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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 with the word "Volleyball" in your subject line.

Hi all, more news from the Volleyball Newsletter 

Bit of a delay from the last issue, not much news around at the moment.

Cheers - Dave Reece Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com

Could you please enter a small plea on your web site about My NEED TO GET SOME MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION (RESEARCH'S OR FULL PAPER / TEXT OR FREE BOOKS., etc) ABOUT Defensive Specialist / Libero in volleyball TO USE IT IN MY DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN DEPARTMENT OF SPORT TRAINING , as I would be most grateful. 

Mahmoud Nag mahmoudnagi75@hotmail.com

Hi Dave, I belong to a recreational club playing on a Tuesday evening 9 -10pm. at North Berwick sports centre. North Berwick is a town 40 min's drive from Edinburgh, we would welcome any new players of any standard to join us on a Tuesday we would also welcome any teams looking for friendly matches to contact me even touring teams would be good. my email address is mandydevine@btopenworld.com

Thanks for you help Mandy mandydevine@btopenworld.com

Hi there, I was wondering if you knew if there was anywhere that I could purchase a vhs or dvd of world volleyball matches, such as from the Olympics, European championships, etc. I am a huge volleyball fan, and would really love to own some matches on video/dvd. 

thanks, Luke Kenyon luke@kenyonuk.fsnet.co.uk

Hi Dave, Would you be able to update the link to our website, we are VK Barnet and our new web address is: http://www.vkbarnet.co.uk

Many thanks, Tony Woodruffe volleyball@plasticar.com

John Roach johnroach@wirral.gov.uk

PHOTOS OF INTEREST

Hello, TeamBath volleyball club are looking for a coach to coach beginners / developers at the University. Sessions will be wed 5.30-7.30 and the coach will be paid. Interested parties please contact Keith at en8kep@bath.ac.uk

Keih en8kep@bath.ac.uk
www.teambath.com

Hi Dave, Owing to illness, the Gloucestershire Volleyball Association requires someone to take on the role of Development Officer. We've got a basic development plan document drawn up, and now need to progress this further. If there's anyone who feels they would like to give this a go, please contact horsemanm@aol.com for more details.

Thanks Mark HorsemanM@aol.com

Earlier this year, we carried an advert from Steve Colpus, who was looking for UK coaches to help out with his summer coaching program in the USA. Ros Sutherland was one of several UK coaches who took up the offer. She has kindly put together a  report (highlighted below) on her experience, to see the full report, please check out our web site Reports page.

In the Summer I went to Ohio to work for Steve Colpus. 

Steve, who is well known in English volleyball, has now settled in the US and is the director of a company called "Matchpoint". Matchpoint provides a range of volleyball services, among them helping high schools with their preseason camps and providing staff for Ohio State University Junior camps. The pay was enough to cover the plane ticket, board was provided so I thought, " Why not?" and went. For those who do not know me, I specialise in coaching young people and view and understand my volleyball from that perspective....

...The second day I traveled with two young American coaches to a school called Western Reserve, 2 hours drive from Columbus in the Cleveland direction. It was in amongst the corn fields (sweet corn) flat as the eye could see, with their pollen in full flood. One of the Mum's enquired "Do you have allergies?" I soon did. Once in another life I drew lines on maps and labeled them 'The Corn Belt' now I know what I should have imagined then....

...My first impression of the school was of the vast expanse of "black topped" car park behind which were new school buildings and two new sports halls. Both of these turned out to have wood sprung floors, two volleyball courts and bleacher seating with a really wide free zone round each court. Later I saw a hall with a sign "Maximum Capacity 2080" All school sports halls are hung with banners proclaiming the successes of the school teams over the last 15 or so years. Along with their colours and emblems there are also large uplifting messages....

...The Western Reserve High School uses the call "Riders". We were working with girls, they were called "Lady Riders" and the younger groups had T-shirts with "Little Lady Riders". Other schools I saw had Rockets, Barons, Braves and so were Lady Rockets, Lady Barons and Lady Braves. Ladies is the common form of address for women....

...The volleyball season lasts for two or three months in the autumn and then the schools move onto something else. The game is tightly controlled for schools with a lot of rules about who can and cannot play. The coaches are also controlled as to how many coaching days they are allowed with the team. The camps coached by someone other than the team coach circumnavigate this rule. The rules are there to protect the children from being forced to play too much. Summer camps, trials and pre season training are normal for school teams. School Leagues are 6 v 6 and start at Junior Varsity, 13 - 14 year olds....

...I had a very interesting conversation with one of the parents. He worked in the building trade and had taken the day off to come and watch his daughter's summer volleyball camp. He was also involved in the booster club. This is like a PTA. The parents raise money to help support the volleyball team. All the school clubs at that school had their booster club there were clubs for baseball, football, cheerleading, music, drama and possibly others. He told that it is very expensive for a child to play sport. There is the cost of the equipment and kit they require and travel to matches, which may be in different states and include airfares. The school does not provide everything, only the venue, which the club can use free. In this school new nets and balls were bought by the booster club....

...The attitude to marketing was also new to me. At the Ohio State Nike camp I heard a salesman from "Gatorade" give an informative speech which started " Can any of you tell me when you should all drink Gatorade?". Matchpoint took a shop to each of their camps selling Mizuno volleyball clothes, the attitude of the parents and children was enthusiastic. I didn't see one child in old trainers at any of the camps and they all wore proper sports trainers there were no children wearing flat bottomed street shoes....

...The warm up is very different from what we are now doing. It was really interesting to see how they orchestrated this part of the session. All the young people, even the 5th grade (9/10year olds) knew a stretching routine. After a five lap run of the sports hall the players made a circle with one leading and counting. Everyone else also joined in the counting to 10 to hold stretches. They did the same routine before and after training. Every group, without exception did roughly the same routine. Stretches included toe touching and cross legged toe touching. The first time I saw this the volleyball coach said to them. " I am a volleyball coach, not a fitness coach so carry on with your normal stretching routine"...

...Training at the beginning is very skills based. They tend not to play small-sided games on small courts. I wanted to do this with the groups I worked with and found that even players with what appeared to be very good skills, especially hitting and serving were very insecure playing a game in twos or threes they had a problem with the concept. It was also hampered by the fact that American sports halls do not have many lines on the floor. I was told that the basketball coaches wouldn't have it because it spoils the appearance of their floor logo. Appearance and presentation is important....

....it also has a volleyball stadium, St Johns Arena with 13,276 seats, reaching up to the roof and another large basket ball stadium, the Schottenstein Center that was built when St Johns got too small. There is also another building that we used Larkins Hall where I counted 13 volleyball courts....

....The coaches on the camps were on the whole American College players although I was joined by three coaches from Loughborough, another from Su Ragazi and one from Germany. Of the Americans some of them came from Ohio State but others were from other Universities. One of the girls from the University of Florida told me that one team she worked with was not happy that they had to have her, they wanted an Ohio State player, "a Buckeye". (The buckeye or conker is the Ohio emblem, interestingly American children do not play conkers )....

Ros Sutherland Rossuth@aol.com

To see Ros's full report, please check visit our web site Reports page.

Spain granted last vacancy in 2004 World Volleyball League, leaving Russia for Continental Round. The International Volleyball Federation announced on Thursday, that Spain will be the 12th and final team to compete in the 2004 World League, the premier annual men's Volleyball competition. Spain, who were hosts of the 2003 World League finals and will host an Olympic qualifying event in 2004, provided a candidature file superior to the other contender for the 12th spot, Russia. 

Eleven teams: Brazil, Bulgaria, Cuba, Italy, Serbia and Montenegro, Poland, France, Japan, China, Portugal and Greece were originally named to compete in 
the World League, which will be in its 15th year in 2004, following the decision at the FIVB's World League Council in September to introduce a new format. 
The $15 million tournament has been restructured with a new format of 12 teams to contest Intercontinental Rounds while a separate Continental Round will be 
played at the same time.

Due to the strength of European teams, four teams will contest the right to be the best two performers as per organization, entertainment and professional standards as well as ranking, to advance into the Intercontinental Round in 2005. The two weakest European teams in the Intercontinental Round - and under 
the same standards - will be relegated to the lower group. Russia is now expected to play in the Continental Round with the likes of the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Germany.

For more information visit www.fivb.org

Team Melksham, who took on the German U14 champions Berlin in four and six a side events this weekend

[I watched a backcourt player join a block in a recent European championships men's match,  the front court and back court players both jumped together but kept their arm's down by their sides, a strange sight. Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com]

The results can be distinguished in a top group of four teams with a hitting percentage of around 44 % and a second group where percentage varies from 39 to 34.The differences between the top four teams are extremely small and not sufficient to decide on the final result of the match. But even the difference between the top and lower ranked teams are rather small which would not explain more than a 2 pt difference per set. An attempt to correlate the rang order to the different statistics of the game was not successful and only a very poor significant relation could be obtained between corrected attack percentage and final ranking. In this respect third and forth place of Germany and the Netherlands appear to be over rated. It will be shown later that blocking has been rather efficient which could explain lower attack efficiency in this tournament. Comparative data from earlier events this year are summarized in next table....

....As explained earlier multiple regression brings no variables forward for explaining team success other than attack. In a calculated approach based on attack receiving and service the ranking would have been Russia Poland Turkey and Italy. The sensibility of teams in rally counting for off norm performance has grown. Stamina which plaid more important role in the past has been replaced by intensity. The disappointing of Russia appears to be related to the two lost matches , the poor performance of Italy who only show acceptable performance in attack is more fundamental. The team showed no outstanding performance in order play compartments. Poland and Turkey show strong play elements but performance of Germany and The Netherlands appears to be overrated.

The above data are based on CEV statistics and have been enriched with additional parameters. The CEV presents not full data for individual players . The set of 10 best players hence is given without comments.

To see Leo's full report, please check visit our web site Reports page.

leo van hal leovh@wanadoo.fr

Outdoor Volleyball Net Recommendations  - volleyball forum

I have played USVBA B/BB for over 10 years, grass doubles in Colorado. I am now looking for an outdoor portable net for my daughter. I'm looking for a good serious net (not pro), but something you can take to a doubles tournament and not be laughed at!

I have noticed the Park & Sun Spectrum 2000 Volleyball Net Systemand the Park & sun Classic (Which I dont see any difference in). I have also read about CenterLine The Net, which is what I had in 1985, but it looked much different than the current model.

johncoby johncoby@yahoo.com

Hi John....in the cheap net system category...I'm a big fan of the net by centerline. I run volleyball tournaments in New England and have a bunch of different systems.

Here are the pros and cons to it...

Pros: Very sturdy (mine is between 15 and 20 years and still is great.)
Simple design.
Very easy to set up. (I can get one up alone including lines in about 7-8 minutes)
Good quality of net play (especially if you double wrap the bottom bungee or add another

Cons: Heavy (Made of steel)
Some people don't like the lines (although they don't twist and are easy to set up, they aren't as visible as some others)
Stakes are easy to get into ground but are big nails and would have trouble with maximal tension in wet ground. (Rarely an issue)
No bottom cord on net (can't get true indoor quality play off net).

don@doctorcohen.com

I use one on occasions. There is one gym in our area that has a wood floor over concrete and when I play on it I will start getting pain in my knee. I will use it when I play there and it does seem to help.

The reason I think I get a pain in my knee area is because I have a loose kneecap and now I have a nice big bump right below my knee where calcium deposits have formed because of the stress.

Usually it doesn't bother me but when I play at this gym it does. Also it doesn't work very well if your knee is already sore. So you have to remember to use it ahead of time. At least that is the case for me because if my knee is already sore the strap kind of hurts :(

John Villalovos john@nwjohn.co.intel.com

My son plays almost year round between club and high school. His knee started bothering him last year. He went to the orthopedic and he recommended giving the strap a try. He definitely feels significant relief and it allows him to play continuously. He still may have some pain after he takes the strap off. He also takes a anti-inflammatory on the days he practices and plays.

Some people can improve the pain based on doing some strengthening of certain leg/thigh muscles. My son has a female friend that has been bothered with painful knees for 3 years and could not play with or without a strap. She finally had to have a surgery and that is no guarantee. In other words, you might want to visit an ortho if just using the strap doesn't help. Also make sure you are using it correctly.

JRS vbjerry@sbcglobal.net

I have a big issue with the interpretation of this rule, which states: "It is forbidden to wear objects which may cause injury, or give an artificial advantage to the player." Can someone explain to me how a stud in a woman's upper ear can fall under this rule? When one of my players cannot remove or tape their upper ear, so they can play. I may have to resort to putting a band-aid on her ear and say she had a mole removed or something.

Thanks. Colin Glass volleyball_coach@email.com

For Volleyball Canada this means: It is forbidden to wear objects which may cause injury or give an artificial advantage to the player.

The referee shall not permit the following: Finger, hand, wrist, elbow, or forearm guards; casts or braces made of hard plastic, metal, wood, or any other hard substance even if they are padded. Items that are made of a soft material that are padded, not intrusive and are not a danger to others, are permitted. / Equipment that could cut or cause abrasions. / Headwear and jewellery.

Apparently, in Canada as in the USA, the part about injury not only applies to injuries to other players but to injuries to themselves. A Lot of times it falls under risk management: i.e. lawsuits or better put, attempting to avoid them.
JACOB GILLETTE razors.edge@verizon.net

Well here in the U.S. it has to be removed. On many occasions girls seem to decide to go out and get their ear pierced the day before the tournament or a few days before. They are told that if they want to play it has to come out. When given the choice between not playing and taking it out they usually take it out. Even if it requires pliers to do.

John Villalovos john@nwjohn.co.intel.com

Having been a ref in a league where they did not require ear studs, etc to be removed I had the displeasure and horror of watching what happens when the stud gets caught in the net and rips thru the ear. Now this was in the ear lob, but after that the league changed the rule to no jewelry period. Colin if you do have them tape the ear and then lie and say its something else and the ref finds out then he can ask for the removal of the stud and possibly this is a sanction. 

Not 100% sure how that is handled, but I had seen a ref disqualify a player who would not remove an ear stud and this caused her team to forfeit.

Mike Daly trapsetono@hotmail.com

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