Yesterday was my final at Radford College.
Chances are you’ll recall I began there in July of final 12 months in a return to NCAA Division I teaching. We had an excellent season in ’22, all issues thought of. Whereas there was actually disappointment in not reaching the postseason (missed out because of a tiebreaker), this system received extra video games – general and in convention – than it did the 2 seasons prior. We had an excellent Spring value of coaching and like the recruits lined as much as be part of the staff for subsequent season.
I can’t be round to see it, although, as I’m transferring on to a extremely fascinating new problem.
The place I’m going
In a way of talking – particularly from the angle of this weblog – I’m going again to the start. I began this web site as a useful resource for coaches there whereas I used to be teaching in England on the College of Exeter. That point I used to be over there to do my PhD. Teaching was one thing I did on the facet – although it clearly grew to become a giant factor! This time, volleyball is the factor taking me there.
That’s proper. I’m transferring again to England. Particularly, I’m going to work for Volleyball England – the nationwide governing physique (like USA Volleyball within the States). I will likely be a Technique Supervisor there, with duty for what they name the Expertise Programmes. That’s their pipeline system for the assorted nationwide groups – indoor, seaside, and sitting.
That is from the job posting:
Volleyball England is recruiting a Strategic Supervisor to supervise our expertise system and networks as a part of the organisation’s 10-year technique, The Sport Plan.
This key function leads on the planning, supply and analysis of coaching and competitions throughout the pathway. England has senior, U19 and U17 squads for indoor volleyball and senior and junior squads for seaside volleyball.
Critically, the function will develop a tradition of steady enchancment throughout pathways and programmes to drive strategic development and alter throughout the organisation and sport.
Mainly, it’ll be my job to get the Programmes in place to constantly determine and develop the type of gamers required for the England nationwide groups (and by extension Group GB) to be internationally aggressive on a constant foundation. Undoubtedly a problem one can sink their enamel into!
Why make this transfer?
So why this job? And why England?
I’ll take the second half first. I undoubtedly developed an affinity for English volleyball whereas I used to be over there. I got here to know a bunch of individuals, and have gotten to know much more since. It’s type of stunning what number of, really. Apart from that, I loved dwelling in England, and have regarded for alternatives to return. Nothing materialized till now, although.
As for why, I can handle that on two ranges. The primary is one thing I’ve talked about to readers of my weekly publication. I’m to the purpose the place I need to have the ability to impression issues on a bigger scale than is feasible teaching a single staff. Sure, this weblog does that in a method. It’s not the identical as overseeing a complete nation’s expertise identification and improvement system, although.
The opposite degree is the precise work I’ll be doing. Whereas actually removed from the one a part of the job, a BIG function of will probably be coach improvement. You are able to do nice bringing a great deal of youngsters into the volleyball pipeline, however when you don’t have sufficient good coaches you’re not going to get very far. Growing coaches is clearly one thing I’m obsessed with, so I’m excited to get to work.
Will I maintain teaching?
At this level it’s too early to say whether or not I’ll proceed teaching. Definitely, it received’t be the day-to-day kind of teaching as I’ve been doing the previous couple of years at Radford and Medaille. It must be extra of a part-time factor. I’ll undoubtedly have a look at it as a risk as soon as I get settled in, although. There are some totally different choices I may pursue.
What about this weblog?
Don’t fear. This weblog isn’t going wherever. If something, the work I do for Volleyball England may very well be an actual profit to what I’m aiming to do in teaching training extra broadly.
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