About ITVC

ITVC is under the direction of Jessica Papell and Dino Annest. The directors are constantly working to better the club both competitively and organizationally and are very excited for the upcoming season. With the majority of the 2007-2008 coaching staff returning and some fantastic additions to the coaching staff, we are very confident that the 2008-2009 season will be ITVC’s best yet!

ITVC has quickly become an elite club in the Puget Sound region and looks forward to even greater success both on and off the court this season. It is our goal to work with the top talent in our area and provide all of our players with an affirmative and enriching volleyball experience. Our coaching staff is highly qualified and our greatest strength as a group is working with players in a positive and encouraging way while still demanding excellence from all of our athletes.

Club Philosophy

Our goal at ITVC is to provide our players with elite level coaching and training to enable them to reach and exceed their potential in both volleyball and life. Research has shown that coaches are the 2nd biggest influence in a young person's life, second only to their parents. We do not take that responsibility lightly. We only select coaches who have a high level of volleyball and coaching knowledge and who we feel are extremely positive people and worthy role models. It is very important to us that ITVC players not only learn volleyball fundamentals and tactics, but the valuable lessons that accompany being a part of a competitive team including discipline, responsibility, work ethic, and teamwork. Our coaches are also responsible for creating an environment in which players can develop confidence and pride while raising their self-esteem through improvement and success on the court.

It is our priority for EVERY player who plays for ITVC to have an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Ultimately, volleyball is supposed to be FUN! We feel that the best way to be highly competitive is to have teams who play with passion and excitement and who truly enjoy playing as a team and for their coaches.

In addition, we want ITVC players to be well-balanced individuals and encourage and are understanding of players who are participating in other school sports or activities. We know that if a player is playing a school sport during the club season, they may have to miss an occasional practice session. We feel that competing in other sports can be a positive influence on our athletes and can help them on the volleyball court. In addition, our “Blue” level teams will not have a demanding travel schedule and will only travel to tournaments within driving distance and will do so 2-3 times a season. They will have the option of attending the Volleyball Festival at the end of June. All of our teams will compete in the Puget Sound Region Power League and all of our teams will attend the Willamette Volleyball Classic in Corvallis, Oregon in May.

Our “Under Armour” teams will work to be nationally competitive and will attend the Junior Olympic Championships if they qualify or they will attend the Volleyball Festival or JDVA Championships at the end June. Throughout the season they will attend 3 qualifier tournaments: our local Prime Time qualifier, the Spokane qualifier, and an additional qualifier. Our 17’s and 18’s will attend the Las Vegas Invitational in February over Presidents Day as well.

Coaching Philosophy

At ITVC, we believe that coaches are leaders. They are the leaders of their teams and leaders in the volleyball community as well. As a result, we don't believe that our coaches should simply follow one coaching methodology or system. It is critical that leaders and coaches think creatively and innovatively. A successful coach is someone who draws on their years of knowledge and experience and the skills and strategies that they've learned in a variety of settings and combines them all to fit the needs and strengths of their team. For a team to reach its full potential, it is critical that coaches gear their style and approach to the individual athletes they work with. As a result, our coaches are encouraged to incorporate various systems and schools of coaching in order to get the best out of their teams and athletes. To do this, our coaches are trained in numerous coaching methods and continue to learn from top coaches and programs across the country. In addition, all ITVC head coaches are CAP certified or in the process of becoming certified. CAP is the coaching accreditation program offered by USA Volleyball. It involves an extensive training program taught by top coaches involved with USA Volleyball. To learn more about the CAP programs our coaches participate in, visit their website.

As a club, we strongly emphasize technical skills training and development. For an athlete to reach their highest potential, it is critical that they are technically sound in their fundamental skills. For example, we feel it is critical to break down skills like the hitting arm swing and teach our players the correct biomechanics and movements of every aspect of the game. All of our coaches are well versed in volleyball-specific motor learning principles. We emphasize this level of technical training within our individual teams as well as club wide at our skills clinics that we host throughout the season. At the clinics, our players have the opportunity to work with other ITVC coaches along with specialists we bring in who are experts on specific skills. During practice, our coaches will work with players to ensure that each member of the team improves their individual skills and has opportunities to contribute to the team's success.

We want ITVC players to have fun and enjoy learning and playing the sport of volleyball. While we demand a strong work ethic and dedication from our players, we also want our teams to love playing every time they step on the court and to develop a passion for the sport of volleyball that extends far beyond their years with ITVC. Our coaches will constantly work to make each player's experience a positive one.

 

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