I’m really enjoying watching the USA Women’s Team play this year. Great chemistry and smart, physical, consistent play. They are ranked #1 in the world. Following are some highlight clips and things to take note of:

Blocking – watch the discipline posture. Loaded and square to the net. Very efficient movement. Great hand position (including middles when they are late to get the pins). Great reading and closing to the outside blocker (hip-to-hip). Continue Reading

This past Sunday, I was in a volleyball conundrum. The USA Men and the USA Women played at the same time. Ironically in very different time zones as the men played France in France and the women played Brazil in Brazil. Both coming out victorious, 3 sets to 1 set, on the opponent’s home court. I spent part of my Sunday flipping screens on my computer to watch them both. Continue Reading

Information provided by the USA Olympic website: http://www.olympic.org/hbi Official Website of the Olympic Movement

When girls and women practice sport, they can profit from many health benefits. While these positive attributes far outweigh the risks involved in sports participation, there is scientific evidence that, under certain circumstances, the healthy body image of some female athletes can suffer through sport. In particular, the female athlete triad can have a significant impact on the lives of the girls and women concerned. Continue Reading

Even though our objective as a volleyball coach is to coach volleyball, we are also teaching life lessons through volleyball. The following list fittingly came out in time for Father’s Day and many of these points can apply to male coaches coaching female athletes. Continue Reading

Today, we celebrate the life of volleyball legend Eugene Selznick, who passed away at the age of 82. A Hall of Fame Player and Coach, Selznick was captain of the United States men’s national volleyball team for 17 consecutive years (1953–67), winning the 1960 and 1966 Volleyball World Championships. He also was an early supporter of California beach volleyball, and was designated the “First King of Beach Volleyball.”

Volleyball Hall of Fame
http://www.volleyhall.org/selznick.html

Beach Volleyball Database
http://www.bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=295

Sports Illustrated
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1078571/index.htm

 The sport and USAV (or perhaps more appropriately at this time, USVBA) has lost a true icon!!!  Gene Selznick passed away yesterday of complications from pneumonia.  I can’t possibly recount his story or impact on our sport adequately, and will simply refer you to our web site and the attached story.  I suspect you will hear much more in the days ahead.  It is hard to overstate his impact and influence on the sport (both beach and hard court).  For many he was larger than life; his personality, his opinions, his playing ability, his passion and his remarkable talent—all contributed to his impact and his legacy.   He was a Hall of Famer, an All-Time Great and a large part of the fabric of what makes our sport so special.  The most sincere condolences from all of us at USAV go out to his family and many friends. ~ Doug Beal

http://usavolleyball.org/news/2012/06/11/mr-volleyball-gene-selznick-passes-away/48364