As a college coach, the following provided an interesting perspective on coaching youth.  I realized that the same principles to coaching apply, no matter the age.  Here is a question I received from a former player that coaches on the side:

I am working with an 8th grader at the end of the week that wants to
make the middle school team in a month, but has never played volleyball before. Any ideas of things I could do with her?

As great a coach as you are, you are not going to convert this player into a superstar in a week or month.  In the short amount of time you have, the best thing you can do is build confidence in her by focusing on the positive things she does.  Maybe she moves really quickly on the court or she is able to serve overhand or she has a great positive, leadership type attitude that will help out the team.

In addition, provide the groundwork for her to be a discipline person.  Let her know how you always got your homework done first so that when you played volleyball, so school wasn’t on your mind.  Tell her how you ate well so you could feel the best you could during a practice.  Creating a great player starts with these fundamentals.  These fundamentals have been instilled within you by your parents, hopefully her parents are providing the same guidance.

Most importantly, be a positive role-model for her and encourage her.  She looks up to you.  Have fun and good luck!