Developing the Person, Not the Player
It is critical that coaches develop the person, not the athlete. Developing the person allows the athletic skills to grow, but the opposite is not necessarily a guarantee.
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Topic: Growing the Game
Volleyball Should Not Be Boring
Watching the kids in a small indoor gym training over three nets, I thought of all the lines we put kids into, the way we ignore the net, the way we inflict pain via the forearm pass and the way 6v6 is experienced by beginners. I get angry inside at knowing billions of kids over my lifetime have walked away from our sport for a lifetime because their introduction to the game is BORING. We must do better when we introduce this sport.
Notes from the U.S. and Netherlands
I spent Memorial Day flying back from Amsterdam, 24 hours in en route, leaving a place where the Dutch Underground were battling in World War II three-quarters of a century before me.
Why Should I Run a 6-3 or 6-6?
For those with little time to read my blogs and ponderings, the short answer is “In a 6-3 you teach HALF your players on the court the leadership roles and key skill of setting/running an offense, and in a 6-6, every player learns that key skill.”
Motivational Interviewing – Still Learning
John Kessel’s still in learning mode (he’s always there), and now his quest for learning introduced him to Motivational Interviewing (MI), which is all about the communication techniques that help you draw wisdom and answers from your players.
Six Things To Do When Coaching Your Own Child
Coaching your own child can be a fun, rewarding experience for both of you, but it can also be a challenge. Here are six ways you can best keep everyone – your child, the rest of the team, and the rest of the team’s parents – happy.
The Path to Being a Pro Volleyball Player
Few athletes are going to beat the odds and make it to collegiate or professional volleyball. John Kessel’s son is one of those few. Here are tips from John about raising a potential professional athlete.
Increasing Participation Across the Board
In an effort to get more touches in practice for his teams, CAP III coach Dennis Belaire has combined speedball and the Competitive Cauldron to form a new game-like drill: SpeeDron.
The Agony of DeParent
Parents agonizing over defeat need to learn to enjoy all matches, including losses, and spend more time teaching the values and lessons to be gained in the journey.
Teaching More Effectively and Efficiently
Time in the gym is limited – especially now – so practice must be efficient as possible. John Kessel has ideas on how to best use your time in the gym.