Welcome Coaches

Understanding the Coaches Role in the Athlete Recruiting Process

AVCA Convention 2008 – Presenter Barry McLean, Volleyball Prospects Canada

Why Do You Coach?

• Introduce yourself to the person beside you and talk about why you coach!

Benefits of Coaching

• Rewarding• Fulfilling• Fun!• Volunteer• Teacher/Facilitator• Enriching the Lives of others• Provide Opportunity• Give Back

Why Do Athletes Play?

Your Athletes Needs

• Play for fun

• Future

• Social Aspect

• Great Team Sport

• Passionate about Volleyball

• Coolest Game in the World!

How many athletes will have the opportunity to play volleyball at the

post-secondary level?

Cold Hard Facts

• Only 3% of the female athletes playing volleyball in Canada and the USA will play post-secondary at a college or university.

• Only 1% will be on scholarship!

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percentage

3

97

Source: NCAA

Maintain a Balanced Perspective

• Not everyone can play at the post-secondary level

• Club and High School levels vary in ability

• Recognize and encourage those special athletes who you feel are gifted and have potential to play at a high level

• Same token encourage those others to work hard to pursue & achieve their dream

Follow These 7 Basic Principles

• Don’t promise something you can’t deliver

• Sheltering is a BIG NO-NO

• Mind your strategic alliances

• Keep an Open Mind

• Your Primary Role is a Facilitator

• Information is Power

• Check your EGO at the door

Don’t Promise SomethingYou Can’t Deliver

• Come play for me and we’ll get you a scholarship!

• Don’t sell a dream to an athlete to get them to play for you.

• If you do your job as a coach and follow the right path, your athletes will have many opportunities.

Sheltering is a BIG NO-NO

• Have you Heard this Before?

• Your don’t need that information...

• We’ll help you find a scholarship...

• I know so and so and this guy at...

• We won’t go to this tournament because...

• We’ll take care of this for you...

• Don’t put your profile on there...

Foster Your Strategic Partnerships

• Networking with post-secondary coaches is a great way to broaden your club athletes exposure.

• But be realistic based on your athletes academic and athletic potential.

• Attend coaching clinics

• Coach University summer camps

• Communicate with Parents

Keep an Open Mind

• Athletes needs will change and evolve.• Don’t get comfortable promoting only

certain programs.• Remember the importance of academics!• What are the athletes needs?

– Level of conference play– Need to play or content sitting the first year– Type of coach (yeller/screamer – cool as a

cucumber)

Coach Facilitator

• Your primary role is to provide an experience! Most athletes love the game and want to have FUN!

• Coach them, make them better!

• Teach them life skills, help them mature into responsible young adults.

• Plant the seed for them to succeed.

Information is Power

• Information = Empowerment

• Information = Informed Decisions

• Information = Opportunity

Check Your Ego at the Door

• Chances are if you are here you have already checked your ego at the door.

• Those coaches who have all the answers, need all the control, need credit and can do it all themselves... They aren’t here!

• It’s not about you – It’s about the athlete!

Barry McLean2008 AVCA Convention - Omahabmclean@volleyballprospects.ca