TERRY LISKEVYCH
- Make sure that you enjoy what you do or do not do it!
- Learn something new every day - in all facets of your life.
- Be willing to grow and expand your knowledge.
- Find a good mentor - conversely be a mentor for somebody. I would not be here if I did not have mentors along the way
- Read everything that you can on coaching, success, leadership, motivation - - have a book always by your bedside. Keep a bibliography of books that have made a difference in your life - also keep a list of what to read next.
- Surround yourself by competent, intelligent and hard working people. Never care who gets the credit. Make it a fun atmosphere - - enjoy what you do every day.
- Hang on to reliable/dependable people - - they are tough to find.
- Most important ingredient of coaching success = the athletic talent of your team
- However, the key to the above is to make sure that you have a good picture in your mind of what makes up “athletic talent.”
- To be successful in any endeavor - you need - outstanding people, a plan, finances, singleness of purpose and a work ethic. Also, anything of value takes time.
- Establish a coaching philosophy (write one out) - - you must get your staff and team to buy into it. You must coach within your personality and your belief systems.
- There are many ways to coach successfully and many systems that can win. During my 12 years with USA Volleyball there were twenty top notch women’s national teams. Each had a different tactical system of play. Design a tactical system to suit your players. Never try to do tactically what you cannot do technically.
- Develop in rank order: 1) skill (six volleyball skills), 2) physical (overall conditioning, weight training, etc.) and 3) mental.
- You cannot play above average volleyball if you do not pass and serve well. Passing determines what level you can play on, serving determines who will win - this is at all levels outside of international volleyball and top Division I collegiate. At these two levels - attack efficiency is the best predictor of W-L. The data for last 5 seasons of PAC-10 Conference standings are directly correlated to attack efficiency. The data for the 2009 World Grand Cup Competition shows that attack efficiency correlates to rank order finish for the men and for the top three places for women - the other places for women are influenced by blocking.
- In the old “side-out volleyball system” - one needed to side-out long enough to be able to score enough real points (15) to win. In the present “rally score system”, we have less time to score points - thus the side-out is critical. Scoring more real points will still determine the winner.
- Overall Team - Side-out percentage above 67% and scoring percentage above 40% are key numbers to win at the collegiate level.
- Having two effective outside hitters, an above average setter, an outstanding libero and overall team ball control (to minimize unforced errors) are key in today’s rally score game.
- Minimizing team unforced errors is a key ingredient to winning at the top collegiate level. A key statistic for us is holding our team unforced errors to below nine per set.
- In present college volleyball, we are limited to 20 hours of contact with our players per week. We must make every minute count. The key is to design your practices to translate to success in matches. Decide what are the key ingredients at your level to win a match, to win the league and to win a championship.......then practice these every day! COACHING DILEMAS
- WHAT DO I TEACH AS THINGS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING – develop some core teaching & training beliefs/truisms, stick to them – do not just follow the herd; remember there are “1,000 ways to skin a cat.” We are all eclectic – we learn and copy from others – do not be afraid to give them credit.
- ARE YOU HAPPY COACHING? Do you enjoy what you do?
- WHY AM I COACHING? If you are coaching college, high school, club, middle school - - it should be is about the kids.
- FIND SOMEONE YOU CAN REALLY TALK VB WITH AND KEEP THEM SAFE
- DO I WANT A STRONG ASSISTANT COACH? Never be afraid to surround yourself with good people.
- MY COAHING PHILOSOPHY IS DIFFERENT FROM MY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OR MY INSITUTION – you must adhere/adopt to their philosophy or look for another job.
- IS IT ERRORS OR EXECUTION
- TRAINING VS RECRUITING
- CONDITIONING-IS IT WORTH IT?
- SYSTEM TO PLAYERS OR PLAYERS TO SYSTEM
- UNDERSTAND YOUR LEVEL OF PLAY – Do not try to do technically what you cannot do technically.
- SCOUT YOUR TEAM WELL BEFORE THE OTHERS – it does not matter whether it is Texas, Cuba or Marvin Elementary on the other side of the net – once the ball get to your side – you must execute!
- SHE HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL! – Be careful with this – Liskevych definition - - “potential means that you are crappy now...” Just make sure that you understand this.