Many parents are excited about the idea of sending their athlete to a large university for a camp or advanced skills clinics. While I think large universities do offer some great volleyball I always remind parents that it's more about the experience of being on a big campus. My suggestion is that athletes that are looking to increase their skill and knowledge attend smaller camps with fewer athletes and larger coach to athlete ratio. Athletes in high school would do better to attend a camp at a large university for a couple of reasons. First high school athletes are now looking for a college or university and this a good way to see the coach and learn more about the program. Second, high school athletes are now working on specific skill sets and attending specialized clinics for their position will allow them to gain more knowledge and skill. For athletes in junior high or elementary school they would be better served going to a smaller college camp close to home. The small camp allows the athlete more "touches" on the ball and also a good nights sleep to come back day after day and train hard.
My biggest struggle as a club coach is that athletes attend "fundamental" camps week after week and continue cover the same information over and over. There is no doubt, that an athlete interested in learning and getting better will gain from any camp they attend but after a couple of fundamental camps it seems like all the material is similar. Please don't misunderstand, FUNDAMENTALS ARE KEY to being competitive, however, I would suggest an athlete finding programs designed to help them in weak areas and strengthen their specific position. I would encourage a camp or two to cover fundamentals and them some specialized position camps as well.
The best form of training over the summer months would be small group training and individual training. These sessions are designed specifically for the athlete in training. The more I coach the more I believe in individual training with a coach who can communicate and train fundamentals into an advance level of skill. What a coach can cover in an hour session with one player far outweighs group camps. However, once an athlete begins to consistently perform fundamental and advanced skills then working with a team becomes extremely important. Volleyball is a game that demands each player is capable of performing graceful skills and then implement them in a game setting while considering strategy.
Ultimately the goal is to have your child touching the ball as often as possible. Even if you attend a clinic where the coaching is not strong if your athlete is playing and touching the ball they will learn just from experience.
Most of the effort involved in summer camps and clinics is to ensure a spot on the school squad. Each summer it seems parents are looking for ways to have their child prepared for tryouts and to catch the eye of the coach prior to the tryout process. Parents want to know, how do we decide what we should try out for, which position, and how do we let the coach know what we are doing over the summer.
I would suggest visiting with your school coach, ask them what they are looking for, what positions do they need filled and when they will be holding their own camps. Getting in front of the coach prior to the tryout process is a good idea... most of the time. If your child is a hard worker and strives to improve the coach will see that desire. However, if your child is lazy, does not care to impress the coach, and would rather sleep in then getting her in front of the coach will only do damage. Remind your child that they are always trying out... even if you are taking individual lessons with a "club coach" be sure they work hard. Many times coaches in the community know one another and one coaches impression of a player may go a long way, even affecting your child's chances of making a school or club team. I know it's hard to believe that your child does not work hard but it happens. If you want an honest assessment of your child then ask but be prepared to hear the truth... it has been my experience that parents who believe they have an outstanding athlete but yet she/he does not play much there is usually a reason, many times that reason has to do with the child's true ability or true desire. Asking for an honest assessment means taking off the "rose colored" glasses and being willing to see things objectively.
I would also recommend visiting with other parents, what positions are already full, what positions are the stronger players trying out for... is there an open spot for your child in her chosen position? If you daughter players setter and there are already 3 other setters in front of her then she may have her work cut out for Her. She'll need to out play someone and earn her position or she may want to consider a different position. Also, consider the physical abilities of your child and be realistic. If you have a 5'2 daughter trying out for middle hitter that may not be a good fit if she is a competing against 6'0 players.
As coaches we are not looking just at your child we are looking at the entire team. We may ask your child to work on certain skills and we may see improvement but that does not ensure a position. While your daughter may be improving other players may also be working on skills. At the end of the day, your athlete will have to "out play" other kids on the team to be on the court.
Please feel free to leave a question or comment on this post and we'll do our best to respond.
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