Creating the Culture You Want at the Small School Level

There are a number of differences between running a big school program and small school program, including but not limited to the creation of a positive, effective team culture at each respective level. So how do we make the small school athletes feel like a vital part of the volleyball community in the same way the big school athletes are? Team culture. Part of creating an enjoyable experience for the athletes involved in your program is creating a culture that encapsulates all of your expectations and standards. Culture will drive the success, stability, overall growth of your program from day one. This workshop will provide coaches with options and ideas that could contribute to the overall culture of the program from the youth/middle school levels up through the varsity level, focused on the smaller school approach. Specific topics discussed will include creating accountability amongst the athletes, selection of team leaders and/or captains, team activities that could add to the overall comradery of the team(s), and the player-coach relationship.

Objectives:

1. Participants will have specific strategies and techniques to implement that will grow the positive team atmosphere of the program.

2. Participants will define their outlook for the overall culture of the program in regards to standards, expectations, accountability, and communication.

3. Participants will reflect on their own coaching philosophy and work to develop ideas that will integrate that philosophy and the aspects of the team that need to be implemented to support the culture they crave.