PVC Thunder Coaches

This is my first year coaching and It has been very rewarding. The U14 team has so much personality and charisma. They know how to dig deep and never give up on the ball. I feel so lucky to have been given such a great team for my first time coaching. We’re half way through the season and it’s awesome to see how far they’ve come. They’re starting to develop as a team and learn how to work together as well as honing in on their foundational skills of sport.

Club volleyball is special because it allows many parts of the larger community to come together. It allows athletes from a variety of schools to learn how to work together as a team. It allows athletes to learn new skills and tools that they can bring back to their school season with confidence. The gym allows us to push pause on the drama’s and difficulties of life and enjoy the benefits of working together to achieve a common goal.
Words that would describe club volleyball to me are community, growth and fun.

A message that I would share with the current athletes involved in the club is to keep pushing forward. These last two years have been hard on so many of us. We are very fortunate to be able to come back to team sports. The club isn’t just about developing technical skills in volleyball but also about building confidence, meeting new people and most importantly having fun. Believe in yourself. Keep digging and know that your team and coaches are there to support you.

It’s hard to choose my favorite moment because there have been so many nail biting and hilarious moments in the season so far. One moment that was excitementing to our team was in a tournament in Campbell River. The match was pretty even throughout the set, but point by point we pulled ahead. The bench was so loud cheering on their team mates. The athletes on the court were learning how to control their emotions and focus on the task at hand. We had some terrific serving and a few great scrimmages. Finally the ball dropped on the opposing team’s side. We had won our first game. The athletes leaped off the ground and were beyond excited. Genuine happiness and satisfaction from working hard and most importantly not giving up. That was truly a fun moment that I can look back on from the season.

I am a volunteer and I’m happy to support my community.I believe that volunteering is a two-way street: it can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. I believe it is important to step outside your comfort zone to find out what you’re capable of and to face new challenges that make you grow as an individual.
The U14 team, the coaches and parents and I have had so much fun this season and I am looking forward to what comes next.

Club Volleyball to me is geared for athletes who want to continue to develop and improve their skills. It is an opportunity for athletes to represent their communities and play against other Clubs. Club Volleyball is also a great way for athletes to meet and develop friends from other schools with similar interests and to build their skills and confidence in the sport.

Three words to describe PVC – Inspirational, committed, family

Two years ago, I had several PVC girls from the U18 team come out and help coach my “Train and Play” athletes. I was so impressed to see these older athletes give back some of the knowledge that they had learned over the years with the Club. These U18 players were able to bring enthusiasm into the gym and “pass the torch” on to the future PVC Club members. It was truly inspirational to myself as a coach to be a part of.

Message to the athletes: Believe in yourself, believe in your teammates, believe in your coaches. Strive to be the best player you can be and most of all, HAVE FUN!

What drives me to coach volleyball is to see young athletes build confidence in themselves and to see them grow as young adults.

Volleyball is a true team sport like no other where all athletes need to be able to contribute. The game teaches self-confidence, self-esteem, and respect for one another.

For coaches, how long have you coached? Provide details on your coaching journey.

I have coached all my life in multiple settings and sports, but PVC has provided a structure to further my experience and solidify some concepts, plus bring my knowledge and approach into the present-day setting. Our coaching is about inclusivity, safety, and a healthy happy approach to coaching diverse athletes. Also, we have great co-coaching available on the teams to support each other and give athletes more individual attention when needed.

How would you describe what Club Volleyball is?

Club volleyball is a fun place to become more confident as an athlete and a teammate. It also challenges a person in different situations and to bring their very best self to practises and games no matter what. In the end, hopefully they look back and see what they have accomplished and can use that in all aspects of life.

What initially interested you in becoming involved with Parksville Volleyball Club?

In a small town with volunteerism being at a premium, sometimes there is a void and if you can’t fill that void the system could fail. I like to think that volunteering in some way helps to perpetuate the success of the club for the future.

What are three words that you would use to describe the Club?

TEAM, FUN, GROWTH

Please share a favourite story or two that you have had during your involvement with the Club?

For me it’s not one story, but the moment in an athlete’s journey where they finally after so much time and practise get that one skill. Especially in the heat of the game and it comes together. The look on their face is pure joy. It is these moments that keep you coming back.

What is one message that you would share with the current athletes involved in the Club today and those who will become involved with the Club in the future?

Club volleyball is about connecting with a team in a nurturing space and having a lot of fun doing it. And then hopefully returning the next year with the foundations of skills from prior years.

Carmen has two girls, Cassidy and Delaney, who grew up in the gym and both play competitive volleyball themselves. Carmen credits her love for volleyball to her high school coach (Stu Garland) who was tough but also caring. In 2007, Carmen and her family moved to Terrace where they started the Northwest Volleyball Club which has several alumni in CCAA and USport. Carmen believes success on and off the court comes with embracing the present and lifelong learning. Carmen is excited to be part of PVC and share her passion for the sport with others. Watching Carmen in action she exudes a deep belief in the players abilities when the player may not yet see this in the themselves.

Coaching time spent in the North (Chetwynd) saw Steve as a volunteer coach for many sports including boys senior volleyball teams but then transitioning to girls volleyball teams, especially with the arrival of his own girls. After moving to Terrace, Steve helped build the local Terrace Volleyball Club where he was instrumental in developing many high-performance athletes, many of which went on to play varsity. Steve credits a lot of his latest coaching gains to Abstract Volleyball where he’s worked with multiple coaches to further his knowledge in the game. Forever Improving!