TGCA TGCA NEWS OCTOBER 2008 Article: “It’s not about you and it never will be”..........2-3 UIL Legislative Council.......4 Legislative Priorities...........5 TGCA Past Presidents........6 News & Updates..................7 Elected Officials..................8 Important Dates...................9 Sponsors............................10 President of TGCA 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Past President Exective Director 2008-09 Photo: Andee Josserand, Natasha Lee Grisham Lynn Davis Pool Wes Overton Debra Manley Sam Tipton Giacomazzi at Canyon/Randall TGCA Wimberley HS Austin Bowie HS Midland Lee HS Pittsburg HS TGCA Office Tournament August 15-16. Officers by Bryan Hedrick (512) 847-5729 (512) 414-7347 (432) 553-5436 (903) 856-6461 (512) 708-1333 Article It’s Not about You and It Never Will Be KARI BENSEND VOLLEYBALL CHAIR OF TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH, FRISCO CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL We all know why our kids play….well, we like to think we have a not meant to be easier, it is meant to be more involved, more time to out on the floor. The first year was absolutely worthless. It was too good idea anyway. commit to the program, more things to do, not less. fast and too much and I wore them out. But the following years we took it slower, explained concepts better, taught how drills should be So why do we coach? The first part of this article really IS about you, but ultimately….. run and how to scout. It has been a positive experience for me and I in the BIG picture it’s not about you and it never will be. It is all about The play-offs are just around the corner and it is never too late to hope for my staff. the KIDS. be a better coach so I thought I would give my two cents on what I So, teach your staff HOW to coach, not just the X’s and O’s but know and save many of you who dream of the head coaches position I think we as volleyball coaches have fallen short in several areas. what you want to see them doing on the bench and during practice. a lot of aggravation and headaches. This article has to do with better- I watch a lot of people coach and I watch a lot of kids play. I take How do you want them to speak to the kids? What do you want them ing our total programs and hopefully there is something you have not in the dynamics and chemistry between kids, coaches, etc. I watch to look for while coaching? heard before. So we will touch on coaching, parents, and doing some warm-ups and I watch the interaction. In each situation, I usually special things for the kids. Hopefully you can take one idea to think walk away with something I want to implement or something I don’t The “I’ll get there when I get there” coach – whether you about in relation to your program and maybe take an idea to work want to implement. Either way, it is always a learning experience. are starting a program or changing the course of your existing pro- on for your kiddos. Whatever you take from this article, please know gram, the results of what you do will mirror the time you put into it. So, I guess you could call these pet peeves or areas that have that it took a lot of time and a lot of work to put together. You have I’ll say it again: “The results of what you do will mirror the time become quite obvious to me that we are possibly falling short in. I did to be willing to roll up your sleeves and get after it or these ideas and you put into it”. many of these in my younger days and to those young head coaches thoughts will just sit in a drawer and be forgotten. So I challenge you or those wanting that title, I am just trying to save you some years. My staff knows that no other staff will outwork us…..we may get to get busy during the off-season for next fall or the post season for a Trust me on this one. These pet peeves are in no particular order so outplayed but there will not be a staff that works harder than we do fun idea or two. here goes. for our kids. It is a difficult concept when you are not used to it. WE Here is a little background. I am old school….been doing this a work hard to prepare our kids for battle. To Head Coaches or those who aspire to that: long time. I have coached several sports for many years. I know We talk to our kids about investing their time to earn a what it is like not to have time. I now coach one sport and seem to The “I already know this stuff” coach – we don’t expect our particular reward. Ask yourself what you are investing and what be busier than I was with three. I am extremely fortunate to have kids to stop learning so why should we? you expect from your staff and kiddos. If you show fifteen minutes assistants who have either played or coached the game; so my staff There are so many opportunities to become a better coach in this before practice….expect the same of those who follow you. My staff is a bit special, but it has not always been this way. You as the head great state of Texas. In the north Texas area alone, we try to get 2-3 knows one hour prior to practice, we are here and we use that time coach, the varsity assistant, the sub varsity coach or the middle forums each spring. We invite coaches to share their ideas and we do to get ready. You can not ask of others what you are not willing to do school coach have to be ready to work long and hard to get what it for nothing. When I hear a speaker, I auto tune to our program and yourself. So sweep the gym floor, clean up the dressing room, get the you want. It is always O.K. to be the first car in the parking lot in the the kids that we have. All the tweaking of ideas is geared towards our water ready on game day. It is all about showing your staff and your morning and it is always O.K. to be the last car out of the parking lot kids. players a strong work ethic. Above all, teach your staff about time in the evening. So understand that the time you put in will equal the commitment. We stay until it is done and sometimes later. results you receive. Try to remember that it is about what you are Several years ago, I had a conversation with a young coach at willing to give to the program to make it better. coaching school. The assistant coach from a very established program The “3 Minute Practice plan” coach – if your practice did not was speaking at our summer clinic. I asked if she had gone to his go well, ask yourself exactly how much time you spent developing Knowing we are not all blessed with knowledgeable staffs, the lecture and her reply was “He’s just a JV coach….” Well, yes, but HE your plan for the day. I am amazed at those who can plan a practice work aspect becomes extremely important. As you are pulling from IS THE JV COACH OF A TOP PROGRAM IN THE STATE!!! I learned so in three to five minutes, but I know many. other sport’s staffs, the main thing you will need to remember is the much from him that day about assistant coaches and their role in the head coach and the “varsity assistant” (if you are this lucky) will have What I also know is this: when the plan has depth, when you program. to be the hardest workers for the program. Everyone must work but have given it time, the quality of your practice will rise, the rewards not every assistant knows volleyball. So there is a lot to learn. I can find something to use from anyone I listen to, but the key will be impressive and the success of the drills will be awesome. We is to think about your program and how you can tweak it. Never stop do not run 8 laps for warm-up so I can get my morning coffee. We As old school coaches, we grew up coaching 3 or more sports. learning and tweaking and teaching! don’t “serve for 5 minutes” so I can ask what’s for lunch. What is Some still do. But many now have the luxury of coaching only one sport. The confusion comes when we think that it will be easier….it is At Centennial, we have a staff clinic each summer and I get them Continued on Page 3 ... 2 Article ... Continued from Page 2 BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE. When I am interviewing for And my favorite part of the equation – what it is really all about: assistants, I explain to them that I am not looking for a little puppy the point of the drill???? In our program: every drill has a purpose, is The Kids: it is a long process of learning from middle school to to go and fetch. I want someone who is a free thinker, someone who competitive, and is game like.