USA Volleyball recently continued its Coach Observation Session pilot program at the National Team Development Program (NTDP) Indoor Summer Training Series July 13-15 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
During this innovative educational opportunity, coaches received exclusive access to on-court training, staff meetings and instruction led by four NTDP coaches who provided a direct live audio feed to observing coaches. Girls U15-U17 coaches were University of Kentucky Women’s Wolleyball Associate Head Coach Ben Josephson and University of Utah Women’s Volleyball Associate Head Coach Alyssa D’Errico. Boys U18-U20 coaches were McKendree University Women’s and Men’s Head Coach Nickie Sanlin and Pepperdine University Men’s Volleyball Assistant Coach Matt Pollock.
“It was a great experience to be around high-caliber athletes and coaches running the show,” said Valerie Martinez, who serves as director of the NMB Volleyball Academy in Miami, Florida.
One of USA Volleyball’s educational initiatives is to create a stronger alignment and connection between coach education resources and NTDP training programs. The Coach Observation sessions began at this year’s NTDP Indoor Spring Training Series and will extend to the sand this fall at the NTDP Beach Fall Training Series.
The sessions work in concert with the online Coach Academy launched earlier this year. Among other benefits, observing coaches will receive access to a customized USAV Coach Academy online education module to assist them in preparing for, and observing and analyzing, the Coach Observation experience.
“It was an amazing program, particularly the interaction with the coaches,” remarked Roberto Villanueva Rojas, who coaches with the South County Volleyball Club in Utah.
“It was a unique experience. The ability to listen in on lead coaches was the most valuable part,” added Ocean Bay Club coach Robert Smith.
For more information on USA Volleyball Coach Academy subscriptions and all educational resources provided by USA Volleyball Education Services, please visit the Coach Education page.
For more information on future Coach Observation Sessions, email Jordan Kelly.