It is approaching the time when the Fast Track project has to be evaluated, to see if it will be continued for the next season. Saturday 9th of February saw session number four unfold at the Kelvin Hall International Sports Centre in Glasgow – it was special. There were 52 players using the two courts, there were 14 Scottish Coaches either working with the main groups or helping players with individual tutoring sessions, Jefferson Williams the former women’s GB interim coach was adding his expertise to the picture, and of course we also enjoyed the benefit of the experience of Phillipe Blaine the Head Coach of the French National Team.
It was simply outstanding. It was intense, it was demanding, it was rewarding, it was educational, and it was a huge success.
The players take a lot of the credit for the excellence. Their enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to learn is a tribute to them, and to the Scottish game. The focus of the session was on the work of the setters, on blocking, and on transition play. It is really tough to practice all day with lots of coaches measuring and evaluating your every move, but the players did it with a smile.
The Coaches drove the practices. Their enthusiasm for the work and for learning more about coaching is every bit as intense as the players’ desire to improve, and the notion of the staff becoming a ‘team’ is emerging. Staff roles within the practice session change, coaches move from one court to another, from working with the boys to working with the girls, but the focus and the expectations stay the same. The energy levels stay high, the desire to help create improvement is clear, and on Saturday 9th February is all worked.
The last hour was spent working on a game drill ….. 6 v 6 transition play, looking for more power at the net, more precision with the setting, more intensity from the defence. The player should have been tired, during the day they had jumped a lot, but it was hard to tell amidst the enthusiasm and the competition. 16.00 it all finished, but people lingered, reluctant to leave,reluctant to be finished with the day. Bags were packed, and the centre staff were dismantling the courts, and the players and coaches stood and chatted, not quite ready for Fast Track day 4 to be done.
The evaluation of the project will be made after the last session next month, but the message from this session was very clear! Well done to the players, and to the staff. My thanks to everyone involved, to Jefferson and Phillipe, and roll on FT5.
Thomas Dowens
SVA Director of Coaching
Pictures courtesy of Michael McConville and Lynne Marshall
The players take a lot of the credit for the excellence. Their enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to learn is a tribute to them, and to the Scottish game. The focus of the session was on the work of the setters, on blocking, and on transition play. It is really tough to practice all day with lots of coaches measuring and evaluating your every move, but the players did it with a smile.
16.00 it all finished, but people lingered, reluctant to leave,reluctant to be finished with the day. Bags were packed, and the centre staff were dismantling the courts, and the players and coaches stood and chatted, not quite ready for Fast Track day 4 to be done.