mas6volleyball

Why would anyone assume that their small area rules? There is a reason Barbara Campbell has won so many championships and it has little to do with club "coaches" who have no idea of how to win decade after decade. Quit drinking the koolaid k2ruth and be around the game for 20 years before you tell everyone who is the greatest of all time.

You are right. Many rural areas do not have club ball and you have to find good athletes with potential. They are behind many club players in skill; however, a good coach can develop the skills as long as they are athletic. It also helps that they have not been pigeonholed into one position(which happens often in clubs) and can be more adaptable if they need to transition from middle to outside. These are often kids who play many sports at a small school.

Guess not. I have found 12 in the last 4 years.

If you have only been around volleyball for fifteen years you really do not know anything other than club. Pat Powers told several of us 25 years ago that if we wanted to make money from volleyball, start club programs. I do believe that club has a place; however, I have seen too many parents come to me in tears after spending enough to have paid tuition only to realize that the scholarships were non-existent or so small that they were not worth much. I blame this on club directors who may not say every kid will get a scholarship but will never dissuade parents from spending tens of thousands of dollars throughout a girl's teen years in a club program. If gullible parents and greedy directors are your idea of a "successful" business then so be it. You are nuts if you think that "elitism" is not proper in this case. How often do you see economically disadvantaged kids playing volleyball during club season? Trust me, I've been to more tournaments than you have and I see many who are trying to keep up with the Joneses and should not be spending the exorbitant amounts, but rarely see really impoverished kids playing. It cost too much at too early of an age and that is why we are losing many really good athletes. Oh and by the way, I have been asked by three different coaches, two in Tn. and one in Al. to keep an eye out for any kids who are not playing club because their seasons overlap with high school. That is the reason that you do not see college coaches at high school games. Go to the state tournament and they are all over the gyms. We have several of us who volunteer our time to help kids with volleyball. There are gyms all over that are starting programs that allow kids to come in and learn skills for $2-3 bucks at a time. I just wish more people who do have knowledge of the game would step up and help. This way we are promoting a sport that I love to a wider audience.

Tarp, Gotcha and I agree with you. Club ball is certainly hurting volleyball as it is taking many potential national team players away from the game due to the expense. The pool of really top athletes that play volleyball will continue to decrease as this elitist attitude increases. This is not polo, it's volleyball a game invented at a YMCA. Quit trying to profit at the expense of the game. (Not aimed at you tarp, I agree with your outlook).

11'4"? That would be higher than any of the national team players reach and would be approaching a forty inch vertical. I've been around and played with some of the best female players and it is hard to believe that you are claiming this of a girl who is a junior in high school when it is doubtful any woman in history has touched this. Destinee Hooker only reaches 10'11".