Tuesday, December 29, 2009
2010- Chicago and Hawaii????
Venice invited back to Asics Challenge in Chicago and also considering Maui Invitational in 2010. (Sigh..........) What to do ? What to do? Have a great New Year! Look for me at the Outback bowl on New Years Day. Go Tigers!
Monday, December 21, 2009
AVCA convention
What a great National Championship it was with Penn St defeating Texas 15-13 in the
5th. It does not get any closer. While that was going, the coaching staff was enjoying the American Volleyball Coaches Association. It is a 4 day convention where college and high school coaches from all over the country meet for seminars, banquets, and also discuss issues concerning our sport. It is a great way to meet up with old friends and to bring new ideas back. Day 1 was pretty cool as we were able to sit and watch the teams in the Final 4 practice in the Forum. How cool is it to see Texas' Destiny Hooker make contact with the ball 1 foot over the top of the antennae. Day 2, I went to a mental practice and attention seminar, creating a positive culture in your program put on by the Michigan Coach, and one of my favorites by a UCLA professor on understanding personality styles. That night we sat in a luxury suite with the guys from Tampa to watch the semi finals. Day 3 we learned about defense, training the outside hitter, and ways to increase the speed and efficiency of the transition game which I think is so important at the high school level. In other words, how fast a team goes from defense to offense. Day 4 was interesting as I was able to sit and talk with former Nebraska coach, Terry Pettit. In my opinion, he is one of the best marketers of the game of volleyball. Not only did he have tremendous success, he is the orchestrator of producing the only womens team where people actually scalp tickets outside to get in to see his teams play. He gave me some great ideas to see the TeePee become even a more potent home court advantage then it already has become in the state of Florida. Also, some setting clinics were excellent put on by the Iowa State coach and I was able to sneak in on a volleytotz seminar as I will be coaching Brooke's Venetian Bay 9 and under team this spring.
It is great to be off for the holidays as our family will be traveling and I am sure to find a fishing pole at some point and see the Outback bowl. Have a great Christmas and don't forget to celebrate the reason for the season.
5th. It does not get any closer. While that was going, the coaching staff was enjoying the American Volleyball Coaches Association. It is a 4 day convention where college and high school coaches from all over the country meet for seminars, banquets, and also discuss issues concerning our sport. It is a great way to meet up with old friends and to bring new ideas back. Day 1 was pretty cool as we were able to sit and watch the teams in the Final 4 practice in the Forum. How cool is it to see Texas' Destiny Hooker make contact with the ball 1 foot over the top of the antennae. Day 2, I went to a mental practice and attention seminar, creating a positive culture in your program put on by the Michigan Coach, and one of my favorites by a UCLA professor on understanding personality styles. That night we sat in a luxury suite with the guys from Tampa to watch the semi finals. Day 3 we learned about defense, training the outside hitter, and ways to increase the speed and efficiency of the transition game which I think is so important at the high school level. In other words, how fast a team goes from defense to offense. Day 4 was interesting as I was able to sit and talk with former Nebraska coach, Terry Pettit. In my opinion, he is one of the best marketers of the game of volleyball. Not only did he have tremendous success, he is the orchestrator of producing the only womens team where people actually scalp tickets outside to get in to see his teams play. He gave me some great ideas to see the TeePee become even a more potent home court advantage then it already has become in the state of Florida. Also, some setting clinics were excellent put on by the Iowa State coach and I was able to sneak in on a volleytotz seminar as I will be coaching Brooke's Venetian Bay 9 and under team this spring.
It is great to be off for the holidays as our family will be traveling and I am sure to find a fishing pole at some point and see the Outback bowl. Have a great Christmas and don't forget to celebrate the reason for the season.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Div. 1 Final 4 in Tampa!
If you did not already know it, the Div.1 National Championships are in Tampa this week. On Thurs, there will be 2 final 4 matches at the St. Pete Times Forum. Penn St. will face off with Hawaii and Minnesota will play Texas. Saturday is the Final. It is a true treat that this type of volleyball will be played in our own backyard. If you would like to go, you can find out more info at www.ncaa.com/volleyball Here you can find ticket information, scheduless, and everything you want to know about the teams.
This will be an excellent event for all of our volleyball families as some of the best volleyball players in America will be right there. If you haven't seen the outside for Texas who touches 11 foot, you do not know what you are missing. My prediction is that the Longhorns will put up a good fight but will lose in the championship to Penn State.
The coolest thing about this week for the Venice coaching staff is not only the matches but the AVCA convention that also takes place this week. Its important for a coaching staff to continue to be students of the game. This week we will hear some of the best volleyball coaches in the game discuss coaching philosophies, different techniques, and different ways to make our team better. It is also a great place to make new contacts with college coaches as the recruiting process continues to develop. This will be my 3rd AVCA convention. I traveled to Cleveland and New Orleans a few years ago. It is an awesome experience and we always bring new innovative ideas back to Venice High School.
I want to encourage you to make the drive up to Tampa this week and see it live. It will be an excellent experience!
This will be an excellent event for all of our volleyball families as some of the best volleyball players in America will be right there. If you haven't seen the outside for Texas who touches 11 foot, you do not know what you are missing. My prediction is that the Longhorns will put up a good fight but will lose in the championship to Penn State.
The coolest thing about this week for the Venice coaching staff is not only the matches but the AVCA convention that also takes place this week. Its important for a coaching staff to continue to be students of the game. This week we will hear some of the best volleyball coaches in the game discuss coaching philosophies, different techniques, and different ways to make our team better. It is also a great place to make new contacts with college coaches as the recruiting process continues to develop. This will be my 3rd AVCA convention. I traveled to Cleveland and New Orleans a few years ago. It is an awesome experience and we always bring new innovative ideas back to Venice High School.
I want to encourage you to make the drive up to Tampa this week and see it live. It will be an excellent experience!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
2009 Season Recap
Great Banquet last night! These seniors accomplished some amazing tasks. 4 year record of 97-22. All losses were to a top 10 state team or Nationally ranked opponent except one. 4 straight District Championships, 1 Regional Crown, 1 trip to the Final 4. Gold Bracket finishes this season at Berkeley Prep Premier and Chicago Asics Challenge this season. Undefeated all 4 years against all Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte public and private high schools. Undefeated in 4 years of District Play. 4 year home record in the TeePee was 42-1. Finished in the National rankings twice. I would also like to recognize Margurite Costanzo for putting together our amazing program and Patty Daniels for organizing the banquet. Good luck seniors in college. We will see the underclassmen a couple of weeks after the Christmas holidays for workouts. Dare to Dream!
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