Humbly, I’ve been overwhelmed with positive responses to Perfect 10 Stats. A few coaches have already implemented the idea into a practice setting and I’d love to learn how the session went using Perfect 10 Stats. It will be interesting to learn through a large sample size the median number for each skill to succeed. We are already familiar with the 3 Point Passing scale and the typical goal of at least a 2.0 for passers (depending on the level). I would like to know the goal for Digging (Don’t forget, the passing scale can be used for digging!), Setting, and Hitting. Then most importantly the cumulative Team goal (maybe a 6.2 per rotation to win a match?). Continue Reading

Coaches are Teachers too. “Profound responsibilities come with teaching and coaching. You can do so much good–or harm. It’s why I believe that next to parenting, teaching and coaching are the two most important professions in the world.” ~ John Wooden

Teachers do so much for us, even spending their own time and money on classroom supplies. Many retailers recognize this selfless giving and want to help make things just a bit easier on teachers. Whether they’re offering discount travel, school supplies, clothes, or food, these stores get extra credit with teachers. Many will require membership to your local teachers’ union, NEA, or special clubs, so be sure to read the fine print and keep your ID handy. And don’t stop with just our list — remember to ask for a teacher discount wherever you go, and you just might get one! Plus, pass on our list of 100+ Stores That Give a Student Discount to your classroom. Continue Reading

“Great statistics are the best substitute for judgment.” This is a sticker Al Scates has affixed to the side of his briefcase.

Former Davidson College Head Volleyball Coach, Tim Cowie, is now a distinguished sports photographer. He was our catwalk at the Winthrop Coliseum and snapped this photo of my clipboard. He must have been curious the statistics I was keeping during the match. You can find that exact offensive statistic chart in the presentation/PDF below.

Last season, while out recruiting, I was standing court-side with Shelton Collier and we talked a bit about statistics. He brought to my attention the purpose of bench statistics to help win the next point or next set, versus statistics kept as a summary of what happened in a match. Quite a valid point! I’ve since altered my use of statistics during a match to help my team win, but I must admit, I do take some statistics during a match that provide an overview of a set. Continue Reading

On January 4th and 5th, 2013, the Palmetto Region is hosting the 1st Annual Kick-Off Festival.  I have been fortunate to be asked to be a headline speaker along side USA Volleyball’s John Kessel.

More information is available on their flyer: FestivalAgenda

Fact 1:
The game of volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan.

Fact 2:
The first World Championships were held in 1949 for men and 1952 for women.

Fact 3:
Volleyball was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1964. Continue Reading

Who’d a thunk it? Who’d a thunk that a brainstorming session with Mike Hebert at Minnesota would turn into a new statistic for volleyball? Really, it’s an old statistic with a positive spin, but it makes sense to players. It’s hard to teach the negative and easy to teach the positive. Thus came ‘In Play Efficiency’ or I.P.E. You can learn more about it on an old blog post: What is IPE? Continue Reading

Following is another resource for pencil wielding bench statisticians (like me).  A chart I concocted to track a team’s points earned and errors.  It paints a picture of a team’s strengths and weaknesses, BUT I encourage coaches not to make snap judgments from a single match.  This is best analyzed post tournament. Continue Reading

The Net Live is “the best podcast in the entire volleyball world”.  For all I know, it is the only volleyball podcast, but the content seriously is the best for USA Volleyball, updates on US Players overseas, NCAA Continue Reading

Rotate 123 is a great volleyball rotation coaching tool that allows you to input numerous line-ups in a variety of offenses (5 – 1, 6 – 2).  Instead of writing down all 6 rotations by hand, crossing-out, and manipulating serve receive patterns, just enter your roster into the system and Continue Reading

Dean Smith, famed University of North Carolina basketball coach, created the concept of a cauldron.  The cauldron is a system in which a player is graded in practices and matches. Points are awarded for a player’s performances in drills and the number of times his team wins in scrimmages. Anson Dorrance, the great University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer Coach, talks about it in his book Training Soccer Champions.   Many elite USA Volleyball Coaches recommend this book and it is where volleyball grasped the idea of creating a volleyball cauldron. Continue Reading

Alex Chappell, of GoTickets.com and a fellow reader of my blog, brought to my attention a helpful webpage of Team Management Tools.  I really think some of these applications and software will help in managing both my Division I team at Winthrop University and my juniors team at Carolina Juniors Volleyball.  Alex’s been friendly enough to let me share the list his team put together:

50 Team Management Tools John Wooden Wished He’d Had

1. Google Apps Team Edition – Though this is an application more for office work, the easy-to-use Google interface and familiar tools make it a no brainer when it comes to distributing emails, calendars, and more. Free trial for 30 days, but not too expensive after that.
2. Scrumy – Here’s a free application perfect for managing upcoming events for your team roster. Scrumy is easy and even fun to use. The interface is pared down to the bare bones, which makes it a real no frills deal, but good for what it does.

3. Sportsvite – This web-based application is the perfect tool for managing local teams and getting all your teammates in a row without having to do a lot of set-up. It is made for this, actually. What makes it even easier is the fact that you can connect with Facebook, allowing you to log in without having to go through the clunky sign-up process. Create events and even find teammates in your area.
4. Tom’s Planner – This planner is a bare bones, but powerful piece of online software. The interface is about as flexible and intuitive as this sort of thing gets, with right click and drag-n-drop functions, it couldn’t get much simpler. You can even give it a test drive without even having to sign up to see if it is for you.

5. TeamSnap – This is the definitive tool for anyone looking to be able to organize their team using online tools. TeamSnap offers specific templates no matter what your sport, and Continue Reading

Searching for volleyball charts or statistics sheets to use for practice or during a match?  Have you tried creating spreadsheets to fit your match needs?  Following are a number of volleyball coach resources that I have collected over the years for your use:

Download:

Pre-game charts
Match charts
Post match statistics
Setting Diagram
Serve Receive Patterns
Workout charts

Click on an image below to download the chart/sheet.  Hope they help…Enjoy!

Volleyball Courts (4)

Volleyball Courts with Notes (4)

Volleyball Setting Diagram

Volleyball Roster

5-1 Serve Receive

5-1 Serve Receive alternate

6-2 Serve Receive

6-2 Serve Receive alternate

Volleyball Line-up Sheet

Volleyball Master Game Plan

Serve Receive Chart

Volleyball Game Chart

Volleyball Game Chart Offense

Volleyball Attack Chart

Volleyball Game Stat Chart

Passing Serving Chart

Volleyball Scoresheet

Beach Volleyball Chart

Volleyball Passing Statistics

Volleyball Serving Statistics

Volleyball Workout Chart

Volleyball Workout Log

Volleyball Vertical Jump Chart

Volleyball Cauldron Sheets (4 spreadsheets within workbook)

If you have similar resources you would like to share, please leave a comment or send me a message. I will coordinate getting it posted!