Share the Passion

My #1 goal is Make Volleyball more Prominent in the Media – nationally, regionally and locally.

This month’s edition is intended to encourage you to share your passion for volleyball and to reach out to others.

I have had the pleasure of working with the AVCA for the past two years. I have had the privilege to attend the last two AVCA Annual Conventions and NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships and the last NCAA Division I Men’s Volleyball Championship. The dedication and passion for the sport displayed by the athletes at the events and by the AVCA members and staff at the convention was awesome and infectious. Simply put – you inspired and amazed me.

I am extremely impressed with the athleticism, strength, quickness and determination of the athletes. This was not the volleyball I remembered playing as a kid! I was captivated by the personalities and enthusiasm of the AVCA female all-Americans. These women are talented, dynamic, beautiful and smart with wonderful personalities. Please do not take these things for granted. Do not assume that potential media outlets and sponsors are aware of these wonderful characteristics. Make sure to extend invitations to meet with players and attend matches first- hand. Reading about the X’s and O’s of your team is different than connecting with the athletes and coaches on a personal level. Take advantage of the opportunity to impress media or sponsors by experiencing firsthand all the excitement your programs have to offer. Take it from me; seeing is believing! Share the pasison.

At the AVCA Annual Conventions, I was so impressed by your dedication to learn more about coaching at all levels. Each session was full of people wanting better themselves professionally and personally. I was amazed to see so many of you attending on-court demonstrations and coaching panels; each of you soaking up information like a sponge. Your hard work and dedication to improving your coaching skills was easy to see. The convention provides an excellent opportunity to network with your peers, learn from other coaches and exchange ideas.

I challenge each of you to recruit at least two other coaches to join the AVCA this year. There is real strength in numbers. Sponsorship revenue should increase, as having more members will create more “impressions” for their advertising dollar. More members can mean a larger voice when dealing with other organizations such as other coaching associations, national associations for sports and academics. More members create a larger peer group with more networking opportunities. Share the passion.

I encourage each of you to dedicate a few hours at the next convention to mentor someone new to coaching or new to the convention. Go out of your way to welcome and encourage participation for new members, particularly from the high school and club levels. Try to remember when you were the “new kid on the block” and how in awe you were of the coaches from the top levels and how much you wanted to learn from them or just be near them. Pass the torch to the next generation of coaches by sharing your passion to learn and to coach. Share the passion.

I encourage each of you to share your passion for volleyball and for coaching. Share with members of the media, potential sponsors and your community. Your passion is infectious! Take time to mentor other coaches at all levels. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn from each other. Please make it a priority to promote AVCA membership within your area and to bring a new member to Long Beach, Calif., in December. Continue to share the passion.

Coaches and teachers have such an important and positive influence on young people both on and off the court. I have the greatest respect and admiration for you.

For additional information, please free to contact me at shelly@sharpermedia.net or via phone at 936-582-2256.

Media MVP is written by Shelly Harper of Sharper Media who was hired in July 2002 as the media consultant for the AVCA and its members. Harper has more than 20 years of experience in sports television and her broad background in this field can be read at www.sharpermedia.net. Harper can be reached at 936-582-2256 or via e-mail at shelly@sharpermedia.net if you have a question and wish to utilize her expertise in this area.