Youth World Championships in Thailand

USA Youth Team - Silver Medalists

I just returned from coaching at the FIVB Youth World Championships that brought together the top 20 teams in the world.  I am pleased to say that after recovering from a 1st match loss to Slovenia, the USA team recovered to finish with a Silver Medal.  We beat Brazil in 5 sets in the semi-finals, then suffered a 3 set loss to a very, very good China team. This is the first time that any USA team, at any age level, has received a medal at a World Championship.  I must say the level of play was very high and I was most pleased with the efforts given by the USA ladies.

Ray Gooden-NIU

Most recent and Upcoming Travels for VTS Video Library

If I was paid by the mile, I'd be a rich guy.  Upon returning from Thailand, I was off to visit some great coaches in the midwest.  I am in the process of posting video from recent visits to Louisville, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ball State and Northern Illinois.  Great coaching going on and I'm very appreciative of those coaches allowing me to share what they do in their training sessions.  If the opportunity allows, please go out of your way to contact these coaches and let them know you're appreciative of their willingness to help share their expertise.  Beginning next week, I am scheduled to visit Michigan, Ohio University, Marshall, South Carolina and still lining up other successful programs.

Dartfish Express and Video Lockers on VTS

I highly recommend the app Dartfish Express for use on your I-Pad or I-Phone.  This is a wonderful piece of analysis software that allows coaches to video, take pictures of your athletes, make verbal and written comments on the video, then, either show the athlete immediately, or, from your device, upload directly to Dartfish TV.  We have many clubs and collegiate squads opening their own private video lockers on VTS.  They take team practice or individual footage, make comments, then directly place on the VTS folder so players can view at their convenience.

Keep Your Players Healthy

Dr. Robin Hunter

One of the keys to a successful season is keeping players healthy. In general, coaches spend most of their efforts in this area in the weight room or track working on developing the physical aspect of the athlete.  More attention needs to be devoted to injury prevention. I would encourage VTS members to access the Four Part Series by Dr. Robin Hunter on the VTS site.  Dr. Hunter does a wonder job of presenting keys to identify potential areas of concern and rehab methods that will keep your athletes on the court instead of sitting beside you on the bench.  For a sample, view one of the video at:

Dr. Robin Hunter

Good luck with those coaching this fall.

New Offerings from Volleyball Training Solutions

Fall Webinars

For the first time, in conjunction with the fall season VTS will be hosting webinars for member coaches.  We will invite you to suggest topics and potential guest coaches.  I'm looking forward to th opportunity to allow an exchange of ideas, thoughts and opinions from guest coaches and VTS members.  If you can't make the live sessions, everything will be recorded for future play.

AVCA Video Tip of the Week

For the second year, VTS and the AVCA will team up for the AVCA Video Tip of the Week.  We are happy to provide the AVCA with quality video information to assist coaches of all levels.

Recent Uploads

If you want to stay up to date, go to our VTS Facebook Page.  If you "Like", you'll see updates, new video, articles specific to areas of coaching interest, etc.

Don't Forget "Digging Deep" Podcasts

There is some really good information being provided on our Digging Deep podcasts.  Our most recent offering was a great conversation with Jill Womsek, Head Trainer for the USA Women's National Team.  Jill offered some thoughts on how coaches can identify and possibly avoid some of the common volleyball injuries.

Private Video Collection for Your Team 

You can create a private video collection just for your team and staff.  This collection will be a password protected collection that allows video upload and download that can only be viewed by your team.  This collection allows for comments, questions and identification of key aspects of the training

session or match that you want your players to focus upon.  Players can access video from home, dorm or their phone.  What is really exciting is that coach and players can
exchange ideas via the channel.  A player from their home can pose questions on what they see and the coach can respond.  wonderful way to share video and expedite the learning process.  Contact the VTS office to get things going for your fall season.

Volleyball Training Solutions-March Newsletter

Upcoming Video Trips

Tonya Johnson

We will be visiting the south next week as VTS takes a look at the training sessions of the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.  Lizzy Stemke is at the helm of the University of Georgia.  Lizzy is a former All American setter at the University of Wisconsin and a past member of the USA National Team.  Tonya Johnson, a alumnus of the Louisiana State Tigers, has a highly competitive team at Georgia Tech.  I have no doubt both will contribute to the VTS video library.  In the upcoming weeks, we will also visit legendary Orange County Volleyball Club with Head Coach Charlie Brande.  Coach Brande has won multiple national championships with the Orange County program. 

Paula Weishoff Podcast

Paula Weishoff

It was a great conversation with former Olympic coach and player, Paula Weishoff.  We spoke extensively about her training with former national team coaches Arie Selinger, Chuck Erbe and Terry Liskevych helped her form her own coaching philosophy.    Also, we talked about her most recent experience with Hugh McCutcheon.  Great insights from a legendary player, who is currently the Head Coach at UC-Irvine.  Paula has coached numerous Youth and Junior National team, to go along with her most recent experience with the USA National team at the London Olympics.

VTS Tops 200,000 Views

We are happy to focus on the Volleyball Training Solutions site on Dartfish TV recently surpassed the 200,000 view marker.  VTS is happy that so many coaches are taking advantage of a tool to broaden their coaching skills.

Share Video Collection

Pending interest from VTS members, we will create a separate video collection from members so you can share favorite drills.  I would really like to see this concept advance.  I know there are some good things going on in various training sessions.  If interested, drop me a note and I can get things cooking.

Technology Ideas from Rise Volleyball 

I'm always interested in what coaches are doing, especially from a technology perspective.  Below is a note from a VTS member, Loren Anderson.  I thought it was great use of technology to provide feedback to players.

News and Notes for January 2013

VTS Initiates "Digging Deep"

Tom Pingel

Our first podcast that we have given the title of "Digging Deep" is available.  Actually, we wanted the title to be an indicator of content.  Or goal is to explore how good coaches approach the game, their philosophies of coaching, how they pursue excellence within their programs, etc.  So, you definitely won't find discussions of ranking, recruiting and similar items that seem to dominate the discussion.

Our first guest is Tom Hogan, former assistant coach with the USA Women's National Team and current assistant at the University of Denver.  Tom talks about the 2008 Olympics and his experiences working with Lang Ping, how international training methods differ than those in the USA and suggestions for USA volleyball to improve the game.

We will follow this interview next week by talking with Tom Pingel, Coordinator of the High Performance program with USA Volleyball

Parent Video

 We recently placed in the Download Collection on VTS a video designed for parents of younger age players.  So often, parents want to be of assistance to help their young athletes in becoming better players, but are not real sure how to help.  This video is designed provide parents with some basic concepts of the game that can be addressed with simple activities in the backyard.  Thanks to Bob Poulter and Jen Pokraka of the Front Range Volleyball Club for putting this together.

Stretching?  Yes?  No?

There are some coaches "out there" that feel stretching and flexibility work is a borderline waste of time.  There was an interesting article recently in the Wall Street Journal that focused on the San Francisco 49'ers and their commitment to stretching.  The feeling inside the team is that the flexibility routine is one of the major reasons they are experiencing significantly fewer injuries this year.


Dead Frog Far Out Volleyball Club

This highly successful club out of Michigan is using the VTS channel on Dartfish TV to communicate effectively with their players and staff.  Video of matches is uploaded to their private channel with comments by coaches pointing out key aspects of play.  Video is also shared by coaches to assist coaches in their practice planning.  Great work by the DFFO staff !!

Dartfish Days

VTS staff will come to your training sessions to video players and provide skill analysis using Dartfish software.  Or, send in video and we can place analyzed skill in your folder.  Contact the VTS office for more information.  There is no better way for a player to acquire skill and/or make skill modifications than by seeing themselves in action.  In the analysis, we provide key positions, comments and video comparison with successful players.

Share Your Video with Colleagues

On VTS, we have a collection available for coaches that want to share video of their favorite drills.  One of the core missions of VTS is to provide a vehicle for sharing volleyball information to coaches.  Let me know if you want to be involved in this project and we can get you involved.

Christmas Newsletter

How Front Range VBC uses Volleyball Training Solutions and Dartfish TV

Every club has their challenges.  Facilities, staffing, equipment, etc.  Teams practice at a wide variety of times and sometimes different facilities.  The job of the club director is to make sure all teams and coaches are in a positive teaching situation.  Below is an example of how Front Range implements technology to assist both players and coaches in providing a quality situation.

• All practices and matches are recorded and placed into a common hard drive.  Without having to attend every practice, Head Coach Jim Miret has the ability to review all  practices.  
• On Dartfish TV, every team within the club has their own private folder.  Also, Front Range coaches have their own folder.  This is only accessible to team coach and players
• Using Dartfish software, Coach Miret can "tag" parts of a practice that he wants to emphasize and places that portion of a practice on Dartfish TV with comments or drawings so all can review.
• This edited video can be placed into both the players folders, or in the private folder of the coach.
• The video can then be downloaded by either players or coaches for future review.

Using this system allows the club director or lead coach to be able to be directly involved in both player and coach development.  There are many tools to share video.  However, Dartfish TV goes the next step in allowing comment and focus on specific aspects of the video.  Definitely a wonderful tool.  VTS can assist your club in developing private folders for your club and assist you in getting started with this  teaching tool.

Dr. Robin Hunter Video

We recently placed some great video by Dr. Robin Hunter on the VTS site.  The focus of the video was simple tools to assess the physical status of athletes and tools to address potential problems.  This is great video for coaches, players and parents.  As coaches, we tend to focus on teaching skills and team systems.  However, if your athletes are injured, they are not going to improve their skills.  I would encourage all coaches to take the time to watch this four part series and use the presented information to assist your players.

Podcasts

If things go well, VTS will be initiating podcasts with coaches and club directors sometime the second half of January.  We will title these productions "Digging Deep" and will focus on in depth discussions with top collegiate, club coaches and club administrators.  These conversations will be free and available on the VTS website.

Teaching Priorities as the Club Season Begins

Going on my own personal experience, I would encourage all coaches to develop two specific items in the early season practices.  Those items being foot movement and posture.  My general opinion is younger players play the game too high, and they reach for everything because they haven't moved the feet.  

NCAA Tournament

A couple items relative to recently completed NCAA tournaments.  First, congratulations to Texas for winning the Division 1 championship.  A wonderful collection of athletes.  I was very pleased that VTS karma treated Oregon, Michigan and Penn State so well.  All these programs are on the VTS site with great training video.  It is always nice to see new teams achieve this level of success, so a special shout out to the Ducks and Wolverines.

Not to be ignored is the success of Brady Starkey of Concordia, MN.  Coach Starkey just won his sixth Division II championship.  Again, positive VTS vibes go to Chris Catanach, head coach of the University of Tampa that finished second in the D-II championship.  Chris is a VTS member.

Sharing Folder

Beginning next week, VTS will institute a sharing video collection.  This will allow for VTS members to upload and download video from other members.  The entire philosophy of VTS is to share volleyball information.  A rising tide raises all ships.  If one club improves, all others will have to improve as well.  We need more good teams and players.  So if you have favorite drill, competitive game or training tool, I'd encourage you to share with others.  I'll send out a notice when the sharing collection is available.  This will be a part of your VTS membership and available to all members.

Thanksgiving Newsletter

Happy Thanksgiving from Volleyball Training Solutions

I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy a relaxing holiday with friends and family.   If you get the chance, send some good karma into the cosmos for the Detroit Lions.  They need all the assistance they can muster.  Not to date myself, but I do remember when the Lions were the only football game on Thanksgiving.  They would annually give the Packers a good go.  How I long for those days!


Focus on Club and Youth Videos

We are making a special effort to reach out to the successful clubs in the country to add to our video library.  There is a value to watch how coaches that work with the various age groups, especially the young ones.  I feel very inadequate when I'm asked questions about players in the 9-12 age group.  So, I'm asking for assistance.  If you know a good coach for the young ones, let me know and we'll get them involved.  I put this video on the site in an attempt to take a step in this direction.  I have

 

also placed a great session of Amber Jaworski working with some 8-10 year old players at Front Range Volleyball Club on the site.  She does a great job of teaching movements and postures relating to the game.  So, this will be a priority for us to increase our offerings in this general area.  Feedback is welcome.

Private Club Collections

Several clubs are purchasing private folders for the coaches in their clubs.  This will allow coaches to upload video for viewing by their club coaches and players.  A great way to share information.  If there is an interest, let us know and we can get your club started.

Share Video Collection

We will be starting a private video collection for VTS members that will be a sharing video folder.  If you have drills or games that you'd like to share with others on the site, you'll be able to upload and download the video, share comments and ask questions of your colleagues.  The goal of VTS is to share good coaching information.  That can come from many sources and I know we have some good coaches under the VTS umbrella.  I hope to have this active by December and will be providing more information as to how this will work.  I'm excited to have VTS to be part of this concept.

Dartfish Days

We will also be initiating a new service for club that we are terming "Dartfish Days" with participating clubs.  VTS staff will come to your club site and perform a Dartfish Analysis of the volleyball skills of club players.  We hope to start this after the New Year.  Again, we hope to take the skill development of younger players to a new level.

 Dartfish Express is Here !!

Dartfish Express is an I-Pad app that allows direct upload to your Dartfish TV Channel from your mobile device.  Along with easy upload, you can provide feedback to your athletes by drawing and voice comments.  Dartfish Express is a great tool for providing easy access to quality feedback for your athletes.  This will be very useful for those teams or clubs that have private collections on VTS.  You'll be able to upload video to your private collection and your players can access and download from their homes.

 Feedback Welcome

Feel free at any time to call or drop a note to VTS if we can be of assistance.  One collegiate member requested assistance in finding him a 6'2" outside hitter.  Sorry, but that is above my pay grade.  But we do want to help out any way we can.  Happy Thanksgiving to VTS'ers.

November Newsletter

Dartfish Express is Coming

You will soon be able to use your I-Pad/I Phone to upload video to Dartfish TV channels.  So the ability to communicate with athletes and boosters just became a lot easier.  For coaches, from your I Pad/Phone, you can video your athletes in skill or team play, draw or comment, then upload directly to your channel.  Another use is some brief video of a match, and upload to parents or boosters that couldn't make the match.  So many uses to develop your athletes, along with interest in your program.  Dartfish TV is a tool that can be instrumental in taking athletes to a higher level.  The ability to learn and communicate should not be restricted to solely afternoon team practices. This exciting tool should be available shortly.


 Dartfish TV Maintenance

On Thursday, October 25th, there will be an maintenance and upgrade which will mandate channel shutdown for a few hours.  Since this is taking place in the middle of the night in North America, this shouldn't cause too much inconvenience.  However, insomniacs may need a plan B should the channel not be ready for your late night viewing.

Japan Video

Toshi Yoshida

VTS recently returned from Tokyo with some wonderful video of Toshi Yoshida working with his Ageo Medical professional team.  Toshi is without question one of the top coaches in the world.  We spent four days in his training sessions as he prepares his team for their upcoming season.  I have about forty hours of video to edit, but will be adding this to the VTS channel in the upcoming weeks.

Upcoming Projects

We will be doing a couple different things in the upcoming weeks.

• I am going to produce a video for parents that will assist them as they work with their daughters.  So many parents want to help, but lack the knowledge to contribute to the cause.  This will be a free download from the VTS site.
• We have training video scheduled with Georgia, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and NC State in the upcoming weeks.  We are also beginning our sessions with successful clubs this weekend as we visit Dead Frog in Kalamazoo, Michigan
• As mentioned, we will be uploading video from our visit with Toshi Yoshida in Japan.  Hopefully, we can get Toshi involved in future projects.

Recommended Reading

I have almost finished a great book written by Salman Khan, founder of the Khan Academy.   The book title is "One World Schoolhouse- Education Re imagined".  This is a wonderful book that critiques the current educational system and makes suggestions for how to better develop a student's abilities.  I always read books with a thought as to how it might impact teaching volleyball.  This book will definitely get your creative juices flowing as to how to better impart the coaching information you have for your athletes.


That's all for now.  As always we are looking to improve and grow the Volleyball Training Solutions site.  Suggestions are welcome and appreciated.  For those high school coaches, good luck as the season winds down.  For club coaches, good luck as the season starts.