Mission Statement

Southwind Volleyball Club is dedicated to youth and young adult athletes. Our primary focus is developing the fundamental skills for a successful life by teaching the fundamental skills of volleyball.

Goals in attaining our Mission:

1) Developing elite athletes with sports training that emphasizes, physical development and proper nutrition.

2) Educating youth and young adults in the areas of volleyball skills and strategy, as well as the mental aspects of competition including work ethics, commitment, and team.

3) Training players in the areas of leadership and communication in order to build a successful club, successful teams, and successful individuals.

I was thinking the other day... I began playing volleyball in fifth grade, that's 11 years old, and will be entering my 40's soon! I've had almost 30 years of experience in the sport of volleyball, I could hardly believe this myself. But what's even more amazing is the fact that I'm still passionate about the game! I love the way the game is played and the qualities a person learns through competition as well as being part of team. In addition to "loving" the game I also love coaching the game... and that was not always the case. The first 3 -4 years of my coaching career I wanted to remain a player but now I would much rather be on the sideline giving instruction and developing players and teams. It was a tough transition for me but now I believe there is a divine purpose for my coaching the "game".

Over the years of playing, coaching, officiating, and directing the club I've come to a place that I know exactly why I'm doing this... I have my mission statement (see above). I am lucky enough to have others who have joined this same vision and coach very similar to myself. I believe every coach should have a mission statement before they begin their first practice... and definitely before their first competition. It is the key in answering all the tough questions before you ever get to the tough questions.

Looking back over my volleyball career I can see how this mission statement was developed and why I can stand on this statement no matter the situation. I firmly believe God places us in positions for a reason... no matter what the position we are called there and expected to do well. I can remember well those people who answered this call and spoke into my life in a positive way. I can remember the effort and sacrifices they made for myself and so many other young athletes... they are the reason many of us have decided to coach.

But yet, there were also many people in my life who did not answer the call... former coaches as well as other directors whom God intended to use. In the world we live in there are many people who should be doing more but for whatever "brokenness" they have in their lives are unable to do so, it is not a reason for bitterness but a resolution to make certain that I would respond differently.

While those people who influenced my life in such a tremendously positive way are the reason I'm here it is those people that did not that have inspired me to excellence. It is the reason I feel the need to develop the whole person and not just the volleyball athlete. It is our position to influence these young lives in a positive way... and you do that by speaking "life" to them. The Bible says "there is the power of life or death in the tongue", when our feedback is always negative or always critical there is only death. Is it any wonder why some coaches do not have the respect of their athletes... when the only comments that come from them are always critical? Although these coaches usually see themselves as giving "feedback" to listen to their tone of voice as well as watch their body language and then to see the affect their words have on their players it is obvious the young athletes' spirit is being "killed". But to see a coach who provides feedback in a positive way and is excited to see progress it is obvious in the way the young athletes begin to blossom like a spring flower coming to life after a rain shower.

The biggest part of developing the whole person is to have an idea of where the player should be when they are finished competing with you. A mission statement is a road map of where the athlete needs to go as well as the final goal for our young adults. If I can assist them in their personal self confidence and ability to communicate well then they will be ahead of the "game" by the time they leave us for college. Self confidence is developed by building the athlete up with words but also knowledge and actions. What are we teaching our young adults about taking care of themselves... nutrition, personal care, how to speak well in order to communicate for the betterment of all? What responsibilities are we allowing them to take on to teach them and give them a sense of self worth? I have come to the conclusion that I am not capable of providing everything my athlete's need so many times I go outside of myself for help. It is our responsibility to give our athletes the knowledge and the experience to grow into the women they were called to be... and that means stepping outside ourselves and our shortcomings to provided the very best for them. With a club mission statement, a common calling, we can all bring our best to the athlete's in order to make them their best.

But to me the most important aspect of developing the whole person is setting healthy boundaries and a mission statement helps us to do that. We are meant to influence these children/young adults in a positive way and that includes teaching them healthy boundaries by setting those boundaries. I will be the first to admit that each year I develop a bond with my players but I must always come back to the fact that I am their coach. I am not their friend nor am I their parent and by no means am I their counselor... when we step over the boundaries then we are no longer doing what we are called to do. Every child has a parent as well as friends... our role is to maintain the level of respect of player and coach. If a child needs a friend or a parent it is our role to find the help they need not to fill that role... if they need a counselor it is not our role to become a listening ear. By trying to fill roles that we are not intended to, we step out of our role as coach, we then undermine the role of "coach" and respect is lost. Without respect nothing can be accomplished.

I would also warn that our role with the parents of the athletes is one of a position of authority over their children. We can enjoy the parents and families but we are not in this place to befriend them. We may have many things in common and feel as though they are our friends or even like family but we do not have the luxury of being transparent with our athlete's families. Once we step over the boundaries of "coach-player" it is very difficult to get it back... and many times can be damaging in the end.

I love coaching because it calls us to become the very best! Just like we want our athlete's to be their best we are challenged to become better than who we are today.

My last point in having a mission statement is that it brings back to us the very things we expect from our athletes. My questions to you are:

Are you coachable? Do you listen to feedback from others and respond in a positive way? We ask our athlete's to listen to us and change but do you listen to others, more experienced coaches or others in positions of authority, and make an effort to listen and change? How can we expect our athlete's to respond appropriately if we do not?

Are you introspective? We ask our athletes on a regular basis to "find it within themselves" to become a better player. Do you take the time to re-evaluate your attitude? If we fail to see our shortcomings, and we all have them, then how can we expect our athletes to see their own and change them?

Are you willing to sit the bench for your team? So many times we ask our players to sit on the sidelines as others play and then expect them to have a great attitude... can you take a back sit and allow other coaches to step in for you? And do you have a good attitude about it?

Are you a good leader? This one is tricky because in order to be a good leader you must first be a good follower. I see many coaches on "power trips" who boss their players around and expect them to be happy about it. Do you follow the lead of others around you well... and when you are in a leadership position are their people following you? You can not be a leader without followers.

I have to ask myself these questions on a regular basis... and I'm grateful to have people in Southwind who keep me grounded in these principles. When I look at the staff of coaches I am amazed at the quality of people we have attracted... people who look at this mission statement and want to be a part of developing people. Coaches who want to become better than they are today.