduce travel costs. Above, outside hitter Kylee Nawahine spikes one for Brigham Young University Hawai’i, one of the nine schools in the PacWest. than the maximum permitted in Division III next year. Other cost-saving measures include more clearly defined travel squad sizes, a conference-wide lodging program, increased multi-team travel, and more Friday-Saturday competitions. Scheduling more games on Fridays and Saturdays is designed to give teams the opportunity to take advantage of Sunday morning air travel, which is typically less expensive. In addition, visiting

teams now have the ability to use host schools’ campus dining halls, when feasible. Conference USA, with 12 Division I schools stretching from Texas to North Carolina, is looking to save dollars through reducing postseason play. This season, the league’s postseason tournament included only eight teams instead of all 12. The tournament may be eliminated altogether for the 2010 season.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD On the high school front, state associations in New York and Delaware shortened playing seasons across the board. Patti Perone, Head Coach at Horseheads (N.Y.) High School, was forced to alter her squad’s schedule after the maximum number of matches was reduced from 24 to 20. Horseheads was committed to 12 league contests, and Perone had to decide between playing tournaments or scheduling non-league games for the remaining dates. “When this was announced, some coaches were upset because it changed where they could go to challenge their teams to get better from one week to the next,” Perone says. “I opted to not schedule any non-league contests so we could keep our tournaments. This allowed us to travel out of the area, play different teams, and challenge our players.” Horseheads’s tournament schedule includes its own twoday event. Each day of the tournament counts as one contest against the team’s limit, but participating squads can play 15 individual games each day. “We play more volleyball at one day of a tournament than we can in a single non-league match,” Perone says. “The programs that struggled most with these cuts were the ones locked into an 18-match conference schedule. It really limited what they were able to do.”

Eye of the Storm In the early morning of Sept. 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike reached the Texas coast, making landfall near Galveston. Twenty-one miles away at Santa Fe High School, where Anna Marie Milligan has coached volleyball for 33 years, the storm knocked out the electricity and destroyed the team’s competition gym. Two days later, with classes cancelled indefinitely,

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Milligan reunited with her team. “We met in the junior high school parking lot, where I told them I wanted to do something for the community,” says Milligan. “I talked about ways we could help, such as by cleaning up people’s yards, clearing fallen trees, and doing everything we could to get things back to normal.”

student aides, and family members of the players and coaching staff. “We had a lot of people jumping in because Santa Fe is like one big family,” says Milligan, who also teaches U.S. history. “The kids were gung-ho about doing the work, and their parents came to help, too. We cleaned up two to three yards a day, and on days when

vice together, players returned to the court with deeper relationships and stronger team chemistry. “We grew a lot closer by helping other people,” says senior middle blocker Taelor Higgins. “There was one day when we cleaned a yard that was the worst we had seen—just piles of leaves and branches. It was hot and there were mosquitoes

The team responded in a huge way, becoming community leaders and heroes in the cleanup effort. Earlier this year, Milligan was recognized for her efforts with the University Interscholastic League’s Sponsor Excellence Award, which is given to 15 individuals each year. The award was created to “identify and recognize outstanding sponsors who assist students in developing and refining their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible.” “I’m very honored to receive the award, but it’s really the kids who earned it,” says Milligan. “As I told our principal, who nominated me, it was our turn to give back. The kids are young, willing, and able. Plus, they didn’t need to be sitting around since school was closed.” For the two weeks after Ike hit, the team met at 6 a.m. every day for a two-hour practice on the high school gym’s side courts. After that, players staffed distribution centers for government-donated food, delivered truckloads of ice and water to people in the community, removed debris from yards, and set up temporary classrooms for an elementary school that had lost its roof in the storm. Starting with the team and coaching staff—Amy Eckhoff, Randie Martindale, and Lindsey Turner—Milligan’s crew eventually grew to over 50 people. That included the soccer and softball teams, athletic training

Sante Fe (Texas) High School Head Coach Anna Marie Milligan (center) is presented with the University Interscholastic League’s Sponsor Excellence Award. Last year, Milligan rallied her team members to take part in the cleanup efforts after Hurricane Ike. nobody called for help, we worked at the points of distribution loading ice, bottled water, and ready-to-eat meals into people’s cars.

everywhere. We really came together when we had to do that.”

“And even though it was really hot and the mosquitoes were unbelievable, there weren’t any complaints,” she continues. “That’s what it’s like here— when one person is down, everyone rallies to their side.”

The team’s efforts did not go unnoticed. When they played at home, there were more community members in the stands than in previous years. When they traveled to away games, people from other towns commended them on their good work.

When classes restarted on Sept. 29, Milligan and the Lady Indians resumed their season with a new sense of purpose, winning the district championship for the first time in 18 years. After two weeks of performing community ser-

“By helping in the cleanup, the players saw that giving is better than receiving,” says Milligan. “They took pride in representing our program, gained self-respect, and learned the value of helping others who are less fortunate.”

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD At the end of the season, the team adopted a family for the holidays, bringing presents for nine children, and in the future, Milligan has committed to making community service an integral part of Santa Fe’s routine. “I learned the importance of getting kids involved in their community,” she says. “As their coach, you have the ability to motivate them to do things they might not do on their own. Helping out after Hurricane Ike gave our players a common cause that made them stronger both off the court and on.”

Stuck in the Sand While six months ago sand volleyball appeared on its way to becoming one of the hottest new sports for female athletes, the down economy is currently keeping most nets grounded. NCAA Division I is reconsidering starting the sport and Division II is still waiting for a school to officially sponsor a squad. The Division I Legislative Council initially approved sand volleyball as an emerging sport in April. But administrators put in enough override requests to force a vote by the full Division I membership, which will occur at the NCAA Convention in January. Besides a lack of money to start teams, detractors say that starting sand volleyball could wreak havoc on competitive equity in the indoor game. They are concerned that those schools adding sand volleyball teams will have a recruiting advantage with the best indoor players, many of whom are already expressing interest in playing both sports. In addition, administrators question whether the sport will truly increase the number of competitive opportunities for women. If a school’s sand volleyball athletes are the same as those on its indoor

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University of Tampa players celebrate their first-place finish at the 2008 Sunshine State Collegiate Beach Volleyball Tournament, which they also competed in this past spring, placing second. In January, NCAA member schools will vote or provide comment on a number of issues that will determine the future of sand volleyball. squad, no extra opportunities are actually created. The rules for financial aid proposed in both Division I and II attempt to address this issue by stipulating that any player on a sand scholarship who either plays or practices with the indoor team counts against the indoor scholarship limits. This ensures that new scholarship money designated for sand volleyball will go only to new participants. A similar model was used years ago when indoor volleyball became a scholarship sport and administrators were worried that coaches would use the scholarships to beef up their basketball teams. Division I has proposed six additional equivalency scholarships for sand volleyball at schools where there is already an indoor team, and eight where there is no indoor team. Division II has proposed five additional sand volleyball scholarships at schools

with indoor teams, and eight at schools without an indoor squad. The goal is that, eventually, each sport will recruit different sets of athletes and only a small number will play both sports—as has happened with basketball and volleyball. Both Divisions I and II will be voting on regulatory legislation at the Convention in January. However, if Division I member schools vote to override adding sand volleyball to the emerging sports list, their legislative votes would become moot. Division II’s proposal calls for sand volleyball’s playing season to be similar to other Division II spring sports, including a first permissible practice date of Jan. 10 (or the first

day of the institution’s spring semester classes) and a first permissible contest date of Feb. 1. A minimum roster of 10 players would be required, and a minimum of eight and maximum of 16 contest dates would be allowed. The start date is slated for the 2010-11 school year. Sand volleyball’s playing rules in both divisions will likely call for schools to field five teams per dual contest, similar to intercollegiate tennis. Individual two-on-two matches would be scored like Olympic beach volleyball: best of three sets, rally scoring to 21 in the first two and to 15 in the third, if necessary. The team that wins at least three matches would win the dual competition.

For more information on sand volleyball NCAA rules proposals, search “sand volleyball” at: www.ncaa.org, or the NCAA’s Double-A Zone blog at: www.doubleazone.com. The AVCA is accepting coaches’ suggestions, concerns, and feedback about sand volleyball at: www.avca.org.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD While discussion on rules continues, one Division I school has announced the formation of a team. The University of Southern California will add sand volleyball to its athletics offerings in 2010-11, if it is approved as an emerging sport in Division I. “We believe this is a sport that will generate a lot of interest among our general student body,” Head Coach Mick Haley said in a press release. “Even with the current recession that the nation is experiencing, this is a sport that schools can add at a relatively low cost to their departments. With the ability to market this as a fan-friendly sport similar to its professional counterpart, sand volleyball should be a sport that creates a lot of excitement on college campuses around the nation.” The USC squad took home the 2009 Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship this past April, winning both the Flight A and B divisions. In addition, over two dozen former USC players have gone on to compete in professional beach volleyball. In Division II, however, no school has yet announced it will definitely field a team. “I don’t know a Division II program in the country that has the funding to start an outdoor program,” says Chris Catanach, Head Coach at the University of Tampa. “The reality is that with the current cost cutting and possible reduction of the indoor playing season in Division II [see “Dealing with the Downturn,” starting on page 3], adding a squad may not be a possibility. All of our administrators have to look at the big picture.”

Coaching Management

“It’s a tremendous game,” he says. “My players have had an awesome time at the Sunshine State tournament the past two years. They loved it even when we had 40-mile per hour wind gusts this past year. “It’s also a great opportunity for my players to develop,” Catanach continues. “They get so many more touches in the sand game, so they have to learn strategy, angles, and how to compete with just one partner.”

appear in the spot with the trophy … as his best friend.

senior Erin Birmingham says for the camera.

Set to the tune of Harry Nilsson’s song, “Best Friend,”— also known as the theme song for the 1970’s TV show “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father”— the commercial shows Jordan and the WAC Championship trophy enjoying various activities together. Jordan brings the glass pyramid to the movie theater, setting it in the seat

The department had produced television spots for the volleyball team before, but this was the first time it took a lighthearted, humorous approach. “The response has been fantastic,” Jordan says. “I’ve heard more about this commercial than any other one we’ve done. I think the community liked that it was a little differ-

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is another proponent of the sport. It argues that, given time, sand volleyball will become its own distinct sport and create great opportunities for female athletes. In addition, the AVCA says half of Division I campuses already have sand volleyball courts for recreational play, and if they don’t, the estimated cost to construct a court with lights is less than $100,000.

As Seen on TV When New Mexico State University claimed its first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season title last year, it received the usual championship trophy, which everyone assumed would forever sit proudly in the athletics awards case. The school’s marketing department, however, had other plans. In developing ideas for a television commercial to promote the 2009 volleyball squad, Chris Grosse, then Assistant Coordinator for Marketing and Promotions, knew he wanted to feature the conference crown. He also wanted to showcase Head Coach Mike Jordan’s personality. So he asked Jordan if he would

Along with leading his team to its first WAC regular season title last year, New Mexico State University Head Coach Mike Jordan has helped the Aggies finish in the top 20 in attendance the past four years. To promote this year’s team, he took a lead role in a TV commercial that’s gotten “fantastic” response. next to his with its own bag of popcorn. The two grab a bite to eat together, and Jordan even brings it to a playground to enjoy a trip down the slide.

ent and fun, and they enjoyed that I, as the coach, was willing to do it. If it benefits our program, I’m not afraid to embarrass myself.”

The last scene shows the coach walking into practice with the trophy in his arms and two of his players shaking their heads. “I know he’s dedicated, but this is ridiculous,”

While one goal of the project was to highlight the program’s commitment to defending the WAC title, another was to appeal to potential fans in a new way. “In the last few

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rich chavez

In the meantime, many schools plan to continue their informal teams. This spring, approximately 50 Division I and II squads will compete in at least six sand volleyball tournaments, similar to last

year. Catanach is one coach who hopes the momentum for sand volleyball rebounds soon.

years, there’s been a real push within the department to be more creative in how we reach the community,” Jordan says. “People don’t respond to the commercials that just have action clips from the previous season the way they used to.” The TV spot marked Jordan’s debut as an actor, but he says he wasn’t nervous in front of the camera. “I was in my comfort zone,” he says. “The crew told me to just be myself. The only thing they had to direct was the details—for example, where and when to put the popcorn down in the movie theater shots. As far as my facial expressions and things like that, I did what came naturally.” Players on the New Mexico State team thoroughly enjoyed seeing their coach and two teammates in front of a camera. “They all had a great time and got a kick out of it,” Jordan says. “The last shot actually took forever because the players who were watching kept making the two in the shot laugh so much. It really makes them feel special that our department is taking the time to do this.”

which also televises university athletic events as well as a weekly half-hour highlight show. “Everything costs money, but it’s easier when you have your own production team,” Jordan says. “That covers the costs of making the commercials, then it’s a matter of buying the time on the television stations.”

Hazy Situation It’s easy to assume hazing is not an issue on your team— until something happens. That was the case this winter, when an alleged hazing incident on the boys’ team at Taft High School in Los Angeles resulted in suspensions for its head coach and four players. Incidents like the one at Taft, however, are only the tip of the iceberg. A major study, titled “Hazing in View,” from University of Maine Professors Elizabeth Allan and Mary Madden recently found that more than 70 percent of college students

had been hazed in order to join or maintain their status on an athletic team or extracurricular club. And almost half of the college students surveyed first experienced hazing as a member of an athletic team in high school. Another major finding of the study is that a majority of students do not understand exactly what constitutes hazing. When asked whether they participated in specific activities that researchers classified as hazing, about 55 percent of students answered yes to at least one. However, when asked if they had been hazed, nine out of 10 said no. The Maine study also found a reluctance to label a behavior as hazing unless someone was physically harmed. “There was a tendency among most everyone we spoke with to see hazing on a continuum,” says Allan, an Associate Professor in Maine’s College of Education and Human Development. “They talked about low-level

hazing, with students more likely to intervene or vocally oppose the hazing only when it reached a higher level. “There needs to be more awareness about the connection between low-level hazing and the high risks associated with it,” she continues. “People ask, ‘What’s the big deal if it’s all in good fun, it’s just some antics, and everyone has a good time?’ The problem is that the low-level incidents set the stage for power dynamics to be in place and normalized as part of the group setting. It has a slippery slope effect—it’s likely the low-level behaviors will turn into high-risk activities over time.” And low-level hazing can also be very damaging on its own. Even when there is no physical harm, some students find it extremely painful psychologically. A previous study published in 2000 by researchers at Alfred University found 13 percent of hazed students left the group because of the incident.

Jordan hopes prospective student-athletes take away the same message. “Any time you can show recruits and their families that the community and university supports the team like that, it sends a positive signal,” he says.

AP PHOTO/SHAWN GUST

The 30-second commercial began airing in August on local cable channels in the Las Cruces area, as well as on the Aggies’ Web site. Costs were kept low as New Mexico State has its own in-house video production team, Aggie Vision,

To view the commercial, go to: www.youtube.com and search for “NM State 2009 Volleyball Commercial.”

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Finding alternatives to hazing, such as challenge courses, is one suggestion for prevention. A recent study found that more than 70 percent of college students had been hazed in order to join or maintain their status on an athletic team or extracurricular club. And almost half of the college students first experienced hazing in high school.

Coaching Management

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD To combat hazing, experts say that prevention must involve a concerted, strategic plan. Creating an anti-hazing policy with tough consequences for being involved in an incident is a great start. But simply handing it out while holding a brief discussion doesn’t tend to have lasting power. Allan and Madden say a typical comment from college athletes was that they thought they signed something about hazing along with some other forms during preseason meetings, but they weren’t quite sure. Madden, also an Associate Professor in Maine’s College of Education and Human Development, suggests a preseason coach-led team meeting that allows for discussion time. “You need to do more than give them a straight definition,” she says. “There needs to be an opportunity for an athlete to say, ‘What about this specific

type of activity? Is this hazing?’” Along with discussion, role playing can be meaningful for student-athletes. “Have your players watch or act out scenarios demonstrating ways to intervene in a hazing incident,” Allan says. “High school students especially don’t understand the power dynamics and coercion involved in hazing. Role playing can bring that out.” Another great prevention strategy is to schedule alternative activities for athletes to do as a team. “Things like ropes courses or other adventure activities are great options,” Allan says. “Choose things that involve risk, challenge, and bonding, which are all needs students are trying to fill through hazing activities.” The Maine study revealed that 25 percent of coaches or

student organization advisors were aware of their team’s or group’s hazing behaviors. “One longtime athlete belief is that new team members must earn their place,” says Adam Goldstein, Associate Dean of Students at Florida State University. “Coaches need to take on negative traditions like that directly. Otherwise they’re continuing to support a landscape of hazing. “They can point to that tradition and say, ‘That’s not okay. The only people who determine if an athlete has a spot on this team are the coaches,’” he continues. “‘That’s our job, not yours. Your job is to support each other so you can become a better team.’” Page Cotton, Athletic Director at DePauw University, uses his own coaching experience as an example. “I didn’t address

hazing for a long time when I was coaching,” says Cotton, who served as DePauw’s Head Men’s Soccer Coach for almost 40 years until 2007. “But when hazing came into the spotlight, I realized that my tradition of having the first-year players move the goals was a form of hazing. I, as the coach, was hazing our freshmen. “So from then on, everyone helped move the goals,” Cotton continues. “That’s a very small thing a coach can do, but addressing those little things can be helpful. Anything that singles out a group like that is hazing, and we as adults need to get that concept through our heads.” More information on the study “Hazing in View” can be found at:

www.hazingstudy.org.

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Circle No. 106

Q&A

Lori Schwieterman

St. Henry (Ohio) High School

In 14 years as Head Coach at St. Henry (Ohio) High School, Lori Schwieterman has done it all. Through 2008, her record stood at 271-69, including 10 Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) titles, three state championship game appearances, and a 2004 state title. Two years ago, she was inducted into the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. But that doesn’t mean every season has been a breeze. In 2007, the veteran coach was subjected to something never before seen at St. Henry: a losing volleyball season. The squad struggled to a 10-16 record, including a 3-6 conference mark—its worst ever.

CM: What led to the team’s down year in 2007? Schwieterman: The volleyball program here at St. Henry has a 35-year history of success. But in 2007 a lot of the players were the first members of their families to play volleyball here. Because of that, we didn’t have a very good connection with the program’s great tradition. When you have new families and new faces, it takes a while to adjust and get the right chemistry. We also play a very tough schedule. We’re a Division IV school, and our non-league schedule is almost entirely against Division I teams. That means we may come back from a tournament 0-3, but by the end of the season, it’s going to pay dividends. Our team in 2007 struggled with rebounding from those losses. Were you ever concerned that the players were losing confidence? I was very worried. I had to constantly reassure them that they were getting better and everything was going to be all right. We watched a lot of film so they could see the improvements they were making. Eventually, everything started clicking and it became natural for them to do the things they needed to do to win. I remember at one point we were 3-9, then we won six or seven games in a row by sticking with our younger players and not panicking. With every game we won, the players started to get that winning feeling back. We then ended up doing really well in the postseason and won the district title. I knew the

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Schwieterman, who teaches elementary physical education and also coaches j.v. girls’ basketball at St. Henry, her alma mater, has been coaching for 26 years, with stints at Ottoville and Spencerville High Schools, both in Ohio. In this interview, she discusses rebounding from a losing season, the college recruiting process, and why she’s retiring at the end of the 2009 season.

talent was there all along, it just took a long time to get it out of them. Did the improvements at the end of 2007 carry over to 2008? Definitely. It was like we leapt into the next season. We put together a 13game winning streak and finished with a winning record. High school athletics can be cyclical, and we just needed to go through that rebuilding process and the growing pains with new players. But I also think the other teams in the area are really improving. Our conference has become very tough. Not finishing in the top three was a hard pill to swallow, but we are thankful for the success we’ve had. If we have to take our lumps every 35th year, I guess we can live with that. Did you always want to be a coach and teacher? I’ve known this is what I wanted to do since I was in high school. I’ve always loved sports and any way that I can be involved with kids is great. St. Henry started volleyball when I was in eighth grade and I played all four years of high school. I also participated in basketball and track and field. Anything that was offered, I was involved in. What are some changes you’ve seen in the sport over the years? The athletes have become so much bigger and stronger. I feel it’s a bit of an issue because the only place for a smaller player now, especially at the college level, is at the libero position.

Senior setter Brandi Elking assists senior middle hitter Emily Post during a match in October. St. Henry was in contention for its 27th Midwest Athletic Conference title this fall.

Coaching Management

A lot of athletes have also gone sportspecific, which I’m not sure is a great thing. I like the well-rounded athlete—the kid who is involved in more than one sport—because I think it helps them in every sport.

With so few students, how do you get a good turnout for the team? I think our sense of tradition is the biggest reason our students are interested in being on the team. Girls growing up in the community see that we’ve been

“After the season, we take December off and in January start weightlifting, jump training, and other things like that ... until the beginning of the next school year, including over the summer. It’s not hard to motivate them to put in all the work. The older players lead by example and each year that motivation recycles itself.” Do you encourage your players to play more than one sport? Absolutely. The more they’re involved, the less trouble they’re getting into. And here at St. Henry, because we are such a small school—only 40 girls per grade— we’d like them to be involved year-round so all the teams can be successful.

very successful and want to be a part of it. We also have great communication among teachers, students, and the community here at St. Henry, which is one advantage of coaching in a smaller school. We know a lot about the kids before they arrive on the team.

Being in a small town, there are also tremendous family values and support at home. Families come to the games and the backing the community gives us is amazing. That makes the team very attractive to kids. What role do you play in the recruiting process when one of your studentathletes wants to compete at the college level? We’ve had probably 20 athletes go on to play Division I volleyball, and I do whatever the players ask me to do. I only ask that the player contacts the college coach first—that’s essential because they’ve got to show interest. I work with my athletes to find the right fit. I always ask them what they want to study because academics should be a big part of the decision-making process. I also film them and send those tapes out to the colleges. And if the player doesn’t feel comfortable going for a college visit, I’ll go with her and her parents to make sure it’s a good experience. Is there anything you’d like to see changed about the recruiting process?

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Circle No. 108 CoachesNetwork.com

Q&A I don’t like that college coaches are now targeting players younger than high school age. There are a lot of good athletes out there who are being missed because they weren’t standout players— or maybe didn’t play at all—in junior high. Late-blooming players get missed. Do you see conflicts between high school and club volleyball? I’ve coached club the last 20 years, so I see both sides. It can be frustrating when what the club coach tells a player and what the high school coach tells a player doesn’t mesh very well. Sometimes it’s tough for the athletes who play on the elite teams to come back to the high school team and be on the same page. We have a pretty good relationship with the clubs around here and try to help them out as much as we can. I always tell the players that they’re playing club to become better for their high school team. Hopefully that’s the way they see it and not that the high school team is secondary. What do you think about sand volleyball?

My players love it. We have a couple of sand courts in town and we spend a lot of time out there in the preseason. I think it’s a good training tool because it gives players a different view of the game and allows them to develop new skills. But most importantly, they enjoy playing it and get a great workout. Do you have a structured strength and conditioning program? After the season, we take December off and in January start weightlifting, jump training, and other things like that. We do that until the beginning of the next school year, including over the summer. It’s not hard to motivate them to put in all the work, either. The older players lead by example and each year that motivation recycles itself. The players want to be here. That’s what makes my job so easy. Why have you decided to retire from coaching St. Henry volleyball? I think now is a good time. We’ve got some really good young coaches and it’s their turn. They are people I actually coached years ago and they’re ready to come in and establish themselves.

The coach who was here before me knew when I was ready and that it was a good time to hand over control of the program. Everything is in place now and there’s some great talent coming up, so I’d like to do the same for the new coaches. What are your plans for the future? I’ll continue teaching for another three years or so, but I don’t know if or where I’ll coach. Some people say I won’t miss it, but I think I will. I’ve always seen myself dabbling in coaching at a small college or junior college, so I may pursue that. But right now I’m just looking at finishing the 2009 season on a positive note. When you look back on your career, is there one memory that stands out? The very first year at St. Henry will always stay with me. We finished 27-2 and had game point in the state finals before we ended up losing. That first team is always special. Winning the state title in 2004 is also a big memory. But there’s something that sticks out about every team I’ve coached. I have a ton of great memories from here, and I know I’ll never lose them.

Circle No. 109 CoachesNetwork.com

Coaching Management

K R O W T E N

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Facebook. Blogspot. Wordpress. Twitter. You’ve likely heard of these Web sites and may have even dabbled in one or two of them yourself. But have you truly entered the world of social networking? Do you know which service is best for reaching out to recruits? Or if your program can benefit from using a certain site to update fans about a big road win? How about the ability to keep your former players connected after they’ve graduated? The social media world has evolved considerably in the past year. Twitter made headlines with its first professional athlete and celebrity users, Facebook hit the 300 million active users mark, and new users are registering at blog hosting sites every day. “A coach wants to connect with as many of the right people as he or she can, and social media enables you to do that,” says Kathleen Hessert, President of Sports Media Challenge, a consulting firm based in Charlotte, N.C. “It gives access to a broad spectrum of folks, but at the same time, to niches, like the sport of volleyball. “Through social media, you can reach out to the volleyball community and truly engage those in it like never before,” she continues. “If you’re not on the bandwagon yet, you need to hop on.” Abigail Funk is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. She can be reached at: afunk@MomentumMedia.com.

COVER STORY

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GREG DIXON/UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA; RYAN TALBOT/UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

COVER STORY

Making Connections Matt Houk, Head Coach at the University of South Dakota, is one coach who has jumped on board in a big way, and he’s found that spending time using social media pays off. “I was trying to find ways to entice our community members to have a stake in our program,” he says. “I knew that if I could get people to feel like they have a personal relationship with me and the players, they would be more apt to come to matches and support us. But that means giving them more information than just the game report.” So Houk started writing a blog via Blogspot and joined Twitter. Blogspot is one of many free-of-charge blog host sites. Anyone can sign up for an account, and it’s as easy as writing (or pasting already-written text) into a text post and clicking a button. Twitter lets users post text-based messages of 140 characters or less called “tweets,” which can contain links to articles, photos, videos, or anything else on the Web. Other Twitter users can choose to “follow” you, and they will then see all of your updates on their own homepage. Houk tweets about the Coyotes’ upcoming contests, in addition to posting results from matches as soon as they end, quick thoughts (such as an encouraging statement after a loss), and links to his latest blog posts. His blog entries run the gamut from what it’s like taking over a program transitioning from NCAA Division II to I to comparing the trials and tribulations of a coach to those of a husband and parent. His words are personal and engaging, allowing followers an inside look at the team and Houk as a person. “I see Twitter as a tool that gives simple, easy-to-read updates to our followers, while I use the blog for more in-depth behind-the-scenes stuff,” Houk says. “Ideally, our Twitter followers all click through to the blog so they can read more about us and we get that closer connection.” Grayson DuBose, Head Coach at Utah State University, joined Twitter over the summer and has received great feedback from fans. “As volleyball coaches, we need to foster our relationships with the community a little more than, say, football and basketball coaches,” DuBose says. “Whether our football 18

Coaching Management

team wins or loses, 20,000 people are still going to show up for the next home game. Our volleyball match attendance, on the other hand, really fluctuates based on our win-loss record. We have to work on those fan relationships the best we can so people will come support us every game—and using Twitter is one way to do that.” Utah State volleyball also has a Facebook page, which DuBose says has been a great way to connect with Aggie alumnae. It’s set up as a “group” page, and any Facebook user can join the “Utah State Volleyball Alumni” group. The page lists the Aggies’ upcoming matches, and DuBose regularly updates its “wall” with scores and links to team stories and video highlights. Group members can also post messages on the page’s wall or discussion board. One alum recently organized a USU volleyball reunion, including her contact info on the page so alumnae could get further details. DuBose has put team photos and links to his Twitter feed and the athletic department’s volleyball team Web site up on the group page as well. Ross Johnson, Head Coach at Redmond (Wash.) High School, started a Facebook “fan” page for Redmond

volleyball over a year ago. Although any Facebook user can become a “fan” of the page, Johnson has found that most who have joined are program alumnae—which created an instant database for another site he is creating. “We recently purchased the domain name redmondvolleyball.com, and I want to have a ‘Where Are They Now’ alumnae section on the new site,” he says. “I put a note about it on our Facebook page and was able to communicate with a ton of our former players in one swoop.” Johnson also uses Twitter and has found it most useful in communicating with players’ parents. “When they get a message that we had a great practice and so-and-so is just killing it on her serves, that helps them feel connected,” he says. “When we were at the University of Washington camp over the summer, I tweeted a lot so the parents got continuous updates on how the camp was going, what the coaches were like, and how we were improving.” Recruiting Game Besides connecting to fans, alumnae, and parents, social media tools can be extremely effective in reaching out to another very important audi-

You can follow the people quoted in this article on Twitter or read their blogs at the following addresses. To find their Facebook groups and fan pages, go to: www.Facebook.com and type the school name + volleyball into the search function.

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Grayson DuBose Utah State University n Twitter.com/USUVolleyball Reed Duffus Bethany University n Twitter.com/vballcoach n coffeewithcoach.blogspot.com Kathleen Hessert Sports Media Challenge n Twitter.com/kathleenhessert n www.sportsmediachallenge.com

Matt Houk University of South Dakota n Twitter.com/CoachHouk n coachhouk.blogspot.com n www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/ wvball/blog.asp Ross Johnson Redmond (Wash.) High School n Twitter.com/MustangsVB Colleen Munson Western Michigan University n Twitter.com/BroncoVball

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Circle No. 110

Circle No. 110 AVCA Booth Nos. 425, 427, 524, 526

COVER STORY

ence: recruits. It’s no secret that today’s teenagers spend a lot of time online and connect with others continuously through social media. A coach who can effectively network over the Internet will appeal to high school athletes. Reed Duffus, Head Coach at Bethany University, an NAIA school in California, knows this firsthand. “We have a very limited recruiting budget, and we’re out there in a big pond looking for kids who fit our specific niche,” he says. “We draw from a unique recruiting base in that our athletes need to be great students and have a Christian background—which can be tough to find. “So getting involved with Twitter and blogging was a no-brainer for me,” Duffus continues. “It was a key element in some of the recruits we landed last year. Social media is a great tool that allows me to let kids know what’s going on with our program without taking up a lot of time, and it doesn’t cost a dime. I’m glad I jumped on it.” Though Duffus is a regular poster on Twitter, he says his blog, “Cup of Joe with Coach: Brewings about Bethany University Volleyball,” provides the great-

est recruiting advantage. “Sometimes I write about our matches and what’s going on at practice, but a lot of the blogging is so that our recruits can get an idea of what I’m like as a coach, how important my family is to me, and how we have a family atmosphere in our program,” he says. Duffus also uses his blog to allow recruits to get to know current players. One way he did that this year was to post Q&As about each of his eight returning players. “That lets a recruit see that players have some input in the program,” he says. “It’s not just the coach’s viewpoint all the time. Recruits could see, ‘Oh cool, this girl is the setter, she’s in her sophomore year, this is what she likes about the school, what her challenges are, and what she’s improved upon since last year.’ It also gives them a look at our team structure and our personnel makeup.

“By reading my blog, parents can see how I care deeply for my players and that I understand the emotional ups and downs we go through. That’s important because it’s not something you necessarily talk about on a recruiting visit to campus.”

While social networking offers many tools for connecting with others, it’s not meant to replace in-person communication. That’s why even the coaches most on top of these online tools still promote the art of old-fashioned conversation in their programs. “Although I try to be on Twitter and Facebook daily, I still heavily encourage face-to-face communication with my players,” says Colleen Munson, Head Coach at Western Michigan University. “I think it’s so important, and it’s something this generation doesn’t always have. You can’t cultivate a relationship through texting or posting messages on each others’ Facebook walls the way you can when you speak in person.” Grayson DuBose, Head Coach at Utah State University, agrees. “My players get confused about what it means to have a conversation,” he says. “They’ll tell me they had a conversation with their professor, and when I ask them what that means, they say, ‘Oh, well I e-mailed him.’ They think they’re communicating when they’re not—they’re just sending a message. “All of the online advancements are great and I want to take advantage of them, but I also want to emphasize the importance of person-toperson contact to my athletes,” he continues. “Sending an e-mail or text is passive communication. If I need to chastise a player for not going to class, it’s going to be in person so I can make an impact.”

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“A lot of our recruits’ families look at my blog as well,” Duffus continues. “And that’s important to note because we need to win over the moms and dads

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and grandmas and grandpas as well as the athletes.” To keep his blog page interesting, Duffus tries to include a photo with each of his entries. While he likes to use his own photos whenever possible, sites like Photobucket and iStockphoto have banks of free images for registered users. Duffus also uses Blogspot’s e-mail function, which allows him to enter e-mail addresses that will automatically receive the new blog posts when they are published. Houk is another coach who keeps recruits connected by blogging. “It’s not just a matter of getting a recruit interested in your program,” he says. “It’s about keeping them interested. Sometimes I get e-mails from recruits with a comment about something I wrote recently on the blog, so I know they’re reading it.” He’s also started a players’ blog where athletes take turns writing entries about their activities with the team. “I know the recruits really like reading the players’ thoughts,” Houk says. “They’re interested in what other people their age have to say. We don’t share every intimate detail about our squad, but we do try to give a real-life look at what it’s like to be a student-athlete here at our school. “A lot of parents read the blogs, too, and because I write about my own ideas on parenting, I think it helps our recruiting,” he continues. “As stoic as I may try to appear on the sideline, I want recruits’ parents to know I’m a real person with real thoughts and feelings. By reading my CoachesNetwork.com

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COVER STORY

blog, parents can see how I care deeply for my players and that I understand the emotional ups and downs we go through. That’s important because it’s not something you necessarily talk about on a recruiting visit to campus.” Best Practices Because social networking is still so new, there is no set blueprint or how-to guide. But there are some definite do’s and don’ts for helping you achieve your goals. The first thing to understand is the right balance between updating your social media sites without going overboard with posts. “While you want to update frequently, you don’t want to saturate the market either,” says Colleen Munson, Head Coach at Western Michigan University. “I don’t tweet things like, ‘I’m hungry, I’m going to McDonald’s.’ I don’t think people really care. “While there is a real potential to over-saturate, at the same time, if I haven’t tweeted in three days, I know I better get on it,” Munson continues. “There is a fine line.” It’s also critical to think about how to make your posts interesting and appealing to your audience. “You need to add value to your social media contributions,” Hessert says. “Fans have invested emotion in being your support group and they want to see a return on that emotional investment. Emotion and community are at the core of what sports are all about.

“So if you’re putting drivel out there, you become bland and emotionless,” she continues. “Instead of drawing people in and exciting them with what you have to offer, you desensitize them because you’re not offering anything of value or interest.” Including the right details can make or break what you write. “Tweeting something like, ‘I’m going to bed after a 14-hour day of analyzing recruits in seven states,’ is a lot different than ‘I’m going to bed now, see you tomorrow,’” Hessert says. “The first statement says that coach is aggressively looking for the best student-athletes for their program, is a hard worker, and is using creative means to connect with people. The second statement says that coach is boring.” Hessert adds that social networking also offers a unique opportunity to be interactive with fans. “[University of Southern California Head Football Coach] Pete Carroll does a tremendous job with some of the tweets he puts up,” she says. “Instead of just talking at USC fans, he asks them questions, listens to their answers, and actually takes what they say into consideration. “For example, he tweeted that Nike came up with six different jersey designs and asked which ones followers thought USC should choose for the team,”

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to connect online with peers, look no further than the new Coaches Network, developed by the editors of the magazine you’re holding. CoachesNetwork.com is quickly becoming the premier Web site for coaches of all sports to interact with each other. In addition, the site contains a wealth of coaching resources and a tool for communicating with parTo learn more about Coaches ents of athletes. Network and to set up

your own account, go to: www.CoachesNetwork.com.

The heart of the site is its social networking features. Coaches can share their thoughts and advice on the myriad of issues affecting them— from a difficult disciplinary situation to new practice drills. Coaches can also establish and join networks of coaching colleagues they wish to be connected with. Within these net-

Coaching Management

Hessert continues. “That makes fans feel like they have a say, and it’s also of incredible value for both Nike and USC in terms of merchandising. They

Munson has her Twitter and Facebook pages linked so she only has to go to one place to update both. And a mobile phone can be key to posting tweets easily. essentially got a real-time focus group of fans saying, ‘I would buy this jersey if it’s made, but I wouldn’t buy this jersey.’” As A Source While the main advantage of using online social media is the ability to connect with others instantaneously, these sites can also serve as great sources of information for you. Johnson tries to follow the action of most of the college teams in his area, which has become much easier thanks to Twitter. “On a Friday night, I’ll have my phone with me and I’ll set it up to send an alert when one of the teams I follow on Twitter sends an update,” Johnson says. “The bigtime programs like Cal and Stanford do in-game updates throughout a match, so I can keep up with the Pac-10 Conference

works, coaches will be able to access private pages, which are closed to those outside a coach’s network. Alongside connecting with peers, Coaches Network offers a unique way for coaches to interact with the parents of their athletes. Through the site, coaches can set up a private team page where they can keep parents in the loop. Parents and coaches alike can also post videos and photos to share with each other. Coaches Network is also chock full of resources, for both coaches and parents. Coaching resources include videos and articles on topics from strength training to leadership. Articles for parents cover important subjects like nutrition, recruiting, and supporting your child.

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teams throughout the weekend—no TV or computer necessary.” Hessert explains that if you find good people to follow on Twitter and become friends with the right folks on Facebook, the resources that become available to you are countless. “There is a wealth of information in social media” she says. “I read more articles from links on Twitter than almost any other source now. “People are out there talking about your sport online, and whether you’re a part of that discussion or not is up to you,” Hessert continues. “You need to say, ‘I want to be in the mix. I want to know what is being said so I can be aware and a leader in my area.’” Putting Apprehension Aside For some coaches, there are two big stumbling blocks in front of joining the social networking craze: The technology seems overwhelming and they feel they don’t have the time. But most find the major social networking sites are easy to use and aren’t time consuming at all.

Houk doesn’t proclaim to be a technology wizard—in fact, he admits not knowing what every function on Twitter or Blogspot is for. “I look at social media as something I need to use to be good at my job and have a successful program,” he says. “A lot of my program’s success is driven by the type of athlete I can get to come here, and since our youth are up on technology, we need to be, too. We have to be in touch with how they’re communicating with each other in order for us to communicate with them.” “If you’re not willing to at least attempt a blog or Twitter or texting—as silly as those things may sound to you—you’re going to fall short,” Duffus says. “When I talk to coaches who tell me they aren’t into it, I tell them they need to get on board or they’re going to get run over. I’m more of a face-to-face person myself, so I’ve had to adjust. But as coaches, we’ve got to keep up with the times.” Coaches are also finding ways to streamline their social networking communication. Munson has her Twitter

and Facebook pages linked so that she only has to go to one place to update both with the same information. And a mobile phone can be key to posting tweets whenever it works into your day. “Because I can update Twitter from my phone, it’s very convenient and takes almost no time,” Houk says. “The blog writing takes more time, but when we’re on the road I’ll write using my laptop on the bus, or at the hotel after a match —instead of just watching TV, I write.” “It can be extremely manageable,” Hessert says. “You don’t have to get sucked in. Just discipline yourself and find the best days and times to focus on it.” Hessert also urges coaches to just “get with it.” “Even if you lack comfort with technology, don’t let that be a major hindrance to you and your program,” she says. “A coach needs to create deeper relationships with alumnae and recruits, and at the same time, expand their community with fans they don’t personally know. Social media tools can really make that happen.” n

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1/3/07 1:39:01 Coaching Management 23PM

Circle No. 113

LEADERSHIP

Apple Valley (Minn.) High School junior captain Mel Racz goes up strong during the school’s annual Eagle Invitational Volleyball Tournament.

Hosting a tournament can garner attention for your program and create great memories. Here’s how to get started. By Dr. David Hoch

tourney time

ave you ever thought about hosting a volleyball tournament, but weren’t sure if it was a good idea? As a former coach and current athletic director, I am always looking to make the student-athlete experience the best it can be, and I’ve found that there are many positives to this endeavor. The biggest benefit is that it can become a very special part of the sea-

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son for a team. When team members, coaches, and parents work hard to pull off a special event, the camaraderie and good feelings are long-lasting. I see a lot of pride in everyone’s faces at the end of a successful tournament. Another positive is that a tournament provides good public relations for the school, the team, and individual athletes. It’s a chance to showcase your school’s facilities, hospitality, and orga-

nization. It also helps get you and your athletes in the local newspaper. Some teams even turn the event into a fundraiser. Through entry fees, concession sales, and advertising sponsors, many schools make significant money David Hoch, EdD, is Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, Md., and a past President of the Maryland State Athletic Directors’ Association. He can be reached at: dhoch@bcps.org.

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from hosting a big event. Over the years, we’ve hosted a number of different tournaments at Loch Raven High School. At our most recent basketball tournament, one coach said as he was leaving, “We really enjoy coming here. We are treated so well, and it’s a great event.” And his team had lost earlier that evening. Without a doubt, planning a tournament takes some work, but it can be extremely rewarding. Planning Ahead No matter what ideas you have for a tournament, your first step is to talk with your athletic director. There are a ton of logistics to think about, and you need his or her support before making a

great competition is the goal, your guest list may need to change every year. In some cases, the event can serve as a way for local teams in different size classifications to play each other once a year. Staffing: Along with typical contest personnel and custodians, you will need some additional help, usually from volunteers, to host a quality tournament. The exact needs will vary depending on the size of the event and number of days it will run. Analyze your needs and plan ahead, remembering to include ticket sellers, concession workers, and scorekeepers. You will probably need to create shifts for both game personnel and volunteers. A written schedule is an absolute necessity so that everyone knows when they are due to begin. It would also be wise to have a substitute system organized in case someone is ill or simply forgets to show up for a shift. If you don’t normally have a PA announcer at your matches, you will at least want one for the conclusion of the tournament. This person is vital because you should recognize all-tournament selections and award the championship trophy to the winning team with some fanfare. You may also need to graciously thank any sponsors for making the tournament possible. All of this can be optimized with the help of a good PA announcer. Who should you ask to help with all these jobs? Your booster club or parents of student-athletes, as well as student-athletes themselves, should form the bulk of your volunteer corp. But also consider asking coaches from other sports and faculty members. You might want to try a reciprocal arrangement with coaches who host their own tournaments. Rules & Regulations: Find out if you need to secure sanctioning from your state athletic association for the event. In Maryland, for example, this is required and an absolute necessity in order to host a tournament. You also want to make sure that you’ve followed any applicable state procedures in order to avoid problems or embarrassing situations. This may mean limitations on the cost of tickets or types of awards that can be given to the participating athletes.

Another way to make a tournament special is to make it unique ... Consider a round-robin format with a different scoring structure. Another idea is to pit teams from different leagues against each other: “Who’s Best: East or West?” single move. In most cases, your athletic director will be happy to provide advice, but he or she will need to know you are willing to organize and oversee the event with a minimal amount of supervision. To start, the two of you should talk about the major tasks of planning the tournament and who can be enlisted to help. Here are some areas to consider: The Date: Setting a date is not as easy as it may seem. First, think about what point in the season is best for a tournament. Next, research any potential conflicts with other events. Are school facilities already booked? Is there another big tournament that attracts the best teams? Are the PSATs scheduled for that weekend? Is there a big community event going on? Is it a bad weekend to ask parents or faculty members to help? Invitations: Deciding whom to invite should be based on the goal of the event. If fundraising is key, you’ll want to invite schools with large fan bases. If providing 26

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Publicity: Provide local newspapers with the dates, times, and pairings well beforehand. Even if they don’t normally publicize your events, they can be coaxed to do so for a tournament. Sell the fact that you have a lot of teams from outside the area or that it’s one of the few times this many local teams will be together. Another hint: be sure to offer media members a coupon for free food at the concession stand. Budget: You can’t count on making money, or even breaking even, without a realistic budget. To start, determine the fixed cost of officials, custodians, security, and trophies. Also consider any other expenses which may be unique and necessary in your setting. With your costs known, think about your sources of revenue. Gate receipts and profits from concessions are the major ones. You may also find it necessary to bring in money from entry fees. Do some research to find out the going rate for entry fees at other tournaments in your area. Before you take another step, make sure the money balances. If you’re looking to make a profit, find a way to increase revenues or decrease costs. After you’ve decided the who’s, where’s, when’s, and how’s, you can start a “to-do” list. It is vital to set up a written time line for all the details to be completed. For each new task, simply establish a completion date and determine who will accomplish it. Making It Special Covering all the basics will ensure a well-organized event, but for it to stand out, consider some personal touches. This doesn’t always mean spending money, but rather adding nuances that define your event. One idea is offering a hospitality room for officials and coaches. This feature can be relatively simple. Take a classroom and turn it into a private room, with some sandwiches and bottles of water and soda. Offer a few computers with Internet access for the coaches, officials, and media members to use during their breaks. At our two-day wrestling tournament, we put a lot of effort into our hospitality room, which is overseen by the athletes’ parents and the family of our head coach. They prepare an Italian buffet (homemade dishes of lasagna, baked ziti, eggplant Parmesan, meatball CoachesNetwork.com

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sandwiches, tossed salad, and more) and secure donations of drinks and supplies. During the tourney, at least one volunteer is always in the room to serve meals whenever an official or coach has a break. There is no doubt that teams return every year for this reason alone and referees actually contact the

does an outstanding job and is able to insert digital photos, cut and paste rosters, add articles, and even place ads into the final copy. She makes it look professional and we can either photocopy it at school or have it printed professionally. If you decide to use an outside printing company, know that there are professional outfits who will even secure the advertising as part of their service—but you’ll want to see what they charge first. Another way to make a tournament special is to make it unique. For example, consider a round-robin format with a different scoring structure. Another idea is to pit teams from different leagues against each other: “Who’s Best: East or West?” Or invite schools with very different populations than your own to create a cross-cultural awareness event.

Even though you might make a few additional bucks by selling the programs at your tournament, we’ve found that offering them for free to the teams and fans is a better option. assigner of officials months ahead to ask to work our tournament. It is just as important to provide refreshments to spectators, although you’ll want to charge them for their food. Even if you don’t normally have concessions for regular season games, it is needed for a tournament setting where people may spend a full day on campus. The right type of food and drink will not only provide a service, but can usually turn a profit. We extend our hospitality theme by communicating regularly with our guests. We share our sportsmanship expectations, ticket prices, and all other pertinent information with the other teams who will participate in our tournament well in advance. I feel it’s important that our guests are not surprised by any of our procedures. Providing a tournament program for the fans, athletes, and coaches is usually an appreciated amenity and adds a nice touch. This can be accomplished by using a commercial printer or even by someone in-house, such as an assistant coach, art teacher, student, or parent. Fortunately, we have a parent who For a look at how Apple Valley (Minn.) High School hosts a combined volleyball and cross country invitational, visit: www. AthleticManagement.com and type “A Lot of Legwork,” into the search engine.

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Turning A Profit While we don’t charge a large entry fee or aim to make a huge profit with our events, tournaments can be a good fundraiser if that’s your goal. Beyond entry fees and ticket sales, here are some ideas on making money: Find A Sponsor: This is probably the single most important consideration. If the sponsor pays for the officials, custodial coverage, and awards, this means that the gate and refreshment stand revenue can be counted as pure profit. Clearly establish what the sponsor gets in return for its investment. It would be reasonable that they should be able to display signage for their company. Naturally, the name of the company could be incorporated into the name of the tournament and prominently displayed in the program. But these issues cannot be assumed. They have to be discussed and clearly stated, preferably in writing. Consider having the sponsor provide T-shirts for the participants. Whether the sponsor’s name is placed on one of the sleeves or on the back of the shirt, these keepsakes become “walking advertisements” for years to come. Add Advertising: Securing advertising in your tournament program will increase your profits significantly, and many are happy to be involved. We charge $125 for a full-page ad, $75 for a half, $50

for a quarter-page, and $25 for business card-size ads. But prices can vary greatly depending on your community and the size of the tournament. Even though you might make a few additional bucks by selling the programs at your tournament, we’ve found that offering them for free to the teams and fans is a better option. You’ve already made your money with the advertising and you want as many fans, athletes, and coaches to see the ads as possible. Sell Mementos: Student-athletes love to have a commemorative item from a tournament they participated in, and T-shirts fit the bill perfectly. Parents buy them, too. You do want to be careful how many you order, particularly if they display the date of the tourney on it, because this would restrict selling the leftovers the following year. The Right Concessions: Offering items your clientele would prefer is the key to success. If you expect the athletes to be your main purchasers, sell bottled water, sports drinks, oranges, bananas, bagels, and healthy sandwiches instead of the typical junk foods. With a little extra work, you can even provide foods not normally found at a school sporting event and make a larger profit. With a group of ambitious parents, you might be able to have a chicken barbecue or sell homemade apple pies during a fall tournament. You can even consider partnering with a food vendor and splitting the profits. Better Every Year As with most projects, you will want to make notes at the conclusion of the tournament of any improvements or changes for next year. You may find you had too much down time between contests, not enough volunteers for a certain task, or overestimated the amount of food needed for the concession stand. Write all those thoughts down before you forget them. With a great organizational system in place and some special touches that make it unique, your tournament can gain a following fairly quickly. With a budget that turns a profit, you also have a fundraising source that can help your program grow. n A version of this article has appeared in other sport-specific editions of Coaching Management.

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2009 AVCA Annual Convention Convention Dates: December 16-20, 2009 Location: Tampa Convention Center

PREVIEW courtesy Tampa Bay & Company

Sunshine State of Mind Sit back, relax, and get into a Sunshine State of Mind as the 2009 AVCA Annual Convention makes its first journey to Florida in December! Building on the two largest conventions in the association’s history in 2007 and 2008, the AVCA will take its show to Tampa in ’09, where sun and fun will accompany several days of the renowned education, networking events, and volleyball action that have made this an annual can’tmiss event. The following convention preview will give readers a detailed sample of some of the elements that are sure to make Tampa the site of the AVCA’s biggest and best convention yet! What AVCA Does Best The nation’s leader in volleyball coaching education brings its convention attendees five days of unparalleled educational excellence, starting with the Pre-Convention Seminar led by Dan Tudor, founder of the widely respected Selling for Coaches program. Dan will lead a four-part, in-depth program, specially designed for AVCA Convention attendees, on developing a winning strategy when it comes to volleyball recruiting. Following Dan, the noteworthy line-up of speakers includes two Olympic coaches, nine AVCA Hall of Fame inductees, coaches of 39 national championship teams and the greatest men’s volleyball player of all time!

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More Than Just an Exhibit Show What was once called the AVCA Exhibit Show is now Volleyball Marketplace, a unique, inclusive design that encompasses the many different faces of volleyball and the AVCA Convention experience. Walking around the floor of the Marketplace, there are individuals and groups from all facets of the game—college, high school and juniors, as well as beach and international. Systematically situated among the activity is the largest gathering of volleyball-specific vendors in the nation. Volleyball Marketplace is also home to AVCA Coaches Zone, as well as Friday night’s Spalding Reception and Coaches Tournament. If it’s happening in volleyball, it’s happening on the floor of Volleyball Marketplace. Center Stage Forum to Shine See the stars of today and tomorrow as electrifying volleyball action surrounds the AVCA Convention. On Thursday and Saturday, the top four women’s volleyball teams in America battle for the right to be called champion. Then on Sunday, once the lights have dimmed on this year’s college volleyball season, steal a glance into the future as Under Armour® and the AVCA present the second Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition. All of this year’s volleyball action will take place at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Traditions of Excellence The jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon and the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet are two of the oldest traditions at the AVCA Convention. During these events, the association hands out its yearly awards for excellence in the past season, as well as honoring the 2009 AVCA Hall of Fame class. Some other convention staples give attendees a great opportunity to network with the nearly 1700 other convention attendees. The Molten Opening Night Reception featuring casino night presented by 1st Place Volleyball kicks off the convention, while the Spalding Reception and Coaches Tournament is an annual favorite on Friday night. Attendees can party into the night Friday at the Nfinity 80’s Prom Party co-sponsored by Worldwide Sport Supply & PrepVolleyball.com, then cap off the weekend at the Rox Post Championship Match Party presented by Rox Volleyball. The Name of the Game Coaches can get more bang for their recruiting buck at this year’s AVCA Convention, as back for its third year is the NCSA/ AVCA Girls’ Talent Showcase @ AVCA Convention, which will be paired with the new AVCA Holiday Tournament, a juniors event with players’ ages ranging from 13-16 years old.

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PREVIEW 2009 AVCA Convention

Schedule At-a-Glance

courtesy Tampa Bay & Company

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 pm. 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

AVCA Golf Tournament Pre-Convention Seminar AVCA/NCAA Minority Coaches Workshop Molten Opening Night Reception featuring casino night presented by 1st Place Volleyball

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Noon - 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Educational Sessions jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon Volleyball Marketplace NCAA Division I Semifinal Matches

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Noon - 5:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

General Meetings AVCA Annual Meeting Volleyball Marketplace Educational Sessions All-America/Players of the Year Banquet Spalding Reception and Coaches Tournament Texas Hold ’em Tournament & Party Nfinity 80’s Prom Party co-sponsored by Worldwide Sport Supply & PrepVolleyball.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.

Volleyball Marketplace Educational Sessions AVCA Holiday Tournament Champions Party NCAA Division I Championship Match Rox Post Championship Match Party presented by Rox Volleyball

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 9:00 a.m. - Noon 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

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NCSA/ AVCA Girls’ Talent Showcase Educational Sessions AVCA Holiday Tournament Under Armour® All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition

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PREVIEW

AVCA

Hall of Fame T

he AVCA annually recognizes those individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their profession and the sport of volleyball with the AVCA Hall of Fame. The 2009 and seventh Hall of Fame class includes Marcia Alterman, Marv Dunphy, Peggy Martin and Terry Pettit. The 2009 AVCA Hall of Fame class will be inducted in ceremonies December 17 at the jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon, held during the 2009 AVCA Annual Convention in Tampa, Fla.

“This year’s class is a testament to the broad community of achievers that makes our sport a success,” said Kathy DeBoer, AVCA Executive Director. “Our four inductees, representing two NCAA divisions, coaches of both genders, and an official, are all individually distinguished in their fields and collectively demonstrate the strength of leadership in volleyball.” Upon the induction of the 2009 class, the AVCA Hall of Fame will number 48 honorees. The 2009 class is as follows: Marcia Alterman was named the first executive director of the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) in 1996, and has since defined the job and established its prominence in the volleyball community. Alterman’s integral role as writer, interpreter and educator of volleyball rules for the past 20 years has had a vital, lasting impact on the game and those who play it, as well as those who officiate it. As head of PAVO, Alterman provides leadership and oversight to volleyball rules and officiating programs across the country. She played a key role in developing the first NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules and Interpretations book. Alterman also developed the inaugural certification

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processes for support officials, as well as being involved in the formal officials’ certification process, evaluating over 400 officials at the national level. Alterman received her bachelor of arts degree and master of business administration from Wichita State University. She was an active college volleyball official for over 20 years, having worked the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA Championships during that span. She has been a recipient of the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award and Glen G. Davies Referee Service Award, both given by USA Volleyball. “There may be no one in the game that has had a greater impact on the training and educating of officials, as well as educating coaches on the rules of the game,” said Kelly Sheffield, head coach at University of Dayton, in his nomination of Alterman. “Administrators and officials are a very important part of our game, and in my opinion, nobody has meant more to our sport in these areas than Marcia.” Marv Dunphy is one of the most successful American men’s volleyball coaches in the history of the sport. Dunphy will soon be entering his 27th season as head men’s coach at Pepperdine University, where courtesy Pepperdine University he has won four NCAA national championships, and is less than 10 wins away from the 500 mark. Under Dunphy’s tutelage, 15 different Waves have earned 34 AVCA All-America honors, and six times a Pepperdine player has been named AVCA National Player of the Year, more than any other program. Dunphy, who was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1994, has

excelled at the international level as well, with a long, successful coaching tenure with the U.S. Men’s National Team. During his stint as head coach, the American team maintained a No. 1 world ranking and won every major international tournament, highlighted by winning gold at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Since then, he has been a part of four more Olympic Teams, including his role as consultant coach with the gold medal squad of 2008. Dunphy was a middle blocker at Pepperdine and earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the university. He served as an assistant coach for the Waves before assuming the head coaching duties in 1977. Dunphy, who earned a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Southern California, obtained his doctorate degree in the same subject area at Brigham Young University. “What he can get his players to accomplish would be the envy of any coach who watched him practice his team over a period of time,” said Craig Choate in his nomination of Dunphy. “He never fails to bring out the best in his players, and if I had a son playing today, I would want him to play for Dr. Dunphy.” During her 32 years as head volleyball coach at the University of Central Missouri, Peggy Martin’s squads won at least 25 matches for 30 straight seasons, racking up 1,035 wins in the process. courtesy Spring Hill College Under her guidance, the Jennies won or shared 19 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) crowns since the league began sponsoring the sport in 1982. Her teams also made 25 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the most in

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PREVIEW NCAA Division II history, and reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals six times. Her career was highlighted by a national runner-up showing in 1987, a year in which she was also named the AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year. Martin announced her retirement from Central Missouri at the conclusion of the 2007 season, returning to her hometown of Mobile, Ala. However, her love and passion for the sport led her right back into coaching, as she accepted the head coaching duties at NAIAaffiliated Spring Hill College beginning in the 2009 season. After receiving her bachelor of science degree from Indiana University in 1972, Martin began her coaching career at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, while she was completing her master of science degree in physical education, serving as both the women’s volleyball and basketball assistant coach. From there, she went on to become the assistant volleyball coach at Florida Southern College for one season before landing the head coaching job at Central Missouri in 1975. Martin earned her doctorate in physical education from Indiana University in 1980. “While it is a major accomplishment to build a program and compete at a national level for any period of time, it is legendary to consistently compete at that level for over

AVCA Hall of Fame 30 years,” wrote Debbie Hendricks, Metro State College head coach, in her nomination letter. “While her numbers are astounding— over 1,000 wins, 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and 19 conference championships—I believe the intangible qualities in this coach are what make her worthy of Hall of Fame recognition.” Terry Pettit has become a name synonymous with women’s volleyball across the country. As the head coach for one of the most successful teams in NCAA history, he guided the University of Nebraska to its first volleyball national championship in 1995. In his 23 seasons at the helm of the program, the Huskers captured 21 conference titles, earned 18 consecutive NCAA Tournament selections, and compiled 694 wins—44 of those coming in the NCAA Tournament alone. Under Pettit’s direction, 35 players achieved AVCA All-America status, and two of his student-athletes were named AVCA Division I National Players of the Year. In addition, three Pettit-mentored Huskers went on to become U.S. Olympians: Lori Endicott (1992-1996), Allison Weston (2000) and

Nancy Metcalf (2004). He garnered AVCA Division I Coach of the Year honors twice (1986 & 1994) and earned USOC National Coach of the Year laurels in 1996. At the conclusion of his coaching career, Pettit began his current passion of helping those in the volleyball community in a different way—by mentoring. In 2003 he began Terry Pettit Coaching Enhancement and has since mentored volleyball coaches at the following institutions: Nebraska, the University of Kansas, the University of New Mexico, Mississippi State University, Colorado State University, Northern Colorado University, Creighton University, and the University of North Carolina. He currently writes a regular column in the AVCA’s Coaching Volleyball magazine, and recently authored a book titled Talent and the Secret Life of Teams. “Terry has always known that the sport is bigger than any one person or coach,” says Tom Hilbert, Colorado State head coach, in his nomination. “He built an intercollegiate dynasty on that basis, won a national championship, and mentored countless young players along the way, many of whom still coach at all levels across the United States. His influence has been far reaching and is ongoing.”

For more information on this year’s Convention, go to: www.avca.org/tampaconvention09

Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition Under Armour® and the AVCA will present the 2009 Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition at the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa, Fla., as part of the 2009 AVCA Convention. The annual event, televised nationally on ESPNU, features a three-set volleyball match, as well as a series of individual skills competitions that will showcase the competing athletes’ superlative abilities. Featured will be 24 Under Armour Girls’ High School All-Americans as selected by the AVCA. Requirements for nomination to the Under Armour Girls’ High School All-America team are: the student-athlete be in her senior year of high school, must be nominated by her high school coach, her coach must be a member of the AVCA and her season statistics must be entered into MaxPreps, a free service that aggregates and distributes data Team Red, winners of the 2008 Under Armour on high school sports.

The inaugural Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition was held December 21, 2008 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. Team Red posted a 25-21, 15-25, 25-20 win over Team Black, as Red’s Hannah Werth, now playing for the University of Nebraska, was named the most valuable player. In addition to the three-set match, the All-Americans, many of whom are now playing volleyball for some of the nation’s elite collegiate teams, also participated in a series of skills competitions in serving, hitting, setting, passing and digging. The St. Pete Times Forum, home to the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning and more than 150 events annually, will also host the 2009 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships December 17-19. The 2009 Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition will be played Sunday, December 20 at 1 p.m. EST. Tickets are $7.50, and are on sale through Ticketmaster and the St. Pete Times Forum box office.

All-America Volleyball Match

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AVCA CONVENTION EXHIBITORS

2009 AVCA Annual Convention

LIST OF EXHIBITORS

The following companies are exhibiting at Volleyball Marketplace on December 17-19, 2009 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL. This list is current as of November 2, 2009. Company names are followed by their booth numbers at the convention.

1st Place Volleyball. . . . . . . . . .829, 831, 928 & 930 225 Commercial Dr. St. Augustine, FL 32092 877-878-8327 www.1stplacevolleyball.com America’s #1 club volleyball dealer (jerseys, shorts, knee pads, balls, ball carts, etc.) See ad on back cover Active Ankle Systems, Inc... . . . . . . . 220 PO Box 6819 Jeffersonville, IN 47131 Foot and ankle supports. 800-800-2896 www.activeankle.com Active Ankle Systems, Inc is a worldwide leader in foot and ankle products for athlete and patient care injury prevention and rehabilitation protocols. See ad on page 3 Airborne Athletics, Inc.. . . . . . 412 & 414 891 Diversified Dr., Suite A Belle Plaine, MN 56011 AirCAT is the digging, spiking, setting, tipping, serving, passing, blocking, fullyautomatic drill machine. www.airborneathletics.com Airwaves-Airbrushing.. . . . . . . . . . . . 901 17346 E. IH-20 Winona, TX 75792 Airbrush T-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, shorts, pillowcases, and towels. www.air-wavez.com Amateur Athletic Union.. . . . . . . . . . 208 1910 Hotel Plaza Blvd. Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 National, multi-sport organization offering local and national events for juniors in indoor and beach volleyball. AAU Girls’ Junior National Championships is held annually in Orlando with over 600 teams. www.aauvolleyball.org Asics America Corporation.. . . . 419, 421, 518 & 520 29 parker, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618 Footwear, apparel and accessories manufacturer. www.asicsamerica.com

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Athletic Training Innovations. . . . . . . 210 2401 Bainbridge St., Suite A Kenner, LA 70062 ATI Designs, manufactures, and distributes a branded line of specializes polymeric resistance training product. www.atinnovate.com AVP.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 727 & 826 6100 Center Dr., Suite 900 Los Angeles, CA 90045 Demo’s, instructional sessions, meet and greet with AVP athletes and promotion for Hot Winter Nights. www.avp.com Bacrobial, Ifan Health Products.. . 201 & 300 2988 US Hwy 70 Black Mountain, NC 28711 Offers state of the art products to the sports industry in order to make sports safer and more enjoyable to all. www.beatsuperbugs.com Baden.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 34114 21st Avenue South Federal Way, WA 98003 Athletic balls and accessories www.badensports.com Bison Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 603 “L” Street Lincoln, NE 68508 800-247-7668 Bison offers the highest quality volleyball systems for the most competitive play to the most economical. www.bisoninc.com Bison Inc. offers the forward edge of volleyball net system innovation in the CarbonMax rigid but lightweight composite, Centerline rigid aluminum and Arena II freestanding portable. See ad on page 37 Buster’s Design Team.. . . . . . . . . . . . 202 421 Second St. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Personalized awards and locker room displays. www.bustersdesignteam.com

Championship Productions.. . . . . . . . 306 2730 Graham St. Ames, IA 50010 Educational Coaching DVD’s www.championshipproductions.com Clell Wade Coaches Directory, Inc.. . 304 PO Box 177 Cassville, MO 65625 National and State Coaches Directory and Information www.coachesdirectory.com Coaching Management.. . . . . . . . . . . 307 31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 Magazine and website for coaches, with content specifically for volleyball coaching. www.coachesnetwork.com College Coaches Network.. . . . . . . . 209 8207 Melrose Dr., Suite 150 Lenexa, KS 66214 More than 2,300 college teams have found out how our website makes it easy to locate and evaluate athletes. Search athlete profiles that are tailored for your sport. Or, search prospects provided by high school and club coaches, parents, and athletes themselves. www.collegecoaches.net Connor Sport Court.813, 815, 912 & 914 939 South 700 West Salt Lake City, UT 84104 Sport Flooring Surfaces. www.sportcourt.com Costa Rica Sports Tours Inc... . . . . . . 522 2053 Northwest 79th Ave., Apt #11896 Doral, FL 33122 Volleyball tours to Costa Rica. www.costaricavolleyball.com Dartfish.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 820 6505 Shiloh Rd., #110-D Alpharetta, GA 30005 Video analysis software for game breakdown, visual teaching and feedback. www.dartfish.com Data Project.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719 & 818 535 Huntress St.

Coaching Management

AVCA CONVENTION EXHIBITORS

Clay Center, KS 67432 World leader in volleyball statistical and video analysis, training, and event management software. www.dataproject.com Dimensional Software â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Volleyball ACE & TapRecorder.. . 224 & 226 Four Main St., Ste. 60B Los Altos, CA 94023 Volleyball ACE & the TapRecorder with Practice Stats are the best stat keeping tools around. Use our products during matches or games to make practice more efficient and to perfect your game. www.ace4vb.com Dynamic Team Sports.. . . . . . . . . . . . 204 454 Acorn Lane Downington, PA 19335 Team Uniforms. www.dynamicteamsports.com ezXchanges.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 PO Box 513 Bellow Falls, VT 05101 Online exchange of video. www.ezxchanges.com Fellowship of Christian Athletes. . . . 303 8701 Leeds Road Kansas City, MO 64129 Sports ministry to coaches and athletes. www.fca.org Front Rush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 350 S. Main St. Doylestown, PA 18901 Recruit/Team/Alumni data management tool. www.frontrush.com Game Tape Xchange.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 711 N. Scottsdale Rd. Tempe, AZ 85281 Internet film exchange. www.gametapexchange.com Gared.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 & 214 707 N. 2nd, Suite 220 St. Louis, MO 63102 Indoor competitive volleyball systems, Indoor multi-sport volleyball systems, Outdoor sand and grass volleyball systems. www.garedsports.com Hudl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 & 907 201 N. 8th St., Ste. 301 Lincoln, NE 68508 Video editing, analysis and distribution software. www.hudl.com

Coaching Management

Jaypro Sports.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 810 976 Hartford Turnpike Waterford, CT 06378 Manufacturer of quality Sporting Goods Equipment 800-243-0533 www.jaypro.com Jaypro manufactures quality sports equipment including soccer goals, volleyball net systems, basketball backstops, gym divider curtains, baseball equipment, player benches and outdoor bleachers. See ad on page 12 jostens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512 & 514 5501 American Blvd. Minneapolis, MN 55437 Championship Rings, Jewelry and Awards. www.jostens.com Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association. . . . . . . . . . . 703 1100 Main Street, Suite 2200 Kansas City, MO 64105 The official travel source for Kansas City. www.visitkc.com Lazer Graphics.. . . . . . . 909, 911, & 913 1101 Pipestone Rd. Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Printed spirit and sportswear. www.lazergraphicsinc.com Massaging Insoles by Healthy Feet, Inc.. 822 1216 Sussex St. Boynton Beach, FL 33436 Therapeutic glyco-in filled massaging sport insole. www.massaginginsoles.com Mateflex.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 934 2007 Beechgrove Pl. Utica, NY 13501 Modular volleyball flooring for both event use and gymnasium www.mateflex.com MaxPreps.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 4080 Plaza Goldorado Circle, Ste. A Cameron Park, CA 95682 Nationwide high school sports website. www.maxpreps.com Mikasa Sports USA.. . . . . . . . . 701 & 800 1821 Kettering Street Irvine, CA 92614 Game balls, training balls, knew pads, nets, air pumps, and gauges. www.mikasasports.com

Mizuno USA.. . . . . . 713, 715, 812 & 814 4925 Avalon Ridge Parkway Norcross, GA 30071 Provider of performance footwear, apparel, and accessories for the serious volleyball athlete. www.mizunousa.com Molten For the Real Game.. . . . 821, 823, 825, 827, 920, 922, 924 & 926 1170 Trademark Dr., Ste. 109 Reno, NV 89521 Inflatable sports product/ballsvolleyballs, basketballs & soccer balls. www.moltenusa.com My Sports Dreams.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423 364 Adams St. Bedford Hills, NY 10507 The nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading sports fundraiser, helping teams raise money quickly, easily and effortlessly. www.MySportsDreams.com National Collegiate Scouting Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415 1415 N. Dayton St., 4th floor Chicago, IL 60642 Scouting organization that matches college coaches with qualified studentathletes. www.ncsasports.org National Scouting Report, Inc. 128 Total Solutions Way Alabaster, AL High School Recruiting Service www.nsr-inc.com

405

Nfinity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 & 510 201 17th St. NW, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30363 Nfinity is the first and only brand with a core focus of designing and producing high quality athletic footwear for women. Nfinity focuses on innovative technology to alleviate injuries and specifically address female physiology, while delivering superior comfort and performance. www.nfinity.com Nike. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242, 244, 246, 248 One Bowerman Dr. Beaverton, OR 97005 Footwear, Apparel, Equipment www.nike.com Nonstop Volleyball.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 923 1325 North Broad St. Carlinville, IL 62626 Provides coaches, clubs and athletes a reliable source for quality apparel, accessories and equipment. www.nonstopvolleyball.com

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AVCA CONVENTION EXHIBITORS

Plyocity/Efusjon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 824 30025 Alicia Pkwy., #187 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Trains athletes to be quicker, faster, stronger and more explosive. www.plyocity.com PrepVolleyball.com.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413 21390 Horton Court West Linn, OR 97068 Online magazine for junior girls’ volleyball. www.prepvolleyball.com Rox Volleyball.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 833 & 932 225 Commercial Dr. St. Augustine, FL 32092 877-878-8327 www.roxvolleyball.com The idea behind the Rox brand is to transcend the world of volleyball apparel by fusing performance and function with a trendy and fashionable style. See ad on back cover Russell.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 841 & 843 3330 Cumberland Blvd., Suite 700 Atlanta, GA 30339 Team Uniforms www.russellathletic.com Schelde North America LLC..919 & 921 4180 44th St. SE, Suite C Grand Rapids, MI 49512 Exclusive distributors of Schelde brand volleyball net systems. www.scheldesports.com Scoutware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401 & 403 1444 Farnsworth Ave. Suite 404 Aurora, IL 60175 Relationship management tool used to successfully recruit athletes, raise money, sell tickets, foster support in both local and corporate communities and demonstrate compliance within the guidelines of the NCAA. www.scoutware.com Side-Out Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 936 PO Box 884 Annandale, VA 22003 A non-profit organization that supports health care professionals and researchers who help people with cancer. www.side-out.org SnapSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 & 315 2330 California Ave. Salt Lake City, UT 84104 SnapSports game courts and athletic surfaces is the leading manufacturer of the most advanced modular indoor and outdoor sports surfacing in the world. www.snapsports.com

A System for Every Program and Every Budget OPTIONAL LOGO

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ship conten hard to provide our players with superior equipment. As a longtime user of Bison Centerline Aluminum Systems, we thought we had the best…that was until we discovered CarbonMax. Our equipment manager loves the lightweight design that doesn’t compromise on rigidity. The ability to adjust the net height with the turn of a crank without loosening the net is an added bonus. John Cook Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, University of Nebraska

”

UltraLite Aluminum ™

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Catalog and Dealer Referral on the Web

800-247-7668 www.bisoninc.com Available Only Through Quality Team Sports and Park & Rec Dealers

Circle No. 117 CoachesNetwork.com

Division I program is a “Our perennial National Championder, and we work

AVCA Booth No. 200 Coaching Management

AVCA CONVENTION EXHIBITORS

Spalding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 835, 837 & 839 15415 Greenway Cleveland, OH 44111 Manuafacturer of indoor/outdoor balls and equipment. 800-435-3865 www.spalding.com Spalding produces quality volleyball products including volleyball systems, referee platforms, and accessories. Spalding is the official net systems supplier to USA Volleyball and equipment supplier to NFHS. See ad on page 7 Spike Volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 601 Packard Court Safety Harbor, FL 34695 1-800-SPIKE-IT www.spikevolleyball.com Magazines and volleyball team product catalogs and website. See ad on inside front cover Sports Attack.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 & 400 PO Box 1529 Verdi, NV 89439 800-717-4251 Professional volleyball serving machines. www.sportsattack.com Sports Attack is the leader in innovative sports training equipment. Its quality volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis and football equipment is used by institutional, club, and professional teams around the world. See ad on inside back cover Sports Club Management Services. . . . . 711 6505 N.E. 20th Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 Web based software designed by club directors to facilitate the management of your club. www.sportsclubservieces.com Sports Imports (SENOH). . . . . . . . 425, 427, 524 & 526 PO Box 21040 Columbus, OH 43221 800-556-3198 The Official Volleyball Net System of the AVCA. www.sportsimports.com Sports Imports is the exclusive North American distributor of Senoh, the most durable and reliable volleyball, badminton, and tennis equipment on the market. See ad on page 30 Sportstec Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 2310 E. Ponderosa Ave., Ste. 24 Camarillo, CA 93010 Please stop by our booth to see our new mercury volleyball video analysis product. www.sportstec.com

Coaching Management

Square 1 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 2307 Airport Rd. Greer, SC 29651 Marketing firm specializing in flags, banners, pennants, pop ups, banner stands, etc. www.square1sports.net. Tachikara.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 902 8000 W. 110th St., Suite 150, Overland Park, KS 66210 Tachikara is a leading manufacturer of competition volleyballs and a wide range of accessories. www.tachikara.com Tandem Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 & 502 440 Baxter Ave. Louisville, KY 40204 Tandem Sport carries sports medicine, sports equipment, and volleyball accessory training devices. www.tandemsport.com Terry Pettit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402 4251 Applegate Ct. Ft. Collins, CO 80526 Terry Pettitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book Talent and the Secret Life of Teams is a collection of writings on coaching, leadership and team building by one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history. Terry also speaks, consults and makes presentations to teams and organizations. www.terrypettit.com The Spirited Athlete, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 2557 Palmetto Ave. Sanford, FL 32773 Inspirational and motivational gifts and awards for coaches and athletes. www.thespiritedathlete.com Under Armour. . . . . . . 625, 627, 724 & 726 1020 Hull Street, Suite 300 Baltimore, MD 21230 Performance apparel and accessories. www.underarmour.com University Athlete. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 925 8330 Washington Place NE, Suite A Albuquerque, NM 87113 Premier communication too connecting collegiate coaches and athletes in girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; volleyball. www.universityathlete.com

USA Volleyball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819 & 918 715 South Circle Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80910 USA Volleyball is the National Governing Body of the sport of Volleyball. www.usavolleyball.org Vertical Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938 1590-D Rosecrans Ave., #204 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Tall-sized Performance and Lounge Apparel for Men and Women and Customizable non-slip adjustable headbands. www.verticalathletics.com Victory Lap Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 PO Box 313 Trenton, OH 45067 International travel for teams to play games and tour sites. www.victorylaptours.com Volleyball Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404 85 Quincy Ave., Suite B Quincy, MA 02169 Volleyball, now in its third decade of publication, is the authoritative voice on the sport and is the only monthly and nationally circulated publication that covers all aspects of volleyball. www.volleyballmag.com Wilson Sporting Goods Co.. . . . . . . . . . . 725 8700 Bryn Mawr Ave., 11th Floor Chicago, IL 60631 Wilson is the global manufacturer of indoor and outdoor volleyballs for every level of competitive play. www.wilson.com/volleyball Worldwide Sport Supply. . . . . . . 504 & 506 145 North Jensen Rd. Vestal, NY 13850 800-756-3555 Your official team and volleyball gear supplier, we offer a wide variety of volleyball shoes, apparel, accessories and equipment. www.wwsport.com Since 1981, College, High School and Club Coaches have trusted Worldwide Sport Supply to fully equip their teams, with apparel and equipment. See ad on page 5

USA Athletes International. . . . . . . . . . . 903 13095 S. Mur-Len Rd., Ste. 140 Olathe, KS 66062 Sports & Educational Tours www.usaai.org

CoachesNetwork.com

ABOUT THE AVCA

he American Volleyball Coaches Association, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by IMG Associations, a division of IMG, the world’s premier and most diversified sports, entertainment and media company. The AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies committed to the development, growth, advancement and publicity of volleyball throughout the world.

The mission of the AVCA is to advance the professionalism, development and growth of the sport of volleyball by providing coaches with educational programs, a forum for opinion exchange and recognition opportunities. Member participation is vital to the Association accomplishing its mission. With more than 4,900 active members, AVCA membership has grown by over 50%, and its Annual Convention attendance has increased by over 30%, since partnering with IMG Associations in July 2006. Other recent advancements include the AVCA’s partnership

with the Junior Volleyball Association, an organization dedicated to advancing junior volleyball, and the Affiliate Partner Program, created to engage the often-overlooked high school sector of volleyball coaches. The AVCA has taken its place as the organization that creates opportunities for volleyball representatives from all levels to work together for the betterment of the sport. The AVCA Annual Convention is the preeminent event at which the organization accomplishes those objectives. The AVCA Annual Convention is the largest gathering of volleyball coaches and vendors in the nation. Held each December in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, the 2007 & 2008 Conventions were record-breaking events, shattering its previous attendance records. In addition to Under Armour High School All-Americans (see page 34), the AVCA features an extensive awards program that recognizes over 3,000 student-athletes and coaches each year. Among the other highprofile awards include the AVCA Hall of Fame, AVCA National Coach of the Year

and Victory Club programs, All-America selections at all levels of NCAA, NAIA and Two-Year College volleyball, as well as the AVCA Team Academic Award, which honors college and high school teams for academic excellence. The nation’s leader in volleyball coaching education produces several publications during the year, including the award-winning, bi-monthly technical journal Coaching Volleyball. The bi-weekly Volleyball Ace Power Tips drill bulletin is a favorite of high school and club coaches. Other publications include the bi-weekly on-line newsletter At the Net and monthly newsletters VolleyBiz, which is written specifically for those in the business of running a volleyball club, and Affiliations, for the members of the Affiliate Partner Program. The AVCA celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005 and keeps an eye on past successes of the organization while looking toward the future. By everyone in the volleyball community working together, we are just at the beginning of what can be accomplished for the sport.

Circle No. 118 CoachesNetwork.com

Coaching Management

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY circle Company page circle Company page No. No. No. No

111. . . . . 101. . . . . 121. . . . . 117. . . . . 119. . . . . 107. . . . . 114. . . . . 116. . . . . 113. . . . . 104. . . . 106. . . . 112. . . . . 108. . . .

Aalco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Active Ankle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 AthleticBid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Bison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Blazer Athletic Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CoachesNetwork.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Fundraising For Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Jaypro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Kalbree Sports Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

109. . . . 110. . . . . 120. . . . . 124. . . . . 105. . . . 103. . . . . 100 . . . . 123. . . . . 116. . . . . 118. . . . . 122. . . . . 102. . . . .

LeverKnot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Moreno. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 myTEAMBOOK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Rox Volleyball (1st Place Volleyball) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC Smack Sportswear.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Spalding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Spike Volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Sports Attack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Sports Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Sports Tutor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 VIC Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Worldwide Sport Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

PRODUCTS DIRECTORY circle Company page circle Company page No. No. No. No

532 . . . . 1st Place Volleyball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 . . . . Aalco Manufacturing (Spikeline). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510. . . . . Aalco Manufacturing (Swingline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 530 . . . . Active Ankle (Power Lacer). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522 . . . . Active Ankle (Volt ankle brace). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506 . . . . Bison (CarbonMax posts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501. . . . Bison (Centerline Elite). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502 . . . . Blazer (#6067NGS Ace Power poles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 553 . . . . Blazer (Spike/Set Stand w/Ball Rack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 558 . . . . HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 557. . . . Human Kinetics (Sport Nutrition for Coaches). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 550 . . . . Human Kinetics (Volleyball Systems & Strategies). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505 . . . . Jaypro (Flex Net system). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507. . . . Jaypro (Floor Sleeve and Hinged Cover). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516. . . . . Jaypro (Volleyball Net Keeper). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 523 . . . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509 . . . . Kalbree Sports Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527. . . . LeverKnot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551. . . . . Power Systems (Pro Power Jumper). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

46 42 44 46 45 42 42 42 47 47 47 46 42 44 43 45 44 45 46

524. . . . . Power Systems (Secure Cart). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528. . . . Rox Volleyball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 . . . . Schedule Star. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 529 . . . . Smack Sportswear (All-American jersey). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 531. . . . . Smack Sportswear (The Wave). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511. . . . . Spalding (Digital Graphic Upright Pads). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503 . . . . Spalding (NFHS Official Supplier). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521. . . . . Spike Volleyball (Ichiban volleyballs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526. . . . Spike Volleyball (Matrix Hitter). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 555. . . . Sports Attack (Attack II volleyball machine). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515. . . . . Sports Attack (New product) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 559. . . . . Sports Attack (Attack volleyball machine). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 552. . . . Sports Imports (Coaches Box). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504 . . . . Sports Imports (Senoh Stealth). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 556 . . . . Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 . . . . VIC Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525. . . . Worldwide Sport Supply (ball cart). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520 . . . . Worldwide Sport Supply (volleyball shoe). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Milled aluminum pulley.

Stores equipment easily.

Defense: Meets NCAA速 USAV NFHS Rules

Multiple height adjustment.

Rope rachet is used to tighten the lower net.

速

Sacks: Travis Freeman Donny Mallin Cade Warren

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Passes defended: Steve Caruso Jason Simpson Trent DeBraga Cade Warren

1 1 1 1

AT H L E T I C E Q U I P M E N T

GO FROM ORDINARY TO EPIC.

F40 O RCoaching M O R E Management I N F O R M A T I O N C A L L ( 8 0 0 ) 3 2 2 - 2 7 3 1 I E - M A I L U S A T I N F O @ B L A Z E R A T HCoachesNetwork.com LETIC.COM Circle No. 119

45 45 47 45 46 44 42 44 45 47 43 47 46 42 47 44 45 44

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Call 607-257-6970, ext. 11 or E-mail mg@momentummedia.com for more information CoachesNetwork.com Coaching Management 41 myTEAMBOOK.net

Volleyball Court

Where It All Happens

For the Perfect Height 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. Aalco Mfg. • 800-537-1259 www.aalcomfg.com Circle No. 500

A Tight, Reliable Net Bison Centerline Elite systems are used by top high school and college programs across the country. Choose the convenience of high-strength, lightweight aluminum or rigid steel hybrid telescoping standards. Both provide bowstring-tight net setup. Net height adjustment is precise and fast with the AutoTrack spring-assisted piston design. The precision-machined 26:1 worm gear winch and two-inch tensioning strap eliminate backlash. There’s a lifetime limited warranty on the standards and winch, and 16 colors of padding are available with free lettering. Bison, Inc. 800-247-7668 • www.bisoninc.com Circle No. 501

Lightweight & Easily Adjustable The #6067NGS Aluminum Ace Power two-pole system (without ground sleeves and net) adjusts easily for men’s (7’ 11-5/8”), women’s (7’ 4-1/8”), junior (7’), and youth (6’6”) heights. Constructed of 3.5-inch O.D. lower powder-coated aluminum tubing, these poles are high in strength and have a combined weight of 69 pounds. Ace Power volleyball poles are shippable via UPS. Blazer Mfg. Co. 800-322-2731 • www.blazerathletic.com Circle No. 502

Everything Volleyball Spalding manufactures top-quality volleyball equipment for competitive, recreational, and physical education use. The line of products includes complete systems, uprights, nets, referee platforms, padding, and accessories. Spalding is the Official Net Systems Supplier to USA Volleyball and Official Equipment

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Supplier to the NFHS. From on-court play to equipment storage, Spalding Equipment has your volleyball needs covered. Go online to find out more. Spalding Equipment • 800-435-3865 www.spaldingequipment.com Circle No. 503

Aerospace Technology Sports Imports has raised the bar again with Stealth, Senoh’s lightweight carbon upright. The Senoh Stealth volleyball upright is the first competition net system to feature aerospace composite technology. It provides an unbelievably lightweight competition net system with three times the strength and deflection of aluminum. This unit weighs 26 pounds and fits all three-inch sleeves. It also adapts to all other sleeves without compromise. Sports Imports 800-556-3198 • www.sportsimports.com Circle No. 504

Flex It Out Jaypro believes your time should be spent practicing or coaching, not struggling to set up your net. The patented Flex Net system has no extra cables, straps, or tieoffs so setup is quick and easy. Jaypro manufactures a full line of volleyball standards in lightweight aluminum with infinite height adjustment and powder-coated paint finishes to match your school colors. The company also offers classic-style steel net systems with pin-stop height adjustment, and systems suitable for elementary or intramural use. Jaypro Sports, LLC 800-243-0533 • www.jaypro.com Circle No. 505

Lighter than Aluminum, Stiff as Steel With a 32# non-winch end, Bison’s CarbonMax posts are lighter than those of most aluminum systems, deflecting up to 60 percent less than popular aluminum standards and no more than the most rigid steel. The posts and the precision-machined 26:1 worm gear winch have lifetime warranties. An internal net height adjuster allows height adjustment even when the net is tensioned. Safety padding is included in your choice of 16 colors, and padding lettering is included as well. Bison, Inc. • 800-247-7668 www.bisoninc.com Circle No. 506

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New ProductS

Volleyball Net Keeper Unique features: • Wider, contoured volleyball throwing wheels to increase speed, surpassing the fastest international jump serves

Unique features: • Store nets securely, neatly, and easily in minimal space • Constructed of rigid thick-wall 1.5-inch square steel tubing and transported by four-inch non-marring swivel casters • Powder-coated for years of surface protection

Benefits for the user: • Provides powerful game-simulating repetition of all drills • Delivers everything from floaters to jump serve receiving, digging, spiking, passing, and setting from a realistic overthe-net (men’s) release point

Benefits for the user: • Head band of the net is wound cleanly and tangle-free • Net storage bags keep net, straps, and cables off the floor and clean • Available for single, double, or triple net storage

Sports Attack www.sportsattack.com 800-717-4251 Circle No. 515

Jaypro Sports LLC www.jaypro.com 800-243-0533 Circle No. 516

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www.vicstandards.com 719-748-1386 Circle No. 122 Coaching Management

Where It All Happens

Volleyball Court Built to Last

Jaypro’s Volleyball Floor Sleeve and Hinged Cover has a unique locking feature to prevent basketball dead spots. The sleeves are 3-1/2” I.D. x 10” deep. The lockable hinged cover plate is 7-1/2 inches (O.D.) and made of heavy cast brass or chrome. This product is also available with a 3” I.D. x 10” deep sleeve. Jaypro Sports, LLC • 800-243-0533 • www.jaypro.com Circle No. 507

Raise Your Standards If you’re tired of hauling heavy volleyball poles, then worry no more. With the innovative technology of VIC Standards, the days of lugging poles from the storage room to the gym floor are a thing of the past. Setup and takedown are now a breeze. To set up, simply extend the telescopic poles from their permanent floor wells. Average setup time is less than three minutes, and takedown requires less than one minute. VIC Standards, LLC • 719-748-1386 www.vicstandards.com Circle No. 508

High-Flying Posts Kalbree Sports has introduced the “original” VB8000K carbon fiber volleyball post system. Designed for use in stealth fighter planes, carbon fiber offers the ideal volleyball upright combination of lightness and stiffness. Unlike traditional metals, carbon fiber uprights have no memory and will not permanently deflect like aluminum. In addition, the innovative VB8000K system includes an internal winch mechanism for perfect net height adjustments and a 26:1

Te am Equipment

ratio net-tensioning winch. It fits all existing floor sleeve designs. The uprights and net winch are backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Kalbree Sports • 877-311-8399 www.kalbreesports.com Circle No. 509

From Above Swingline custom-designed ceilingsuspended 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. Aalco Mfg. • 800-537-1259 www.aalcomfg.com Circle No. 510

Show Your Pride Spalding manufactures top-quality equipment for competitive, recreational, and physical education use. Spalding’s product line now includes Digital Graphic Upright Pads for volleyball. Full-color printing allows unlimited color options with durable, vivid inks that outlast silkscreens. Spalding’s digital experts will work with you to apply your logo, color scheme, and text. Now you can show your school spirit in your own unique way. Spalding Equipment • 800-435-3865 www.spaldingequipment.com Circle No. 511

Set Up for Success

Born on the Track

Buy Five, Get Six

The New ASICS Gel-Volleycross 2 combines the best virtues of a running shoe into a volleyball shoe. It features a lighterweight midsole, two layers of memory foam, more natural rubber content for enhanced traction on the court, and an anatomically correct lacing environment that reduces the potential for irritation and provides improved comfort and fit. Worldwide Sport Supply • 800-756-3555 www.wwsport.com Circle No. 520

Spike Volleyball is your exclusive source for Ichiban volleyballs. The game ball features soft top-grain Japanese leather for instructional, recreational, or competitive use. As a coach’s special, you can buy five Ichiban balls and get the sixth free. Ichiban volleyballs are now in stock at Spike Volleyball—your source for everything volleyball. Spike Volleyball 800-SPIKE-IT • www.spikevolleyball.com Circle No. 521

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Set Up for Success Smooth Moves

Look Great

The 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 comfort. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. 800-800-2896 • www.activeankle.com Circle No. 522

Spike Volleyball offers the exclusive Matrix Hitter semi-fitted sleeveless jersey. This amazing jersey has a perfect fit and feel. It’s a great look for every school team, club team, and camp. Team pricing for 12 or more units is just $15.99 each. Uniform packages are available for as low as $34.99. Enjoy free one-color numbering on all jerseys. Spike Volleyball • 800-SPIKE-IT www.spikevolleyball.com Circle No. 526

Rethinking Sprains

The patented LeverKnot® volleyball net tensioning systems enable coaches and players of all ages to quickly and easily create tight nets for practice and competition. The VB-6 side tensioning system solves the problems associated with rope and Velcro®, such as stretching or loosening during play, tangling, and breaking. The VB-BR2C system upgrades nets with a quarter-inch bottom rope. It’s lightweight to resist tangling in the net during storage and comes with covers that won’t get lost. LeverKnot, LLC • 256-880-3636 www.leverknot.com Circle No. 527

“Don’t Ice that Ankle Sprain!” by Jump Stretch founder Dick Hartzell 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 recovery 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, vertical traction, deferred pain, and more. It also includes testimonials from athletes and healthcare professionals. Jump Stretch, Inc. • 800-344-3539 www.jumpstretch.com Circle No. 523

Protect Your Equipment The Secure Cart cage-style cart holds, transports, and secures volleyballs and other fitness and sports equipment. The swing top can be padlocked (lock not included) to safely secure the contents, and the lockable swivel casters provide mobility. This rack fits through standard door openings and will hold over 20 volleyballs and other related items. Made of welded oneinch steel tubing, its dimensions are 45”L x 27”W x 31”H. Assembly is required. Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Circle No. 524

Relax with This Hammock The Tachikara hammock ball cart, The top-selling volleyball cart, features a galvanized steel frame and a durable hammockstyle nylon basket that includes a matching nylon carrying bag with an adjustable shoulder strap. It’s completely collapsible and accommodates up to 24 inflated balls. There are eight team colors to choose from. Worldwide Sport Supply 800-756-3555 • www.wwsport.com Circle No. 525 CoachesNetwork.com

Te am Equipment

Keep It Tight

Have It All Who says volleyball has to be drab and uncomfortable? Rox has jerseys that deliver performance and comfort while turning the eye of the volleyball community with edgy designs. Rox was designed by volleyball players for volleyball players with long length, vibrant colors, and natural moisture-wicking fabric. Rox is the new fashion diva of volleyball—where performance meets fashion—so you can have it all. Rox Volleyball • 877-878-8327 www.roxvolleyball.com Circle No. 528

Choose Your Look The All-American semi-fitted jersey is the same one worn by the UCLA women’s volleyball team. It is made of a hightech moisture-management micropoly/ spandex fabric that allows for comfort and performance. As with all of Smack Sportswear’s custom items, you can design the jersey with your choice of colors. It can be made in a cap sleeve or long sleeve design, and sizes range XXXS to XXXL. Smack Sportswear • 866-762-2588 www.smacksportswear.com Circle No. 529

Coaching Management

Te am Equipment

Set Up for Success

Simple Stability The Active Ankle Power Lacer is designed for the athlete who desires added support in a lace-up style ankle brace. It features distinctive Y-shaped vertical stabilization straps for control of the forefoot and heel, dual spring stays for ankle support, and a neoprene nylon shell for comfort. The unique “pull and play” design allows for easy use by athletes. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. • 800-800-2896 www.activeankle.com Circle No. 530

Ride the Wave The Wave quarter-zip warmup top was designed for the AVP pro volleyball tour’s female athletes, but the demand was such that it’s now also offered to Smack Sportswear’s indoor customers. The tapered fit, moisture-management micropoly/spandex fabric, and ability to customize with your choice of colors will make this top a huge hit with your young athletes. Other features include

Coaches A ids

The Volleyball Systems & Strategies book and DVD will help you identify the offensive and defensive systems best suited to your team’s talents, in-game situations, and your opponent’s style of play. Go on the court and see the game’s best serve, serve-receive, offensive, and defensive systems and strategies in action. Compare each system’s advantages and limitations, then master on-the-court execution of that system with over 80 practice drills—complete with variations and coaching tips. Human Kinetics • 800-747-4457 www.humankinetics.com Circle No. 550

Develop Explosive Power The Pro Power Jumper allows athletes to improve jump height and reaction time for better overall performance. Train with maximal jumps for power, or repeated jumps for reaction time and endurance. The large 30” x 50” non-slip jumping platform is counterweighted on each end with a 45-pound weight plate. This product comes with your

Coaching Management

Cool Comfort The New Adidas Women’s OF Short Sleeve Jersey combines the best of Adidas’s new look with the brand’s legendary quality. This short-sleeve knit top features ClimaCool mesh insets for maximum breathability, Formotion seams for reduced chaffing during play, and long length specifically designed for volleyball players. This jersey is NCAA and NFHS compliant. 1st Place Volleyball • 877-878-8327 www.1stplacevolleyball.com Circle No. 532

Reach the Next Level

A Coach’s Best Friend

cuffs with thumb holes and increased length for taller athletes. Sizes range from XXS to XXL. Go online to personally customize this item and more. Smack Sportswear • 866-762-2588 www.smacksportswear.com Circle No. 531

choice of all necessary harnesses and resistance tubes. It features solid steel construction for durability and long life. Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Circle No. 551

Coach from Above The Coaches Box 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, a non-skid top, and rubber feet, and it weighs only 28 pounds. It folds to a closed position of three inches for easy storage. Sports Imports • 800-556-3198 www.sportsimports.com Circle No. 552

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Reach the Next Level It’s a Convertible The Spike/Set Stand with Ball Rack (#4900) is an outstanding training aid for spiking and setting. Welded with 1-1/4inch steel square tubing, it has a 30-inch height, a ball rack, and wheels that come off to make it a plyo box. Lightweight and easy to roll for storage, this product has a built-in ladder. The volleyball rack top removes and folds flat for storage. Blazer Mfg. Co. 800-322-2731 • www.blazerathletic.com Circle No. 553

A Key Assist Schedule Star’s patented Game Wizard™ saves you time and sets defaults for the things athletic directors and coaches are always scheduling for games, such as facilities, transportation, and departure and return times. When you schedule your varsity team for any sport, Game Wizard automatically schedules the sub-levels of that sport. Schedule Star is all about keeping you ahead of the game. Go online to get started today. Schedule Star • 800-258-8550 www.schedulestar.com Circle No. 554

A New Design The Attack II volleyball machine has new contoured volleyball wheels for increased speed and a spring-loaded elevation pin that simplifies ball release point adjustments. Now, the unit offers better performance and easier use. The unique design provides complete ball control, unlimited spins, and professional-level speeds. Drills from floaters to jump serve receiving, digging, spiking, passing, and setting can all be performed from a realistic over-the-net (women’s) release point. Sports Attack 800-717-4251 • www.sportsattack.com Circle No. 555

At Your Service 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 Silver model’s 5-1/2-foot high release point is perfect for serves, and it features a separate dial to control the amount of topspin and underspin. The Silver model can also be angled down to practice dig drills. The Gold model can automatically throw six volleyballs at intervals ranging from five to 20 seconds. The unit is completely portable

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and is available with either AC or battery power. Volleyball Tutor models start under $1,000. Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com Circle No. 556

Smart Fueling Sport Nutrition for Coaches is a complete resource for coaches looking to ensure that athletes achieve optimal performance through proper nutrition. In its practical and easy-to-understand format, this text supplies coaches, personal trainers, and fitness specialists with a wide range of information on topics such as balancing nutrients, monitoring supplement use, and dealing with disordered eating. This book also contains several planning tools that can help readers put the information and strategies to use. Human Kinetics 800-747-4457 • www.humankinetics.com Circle No. 557

Find What You Need, Fast HighSchoolSports.net has free tools for coaches to showcase their teams all in one location. Coaches can save time and get the tools they need to stay ahead of the game. Add, postpone, or cancel events and practices, enter scores and stats, access your roster, and get cumulative player and team stats, all on HighSchoolSports.net. Go online and start saving time today. HighSchoolSports.net • 800-258-8550 www.highschoolsports.net Circle No. 558

Repetition Wins If the jump serve is the challenge in your game, the Attack volleyball machine is the answer. It offers extreme ball control at international-level speeds. National teams, colleges, and club teams can all benefit from the Attack’s powerful game-simulating repetition of drills from floaters to jump serve receiving to digging, spiking, passing, and setting, all delivered from a realistic over-the-net (men’s) release point. Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 • www.sportsattack.com Circle No. 559

Coaching Management

Over the Net

Find more coaching resources at the new Coaches Network! You can find more information related to coaching on CoachesNetwork.com, which has been completely revamped to better help coaches. We now offer expanded editorial resources, including articles addressing a wide variety of issues facing coaches today.

Articles on the site include: Strength & Conditioning

Gain Without Pain Why over-training can be as bad as under-training.

Coaching Life

Meet the Parents A coach explains how he establishes the roles parents play.

Nutrition

Food for Thought Make sure your players know what to eatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and when.

Leadership

Leader of the Pack Give your captains the tools they need to succeed.

Sports Medicine

Anyone Can Save a Life A first-person account of a life-saving response.

Plus archived articles from past editions of Coaching Management, including: Teaching the Art of the Dig Build Excitement Around Your Program Going Beyond Skills With Setters In addition to educational resources, Coaches Network also features social networking tools that allow you to connect with other coaches across the country. Build your own network and share your thoughts on our message boards and blogs. Plus, Coaches Network provides you the opportunity to create private team pages where you can share information with the parents of your players.

X X

V O L L E Y B A L L

T r a i n i n g

M a c h i n e s

Get thousands of serve receiving, digging and spiking reps–daily New Design Powerful, realistic, top speed, jump serves Consistent breaking topspins and floaters Controlled repetition in all digging, spiking, setting, tipping, serving, passing and blocking drills Realistic over-the-net ball release point New Design includes 50% wider throwing wheels, shaped to grip the ball with even pressure across a wide 4” span, increasing speed from 70 MPH to 80 MPH. Also new locating pins instantly position throwing head to men’s or women’s height or down to setting position. As proven by our extensive customer list of top volleyball programs, The Attack is the #1 selling machine in the world!

P.O. Box 1529 | 2805 U.S. 40 | Verdi, Nevada 89439 tf 800.717.4251 | ph 775.345.2882

www.sportsattack.com

AT TACK | AT TACK II | S K ILL ATTACK

Circle No. 123

AVCA Booth No. 301, 400

VOLLEYBALL

Practice to Perfection

WE ARE VOLLEYBALL www.roxvolleyball.com

available at 1stplacevolleyball.com Circle No. 124

Angie McGinnis-University of Florida AVCA Booth No. 829, 831, 928, 930