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St_TJanet

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About St_TJanet

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  1. Hi All, I must be doing something right. We are now 3 - 1. Last night we beat the team that we received our only loss from, so the girls are really excited. As you recall, I know next to nothing about volleyball and am currently coaching a 1st year group of 6th graders. I have received so much valuable information from this board and I wish I could thank each and every one of you personally. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! Keep the advice and suggested reading, video's and other information coming. I'm currently letting everyone I know (with any kind of contact to sports) that I am interested in coaches clinics and/or volleyball camps. I currently have one invitation to "assist" at a week long summer camp for grades 6 - 8. If you know of any way I can find coaching clinics or camps in Central Illinois, please let me know. I've surfed the web a bit and contacted the University of Illinois, but haven't had much luck and UofI doesn't do any. Janet
  2. Okay, if you read my other post, I mentioned I want to start moving the girls around and out of the W formation. (I incorrectly called it a 5:1 earlier) I have 2 setters, 3 hitters (no one tall enough to actually spike or block) and the rest are coming along as passers. One of the setters is also one of the hitters. What do you think would be one of the easier options for teaching a new offense? (I hope I have my terminology correct. I really know very little about volleyball.) Thanks for any help you can send my way. Janet
  3. When my 6th graders started out the season 2 months ago they were the same way. They still have their moments. I think this thread and the communicating thread are one in the same. I've had to teach them to be "ball hogs". I told them this is the only "team" sport where you can be a ball hog. You should try get the first hit. You have to yell the loudest (MINE!) and repeat it (as in Finding Nemo) because usually two yell at the same time. After that the team takes over and they fight for the 2nd hit. If nobody calls it and they don't make a move for it, we do burpees or run lines. On our team if they cannot get the ball they have to call their teammate name. We do drills where I will hit specifically to the person not moving until that person starts moving. Usually, they don't like the other girls getting in their "space" and start moving for the ball to regain control of their area. (Girls are so funny.) I guess the one that really gets them moving is for my assistant and I to do rapid fire drills. Accuracy of their hits is not the object, but getting them under the ball and moving. They line up single file on one side of the net and we toss, hit or spike the ball to the first person in line. They attempt a pass and move to the back of the line. Once they figure out they can get to the ball, their hits become more accurate. I also had to get out a dry erase board and draw their positions and show them literally that it is okay to move into the other persons "zone". This helped give them a visual (and explained basics that I -- incorrectly-- assumed would be common sense). Sorry to be long winded. This is our first year and these girls have had phenominal success in learning the game and moving along at a rapid pace. We've been using the 5:1 (W) thus far and today at practice we are going to look at using another rotation (just for fun). I don't know if we'll incorporate it into our games yet this year, but I can tell they are starting to get bored with the basics drill and I need to shake things up. Janet
  4. "What do you do? Are talented kids always also kids with a bad attitude (by the way this isn't my opinion)? How do you handle with those kind of children? I am very curious what other coaches think of this 'problem'? " I have a couple of girls who "think" they are better than what they are. They all know I'm new to volleyball, and a couple of them tell me "well, that's not what we were taught at volleyball camp, .....". Volleyball camp is for a week in the summer. Some girls went to two different camps where they were taught two different things. They were also taught differently in P.E. class. My reply to these attitudes are "I am the coach of this team. What you are doing is not working with "this" team. We are going to try my way and work with it for awhile and see what works best with "this" team. " I can tell when they are actually trying to change their habit and when they are going through the motions. I've had success with this method. We have corrected one girls' forearm pass and one's serving with this "direct" approach. Janet
  5. John & Bert, Thank you so much for your replys. I took what you offered to practice Tuesday, and we had one of the best practices we have ever had. The girls were very consistent in getting the ball up and getting second and third hits. They were also very proud of themselves and knew what they were doing was the right way. At our practice on Thursday, they "forgot" what they learned, however, after a couple of reminders they were back to good form. As for "reading" the ball. I had been standing behind the serving line serving to them, but they get bored or something and start missing the ball. Along with banning them from saying "I can't", I've also had to ban them from saying "I wasn't ready". Therefore, I move around the court and serve the balls or toss the balls from various positions to keep them on their toes and that way they have to "read" from all directions. This has also been helpful in getting them to "move" for the ball. We have a real issue with them standing and watching the ball hit the floor between two of them looking at each other. What do you think of the practice of calling a teammate's name if they are not going for the ball themselves. If the ball is going to LB and MB knows it's not hers should she be calling LB's name? This has been my most effective way of getting them to communicate, however, my assistant & I disagree on this one. You keep talking among yourselves & I'll keep learning! Seriously, THANK YOU for the help! Janet
  6. Hi All, What an exciting thread! I love the international help! I am coaching 6th grade (11 & 12) year olds who have never played volleyball. We are from a small parochial school. I have 6 girls on my team and I play up 2 from our fifth grade team at our games. We practice the 5th & 6th grade together since they are learning at the same level. All of that being said, we had our first game last Saturday & won!!! We went 3 matches to pull it out, but in the end the girls thrived on the pressure. At this level (for us) it is about getting the serve over. However, our girls get so excited that they aren't ready for the ball to come back to them and we lose the point. (We have not moved up to rally scoring.) I, too, am looking for ways to help the girls "read" the ball coming over the net. I knew this would be an issue from day one, so we always spend a lot of time on drills coming over the net. Right now I allow them to return it over the net on serve, and if it is returned then we work on setting up our hits. Is this a bad habit to get them into? They get so excited/flustered when the ball comes over the net, but seem to be more ready for it during a rally. Thanks for all the help! Janet
  7. John, Not long winded at all!! Thank you so much for your experienced advice. I really need it. I'm very excited to be coaching and want to do the best I can. I know what and how I teach the girls will carry them through their playing years, so I want to teach them correctly the first time. I already know of a couple of girls that have the "praying" habit and this really makes them swing for the rafters. Clarify for me....overhead passing isn't just setting, correct? You can also use a one handed pass, but is it with open or closed fist? Can it be done from the back positions? Is it legal to use the hands clasp together overhead? Thanks again. Janet
  8. Hi All, Our volleyball season is just getting underway. I will be coaching 6th grade girls who have only had volleyball in P.E. (I haven't played in 25 years). I've read the past posts and have pretty much decided that basic drills are going to be the way to go for us. No fancy game plans, just straight passing. (However, I am completely open to any suggestions or information you can provide for a better strategy.) I only have 6 girls in the 6th grade, so I will also be pulling up 5th grade girls to play with us. I'll be working with their coach and practicing together. I thought I would introduce myself and let you all know that I will be checking in regularly for all of your sage advice! Janet
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