club coaches becoming "handlers"

[bigfan]

bunnywailer said:

Wow. Type-A Wannabee control freaks in the club coaching ranks?

Say it ain't so......

Sad but true.

[bigfan]

jgrout said:

I doubt there's enough money in volleyball for people to end up in jail, the probable fate of the worst of the men's BB club coaches and an imprudent NCAA coach or two that does too much "business" with them... but is there enough money in club volleyball for under-the-table payoffs that could trigger NCAA "lack of institutional control" sanctions?

No....volleyball is still at the stage where it is not so cut-throat although mens footall and basketball are proven offenders in this regard. Womens b-ball is now moving in this direction.

[silversurfer]

bigfan said:

jgrout said:

I doubt there's enough money in volleyball for people to end up in jail, the probable fate of the worst of the men's BB club coaches and an imprudent NCAA coach or two that does too much "business" with them... but is there enough money in club volleyball for under-the-table payoffs that could trigger NCAA "lack of institutional control" sanctions?

No....volleyball is still at the stage where it is not so cut-throat although mens footall and basketball are proven offenders in this regard. Womens b-ball is now moving in this direction.

Next step, which is already happening some, will be coaches continuing to recruit athletes after they've verballed.

[kurtinatlanta]

If the parents will do their homework, there's no need for the club director to be a "handler." Our club director and coach let us know who was asking about our daughter, but I did a lot of my own research into schools looking for players at her position (something our director does a great job helping with) and checking around to gauge her skills relative to others in her class, etc.

It's work, but it's worth it when you find that right situation.

[Phaedrus]

kurtinatlanta said:

If the parents will do their homework, there's no need for the club director to be a "handler." Our club director and coach let us know who was asking about our daughter, but I did a lot of my own research into schools looking for players at her position (something our director does a great job helping with) and checking around to gauge her skills relative to others in her class, etc.

It's work, but it's worth it when you find that right situation.

Not directly pointing at you specifically, but having a club coach as a handler or having a parent as a handler are both terrible ideas.

I have seen some psycho parents who are living vicariously through their kids and out for their own glory. And I have seen club coaches and directors who do the same thing.

I don't have a kid, I just coach and work as a director. I work my butt off to get coaches interested and then I step out of the way. Coaches will ask me about which way the kid is leaning, I don't usually respond. Kids will ask me about where to go but I just give them guiding principles and things to look out ofr in the recruiting process. If a 5'6" OH is waiting for a phone call from John Dunning, I try to burst that bubble gently, but teach your children well and let them make their own decisions, its time for them to grow up.

[kurtinatlanta]

phaedrus said:

Not directly pointing at you specifically, but having a club coach as a handler or having a parent as a handler are both terrible ideas.

I have seen some psycho parents who are living vicariously through their kids and out for their own glory. And I have seen club coaches and directors who do the same thing.

I don't have a kid, I just coach and work as a director. I work my butt off to get coaches interested and then I step out of the way. Coaches will ask me about which way the kid is leaning, I don't usually respond. Kids will ask me about where to go but I just give them guiding principles and things to look out ofr in the recruiting process. If a 5'6" OH is waiting for a phone call from John Dunning, I try to burst that bubble gently, but teach your children well and let them make their own decisions, its time for them to grow up.

I agree on the psycho parents. Someday I'll ask the coaches at my daughter's school how I fared on that.

Of course, as coaches make offers, sometimes your "decisions" get made for you.

In the end, my daughter made her own decision - I told her she's the one who gets to live with it, not me.

But, I would hope that with healthy parent involvement, no "handling" is necessary.

[Charlie]

overandunder said:

Many DIIs are private institutions with highly respected degrees in certain fields that will graduate you directly into a job or give you a tight knit network to turn your first internship into a great opportunity.

I see schools like that in the DIII list, but to be honest, I don't see hardly any schools in the DII list that I even recognize the name. That may be in large part because I live in Southern California.

Care to IM me a list of DII schools that fit your description? I have a number of girls in our club who will be seniors next year who will be interested. They are very realistic, know that they are not really DI players, but want to play. It's not me pushing this, this is what they are telling me!

I've become familiar with just a few DIIs thru happenstance. For example, one of my daughter's teammates from 16s ended up at Lees-McRae. She had a good experience. I know the coach at Mesa State from his days here in SoCal and at UCLA. I know the coach at Barry (from when he was Cal's men's club coach), but as a DII contender, he's really looking for the same players that a lower half DI school is.

Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone who has good things to say about any of the DII schools, both volleyball and academic.

[Charlie]

antennamagnet said:

Well, when large programs like SPRI absolutely guarantee an athletic scholarship you have got to believe that proprietory organizations such as this one have well oiled connections at the collegiate level...

Many club directors and head coaches work hard to get to know college coaches. What's your point? This is beneficial to the players in the club.

antennamagnet said:

...not to mention enough profits over the years to afford a several hundred acre ranch in the pacific northwest.

Well, you did mention it, and what the heck is your point here? That club volleyball enriches the people who run clubs? If you believe that, you are clueless.

Maybe a few people have big enough and successful enough clubs that they can actually make a good living at it, but the vast majority of people involved with club volleyball do it mainly because they have a passion for it. I know one club director who had to perennially put some of his own money into the club to keep it going. He was very dedicated. He made a living from his real job.