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| Why Play for ITVC? 1) Players receive high-level technical instruction from coaches. All of the coaches have a strong playing and coaching background. 2) Players will play for a club whose teams compete at the highest level, but don't travel to out-of-state tournaments more than twice a season. This allows our players to have well-balanced lives outside of volleyball. 3) ITVC encourages and is understanding of players who compete for their schools in other sports during the season. 4) ITVC coaches will always remain positive and encouraging while still holding high expectations for their players. 5) ITVC coaches love the game of volleyball and want to share their passion with their players! We love coaching players who are here to HAVE FUN playing while working hard to improve. 6) ITVC coaches will work tirelessly to help EVERY member of their team become a better volleyball player and improve their skills. 7) Our coaches are always available and open to communication with players and parents in the appropriate forum. 8) Our constant goal is for every player who plays on an Island Thunder team to have a wonderful and rewarding experience working with their coaches and teammates. |
About ITVC ITVC is under the new direction of Jessica Papell and Dino Annest this year, with the majority of our coaching staff returning for their third year with the club. We are extremely excited for the 2008 season and have big plans for the continued growth of the club. We are also thrilled about the new coaches who are joining our staff this year and bringing with them years of valuable experience and high-level coaching and playing backgrounds. 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 also believe that while traveling to larger tournaments can be a competitive and rewarding experience, we want our teams to have tournament schedules that are manageable and allow our players to excel in school and their other commitments as well. For this reason, each team (with the exception of the 12's) plans to participate in 2-3 traveling tournaments during the regular club season. 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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