Thurston Volleyball

1. Thurston Volleyball 6-8-09 Program Meeting

2. Today’s Purpose • Introductions • Recognize some of the history of THS VB • Discuss our style of play • Discuss our focus for the summer • Fundraising • Important Dates • Internet • Expectations

3. Introductions • Jason Corwin • Varsity Coach • Elvin Chandra • Varsity Assistant • Kelly Rosin • Junior Varsity Coach • Meggan Saubert • Freshman Coach • David Hicks • Program Assistant

4. THS Volleyball History • MWL has one Champion: Churchill in ‘72 • THS has finished 2nd once in ’83 • Several more finishes in the top 6 up to ’93 • 14 year absence from top 6 finishes • 2007 & 2008: Finished 6th

5. Past Players: • Allyson Leavitt: Oregon • Sara Pilgreen: HILO Hawaii • Jennifer Cueto: OIT • Cotie Howard: NCU • Jill Shockey: Division 2 • Angela Henderson: Oregon • Kelsey Rogers: MWL MVP ’06, played for Chemeketa in ‘07 • Emily Urness: ‘06 graduate, Linfield • Tara Hill: MWL Co-MVP ‘07, Starting OH for Linfield • Kristen Walters: MWL Co-MVP ‘08, signed to play for OIT

6. Style of Play • Challenging Serves • Force the opposition to play out-of-system • Float Serve: harder to manage, moved by the air currents in the gym • Jump Float: intimidating, forward momentum, deeper float @ passers head • Jump Spike: more intimidating, faster tempo, improves our hitters arm swing and approach

7. Style of Play: Defense • Back Row: • We play a system defense with the flexibility to adjust to opponent tendencies • Trust the system: data driven • Most important skill: Ball, Setter, Ball, Hitter • Both Blockers and Diggers

8. Opponent Attack Data: • TA: Total Attempts • Total Attempts for study: 1163 • Total Digs/Creates: 500 • Range of levels: high school to national teams • Time frame: 1983—it was redone after 2000, numbers were nearly identical

9. Style of Play: Defense • Block with Purpose • BSBH • Footwork matches the BSBH sequence • 2, Quick 3, 3, & 5 step approaches • Swing Block for greater height/penetration • Will alter swing approach for more efficiency • Set the block, don’t go for the ball

10. Style of Play: Offense • Play fast in the middle • Commits the middle blocker • Hit doesn’t have to be hard…just fast • Creates single and ½ double blocks for OH/RS • Would like to add some combo & X plays to start incorporating an overload style

11. Summer Opportunities • Open Gym--Mondays • Fun environment • Appropriate level of competition matched to the ability of the athlete • Allows the emerging talent to view more advanced players in action • Competitive level of play • Open Gym—Wednesdays • 5:30-7pm—Incoming Freshman only • 7-9pm—incoming Sophmores to Seniors + invite

12. Summer Opportunities • Conditioning • No conditioning times this summer • I will provide a workout on the website • I believe that improved fitness can help you demand more of your body • Concentrate on core strength, jumping quickness and height. • Keep it anaerobic in nature • Aerobic fitness is good if you are trying to burn calories.

13. Summer Opportunities • Scrimmages • Allows us to practice in a game like environment • Measure ourselves against the local competition • Gives the coaches a chance to see what needs improvement. Also, what did we do well. • How do the athletes work together. What leaders are emerging. • Existing program athletes and/or invitation

14. Summer Opportunities • Camps: Freshman • Freshman: allows coaches to see the talent coming in. • Concentrated effort put into fundamentals with an emphasis on serving and passing • Introduction to the different modes of play (4:2, 5:1, 6:2, etc.) • Gives the athletes an opportunity to learn how they will be evaluated. • Athletes learn what the expectations are. • They will learn how to start working together on the court in the Thurston system.

15. Summer Opportunities • Camps: JV/V • Reminder of the THS system of play. • Some individual work on fundamentals • A lot of competitive play with and against their peers. • Allows the coaches to work with and view the athletes during different stressor events to guage reaction and response • Serving, Passing, Setting, Hitting competitions during the week • Tournament on the final day • JV: Incoming Sophmores + invite • V: Incoming Juniors to Seniors + invite • Conflicts: Talk to me to make arrangements. College, leadership camp conflicts, vacation, etc.

16. Important Dates • Camps: • Freshman: 7/6-7/9 • JV: 7/20-7/24 • V: 8/10-8/14 • July 15th, 22nd, & 29th: Scrimmages • August 12th: Fall sports sign-up • August 24-26th. Volleyball Tryouts: schedule TBD.

17. Fundraising • Willamette Country Music Festival • 8/28-8/30 • Elementary/Middle Camp • 7/6-7/9: 8-12pm • Kidsports Camp: October • Tournaments: • 14’s in Feburary/16’s in March • TES Family Fun Night: $50 dollar bonus for doing such a good job • Calendar: Bruce Berg Photography • $10 features area sports teams—No VB this year. Will be for 2010-11 calendar • $4 goes to program • $4 to Children’s Miracle Network • $3 covers print cost

18. Expenses • Uniforms • We need to fill in the gaps for the Freshman and JV. • Add more sizes • Increase 3 uniform sets for Varsity for swing players • Buy another 25 balls • Build up a reserve for future expenses • Lost ½ a stipend: $1800.00 • We will not be buying t-shirts for camp coaches • We will not be buying cinch bags for campers

19. Player Expenses • Participation Fee: $125 to $150. • Still waiting on official word • Updated physical (within the last 2 years?) • Practice t-shirts: Red, White, Black (~$9 each) • Black spandex, knee pads, socks • We would prefer shoes with a white and red scheme • Varsity: we will do our best to keep any required gear at an absolute minimum

20. Technology & Internet • Website: thurstonvolleyball.edublogs.org • Linked to THS website • Calendar page • Video clips • Nutrition/exercise page • Informational posts • Paperless! • Maxpreps: stats posted online • Facebook page? • Video: ability to extract key moments for game planning, highlights, etc.

21. Some Program differences • There will most likely be 3 teams: F,JV,V • We will make that decision officially after Freshman Camp—7/6-7/9 • Varsity Changes: • Practices will be 3 hours in length for coaches, 2.5 hours for players. 30 minutes @ start or conclusion of practice for coaches to tutor. • Sunday afternoon film session @ TMS library. ~45 minutes • Journals to record personal stats and take notes during film session • Clearwater (Bend) tournament during Homecoming: we will be attending tournament • Will take most Fridaysoff except for Friday practice before Monday match.

22. Gold Medal Squared: GMS • We were not unaware of their system of play • Data driven decisions, base positions, swing blocking, etc • We are now able to fine tune our approach to more closely resemble this system of play • Defense: Blocking focus, altered base positions, back row assignments • Practice’s will look different this year • Start with 2 nets up, move to 1 net • Warm-ups will be volleyball play driven • This summer important as we introduce different evaluation games, activities, changes in defense

23. Expectations of coaching staff • Positive Approach • Tell them what I want versus what I do not want. Allows for more positive interaction. Pushes the athlete to achieve by their own motivation • Competitive environment in practice • We have always been organized for practice. This year more focus on game play to teach skills. Stat and video practice. • Plan your practices…..Practice your plan. • Studies show that athletes need time to practice new skills to implement them with confidence. New stimulus during games increases anxiety reducing performance.

24. Expectations of coaching staff • If we want to be flexible, make adjustments, or even celebrate; we have to practice it. • Cannot introduce new concepts during critical moments • We lower anxiety during competition by increasing tension during practice

25. Team Expectations • I want a team with an attitude of unwaverable confidence • We cannot fear mistakes • Fear of failure leads to blame-shifting • I want accountability for your level of play • I want teammates who support and encourage

26. Team Expectations • All athletes feel welcome • Building others up rather than tearing teammates down to make yourself feel better • Mentor the future: walk away knowing your legacy will keep going by the younger athletes you have mentored

27. Expectations • I do not have patience for personal drama • Realistically cannot eliminate completely • Less drama = more maturity, team focus • I want team players in this program • Nobody is bigger than the “T” • I am not afraid to lose to win my way! • I have benched starters during critical times in the season • I have removed talented players from the team

28. Expectations • Be coachable • Malleable: • Capable of being shaped or formed • Able to adjust to changing circumstances • We are not expecting perfection the first time…neither should you • We want to hear a respectful acknowledgment and sincere effort to execute • Give it your best shot…we will keep working with you to achieve mastery

29. Expectations • Crossover skills your daughter will learn: • Strong work ethic • Respect for authority, teammates, opposition • Versatility: welcomes change as a opportunity to get better • Resiliency: how to handle adversity and still maintain confidence in her team and herself. • Accountability: acknowledges her own mistakes and makes the necessary changes to benefit the team • How to work together as a team: recognizes that team goals are the number 1 priority. Finds a way to make a positive contribution to the team.

30. Conclusion • I am very competitive and will expect the best out of your daughter every day. • I will push and challenge your daughter to pursue excellence in everything she does. • I expect Thurston Volleyball to be successful. • I expect your daughter to have a great summer playing volleyball.