VNB SENIOR OPEN - TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Hey Gators !!!!!

Click here to see the tournament schedule
(Womens Senior B on Page 4)

I asked VNB if the one-hour captains meeting could be skipped so we would not finish so late on Saturday. There could be an online forum instead... I am awaiting an answer.

See you later GATORS !!

Some Slides

Here are some videos of some pretty good slides by Middle Hitters, with some help from the Off-Side.

Video number 1 has a good example of some foot work and a good cross hit. She jumps on her left foot (which you need to do to get the angle shot).

Video number 2 shows how the Slide can be done with the Off-Side. It's called a split. The Middle Hitter goes for the slide while the Off-Side (watch blonde #11) goes for a middle attack by stepping in to the 3 position after the Middle Hitter has crossed. Note that the setter could have set Middle or Off-Side. Carole L, you may want to try this Wednesday.

Video number 3 is a drill for setting the slide. As a blocker, you may want to set up so the slider has an open line and take away the cross.

Tournament Registrations for Season 2007-2008 completed

Hi Gators

Just a little note to let you know that I have paid the registration for all the upcoming tournaments scheduled for the 2007-2008 season ($1025.00). It is all done so we are sure to have a spot. Most tournaments only accept 8 teams but, don't you worry, we are in.

See you all on Wednesday !! Let's get ready for the OPEN !!!!
HEEEEEYYYYYYYYYY GATORS !!!!

Mel Gator

Lots of Volleyball at UdeM This Weekend!

The Anges Bleues are hosting an inter-conference tournament with four teams from Quebec and Atlantic Canada this weekend. We'll probably be there Friday at 7PM or Saturday at 7PM.

Here's the schedule:

Vendredi/Friday
Terrain 1 Terrain 2
17 h Laval vs CBU / Montréal vs UPEI
19 h McGill vs Moncton / Sherbrooke vs UNB

Samedi/Saturday
11 h Sherbrooke vs UPEI / McGill vs CBU
13 h Montréal vs Moncton / Laval vs UNB
17 h Sherbrooke vs CBU / McGill vs UPEI
19 h Laval vs Moncton / Montréal vs UNB

Dimanche/Sunday
11 h Laval vs UPEI / Montréal vs CBU
13 h Sherbrooke vs / Moncton McGill vs UNB

USA VS Japan - Word Cup '07

They're giants.

Call the Ball!!!

Call it loud, early and often and with a tone in your voice that makes it absolutely clear to everyone around you that they should get out of your way because this ball is YOURS.

And make sure you call it early enough, preferably before it crosses the net, so that the other players can stay clear of your path and get into an on-help position.

If another player calls the ball at the same time as you and with the same high level of certainty as you, you should do one of two things; if there is time you should call the other players name and tell that player to go for the ball as you back-off and give that player room to play the ball, or, if there is not sufficient time or if you and the other player are already almost on top of each other, you should continue to play the ball.

Remember, if one or both of you play the ball, you will have a much better chance at making the point than if neither of you plays the ball.

TEAMS WHO COMMUNICATE WELL CALL THE BALL.

Tournament Schedule and Map for Saturday in Saint John

This is the schedule for the Saint John Lightning's fundraiser.

The tournament is NOT AT SJHS, it's at St. Malachy'S High School. Not too far from SJHS.
Click here for a map and directions on how to get there.

GATORS New Warm-Up Sweaters

Here's a look at what our new sweaters are going to look like. We'll have them in time for our next tournament!

Serve Receive Ain't For Sissies

Here are 5 volleyball tips elite athletes use when Serve Receiving. Now you can easily perform these volleyball skills to improve your technique during games and volleyball tournaments.

1. Read the Server's Body Position
When a server is ready to serve - they usually give you some indication where they are planning to serve. Checking their lower body, their feet and especially their hip position you get some clues as to whether they want to serve cross court or down the line.
Also check out where their shoulders are facing and where there tossing arm is - this will give you additional clues. A lot of servers when they want to serve a short ball to the front row hitters on the opposite side - MANY times they step right up to the serving line as close as they can. This is a pretty good indication that a short serve is coming. So when you see that adjust accordingly by taking a step closer to the net that you cover any short serves that come in your area.

2. Stay Low
Once the referee's whistle blows DON"T STAND UP! Stay in "shoulders hunched/slightly crouched" ready position in order to serve receive. Why?
a) Because if the server serves you deep or short its easier for you to move forwards and backwards - if you are in a slightly crouched position. b) By standing up, the ball will more than likely hit you in the chest. As the serve crosses the net Stay
Low - while preparing your body position and platform to serve receive.

3. Talk
Be ready to take responsibility for balls that are served to you or in your area - by calling "MINE" in a loud clear voice so your teammates know that you WANT that ball and only you will pass that ball. It allows your teammates to set up early for whatever they need to do next.
Communicate what serve you think is coming. If I see someone "toeing" the line- by this I mean stepping up really close to the server's line then I will tell my beach partner OR my indoor teammates in a loud voice "Watch out for the short serve!" This mentally helps you AND your teammates to be ready to move quickly if the short serve comes. This way everybody on the volleyball court KNOWS and is aware of the short ball possibly coming.
You've also made the server aware of the fact that you know what they are about to do so it puts more pressure on them to concentrate.

4. Focus on the Volleyball
Once you've checked out the server's body position and where they look like they are serving and called it out to your teammates...once the whistle blows Focus on the BALL while its in the server's tossing hand.
Once the server tosses the ball they really can't change much of anything else so I visibly TRACK that ball from their hands when they contact the ball across the net and I track it right into my arms. I follow by watching the ball with my eyes right into my serve receive platform. Really Focusing on the ball keeps me from being surprised and moving at the last minute once that ball crosses the net to my side of the court. I am already visibly and mentally following that ball out of the server's hands so when it gets to the volleyball net and then crosses to my side its easy for me to move my feet and get to position to make a great pass.

5. Early Positioning -Get Stopped!
Don't do two things at once. Don't be passing and running at the same time! Your passes usually won't go to your setter BUT instead will go immediately over the net. Get to the spot First on the court where you see the ball is going to cross the net and land in your area even if this means that you may only need a side step or two steps or may even have to run to get to a further spot away from you Get THERE first then GET STOPPED -get your Platform out- then make the pass. Make sure you do this in 2 separate movements.

So remember Get to Your Spot Quickly - Beat the ball there - Get Stopped - Make the Pass!