Waimea

Yesterday I realized that I am fully in transition between College Volleyball at St. Kates and starting the Elite Junior Olympic Club Volleyball at Minnesota Select.  If you are not familiar, Junior Olympic Volleyball is a club sport that lets volleyball players from ages 12-18 play volleyball at a high level once their middle or high school seasons are done.  Last year I coached the 16-3’s team at my club, and this year I am helping coach the 17-2’s team.  The first number means what age the players are - so I have 17 year olds, and they are all going to be juniors in high school barring someone gets moved up from the 16 year old division. 

Last night I went to watch some of the girls who will be at tryouts for our club on November 12th.  They come from many high schools and our teams end up being all-star high school teams because we get players from many high schools.  We are also one of many clubs in the twin cities, and trying to be the best club - so we try and get better every year.  This means the tryout process is like a high school tryout on steroids.  It is VERY competitive, and even girls who made teams the year before may or may not be selected.  Parents are very involved, and there are pressures on all sides. 

Why do you ask do players, coaches, parents and others put themselves through this process?  Girls get to improve their volleyball games, some will get full-ride scholarships to play in college, and some will just keep in shape for their next high school volleyball season.  I enjoy it.  It helps with recruiting for St. Kates - and for me, most importantly, it gives me more of an outlet to coach.  Something I really enjoy doing, and have had good results with in the past. 

Last year my 16-3’s team went 25-16, not bad, but my goal for the 17-2’s team is to qualify for Nationals.  Nationals is the tournament to be held in Minneapolis for the 100 - 150 best junior olympic teams in the country.  Last year the 17-1’s team from Northern Lights (a club in the twin cities) won the national championship.  That team was crazy good.

 So, that was my Sunday night - scouting