Athlete Development Perspective Check In Canada a 16U athlete has had as much experience playing volleyball as a 2 nd year novice hockey player (8 years old)

Athlete Development Pre-Novice (5 yrs) = 14U

Novice (8yrs) = 16U PeeWee(12yrs) = 1 st year University

Barriers to Athlete Development Need to win –Only way for coaches to measure effectiveness; resume building –Only way for parents to measure their child’s success –Parents living vicariously through their children –Inability by all involved to deal with the angst of loss –Difficult to go counter to the system Volleyball Canada LTAD says Nationals for 14U and younger is inappropriate yet they stage a Nationals that draws thousands and makes a lot of money

It’s Hard Work!!! –Systematic approach vs. Hap-Hazard –Development of a curriculum –Use of Video until your eye is ‘good enough’ –Requires that the coach has knowledge of game, teaching/learning process, skill detection and correction ability –It’s a grind – not necessarily ‘fun’ and can quickly become boring if the coach is not effective/creative/motivating –Will not lead to instant gratification; winning will take time

Consequences of a Focus on Winning and not Athlete Development Talent Selection rather than talent identification –We select only those athletes that are already somewhat skilled, more ‘coordinated’ and cut those kids that have had the advantages and are later maturers. –These ‘advantaged’ kids access the resources of the top coaches yet may not be the ones that have the physical and psychological make up to be the top athletes in our sport once they reach maturation Play to Win –Only the best kids get court time in spite of all the efforts made around ‘fair play’ Subbing at 4-0 in 14U Some kids sitting all weekend of premier tournaments or getting very limited court time Taking fewer kids on teams so there are no weak links that ‘have’ to play according to rules Result is reducing athlete pool through smaller teams and kids quitting

Consequences of a Focus on Winning and not Athlete Development (con’t) Play Whack-a-ball –Forcing the athletes to play safe volleyball (over on one or two, passing over net rather than hitting) so they don’t make a mistake Early Specialization –Big kids play and train middle because they can block/hit –Small kids set because they are quick –If don’t develop rest of game, big kids won’t be big enough to play middle later and small setters probably too small to play at higher levels

Considerations for Technical Development Focus on key elements of the basic skills until they can do these correctly, resist advancing to next steps Footwork Use of all movement patterns Knowing when to stop Serve Hand contact on ball Ready Position Weight Distribution Position of head/chin Arms/elbows

Considerations for Technical Development Forearm Pass –Platform timing and angling –Maintenance of tilt –Follow Through Overhead Pass –Softer hands for all players –More use of overhead for all players –Contact point/body positioning for setters

Considerations for Technical Development Attack –Footwork for jump (last 2 steps) –landing –Hitting hard through rotation not hip slide –Hand contact Block –Eyes –Hands/arms

Considerations for Systems: Chose systems that are developmentally appropriate Serve Receive If you can’t pass over a 2.0, add passers to the receive to reduce space athletes need to cover Defense Resist adapting defense for athletes to make it ‘easier’ for them (i.e., non-blocker coming underneath for tip coverage rather than teaching them how to move) Offense Hit high and medium trajectory balls effectively before moving to fast tempo Watch setter’s choices – guard against them only setting the easy choice (i.e., the 3m bail out set)