CODP VOLLEYBALL

• Designed for 5th-8th Grade Girls and Boys:
• In 2004, CODP volleyball began with 20 young ladies being selected to participate in the program.  We have continued to grow through the years and now have over 165 athletes, boys and girls, participating. 
• Through a tryout process the athletes are selected based on skill and experience levels, then placed in a division which will give them the best opportunity to improve their skills and develop as a player. The Gold Division if for highly skilled players with a high level of experience.  The Silver Division focuses on players with a high level of skill, but with a moderate amount of experience and the Bronze Division is designed for skilled athletes with less experience.  
• Development of Consistent Basic Fundamentals:
• Our focus throughout the training session is to teach and develop consistent basic fundamentals. 
• Players will learn the skills and the game of volleyball in a way that makes sense.  In every aspect of the game the athlete needs to understand why things are done a certain way.  If they understand, they will be able to execute the skills more effectively and understand the game better. 
• Along with the understanding, the player must be taught in an efficient and consistent manner.  Efficient and consistent training equals efficient and consistent results on the court.
• The basic fundamental skills are broken down into segments and then the athlete practices each piece of the fundamental.  This allows the athlete to learn that each part of the skill is important.  The entire skill is then practiced with a high number of repetitions. Basic fundamentals are then integrated into competitive drills.    
• Structured Practices Helps Prepare Athletes for a Higher Level of Training:
• Organization is a key to success on and off the court.
• Discipline is an integral part of a successful athlete.  Parts of practice and rule following helps to train athletes in this area.
• Drills teach skills, they also help teach perseverance, patience and teamwork.
• Specific Training Tools:
• Practice goals allow the athlete to feel a sense of accomplishment which in turn boosts confidence. 

• Practices will be organized and each drill will have a goal or time limit and consequence or reward.
• Various ball handling drills will be used as warm up in order to gain optimal touches on the ball.
• Drills will be designed for optimal touches on the ball for all players.
• The practice drills will put the athletes in game like situations as much as possible.

Boys Volleyball was new to the CODP for the 2011 season with 13 athletes participating in the program.  These young men ranging is ages of 10 to 14 years trained for seven weeks through the summer and learned the basic volleyball skills.  There were also many competitive games that allowed them to put those skills into action during a game situation.  The boys were coached by Ryan Lacson and Jake Martin, two very experienced men’s players in the Springfield area.
  
Coaching Staff for the 2011 season:

• Lori Endicott-Vandersnick, Head CODP Volleyball Coach: University of Nebraska All American, 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 1996 Olympic Games, USAV CAP I Certified Coach
• Kayla Hellebusch, Assistant Coach:  Drury University Volleyball athlete
• Courtney McCarter, Assistant Coach:  Missouri State University Volleyball athlete
• Kinsey Palmer, Assistant Coach:  Southwest Baptist University and College of the Ozarks Volleyball athlete
• Alex Smith, Assistant Coach:  Drury University Volleyball athlete
• Shelby Strang, Assistant Coach:  Missouri State University Volleyball athlete
• Ryan Lacson, Head Boys Volleyball Coach: Played for various clubs in the St. Louis area, USAV Junior National referee, and USAV CAP II certified coach.   
• Jake Martin, Assistant Boys Coach:  10 yrs experience, Norwood Panthers Head Coach, competed with the men’s army team at Ft. Leonard Wood.

CODP volleyball is about creating a complete player.  We strive to help each participant to build the skill, character, and work ethic of an elite athlete, so that they can reach their own volleyball goals.  Who knows, maybe it’ll be Olympic Gold.