Express Training        

Coaches, Format, and Cost       

Spring 08 Session   
March 10th - May 22nd (Tryout/Evaluation plus 10 weeks of practice)
8th Grade Girls FREE tryout on March 10th from 4:30-6:30 (practices M and W from 4:40-6:30)
7th Grade Girls  FREE tryout on March 11th from 4:30-6:30 (practices M and W from 4:40-6:30)
6th Grade Girls  FREE tryout on March 12th from 4:30-6:30 (practices T and TH from 4:40-6:30)
5th Grade Girls Team selection (not a tryout) on March from 13th 4:30-6:30 (practices T and TH from 4:40-6:30) Filled as of 2/27/08
4th Grade Girls Team selection (not a tryout)  on March from 13th 4:30-6:30 (practices Wed from 4:40-6:30) Filled as of 2/7/08
Another 4th grade team has been added which will practice Fridays from 6:00-7:30.  1 spot remains open as of 3/5/08.
 3rd-4th volleyball classes
K-2 volleyball classes
 

Coaches:  This program is being developed and run by The Sports Express Junior Olympic Volleyball Club.  Current and  past coaches include Jeni Case, Amanda Schuler, Lisa Mahlerwein, Rose Grafton, Katie Holly, Mike Seibert, Lynn  Morris, Karen Miranda, Ginger Hineline, Kristen Rust, Erin Iceman, and other guest instructors.  For your daughters volleyball development you're going to be hard pressed to find more concerned or more knowledgeable coaches than these trainers. We are continually updating this offering to get the most out of our practice time with the girls.

Age Groups:  For spring we are looking to form teams in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.  Each team is made up of 16 players with 2 coaches.  This will allow us to scrimmage and enables us to hold a full practice even if we have a percentage of players sick or involved in another activity on a given day.  Players in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades will have to tryout for these teams.  We want to put similarly skilled players together to make practices better.  Some players may be cut if we have a large turnout.   Players in the 4th and 5th grades will not be cut but will be evaluated so we can split them up by skill level.  We will only accept forms from enough players in the 4th and 5th grades to fill the teams that are offered.  This will be on a 1st come 1st serve basis.   Note: During the school year the OHSAA only allows 3 public school players from any public school to participate in any non-scholastic activity together (which this is) in the 7th grade and up.  THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS IN JUNE AND JULY.  Please note that there are no restrictions on Catholic grade school players of any age at any time since they do not belong to the OHSAA.     

Format:  The spring teams will meet twice a week except for the 4th grade group which meets once a week.  Practices are usually 1 hour and 50 minutes long and will begin the week of March 17th and run through May 22nd.  Most practices will be just that, team practices with drills and team concepts being taught along side drills to improve skills.   "Skills days" are dedicated to a specific skill if it is identified as necessary for any of the teams.  There will be no "league games" or tournaments that we travel to but there will be scrimmaging between the groups so we can work on team concepts.  There will also be a plyometric/conditioning component in many practices.

Goals:  Each team has a set of goals for the season which will include learning either Rover, Rotation, or Perimeter defense.  Some teams may be introduced to all 3.  Serving, attacking, passing, blocking (where applicable), and setting will be worked on by the entire group.  We will teach a 6-2 offense to all teams and will work to at least introduce the group to many of the things they will see in the future.  We want to focus on training at a reasonable price and time commitment.  Our best coaches are committed to this endeavor.  This offering is for players who wish to pursue volleyball as a high school sport.  It is not a sign-up and play activity or something to get your daughter out of the house for some exercise.  We want to positively impact girls who think they may pursue volleyball as their future high school sport.

Cost:  The cost for Express Training is based on roughly $28 per week of practice plus any fixed costs like shirts or balls that the players then get to keep.  The entire balance is due the 1st night of practice after you have had tryouts and are placed on a team.  All moneys go toward the instructors, court time, and fixed expenses for the players.  This spring session will cost $275 and includes tryouts, 40 hours of practice (courts, instructors, balls, misc. equipment), and 2 team shirts. 

What to do now:   Submit a form online, print a from and mail it to us, or call 398-2400 to register over the phone.  Our new online form should direct you to a confirmation page once you send your form and an automated email should follow shortly thereafter.  From there you'll just need to have your daughter at the tryout/evaluation day to be considered for a team.

To find a JO team in your area click here.