Email Campaign Archive

When Too Many Want to Attend Summer Team Camp

-By Dave Cross

A Question for Dave:

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the
encouraging and insightful information you have
available to volleyball coaches that are eager to
learn more. I also wanted to ask your advice on a
volleyball matter which will be coming up for my
team. I am our varsity coach and this will be the
1st year we go to a varsity team camp. I have 3
kids that will be entering 11th grade next year
but it's doubtful they will make varsity due to
the numbers I have. I would probably keep them on
my JV team because they are good kids. How do I
ask some kids to go to camp and not these without
creating alot of problems?Any advice will be
greatly appreciated. Thanks again for helping
coaches like me!!!

Dave's Reply:

Concerning these three juniors, here is how I
always handled it:

During the summer, the varsity events were for
"varsity invitees". These invitees are chosen
by the staff based on what we have seen out of the
players to date-it doesn't mean it can't
change, but we can only take so many players to
any one event. (Once in awhile I would change a
couple of them from one event to another during
the summer.)

I also made it clear that attending summer camps
etc., did not guarantee a player would make the
program in the fall. These summer events are
opportunities to improve that we put together for
the players. As a player, you are taking advantage
of an opportunity to improve, you are not
guaranteeing yourself a spot on the team by
attending.

Since you are forging into "uncharted waters"
for your program, you might want to sit these
girls down and explain the situation to them.
Point out that there are stronger players in
front of them and, at this point in time, they are
not rated high enough on your program's "depth
chart" to be 'invited" to this team camp. I
would do this talk after introducing the whole
"invitee" and "depth chart" concepts to the
entire program.

And, before doing that I would sit down with your
A.D. and explain what you are going to do. If you
feel the principal and superintendent should be
there, then ask to meet with all three at once.
Make absolutely sure that you have their backing!
Point out to them that it will upset everyone if
you take too many kids to the team camp, they all
pay the fee, and then no one gets to play enough
because you've got too many there.

Now, if you know in your school my ideas won't
work, then consider taking whoever wants to go
and split them into two teams. If you split them
into a stronger and a weaker team you might run
into problems with the girls on the weaker team
because they might not do too well in the
competiton. If you do this, I would go with two
equal teams and explain it to the girls the same
way-it is an opportunity to improve and you and
your staff are going to use it to see where
everyone stands performance-wise at that point.
Don't use the word "evaluate" because
technically we can't do that until tryouts start.

This approach saves you the problem you are
facing, but hurts your top players opportunity at
the camp to work together and start to get ready
for the season.

It all comes down to what are the kids and
parents in your program ready for. And, will your
administration back you up if you take my first
idea?

Good luck with this and let me know if you have
any other questions.

-Dave Cross
National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball