Learn about Travel Volleyball

A league club teams aren’t just for soccer anymore. Female Speaker: Today on clubhouse Gas, we are talking with friend of the show, and Lassiter Jr. Trojan volleyball coach Burt Weller, Abby Ruffner developmental coach for Cobb Atlanta Juniors and we are going to talk about club volley ball programs and preparing athletes to play at the next level. Burt, Abby, thanks so much for joining us today. Burt will start with you, what skills do you looked to develop athletes to this age to prepare them for the high school teams. Burt Weller: Right now what we are trying to do is teach them the footwork and the offensive and the defensive skills and the communication involve with the playing volleyballs, so that when they are seen by their high school coaches, the coaches have less to teach them and can focus more on offensive, defensive and team related building as suppose to individual skills. Our job is to prepare them and do as much of the heavy lifting at the younger ages so that it’s a little bit easier for the high school coaches to work with the players and the teams. What we’ve seen is the result, is that the teams are very extremely comparative. The level of play in a last 10 year has, sky rocketed and to the point where club volleyball now becomes almost a requirement, in order to stay active in the game. Female Speaker: we hear so much about a league club teams, specially with soccer, with volleyball, talk a little bit about the growth of volleyball clubs in this sports in the US. Burt Weller: Well it is in a explosive event that’s happening here in, in Atlanta alone we have had 4 clubs developed in the last, 4 years. There is probably 8 to 9 clubs just here in, in the metro line area, where girls can find but this is repeated in every major city across the US. If you talk to your high school coaches, lot of time they are very much aware of the clubs and very active in that area. And they can give the parents the best advice, and I encourage all my players to interview and talk to the club directors, go to the parent meetings, ask questions because not every club is right for every family and for every player. Female Speaker: Abby, as club coach, what opportunities does a playing club volleyball offer for these athletes. Abby Ruffner: Well, It gives them time during their high school off season to play, keep them in the game and in the sport and that give some opportunity to play with girls that they usually play games, which is fun for them also, and they get to play nationally against the best player in the US, which is the great opportunity for these girl have. Female Speaker: so I am sure they enjoy the travel part of it, or they love the travel part of its lot of fun for them so, Female Speaker: For those parents who are interested in finding out more information about club volleyball, In the area, where should they go to find that information. Abby Ruffner: They can go on USAvolleyball.org and If you contact your high school coaches they will a have of lot of club information for the local area clubs. Female Speaker: Burt. One nice question for you, what advice would you give parents you have athletics, that are interested in playing at the college level and so on. Burt: I actually to start to planning now at the middle school level, these girls here are going to get the chance next week to hear a guest speaker who is a, whose job is to help the planning, and the goal setting required to actually make and play at the college level, now those types of organizations and those types of venues are available on every city, it’s been a real blessing to have them here, because they will guide a family through all the necessary steps and make sure that they are seen, by the right college coaches and club volleyball does a track college coaches there on the side lines and allow this major tournaments and take a notes and so the club seasons gives the scalps around the country to chance to see the girls and start talking at the parents. Female Speaker: Abby, Burt thanks so much for your time today, we hope to have you again in future shows and we thank you for joining us today and will see you on an other edition of Clubhouse Gas. We are here today with the Lassiter Jr. Trojans, -- gold Volleyball team travel to you and will discuss few items with them, first of all, why did you say clean volleyball? Female Speaker: I serve playing volleyball because, I went to my friends there and they had a really good time playing, they started with Lassiter and I wanted to get into it to. Female Speaker: I think it’s a really fun to learn how to bump and set and spike and all think that, and I have a really get coach, right now. And that’s Coach Burt. Female Speaker: I does really like the feeling of once to get a block or great hit and this is the feeling of triumph after you did that. Female Speaker: so I am going to ask you, why is she a good defensive player. Female Speaker: Because she used to play here longer. Female Speaker: Why is that ultimate team sport? Female Speaker: Because really of those any problems with the teams there is no way that you can work and you got really close to their team and you completely got, you get it over the net with everyone’s help.