VOLLEYBALL 

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The following Newsletter has been forwarded to you, from the Volleyball Newsletter  E-Mail list. The UK's leading on line Volleyball News service, providing up to date volleyball information, direct to newsletter members throughout the UK and Ireland. Articles are collected from a variety of sources and credited appropriately. The Volleyball Newsletter uses advertising sponsorship to support our free and non-profit making service to newsletter members. To advertise your volleyball events or products, direct to players, club and league secretaries throughout the UK & Ireland, then please see our web site for details or contact Dave at  Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com

Hi all - More Volleyball news from the web.

Had a few problems since issue 163, lap top crashed and I have been unable to retrieve everything. I have lost a number of newsletter items which readers have sent in, so if your item or request is not enclosed, my apologies and could you please resend, thank you.

Cheers - Dave Reece Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com

Hiya, I've been looking for an adult women's' volleyball league around the Wimbledon area - do you have any info on this?

Thanks
Lara Cely lcely@vifprogram.com

keith falkingham keithfalkingham@hotmail.com

Hi, I play for Trinity and All Saints University, in Leeds. The team unfortunately didn't get off the ground, however there are people who still wish to play volleyball in friendlies. I was interested to know where you could pass this message on or inform other volleyball teams for any team wishing to have friendly matches.

Cheers
Richard linklaters linklaters@lineone.net

My names Harry and I'm studying sport science at university and I'm in my final year. I was wandering if you had any links or detailed information on "the advice on the developmental steps necessary to take a group of 8-10 yr old boys and girls through to competing at international level in beach and indoor volleyball by the year 2010. The comprehensive advice must be specifically related to PHYSICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, MENTAL / COGNITIVE, SKILL ACQUISITION." any information regarding this study would be a great help and very much appreciated.

Thank You 
HARRY n44m@hotmail.com

Dear Dave, We have just moved into Weston Super Mare / Cheddar Area. Do you know of any volleyball clubs in this area?

Thanks
David myers myersfamily@btopenworld.com

Hey there, Just recently moved to London, and am looking to get back into playing some vball! Wondering if there is anything I can sign up for (drop-in, tournis, etc.)....I played vball all throughout high school, and university, so I'm looking for something that's competitive! If you could email me back with any info you have regarding vball clubs/teams that are looking for players, that would be awesome!!

Thanks much, Emily.
embrooks14@hotmail.com

Scoring software Required

Can anyone suggest a real-time (game-time) scoring software? Free would be best, as our leagues are broke, but cheap would be cool too. Thanks for the
help!

Scallopdragger scallopdragger@yahoo.com

Hi. my name is Onur Kara my birthday is 29.07.1984 . I am Turkish and staying in London, I have been playing volleyball since 1996 in Besiktas club (Istanbul). I came these country with student visa to improve my English, I have a university but at the same time I think to apply same uni. in UK I don't know how I can get a scholarship, can anyone help. 

onur kara onurkara7@yahoo.com

Anyone know where I can get info on the techniques used to teach Swing Blocking. I do not see much info, in books that I have read, but maybe someone
out there knows where I can find some info.

Thanks,
Jeff ssvbc15@aol.com

Hi there, Just to let you know that we are hosting a Volleyball Level 1 Instructors Course on March 1st and 2nd. If you know of anyone who may be interested please mail me and I will provide some more details.

Thanks,
Stuart Anderson S.Anderson@exeter.ac.uk

Div 3 Devon Women explode into celebration after knocking out Division 1 Tonbridge 17-15 in the fifth set last Sunday. Tonbridge managed to save four match points (one in the fourth set) before eventually going out of the EVA cup to Devon, in a thrilling five set round three match.  Devon started strongly, taking the first set but totally lost it in the second, handing it to Tonbridge. They once again took charge of the match during sets 3 and 4 but failed to convert match point in the fourth set, letting Tonbridge catch up and take the set 26-28.  This made the fifth and final set an extremely close affair but Devon had the lead and Tonbridge could not keep on saving match points for ever and at the fifth time of asking, Devon took that vital point and the win.

Final result: Devon Women 3 Tonbridge 2 (25-17, 10-25, 25-18, 26-28, 17-15)

Having knocked out Solent in the previous round, and now Tonbridge (one of the top ten teams in the country), they have now been awarded a quarter-final home tie against Woverhampton (div 2), following their win over first division Ashcombe Dorking. The next round will be on February the 9th.

The perfect birthday present Devon Women's Coach Nigel Weaver (white shirt), could not have asked for a better birthday present. Although the girls had all chipped in for a team present, nothing could top the win against first Division opposition.

NBC to show more volleyball

The NBC Europe TV channel, which shows US sports during it's weekend slot, use to show the USA AVP beach events but stopped doing so about five or six years ago. However it appears that they will be increasing their USA beach volleyball coverage next year and hence this many well be shown here in the UK.

The AVP pro beach volleyball tour, celebrating its 20th anniversary, and NBC Sports outlined a significantly increased broadcast package for the 2003 season that starts in April in Fort Lauderdale. In August, NBC will air six AVP finals for nine hours of programming, a marked increase from 2002's two broadcasts and four hours of coverage. In addition to televising three AVP men's finals live, NBC will for the first time offer live coverage of three AVP women's finals.

The 2003 tour will feature 10 combined men's and women's tournaments, an increase from seven last year, with equal prize money for men and women. More than $1,000,000 in prize money is being offered. New locations will include the lead-off event in Fort Lauderdale on April 4-6, as well as stops in Tempe, Ariz., and San Diego. 

Last season, the AVP crowned 2002 Olympic gold medalist Eric Fonoimoana and his partner Dax Holdren as the top men's team, and Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs as the top women's team. Joining the AVP this year is one of the top international women's teams for the United States, Misty May and Kerri Walsh. Top local players include Steve Grotowski, Jimmy Van Zwieten, Gaston Macau, Franci Rard and Paula Roca. 

The standard of the women's game in Scotland has benefited massively from the rebirth of a national team. For the first time the players have something to aim for, and that goal has sent competition levels soaring. Now, however, comes the acid test as the team tries to find its feet in the international arena at the Novotel Cup in Bertrange. The girls will be led by TFC coach coach Craig Faill, who doubles as the national boss.

Coach Craig had the hard task of picking a side to travel to Luxembourg. While the aim is to do as well as possible, in reality the event will be an opportunity to discover how good the Scots are. The countries competing in the Novotel Cup Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, San Marino and a English junior select are not the cream of the continent's talent. But in terms of experience they will be far ahead of their Scottish opponents.

Speaking to Craig and the girls it's clear they are cautiously optimistic that they won't be too far off the pace. He said: "We don't know where we stand internationally because we've been away for so long. We'll find out where we are and it might be a two-year plan, or we could surprise ourselves and find that we are way up there. I don't think the teams in it are at a high standard." In a Catch 22 situation which is the scourge of so-called minor sports, the team can only gain funding by proving their ability, but need money to improve in the first place.

"If we get some success we can put in a bid for lottery funding because we're using all of our small budget to go to this tournament in Luxembourg," added Craig. "Only one of our girls has played internationally before so eleven of them are completely unaware of what's about to befall them. They'll be coming against players who are professional. We have got one girl who plays in Liechtenstein and competes in the Austrian league, which will help a bit."
Women's volleyball suffered in Scotland due to a political decision within the sport around seven years ago which saw money from the British Volleyball Association concentrated solely on the men. Now, thanks to the efforts of people like Craig, that imbalance is beginning to be addressed.

Gillian Cox (22) from Stenhousemuir has been captain of the team for the last two years. The setter came through Falkirk Volleyball Club after taking to the game at St Mungo's High School. She's already received honors with the Scottish Junior side and Scottish Universities, but making the full national squad is a dream come true.

"Volleyball takes over your life so I'm absolutely delighted to be picked. There was a lot of pressure because I was so desperate to make the team so it was good to hear my name called out. It was probably worse for Craig because he's our team coach too. But we were picked on merit," she said. This will be Gillian's first experience of European competition, and she's not so sure how the Scots will fare: "I think we're looking at getting beaten. I expect the teams to be big and it's hard to compete against professionals. We're hoping to go over and win as many sets and games as we can. We're a smaller team so it means we have to play smarter. But the morale in the team is tremendous it's total excitement and the energy level is enormous."

http://www.falkirktoday.co.uk/sportstory.asp?storyid=2

The coaching sessions concentrates on the six a side game, not just the junior 3 v 3 or 4 v 4 format and this has produced a mature game.  A number of successes have already been achieved by the squad, the team played their first match against Paignton Community College and five members have already made local league appearances in the Exeter & District league, with the Torexe Ladies and Mixed beginner teams.

This year we are looking to expand the set up with more training date, matches and to enter an end of season tournament. The sessions are open to everyone aged between 11 and 16, no previous experience of volleyball is necessary, just come along to any of the following dates: 1 Feb, 15 Feb, 1 Mar, 15th Mar, 29 Mar & 12 Apr. All sessions are held in the Sports Hall at West Exe Technology College, Exeter.

For more information about these sessions and for a list of the training dates, please visit the Torexe web at  www.torexevolleyball.com 

Rachel Swindell Rachel.Swindell@ndirect.co.uk

We have several documents on how to build a beach court, most have been in the newsletter at some time or other and all are available on our beach court CD-ROM (see web site). In one of the articles it recommends using old escalator hand rails, to provide the edge to your courts free zone and the surrounding ground. Not many of us are going to have an old escalator lying around in our back yard, however we have received the following offer from David Ball.

Dave 
I run the UK arm of EHC (The Escalator Hand-rail company Ltd.). I see from reading your site information that our product is suggested as a possible building material in your step-by-step basics on how to build a beach court.

Could I give you our website and my contact information for people possibly needing rails for just this purpose? 
From time to time we have a clean out of old stock and we could do some great deals for anyone who wanted or needed old rails.

http://www.escalator-handrail.com/

Kind Regards 

David S. Ball  David.Ball@ehc-global.com
General Manager 
EHC UK Ltd. 
Business Development Manager Europe 
44+(0)1908276301 
44+(0)7740814546 

GRANTS totaling more than £500,000 are being shared between community groups in the region thanks to the national lottery. The money has come from the lottery's Awards For All fund, which gives money to local groups. Frances Wardley, senior awards officer, said: "We don't have deadlines, so groups can apply to Awards For All at any time. "But groups do need to plan ahead because it can take three months before they hear whether or not they have been successful." Recipients of the grants, which can be up to £5,000, need to run projects which fulfill three criteria.

They must extend access and participation, increase skill and creativity and improve the quality of life. Recent award winners in Kirklees include: Golcar Junior Infant and Nursery School has a £1,345 boost for more extra-curricular activities, including volleyball.

http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/

How often do you repump your volleyballs? - rsv

Hi, I was wondering how often people pump up their volleyballs? I expect to top up my vball about once every 5 months. If a vball requires topping up once a month, would the valve be wearing out?

I put a a few drops of water on the valve, and rinse the pump needle in water before I insert it in the valve. Are there any other hints that people can suggest? Or should I return a ball that requires regular monthly/weekly topping up?

hoho haha@hehe.com

Most of the balls I have usually need to be pumped up at least once a month. Some need it at least once a week :) I would think you might have a hard time returning a ball that needs to be pumped up once a month.

I have returned a ball that would go flat after just 24 hours. There was something wrong with that one for sure.

Good luck,
John Villalovos john@nwjohn.co.intel.com

Nah. Once a month I'd consider pretty normal. Weekly - maybe. But, is it worth your trouble? And how old is the ball? If it's over a year old, I'd say all bets are off. I carry a gauge and a pocket pump in my things, so checking this is just a matter of course. Most players I know carry a pocket pump, but the gauge is a bit more unusual. :-)

Todd Haverkos tdh@vbref.org

Not expecting anyone to purchase from the USA but the 3M item code may be worth noting...

We have an open case of floor tape that is recommended by USAV's insurance provider. 3M #471 - 2"x36'(i think) Rolls are $18/each, Shipping extra. Yellow only. 

If anyone is interested, please contact her directly, Michele Furlong - 817-332-6151 ext.138 and e-mail - mfurlong@cutcraft.com

Toodles!
Shirley Walker smann2@jcpenney.com

Our jump programme was the core. But we had many individual activities that players could do on their own with a ball. For example: Serve at a Basketball back board (points for hitting the rim, for hitting the board for hitting the square and bonus points for a clean shot thru the hoop .

We had wall Volleys etc.
Now my question to the news group. What are ideas that you have that will allow a player to take a ball and make progress on their own?

PS: The jump programme is the number 5 article on this page. http://hypbus.com/vicvball/coach/index.html

Vic Lindal viclindal@shaw.ca

 
As a setter, I guess I wouldn't be the only person who occasionally sits at a computer from timt to time gently volleying the ball a couple of inches above my head waiting for the muse to hit.

More seriously, I have a reverse setting drill for one - set the ball behind you, let it bounce run under the ball then set reverse again - work on a line on the floor for accuracy. If you put back spin on the ball it makes it easier to get under the ball. I'd also use your basketball game for setters - bump the ball up with one hand so the flight isn't clean, chase under the ball and set it into the basket - do continuously. 

An old coach of mine had a setter play against a wall. Make a set against the wall. Touch the wall with right hand. Make the next set. Touch the wall with left hand. Do this as a continuous drill. Then do it kicking the wall with your feet and touching the wall too! And if anyone's interested in trying it, you can try juggling using a set - that is keeping two balls in the air at the same time using the set. This isn't at all easy. I have a best of about 6 sets in a row!

Any stuff for digging has required a wall to rebound against. Simple stuff to keep low, digging with one hand (for footwork). You can always serve at a
wall, then dig to a basket or other target, but it might be a bit dull.

Saul Dobney saul.dobney@dobney.com

The Vballnews letter is advertising a snow volleyball tournament in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Feb 22nd, 2003. 

Vballnews@aol.com

"We are very excited for the launch of Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball," said John Inada, director of marketing and sales at Tecmo. "Since the beginning we have been very tight-lipped concerning the special features within this game. Now that DOAX has shipped, we cannot wait to let gamers in on all the little secrets that this amazing game has to offer." 

Look for a full review soon. Publisher: Tecmo Developer: Tecmo Genre: Sports / Release Date: 01/20/2003

By Giancarlo Varanini, GameSpot http://gamespot.com

Rotation Check or Freeze Tactic? - rsv

Have you seen coaches use requests for 'rotation checks' as a tool to get playing delays to freeze opponent servers and try to stop a service run? Is this acceptable? If the coach begins coaching to her players during the rotation check, should the referee consider asking him/her to refrain or take an official time out? i.e. everyone knows the rotation check is a delay/freeze tactic, but it is acceptable and considered simply a tool coaches use?
Steve Cutchen scutchen@airmail.net

Does anyone have stats that show "freezing" works???
I always thought it was silly, and when a team tried it against my team I knew I had them. That is, if they had to call time out to stop my momentum I thought to myself (and told my team) "we have them - they are mentally week" and so far I have ALWAYS been correct. Maybe it just made me play harder- bad strategy on their part.
m m@m.com

I think it depends a lot on how the serving team handles the "freeze." It sounds like you have a good coaching technique to keep your team focused and confident. I like it. Do you ever call a time out to stop a rally? It seems that the reverse psychology could work on your team in this situation... "Boy, coach
thinks we're beat..." 

I'd think a way around this would be to have a very specific corrections or adjustments to make... "OK, ladies, this is a tough server. Let's go to a xxx serve receive. All we need is one good pass and we'll side'em out... Kelly... be ready for the tough pass. Make a good set...."
Steve Cutchen scutchen@airmail.net

If I'm facing a streak of shanked passes on my team and call timeout, it's amazing how many times the next serve is into the net. I then look like some sort of genius. No stats, but I've never regretted attempting to use timeouts to change the momentum of a game. Just another opinion...
Best Regards, Todd Haverkos tdh@vbref.org

Well, I use the timeout to get my women, back on track after an opponent has served some good serves and also to get them to set discuss the play that they will use. So far it has worked over 90% of the time and the opposing server missed the serve or we ran a play that stopped the run of serves. Mentally weak?
I disagree with that, sometimes you need a second to get a breath.
Mike Daly mike_dalyREMOVETHIS@msn.com

If a rotation check is dealt with efficiently by the 2nd referee, it becomes a poor stall tactic. 

CO: Hey ref, I need a lineup check
2R: #5 is your next server. Do you need more information? 

If they repeatedly ask for lineup checks and in your judgment it's being used as a stall tactic, sanction the team with a team delay warning. Hopefully preventive officiating prevents that ugliness from occurring, but a prepared 2R is invaluable in heading off the possible delays a coach can inject by this tactic. 

Coaches certainly have their stall tactics...it's a subtle dance to change the rhythm of the game. There are allowance in safety and rules that you can't prevent all of em. Obvious stalling or repeated requests for information can be penalized with team delay warnings...but a strong 2R that's on top of things can usually prevent that from escalating to that level. 

It's amazing for instance how many shoes come untied when a team without timeouts left has faced 5 or 6 straight lost rallies late in a game...
Todd Haverkos tdh@vbref.org

A local high school team used to pull that trick but I couldn't seem to catch them in the act. Finally during a match in which they were trailing, I kept a close eye on the captain. After losing a few rallies near the end of a game she reached down and untied her shoelace as she was facing away from me talking with the coach. As she turned to me to point to her untied sneaker, my disapproving glare met her eyes. I didn't say or do anything, but she didn't even finish asking me for a delay before she put her head down and tied her shoe.  The guilty look on her face was priceless! I had no more problems with that team's sneakers coming untied for the rest of the season. 
K Streilein k_streilein@yahoo.com

I recall Satanfjord last year requiring an awful lot of towel work.
Joe Rooney ikerooney@pcmagic.net

To learn more about professional Volleyball and European events, we have decided to adopt a team, Asterix Kieldrecht from Belgium and follow their progress in National & European competitions.

The second part of the league round of the European cup went as we expected. First a trip to Albania. There was not much of a volleyball game to be seen there (the score of 6-25 in the final set was typical of the game), but we met a lot of very friendly people. The hotel was much better than in many other countries in Eastern Europe.  There are pictures of the trip on the Asterix website: http://users.tijd.com/~tdn15163/albanie2003/albanie.htm

Villebon was a different matter. We had to play without Olga, who injured her back. Lyudmilla did not play as libero but as main attacker, and she showed her talents on that position too. In the giant arena of Villebon, we saw a good game, with a close score in each set (we lost 3-1). Both teams were already qualified for the quarterfinals, so they could play without stress.

Last week, the Slovenian girls from Maribor came to Kieldrecht without any motivation. Even without Olga and Tatiana (who has injured her knee), they were no match for the Asterix machine. Although we were second in our group, Asterix is the team with the best set-point average of all 16 participants.

Today, the drawing for the quarterfinals was held in Luxembourg. Our opponents are Arke Pollux of Oldenzaal in the Netherlands. For a team on the border between Belgium and The Netherlands, this gives some extra spice to the game! We play at home on Wednesday February 12, and go to The Netherlands the week thereafter. If we proceed to the Final Four, our opponent in the semi-final will be the winner of Villebon - Bratislava.

More on Asterix Kieldrecht on our website, http://go.to/kieldrecht

SPECIAL CASES

9.11 In a Women's World Cup match, Brazil was playing the Netherlands. During the second set, the scoreboard which can be seen by the spectators was not correct. Immediately, the emotional Brazilian Coach challenged the scorer, the referee, and the Control Committee. He was supported by the Head of Delegation from Brazil who appeared at the Control Committee table from the spectator seats reserved for Heads of Delegation.

The first referee whistled the Brazilian Game Captain and explained that he was sanctioning the Coach of Brazil with a rude conduct penalty. Although the Brazilian Game Captain was obligated to communicate this to the Brazilian Coach, she did not do this. Furthermore, in the resulting confusion, the second referee missed the sanctioning of the Brazilian Coach and the rude conduct was not recorded on the scoresheet.

By this time, the Control Committee members, without communicating that a Judges Conference was being called, determined that the scoreboard was not
correct. Furthermore the scorer was also not correct, but the reserve scorer agreed with the member of the Control Committee and with the Brazilian Coach. The score was corrected and the game continued without any mention of an incident recorded on the scoresheet. How should this incident have been handled?

The initial error was that of the scorer. The second was that of the scoreboard operator. The third was that of the reserve scorer for not checking with the official scorer to be certain that they were each correct. The first referee, via the second referee, should have been certain that the misconduct was recorded on the scoresheet. The Brazilian Game Captain should have communicated the misconduct to the Brazilian Coach. When she did not do this, she should have been required to do this.

The Control Committee was incorrect in allowing the Brazilian Head of Delegation to approach the Control Committee table. The Game Jury President should have stopped the match by signaling for a Judge's Conference so that the score could be resolved. It is required for the Game Jury President to include the first referee and the Refereeing Delegate in the Judges Conference. The second referee may be invited but has no vote in the final decision. Other officials with information on the matter can be summoned to inform the Judges Conference concerning the problems.

Fortunately, the score was corrected, the rude conduct remained, and the game continued. The problem was compounded because both referees and the Refereeing Delegate allowed the scoresheets to be signed and approved without mention of the sanction and score correction.

More examples in the next issue....

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