Email Campaign Archive

Coaches: Do You Have a “Janice” Trying Out This Year?

-By Tom Houser

A Note From Dave: The situation Tom discusses in
the following article, I feel, is one of the
toughest any of us can ever face. And, if handled
wrong, can be a major drain on the team’s energy
the entire season. But, if handled correctly, can
end up being a very rewarding experience for
everyone involved. Maybe you are faced with this
type of situation this year, and maybe you aren’t.
But one thing is for sure, if you coach long
enough, your “Janice” will come a long. What will
you do then?


A Question for Coach Houser:

My husband I and disagree on the following. Here’s
the story. Our daughter “Janice” played 2 years of
middle school ball, was cut as a 9th grader, then
didn’t try as a soph because she was so upset. In
February, she stated, “I just have to be on the
team again. I can’t stand it.” So I’ve committed
about $1500 already for summer camps and private
lessons. I’m afraid it’ll be even more expensive.
My husband says I’m crazy because she’s going to
get cut again and I’m wasting our vacation money.
I say that I’m willing to skip this summer’s
vacation and I wish I could have pursued my dreams
as a teenager. I want to give her every chance. We
both realize that she may get cut regardless. And
if that happens, we’ll pick up the pieces and go
on. But at least we’ll both be satisfied that we
did all we could do. What are your thoughts?

Coach Houser’s Reply:

Coaches:

I’m not going to address the parent here. I’ve
already done that and sent it to her. I want to
address you. 

Every few years when I am a high school coach, a
“Janice” will appear. She will not have the skills
to earn any playing time, but she has twice the
heart as a normal player. 

Is Your Team Missing This?

Do you need a person like Janice? Do you need a
person who will go through a brick wall for your
team? Is your team missing dedication? hard work?
commitment? Then maybe having a Janice on your
team is worth the extra jersey.

My Way Of Handling The Janice Situation:

As tryouts got closer, I would talk to Janice
one-on-one for a while. “You know that making this
team will be very difficult. And if you make it,
you may not get to play a lot. Is that OK with
you?” 

Of course she will say, “Yes. Sure. I don’t care.
I just want to be on the team.” 

I will continue, “Now, I may be wrong. You may
improve tremendously and get playing time, but
right now, I don’t foresee it. Next, some days you
may not practice as much in 6’s drills as the rest
of the team. But that’s assuming you don’t improve
a lot. But, in most drills, you will practice
equally with the rest of the team, and you will
have all the privileges of the rest of the team.” 

Again, I expect her to say, “Fine. Doesn’t matter.” 

“Now, here’s the hard part. You will not, never
ever complain about lack of playing time or not
being totally involved in every drill. Is that OK?
The first time you or your parents complain, you
will be excused from the team for a while. If it
continues after that, you will be dismissed
permanently. Why? Because it’s “team”. It’s not
“you”. If you want to join us, it must be because
you want to be a part of the team. If you’re in
this for personal glory, I recommend you not
attend tryouts, and save me the trouble of kicking
you off my team later in the season. You must be
ready to play 10 minutes this entire season. You
must be ready to not participate in 20% of all
drills at practice. Can you do this?” 

Now this is where most kids have a tough decision
to make. But, still, the majority will say, “Yes,
that’s not a problem.” Then I whip out the
contract. It says pretty much what I told her in
the previous paragraph. I ask that both her and
her parents sign it. I also tell her that this
doesn’t ensure that she will make the team, but if
I decided to keep her, this document will prove
that we have an understanding. 

If She Makes The Team:

I will stick by my agreement. Janice’s volleyball
skills will not help us win the conference
championship. But her cheering and leadership
might! Unless she improves drastically, she will
only receive token playing time, maybe 1 or 2
minutes a week. I’ve kept a Janice before, and I
haven’t budged. Some may ask you why she has to
follow all the team rules, since she doesn’t play.
Some may question your compassion. Some may accuse
you of being cold-hearted. But (a) we all agreed
to this up front and (b) I coach for my team
first, individuals second. Would she rather have
been cut? No, she wouldn’t. There will be no more
discussion about it. I don’t have time for it.

If the conversation persists, or if she or her
parents turn heathen and begin to disrupt my team,
then she will be quickly dismissed, and we’ll be
no worse off than we were if I’d have cut her from
the beginning. 

How Should She Prepare For Tryouts?

Presently, I’m giving private lessons to a girl in
just this situation. She was cut when she was
younger, gave it up for a while, but now wants it
more than anything. Yet, on her last team, she
didn’t have to switch in the front row or back
row. She didn’t have to cover. Her team received
serve with 5, no one “hid,” they ran a simple 4-2
offense, etc. 

a) Understand 6’s Offense and Defense

The girl’s coach told her that if she made the
team, she would make it as an OH. So we have spent
2 hours together working on serve receive, cover,
base, transition. We also worked on what happens
when a teammate is serving: watch opponents,
switch to base. We talked about how to determine
if the opponent’s setter is back row or front row,
and why that mattered. 

If a sophomore or junior attends open gym, camps,
or tryouts and can’t play 6’s, then it’s
embarrassing to her, she disrupts her teammates,
and she can’t participate successfully in many
team drills.

b) Work on her volleyball skills

Yes, I know, if she can’t pass or serve, she has
no chance of making the team. So, we are also
working on passing frees, digging, serve receiving
and serving. Yes, the basics. She must be able to
step onto the court and put a free ball
consistently close to target. She may not be a
good digger or serve receiver at tryouts, but she
has to at least be competent. Also, she probably
won’t be a tough server by August, but I hope she
can consistently serve to target.

c) Condition

The girl I’m working with now not only is out of
shape, but has no body tone. Her legs and arms
look like a person who hasn’t done anything
athletic in years. She has 2 months to change that
look. Can she change her body-look? Possibly. But
she must improve her lower body, her upper body
strength, and her cardio efficiency. 

Finally:

This may not be something you want to do. But I’ve
done and it’s never backfired on me. Sure, I have
had to tell the parents, “We had a deal,” but
that’s about all. The girl has never quit and I’ve
never had to kick her off. My Janice experiences
have always turned out really well! In fact, I’m
still in touch with each one.



-Tom Houser
Head Coach, 2009 Roanoke Juniors 16’s National
JOVC Qualified-2006, 2009
Director, STAR Volleyball Camps
Author, “I Can’t Wait” Drill Collection and Ebooks
www.coachhouser.com