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.

October Newsletter

VTS to Japan

Barring a last minute snafu, always possible, VTS will be going to Japan next week to spend time with former USA National Team Coach, and current Pioneer Red Wings coach, Toshi Yoshida.  Pioneer is a member of the Japan Professional League and is training for the upcoming season.  Toshi has allowed VTS into their gym to video their training.  This will be a great opportunity for all to see how one of the best volleyball coaches in history works with his athletes.

VTS Goes Over 175,000 Views

We are pleased that the Volleyball Training Solutions site recently passed 175,000 views.  I am pleased that we are able to share with the volleyball community videos of great coaches and players
doing their thing.  Hopefully, we will continue to grow in membership and expand our video library.

VTS and Top Club Coaches


One of the major pushes for VTS this winter and spring is to get top clubs and club coaches involved in sharing their expertise.  To date a majority of the video on the site is presented by top collegiate coaches.  However, there is an ever growing demand for top age group coaches, especially those who work with younger age athletes, to present their training techniques.  I'm asking for recommendations from the club community.  If you can recommend who you consider to be a top coach, let me know.  I will make every effort to get them involved on the site.

VTS Joins with AVCA and Sports Imports

This fall, VTS joined with both Sports Imports and the AVCA  to supply video tips that can be seen on their websites.  Our goal is to share top volleyball coaches in action, so this agreement is great for the sport and VTS is more than happy to participate.

Dartfish Express

Dartfish will be coming out this week with Dartfish Express.  This is an app for I-Pads that allow coaches to take video in practice with their I-Pads and upload immediately to their Dartfish TV collection.  So, those coaches that have private folders on VTS can use this for both instructional videos for players and well as promotional videos for their parents/boosters.  It is exciting to be able to take video within a practice then have it uploaded immediately so players can watch as soon as they get home from a training session.  Great stuff for both athletes and coaches.

September Newsletter

Coming From Dartfish

Sharing video for players, staff and fans is going to get a lot easier when Dartfish Express arrives this fall.  You will be able to take video from your I-Pad and immediately upload to your Dartfish TV collection.  This will allow so many options for sharing video material.  You can take video from a training session and it can immediately be viewed by players at home.  Or, video from a match that is made available to boosters or parents the same night the match was played.  Instructional video from camps or private lessons can be viewed easily by athletes or parents for future reference.  Dartfish is leading the charge in video technology.

Tie Break Statistical Software

For coaches looking for a solid piece of statistical and video software, there may be a user friendly and reasonably priced option that is newly available in this country.  I've been experimenting with Tie Break software and can say this is a something that provides quality statistical evaluation of a match along with video tags that can be used to edit video for your team or the opponent.  Unlike other options on the market, this is actually easy to use. A student manager can get up to speed on within days.  For those in the market for statistical and video software that has a tolerable learning curve, check out Tie Break.  Their homepage is:  Tie Break Pro

AVCA and Volleyball Training Solutions

VTS will be supplying the AVCA with a Video Tip of the Week.  This video will be an instructional segment of about 2-4 minutes.  This will also be available to VTS members.  The focus of this segment is to highlight some of the top assistant coaches in the country.


 Book Review

One of the things I'm going to provide in upcoming newsletters is a pale imitation of a book review.  Not ready for the NYT Book Page, but I will kick out some thoughts and recommendations.

The first on the list is:  "The Four Hour Work Week"  by Timothy Ferriss.  This is not exactly a coaching book.  However, there is a definite crossover between the concepts of running a business and the demands of coaching.  This is the cross over that I enjoyed.  The focus is encouraging the lifestyle you desire by focusing upon time management techniques.  A teacher/coach is extremely busy.  How might time be saved that allows more free time to pursue alternative activities?  This is not your normal time management book with the same old ideas that you've heard a thousand times.  The idea is not to free up time so you can work more.  The goal is to create free time.

This book will get your creative juices flowing as to how you might streamline your operation and use sources to help free up some time for you.  I recommend this as a good read that is very thought provoking.  If you take some of these ideas and put into your routine, I'd be interested in the results.

Upcoming Video Schedule

I'm hitting the road next week and will visit the training sessions of many top programs.  Tentatively scheduled are Illinois ('11 NCAA runner up); Purdue ('11 NCAA Elite Eight); Louisville (NCAA tournament team); Dayton (NCAA tournament team); Ohio State (NCAA tournament team), finally, Ball State with Hall of Fame Coach, Steve Shondell.  This is the first of several road trips throughout the fall, just in time for the gas price hike.

Team Folders

If I were to return to the world of collegiate coaching, without doubt I would take advantage of the team folders available on Volleyball Training Solutions.   A coach can upload video of training, matches, or individual sessions.  Coaches and players can edit the video for key points, make comments and generally expedite the learning process and exchange of information.  These are private, password protected folders and can be set up within a day. Just contact the VTS office for details.

Fall Season Newsletter

Navigating Dartfish TV

If you are a VTS member and want to make sure you are taking full advantage of the tools available on Dartfish TV we can assist you.  We can arrange a Go To Meeting session that will help you to become familiar with the site.  Everyone is busy during the fall season.  If we can save you some time by assisting you with the site, that will be a good thing.

Custom Members

We will be contacting Custom or Platinum Members to make sure they know that we are available to assist their programs.  This could entail skill analysis, statistical analysis of matches, evaluating practice sessions, etc.  We will assist in any way possible.  Contact the VTS office for more information.

Strength and Agility Programs

Anthony Glass-OSU Strength Coach

We do have staff members that can assist you in developing and monitoring strength and agility programs for your team.  So often, teams have access to limited facilities that are not fully equipped.  At the same time, coaches want to develop the fitness of their players.  We can assist you in the area.  Contact the VTS office to discussion options.

Upcoming Video

As the fall season begins we will pursue the best in educational video for volleyball coaches.  We will certainly want to video the top programs in action.  However, good coaching takes place in many venues.  We will not solely pursue top Division 1 programs.  We will go where good coaching takes us.  If you want to suggest a coach at the collegiate or high school level that we should pursue, feel free to drop us a line.  We will follow up.

The basic philosophy of VTS is there are many methods that are successful.  We have avoided pursuing the thought that there is only one "correct" way to coach.  So, we pride ourselves on presenting information that "makes sense" and is innovative.  We will leave it up to you as to what information you want to incorporate into your program.   I would encourage you to be unafraid to try new things.  Maybe it works, maybe you don't like it.  But, don't hesitate to try new things.

VTS Blog

If you aren't aware, I'm doing a blog on a wide variety of topics, mostly related to volleyball.  The next one will delve into the upcoming practices that most schools are doing in advance of school beginning.  I'll kick out some thoughts as to how one might organize the sessions.
Grow VTS

The only way that VTS can continue to provide quality volleyball educational resources is to grow the site.  If you feel that VTS is a positive contribution to the effort to improve the coaching in this country, pass along the word.

Volleyball Training Solutions June Newsletter

 Fall Coaching Interviews for VTS Members

Kevin Hambly-Illinois

This fall, VTS will begin a series of interviews with the top coaches in the country.  This will be a 10-15 minute session that will examine coaching philosophy, skill development and program organization.  The goal is to make these sessions a high level discussion of coaching skills.  We won't go into the often discussed topics of rankings, RPI, which conference is better, etc.  This will be a discussion designed to help the coaching community become more acquainted with how high level coaches approach their craft.  We will provide VTS members a chance to interact and pose questions to these successful coaches

VTS at the Ohio Coaches Clinic

I'll be speaking and presenting Volleyball Training Solutions at the Ohio Volleyball Coaches Association Clinic the last weekend in July   I'd enjoy meeting some of the Ohio VTS members.  Living in Denver for a couple years now, I'm going to have to re-adjust to the humidity of Ohio in the summer.

Video Schedule

We will be on a limited schedule in the month of July relative to adding video to the VTS library.  Once we get things going in the fall training sessions, VTS staff will once again be out to video the top programs as they begin to prepare for the season.

How Do We Learn?

One of my recent Facebook posts was an article on the Khan Academy: Link: Khan Academy-USA Today  The focus is on how information for students might be presented in a more effective manner.  There is no reason to think that volleyball athletes are any different.  I am convinced that the use of video and pictures are not being used sufficiently to support information and provide feedback.  I would encourage you to be creative in how you present information.  Coaches tend to be pretty good speakers, but sometimes other forms of communication is critical to the learning process.  Video is just another form of communicating.   Dartfish does a wonderful job of creating a format of both video and pictures that can be used effectively to providing a visual of how skills are executed in a proper manner.  I'll be sending out to members a link to download skills showing sequential images of skills.  An idea might be to copy into a poster format and post in your training facility.

Referral Program Coming

Expanding our membership is important to continue to provide quality service.  In that regard, we will be initiating a referral program for VTS members in the upcoming weeks.  On the VTS membership page, there is a place for "Referred By".  We will monitor referrals and establish a discount for the referring member.  More on this in a few days.

Team Folders

A service we will be providing in the fall is a private team video collection.  You can upload video for viewing by your team or fans.  This might include scout video, post match video that is edited using Dartfish Easy Tag (which is a wonderful app for your tablet), or highlight video.  Contact VTS if this is of interest for your program.

May Newsletter

 Changes on both Dartfish TV and VTS Website

There have been some positive changes on the VTS website that I want to make you aware.  We have placed a renew button at each of the levels.  So, members wishing to renew can just hit the "Renew" button, enter the appropriate information and you'll be good to go.  We will also be installing a PayPal button for those wishing to pay in this method.  Dartfish TV has made some great changes, mostly from an administrative perspective.  However, for members with private folders that have tagged video, you'll be able to bring up all your tags just by hitting a button.  So, for example, if you have tagged all of Suzie's serves, these tags are now easily accessible.

New Member "Go to Meeting" Orientation

We will be offering members, especially new members, the opportunity to go over all that Dartfish TV offers for you.  We can go over the site, make sure you understand how to navigate Dartfish TV and use the available tools.  If you're interested in this, just contact the VTS office and we can arrange a convenient time.

"Commented Videos"

I've received several inquiries about videos that have received comments from other members.  The question being how can they see the comment and the video.  I attached a picture that will assist.  Go to the "Home" logo, then click on "Commented" and all videos with comments will be listed in order of comment.  I would encourage comments and exchange of ideas within the membership community.

Using VTS in the Summer Months 

Having a private team folder and using VTS in the summer can keep your team engaged in the summer months.  Here are sample uses of VTS private team folders during the summer:

• Video your open gyms and upload video and place comments and key points that allow players to focus on key areas of development
• Video players performing skills and have VTS perform analysis and place in your collection so player can download.
• Strength and agility programs for your players
• Video from last season with comments and showing successes
• Skill video with analysis

 These are only a few ways to incorporate video into your player and potentially staff development.

Plan Ahead for the Fall Season

Consider having a private folder for your team.  You can upload and download team practices, matches and future opponents.  Players can access from anywhere with an internet connection with their I-Pads.  You can tag matches using Dartfish Easy Tag (free!), upload video, we will synch your video and tags, then you can watch edited video of your team.  Contact VTS and we can get you going.

Recent Video Additions

• Developing Armswing Mechanics 
• Jim Stone will focus on developing proper armswing mechanics for younger players using some lead up activities
• Lower Body Strength Development
• Ohio State strength coach, Anthony Glass, goes over proper fundamentals of lower body exercises in the weight room
• Munciana Peppers
• Coach John Rodriguez takes you through his 12 and under training session with great explanations and presentations of drills

Newsletter/Blog

I'll be developing a two prong approach to volleyball information.  The first will be a monthly newsletter, which will be in this format.  The second will be in a blog format that will focus on volleyball events of the day. The link to the blog will be on the VTS website. 

Use VTS to Store Team Video 

VTS can be used to store team video for the club or fall season.  You can take your match video or scout video and place on the VTS website for convenient viewing for your staff and players.  VTS will create a private folder for your team that only your players can access.  The use of Dartfish Easy Tag will allow convenient editing of your match video.  Call VTS for more information.

VTS Custom Membership

This level of membership is designed to meet the needs of your staff or team.  We can pretty much go any direction you desire.  Personal coaching development, team evaluation and recommendations, examples of drill and practice development, etc.  Just let us know and we can assist you in accomplishing your program goals.

Upcoming Video

This week we will do a setter training video on footwork patterns to move around the court.  We will also do a session on attacking.  Also upcoming are short interviews with top coaches on various aspects of coaching and developing your team.  I'll be sending to members this week some forms that might assist you in planning practice, developing game plans or match evaluation.

Suggestions Needed

Most of the focus to date for VTS has been developing quality coaching video for members.  In the upcoming year, we want to grow the site and raise the number of members.  We also want to diversify our offering to meet your needs.  I'd like to develop a referral program that will reward current members in some form.  I have a couple ideas kicking around in my head, however, if you have suggestions as to a referral program to both increase membership and reward members, feel free to pass along.

Support the Semper Fi-Injured Marine Fund

As you know, a majority of the proceeds of VTS goes the the Semper Fi-Injured Marine

Fund.  Become a friend to the Semper Fi Fund on Facebook and know that your membership on VTS goes to supporting soldiers who have given so much to their country.

As always, your insights, opinions and thoughts are appreciated.  Let us know
if we can assist your program in any way.