Friday, January 29, 2010
One Year Ago
Boy, a lot can sure change in a year. At this time in 2009, club volleyball was just coming onto our radar. Junior High tryouts had just concluded and Kate had never spent much time with the sport. They had about 40 7th-9th graders try out and she was designated as someone who would practice with the 9th graders but play with the JV Team unless a varsity player was out. She was pretty bummed out. I think that's when she realized that nothing is ever handed to you. She resolved then and there to be a real volleyball player. With still only that year of Jr. High ball under her belt, she went to summer camps, helped manage the high school team, and went into club volleyball tryouts this year deciding at the last minute to be a hitter. Bad call. We managed to take hold with Moxie and it was then that she decided SETTER. Good call. She has blossomed. Today she learned she was named to varsity. Now her stated goal is to work at her craft, make HS varsity as a sophomore, and move up in the club scene. Go get 'em, girl!
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tips for making the HS team as a sophomore:
ReplyDelete1.Make sure you go to your high school camp
Don't know when it is? email the highschool coach tell him/her about your daughter/position and tell him/her that you want to make sure to schedule your summer around that camp
Good luck and CONGRATS!!!!!
2. find out what year your high school teams setter graduates. sr.? then find out what year the JV setter graduates. High school is different than club in the way that seniority does matter. Ask the coach when you talk to them and find out what position he feels they will be looking to fill next year. THAT is the position Kate can work on in the summer AS WELL as setter.
3. Go to your high schools open gyms this spring for volleyball
this is another ? to ask the coach
we have been in contact with the high school coach since our daughter was going into 8th grade. She has been training with them for open gyms and summer camps since then. It made for a smooth transition to high school. we also found out prior to the season that the setter position wasn't going to be open. Even though our daughter was told she was the better setter at the summer camp, the returning setter was a senior. Our daughter was able
to step in play right and left side
(she is a libero on her club team). she made 2nd team kingco 4A and loved hitting! She will be setting next year as a junior.
lesson to learn....play all positions and when you try out you let them know you can play all positions this is so important when you are a setter b/c they only take two and #2 rarely plays!
Great feedback; thanks! Kate is well known by the coaches at her HS. She went to camp last summer and was the 'manager' this last season. You bring up a good point; there is a senior and junior ahead of her...junior is one of her good friends. I told her to just play your best. We'll see how it shakes out. I'd almost rather see her play FT on JV as a soph...don't know if they play a 5-1 or a 6-2. Build skills, work herd, and see what happens. We will also be signing up for the UW Camp this summer...good?Bad?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're pretty connected with the varsity team. Look at the girls that are starting and playing and have your daughter ask them "What did you do to earn your position?" Was it extra practice, camps, club, private coaching, sand volleyball, personal conditioning?
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of places to spend money to get better, the question is where can you get the best return on investment? Camps are nice, but is she going to get what she needs in a sea of girls?
Setting a goal of varsity is nice, though the goal should really be for her to focus on maximizing her talents, development and playing opportunities. I've seen being on varsity early in high school both push girls forced to get better faster because of the pressure, and others falter because of that same pressure. If you feel the coaches are good, trust that they will put her in the right position at the right time for the good of the team, and her development. The frustrating part is this is not always in line with what you, or she may feel at the time.
Though my daughter got involved in volleyball at a younger age I'm only a couple of years ahead in the hs volleyball world. I've been reliving a lot of what you've shared in your blog!
It sounds like your on the right track with the support your providing your daughter. I've found that the less I directly "coach" my daughter on volleyball and the more I help her focus on helping her figure out what she wants, and having her find out what it will take to achieve what she wants, the better she gets.
The dads that rehash the what the coach just told their daughter, or worse contradict with their own coaching, seem to have the daughters that stagnate in their development or have lost their passion for the game. Fight the urge to provide any coaching that your daughter doesn't directly ask for from you, and always provide what no coach, teacher, teammate, mentor can provide,being her dad.
BALANCE----------is the word of the year for our volleyball addicted family. I type this as I hear 50+ voices booming around our home. My daughter is having a dance party tonight even after a 2.5 hour practice earlier today and a 3 hour practice Sunday and Monday. After missing countless family vacations this past couple years----I'm so happy we've learned to balance a sport and family life.
ReplyDeleteKate will have a BLAST in HS regardless of JV or Varisty. In fact, our DD was a starter on the hs V team in a VERY tough league and in hindsight, it may have been a curse.
I am a former semi pro vb player yet can't coach my daughter. All she wants from me is: the ability to vent, to say "I'm so proud of you honey" and to agree with her (even though I refuse to) that she didn't get enough or high enough sets. ha ha.
BTW---------this will never change. AVP, college or other wise. The adj. may change but the feelings remain the same.
Kate----enjoy the ride. Clearly, your Dad is! :)