QuestionI will be coaching a freshman vball team in the fall of 2012 (I also coached this team this past fall as 8th graders) In your opinion, what age should they be rewarded more playing time for hard work, extra effort and positive attitude? I had 3 girls on the team that just wanted to be part of the group...and spent most of their practice time visiting with each other. (Although, they did show signs of being annoyed when they did not get as much game time as the others)
Also, I have 3 pretty good setters, 2 that have a lot of potential. Would you go with a 6-2 offense with this scenario? We started with it as 8th graders and it started working pretty well. I'm just not convinced a 5-1 would be best. I don't want either of them to get discouraged, like I said, I see a lot of potential in both of my top setters.
Thank you!
AnswerHello Julie!
Good evening and welcome to www.allexperts.com! It's great to hear from you.
Your subject was "6-2 or 5-1".
But from what you told me, that would not be my biggest concern.
a) When to reward athletes for work/effort/attitude?
This depends first on your school's/club's philosophy. I live in Roanoke, and within 20 miles of my house, there are schools who would not have tolerated these girls' behaviors in middle school and would have cut them. And there are other schools where these girls would have been smiled at, nurtured, begged with, tolerated, and allowed to be a pus-filled boil on the team for their entire careers.
What is the attitude of your organization? if they expect athletes to be good, moral, ethical, "team" people, then this behavior needs to be stamped out.... or the athletes are not invited to remain. Or is your organization participation is key, attitude/effort isn't key? If so, then I guess you will be forced to continue to tolerate these childen. And they will be permitted to continue to be irresponsible, unaccountable, immature children, and a drag on your team's success.
I just had a meeting a few weeks ago with the parents and players of my club team. I told them, "I've won enough matches. Now I want people with character. If anyone shows me that they don't have the character required to remain a part of the team,"..... And when the players and parents show the character I expect (respect, promptness, reliability, etc.), then we'll win more matches than we thought possible. It's amazing.
b) How well do you want your team to play?
If you want your team to be as good as possible, then YOU decide how hard your players practice. They don't decide that. They aren't old enough. I teach high school math every Mon - Fri. Do my students decide how hard they work? Nope. I decide. Do they decide when to start taking notes? when to start a quiz? when to talk and when to listen? No, I decide that. Same with athletics...except even more so. I decide how much effort is enough. I decide how hard my team works. You should as well. Teenagers who are just doing a sport for the social aspects aren't "athletes," but are just kids. When you're expectations rise, the kids will leave, and the athletes will flourish!
c) Discourage your athletes?
What is the philosophy of your organization regarding winning/succeeding/achieving? Three miles from here is one of the most successful programs on the east coast: five state championships in 10 years. (And in the AA classification in Virginia, that means you were best of about 135 schools!!!! So 5 in 10 years in AMAZING!) Anyway, I saw them play 4 times this year. Five of the 13 girls on the team never touched the floor once minute; in any of the 4 matches; not one minute. Are they discouraged? I don't think so, b/c they are ALL playing club ball. I guess they're not too damaged.
Within the guidelines of your school/club, you are expected to do what's in the best interests of your program/team. If people can't handle it, then oh well. They don't have to play. Sure, you can play a 6-2, 5-1, 4-2, etc. in scrimmages and in non-conference matches. But, when there are matches next year you have to win, then you play who you must play. My club team has 2 really good setters. One if 8th, one is 9th. After 2 practices, I'm leaning to a certain offense. If I need to change it in order for my team to play better in matches we have to win, will I pull the trigger? YOU BET! In a second. Both of my setters will be ready to play a 5-1 and a 6-2. They will play as much as I say and as hard as I say.
d) 5-1 or 6-2?
Are you ready for me to address your question? :)
I would run the offense that your team needs to play their best. If you don't need these two girls as full-time serve receivers, then sure you can run a 6-2. But, as the season progresses, you determine that one is 90% accurate, while the other one is 75% accurate, then go to a 5-1 with 90%...... if your playing it's best is top priority. (I guess, if 90% is only 5'0", and your opposition has 6'1" OH's, then you may not be able to run a 5-1. Is that the case?)
I know I've been off topic with most of what I wrote.
But I thought I needed to.
If you have some feedback, or if you want to discuss site camps with me for summer 2012, then please contact me at
[email protected] anytime. Five camps have already been scheduled for next summer! We've directed 27 the past 3 summers in Alaska, Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia and Delaware. We can't wait for 2012!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Coach Houser
