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.