Venting Frustrations
Note: This is a rant, not an instructional post, and thus will lack any semblance of proper grammar. Enjoy my run-on sentences and ill-conceived thoughts.
There are a few main points I'm going to be venting about in this post, so if any of them interests you then by all means read this post. Otherwise feel free to glaze over and browse my past postings which are a lot more relevant to player/coach development...
- Geographic difficulties and frustrations
- Over-confident yet unsuccessful coaches
- Unwillingness to change
- Idiots
1. Geographic Difficulties and Frustrations
WTF Connecticut? Every high school I've encountered in the area has a girls volleyball program. Almost every one of these schools has a corresponding boys program. Yet there is almost no opportunity to play outside of high school. Where are the club programs? Where are the organized leagues and tournaments?
For high school players who want to get better, nobody is properly informed of what playing club actually entails. And the people who know of the clubs only have 2 options (CT Juniors and Husky). Neither of which practices enough, or competes at a high enough level. Blame here goes to both the club directors and to the players. Club directors need to be more aggressive in developing their pool of talent and providing opportunities for more players to get better. This involves not only more, but better practices; finding better coaches; finding better competition. I mean seriously, one practice a week? No more than two per week for "high-performance" teams? This isn't NEAR enough court time for an off-season program.
The players need to get off their asses and demand more and better opportunities. There's a reason why CT volleyball pales in comparison to programs in other state, even the weaker states in the area...and that's a lack of dedication from the players, and a lack of corresponding opportunities for players who want to put in the time. It's hard to change the culture of a state, but there has been very little effort I've seen in my brief time in CT.
My next sub-point in this topic? WTF CT? There's no adult leagues or opportunities to play. Rec leagues, low-level co-ed leagues don't count. There are more people looking for high level male or female only leagues than you would think, but nobody wants to give the opportunity for those leagues to form. Leagues should be non-profit. Find a venue, find teams, organize a schedule of play. Yankee Volleyball has literally ZERO events in Connecticut, despite saying that they are New England's representation of volleyball. I might as well just drive back into NY and NJ for GEVA events. Heck, I might as well drive to PA for KRVA events considering there's literally NOTHING in Connecticut that can be remotely described as competitive or "power" levels.
2. Over-confident Yet Unsuccessful Coaches
He who cannot be named is a perfect example. There are so many coaches involved in not only volleyball, but any other sport, that think they are always right. They seek no opportunities to further expand their breadth of knowledge of the sport and will not take any constructive criticism from other coaches.
You will find that the SUCESSFUL coaches have built a program structured around methodologies and theories combined together from many other successful coaches and systems. You always have to adapt your teaching methodologies and your strategies to what is most relevant and more effective. The best way to do this is constantly be open to learning and open to criticism. Take every available droplet of knowledge available and assimiliate it into you repertoire as a coach (or even as a player.)
Take a look at the success of your program and think for a minute. Stop placing blame on your players, on the supposed lack of talent or athleticism, and maybe do a self evaluation. No, don't maybe self evaluate - truthfully evaluate your success as a coach. Your success as a coach is directly correlated to the success of your team and the happiness of your players with your program.
Seriously, if your program has had consecutive losing seasons with records at or below .200, maybe you're doing something wrong. If an outside coach consults for a few practices and gives you a few pointers about what you should focus on, take that advice and try to see how you can best apply it. Just because you've been running one system and one thought process for 30 years doesn't mean it's right. If corporations are constantly adapting and changing their strategies for success, shouldn't you also?
3. Unwillingness to Change
Seriously, wtf? You know you have a weakness. Yet you don't want to put any work into fixing it or take any advice on how to fix it? And you complain that everybody is just better than you. Well you know why they're better than you? Because they've put the time in, they put in the effort, and worked their way to improvement.
If you suck, get to work. Period. Open your eyes to the fact that you aren't as good as you think you are and ask someone how you can get better.
4. IDIOTS
I. Hate. Idiots. Seriously, don't tell somebody who has years more experience than you that they're wrong. Especially if you've had absolutely no formal training or experience and have only played at local township open-gyms.
Get it through your head that yes, volleyball is fun, but there is also a RIGHT way to play and a WRONG way. The right way leads to success. The wrong way makes you look like a freaking spaz on the court and leads your teammates to groan anytime you try to play the ball (or even once they see you are on their team.) Open your eyes and realize that maybe it's time for you to actually learn something from the people better than you and stop trying to tell THEM what to do.
[/end rant]
*Note* I know this was very irrelevant, but venting is needed once in a while. On another note, look for a few more posts to come this weekend as I have time off from work and look to actually finish editing some of the posts I have in the queue.