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Post by quikset on Dec 17, 2003 23:48:39 GMT -5
I fully understand that my size is small. I hope I can grow at least an inch or two by my senior year. Most of Hawaii's OH's are only 6'3". I have nothing against being a libero, unfortunately I'm not blessed with great ball control. Hopefully I will improve immensely this year in my passing as I have my hitting. Most DIII schools don't have the education I want. If I can't get a volleyball scholarship I'm 99% I can get a scholarship from the state for a university in Florida. Then I can just watch the Gators volleyball girls smash the ball around. Vballmom: Where in Florida are you and what club did your son play for? What's his name? Maybe I've heard of him. Don't let the height argument impact your goals. Skill trumps height always. ALWAYS. Aaron Wilton and Chad Strickland were two of the best OH's I've ever seen play collegiate volleyball in the last 10 years. Both were 6'1". Robert Tripp played OH for Loyola-Marymount and was their go-to guy in the 1996 season, he was 5'11". -Aaron |
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Post by VBJunkie on Dec 18, 2003 0:44:52 GMT -5
TEXT Soto was not 5'11", he was 6'6" maybe 6'5".
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Post by tigfan on Dec 18, 2003 1:01:42 GMT -5
There was a guy that played for IPFW a few years back with Hector Soto... he was legit and only about 5'11" if I remember correctly. I said he played WITH hector soto... i know exactly who hector soto is. |
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Post by quikset on Dec 18, 2003 1:18:26 GMT -5
His name was Javier Escobar, and he wasn't close to 5'11", more like a generous 5'10".
-Aaron
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Post by My2Sense on Dec 18, 2003 1:56:41 GMT -5
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Post by quikset on Dec 18, 2003 2:00:43 GMT -5
Yup, and built like a middle linebacker, not a volleyball player. He could bomb the hell out of a pipe set, though. -Aaron |
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Post by Eater on Dec 18, 2003 2:34:14 GMT -5
Donnie Rafter was a hell of an outside hitter and he wasn't more than 6'1 or 2.
The game is moving towards taller players though, short guys who play smart still can do it, but you need to have awesome ball control to be given a chance. Coaches want to know that if you can't hold your own at the net, you'll at least help with the digging and passing.
And even the most skilled short player isn't going to be able to adequetly block a taller hitter who isn't stupid. Thats the biggest weakness for a short guy, blocking. Fortunately a lot of mens players are stupid and hit straight down into little blockers, the smart hitters will tear up anyone they have a significant height advantage on.
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Post by santalucesvball on Dec 18, 2003 8:56:49 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone for the support and constructive criticism. This season I'm going to try and improve on every aspect of the game.
This 5'11" guy must have had on heckuva vertical! My vertical isn't that impressive yet, but I'm working on it. On a men's net my elbows are at the tape, not quite above the tape yet.
Any tips that you think I might be missing on my passing? I try to keep my arms close together, I plant my feet, use my legs to pass. I think my biggest problem is my arms are too thin. I think if I can get some meat/muscle on my arms my platform will be larger and more solid.
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Post by cyberVBmidwest on Dec 18, 2003 9:25:03 GMT -5
Don't let the height argument impact your goals. Skill trumps height always. ALWAYS. Aaron Wilton and Chad Strickland were two of the best OH's I've ever seen play collegiate volleyball in the last 10 years. Both were 6'1". Robert Tripp played OH for Loyola-Marymount and was their go-to guy in the 1996 season, he was 5'11". -Aaron I agree on skill Aaron. You're correct in that your height isn't everything. However, I believe the touch height is what most people in this thread will agree is a very important thing. What were the touch heights of Wilton, Strickland and Tripp? The ability to accurately blast a ball can be very helpful in VB especially from the back row. However, as you go up in levels of competition (D1, international, etc...) you are also going up against people that know how to block. Someone without a good touch height is going to hear the word "housed" again and again. |
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Post by just...theDH on Dec 18, 2003 12:58:57 GMT -5
Yeah, height is an issue if you aren't an all-around amazing player like the guys we have been mentioning. (BTW, remember Ozzie Antonetti)
Unfortunately the way the game is right now, you can be 6'6" and dead terrible but get a scholarship. On that note, at only 4.5 scholarships per school in DI its pretty rare to get one, so if you want to play, you're gonna have to pay.
One thing is DI programs rarely cut guys that walk on and try hard, so honestly my advice is work harder than you ever have until you get into school, choose a school you like, and go to it. Bug the coach into letting you try out/ walk-on and you probably will get on at least a practice squad. Sending tapes and letters are good, but unless you are a standout player they don't really look at them. More like pop them in the VCR behind them while talking to a player in front of them...lol. BUT, having said that, if you are going to try to walk-on it makes it a million times easier if they know who you are before and have a list of all the accolades you received in high school and club.
-Dong
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Post by jbspaw on Dec 18, 2003 14:02:37 GMT -5
Santaclues,
if you are looking to stay in Florida, 2 schools have pretty good club programs. UCF, and Eckerd. Also, play JR. Club ball, then the college coaches will find you.
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Post by vballmom on Dec 18, 2003 15:37:40 GMT -5
UCF and Eckerd are both very strong and established club teams. University of North Florida and Univ of Miami are also becoming established. Univ of Fl and FSU, no longer have reliable club programs. I know a couple of kids who decided to stay in state and play club ball and they were very frustrated at those two schools. The ones who went to UCF and Univ of North Florida are very happy with the programs. On the other hand, if you go to Univ of Fl, maybe you could revitalize their program ;D. The other posters are right - there are some excellent OH's who are around 6' - 6'2", but they have the vert to make it work. I think most college players can jump touch between 11'2" and 12'. Weight training and plyometrics will help you increase your vert. Plyometrics are exercises like box jumps and ice skater hops. There are some good books at your local bookstore or the library with that info. All of the college programs are thrilled to have walk ons. Most walk ons are willing to work very hard and with that, they can be very successful. Also, some kids who want to play in CA, but can't really afford it, will start out at a community college (JC) and then transfer. During that time, you may be able to establish resindency and you will also get some great experience. I live on the Space Coast and my son played for Orlando Gold. They played in Men's tournaments once or twice a month during the Men's season, due to the lack of boy's club teams. They also traveled to Chicago or Wisconsin in Jan/Feb, then East Coast Championships in May, Cali in June, and JO's in July. Playing on and/or against a Men's team can be a great experience for you. You won't get seen by college coaches unless you are also on a Junior's Club team. My2Sense knows me because his son played with mine on the Junior National Team in 2002 and he is now at UCLA and I really ought to out him too  . |
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Post by santalucesvball on Dec 18, 2003 15:48:26 GMT -5
I've been doing plyos for a while, but I tend to have spurts of a few weeks where I do them regularly and then stop. It's dumb. They have have helped extremely. I've had a 50% increase in my vert. I may look into getting a book on it though.
If I don't get a scholarship I'm pretty positive I won't be able to afford an out of state school. UCF is my number two choice for an in-state university. UF is number one, but I guess they don't have a good club program.
We'll see how this season goes and hopefully my passing gets a lot better. Wish me luck. Ugh, another two months seems so far away.
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Post by vballmom on Dec 18, 2003 15:55:31 GMT -5
You'll be fine, just keep plugging away! Go to UF's website and see if you can find a contact for their club team. Give that person a call or email them - I would love to see their program get back into the swing of things again. There are some ex-Orlando Gold players still there. I'm sure they would love to play if there are enough guys that will be committed to it.
Good luck!!
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Post by CiM on Dec 20, 2003 19:30:58 GMT -5
Don't forget Eric Pichel, he was a pretty short setter for UH too, at 6-0 but he still started for UH.
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