Spring games/Overseas trips

[mbrooks]

Hi gang - the newbie is back again with a couple of questions for you 'seasoned pros'.

Like a lot of folks, I was excited to hear that the Aggies were heading off to different spring 'tournaments'. I posted about it my blog. I then got comments from someone - one reason I really dislike anonymous posts, but that's a different story - saying, "Fans get all excited about spring volleyball but most coaches wish you would go away for many reasons." and then it goes on. If any of you have a couple of minutes, you can read the entire comment here - nmsuvolleyball.blogspot.com/2007/03/ah-its-nice-to-be-posting-over-here.html . I like your opinions.

I realize its Spring and that the line ups aren't probably going to be the same in the fall, that this is used as a training tool to see how new players are meshing with the older ones and so on.

Nextly, the Aggies are heading to Italy in May. We've all been very excited for the team. Again, an anonymous post in the blog -

"Wow our team is going to Italy,this will make us a better team !

Spring tours overseas tours have become a new fad in the past few years but the truth is they produce little in results in the fall."
More - nmsuvolleyball.blogspot.com/2007/03/granted-this-volleyball-fan-is-going.html

What is the overall opinion of teams going on these overseas trips? I think its a great experience for the team and staff. I've heard its a good bonding experience as well.

(The reason I allow anonymous posts is because a few fans wanted to post their comments but didn't want to have to sign up for the blogger account. Most have been great about signing their names but those that don't drive me nuts.)

[AntennaMagnet]

I am disappointed that our program promised one foreign tour sometime in the four years of playing intercollegiate volleyball and the coach reneged....appears to be a cheapskate even in face of a solid booster club that would support travel.

International travel is good for the girls because they usually don't get to pursue study abroad like many Juniors commonly do at various schools and at least a brief trip exposes them to new cultures, history and international experiences.

Volleyball can be a wonder bridge to international understanding and comraderie and I am disappointed that our collegiate programs don't make a stronger effort to facilitate overseas travel. I could care less whether the travel abroad makes them better volleyball players. The important thing is to become a better person through sports.

[BearClause]

I just can't figure out how anyone can make that big a deal about Spring. I have fun watching for my VB fix, but you see players in the warmups jerseys or t-shirts. You might be lucky to get one ref, although I once remembered two top area refs who came to do both women's VB as well as a men's club match later that day. You'll see players who are nursing minor injuries and might play in the Fall but are kept out during the Spring. It's a very different environment where the entire depth may need to be used due to the all-day nature.

Still - at the San Jose State tourney last year, SJSU managed to take a game off of Cal and they went absolutely bonkers. I remember one year when Cal didn't win a single game at an all-day but turned out alright in the Fall. These tournaments really are no more than a glorified open gym play.

[ladeda]

I've never been on one of these junkets myself but many of the teams who do these trips related their experience thru diaries and this morning as I took a quick tour thru volleyball sites I found a couple things relating to the subject.The Utah team is into day three of the trip and so far it sounds like one of my vacations.Tired from travel,airports and flying,taking pictures,etc but if you follow some of these journals that teams write maybe you can draw your own conclusions.If I find any others I'll post them here.


This one is from the Utah team
www.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/stories/031907aaa.html

From dot your I blog
dotyoureye.blogspot.com/2007/03/utah-volleyball-survives-first-day.htm

[baywatcher]

As far as summer trips go, all four teams in the Final Four went on summer trips last year. I can't believe it helps much at crunch time at the end of the year, when all the teams have had plenty of time to get it together, but it could help with a good start, and, for example, Nebraska used the trip to experiment with the 6-2 v. 5-1 last summer, which was decided by the Houghtelling injury, probably.

[Keystonekid]

It really doesn't affect the on court performance, but can be a great team building experience.

[roy]

antennamagnet said:

International travel is good for the girls because they usually don't get to pursue study abroad like many Juniors commonly do at various schools and at least a brief trip exposes them to new cultures, history and international experiences.

I agree with what has been said about international volleyball. Generally, it doesn’t do much to improve overall players. It’s not like you will be training with/against the Cuban national team for several months and it’s going to lead to a drastic improvement in your players. But it does promote a sense of togetherness among the players.

I think AM’s point is probably the best reason to take an international trip. Above all else, these players are college students and I firmly believe that college should be designed to expand the student’s horizons. I enjoy seeing one international player on each team (not excessive amounts of international players though). I feel it’s important for these players to be exposed to other cultures and international players help to bridge that gap. Taking international trips may not help in terms of improving overall volleyball skills, however if it is possible for a player to take an international trip, I feel they should do so.

[AntennaMagnet]

I absolutely agree about the inclusion of a foreign player or two on collegiate teams, although I am not sure that foreign students go back to their native country after graduation. Mia Jerkov I believe went back to Croatia, but I am not sure about others, and it's not that I have anything against immigrants, but it seems that building international good-will requires foreigners to take their good experiences in the US back to their native land.

[doc]

I think the foreign trips can be a great cultural experience. Many players would never be able to travel overseas on their own. However, don't be fooled on why so many teams are now doing it. It's called recruiting, and I don't mean recruiting foreign players. University X is going overseas so University Y feels it has to be able to tell recruits the same thing.

[redincolorado]

Much was made about Nebraskas overseas sojourn in china prior to last season's run to the championship. Coach Cook wanted to take the team "out of their comfort zone" which resulted in tighter bonding and team unity. This was touched on quite a bit in the later part of the season. Both the coaching staff and the players comments along these lines all point to the experience as a solidifying cement at the foundation of the teams harmony.