Crossing the Bridge: Working with Your Strength and Conditioning Coach

By: Ken Kontor

Originally Published in: Coaching Volleyball

The Annual Plan for Youth Club Volleyball

Earlier in this space, we mentioned Volleyball Club Conditioning: Guidelines in Working with a Strength and Conditioning Resource. We talked about what the volleyball coach and strength and conditioning coach should know and the responsibilities of each individual. In this issue, we will talk about the most important outcome of this relationship: coming up with an annual plan by crossing the bridge.

The Annual Plan blueprint is outlined in our 7-T Fit-to-a-T System of program design, which takes into consideration that every program is unique in and of itself (Fit-to-a-T).

Based on the responsibilities and knowledge of each coach, we can outline how the two can work together in a seven-step process.

Step 1: Establish T-1 Training Age/History

Volleyball Coach:

Provide an overview of the conditioning history and culture of the club
Provide injury/playing history of the athletes

Strength and Conditioning Coach:

Based on the age of the athletes and conditioning history, establish a training age and maturity level

Step 2: Establish T-2 Time

Volleyball Coach:

Detailed competition/practice schedule, broken down weekly
Establish time frames for the off-/ pre-/in-season periods
Other sport participation information
Other outside physical activity

Strength and Conditioning Coach:

Determine strength and conditioning opportunities and schedule
Determine if practice time can be used to condition

Both:

Determine recovery days
Establish parental support

Step 3: Establish T-3 Tools

Volleyball Coach:

Provide a facility overview of the club and available strength and conditioning equipment

Strength and Conditioning Coach:

Outside the club, consider strength and conditioning facility availability
Identify strength and conditioning program limitations based on facility/tools

Both:

Identify workload, acceleration, recovery data collection technology devices availability

Step 4: Establish T-4 Teaching

Strength and Conditioning Coach:

Movement testing/correction before strength training
Exercise Selection - exercises must be taught using perfect technique

Both:

Teaching and implementing "transitional exercises" combining technical/ tactical skills with conditioning

Step 5: Establish T-5 Testing

Volleyball Coach:

Provide testing opportunities

Strength and Conditioning Coach:

Determine technology data collection methods and reports
Determine field test methods and reports

Both:

Discuss test results.

Step 6: Establish T-6 Total Workload

Volleyball Coach:

External Work Load Report - What is the athlete doing in other sports, outside activity (private lessons, high school strength training, etc.) in addition to club work?
Recovery; putting parents to work. Build a recovery report.

Both:

Understanding the energy demands of outside sports based on style of play and rules of the sport at the youth level. Create your conditioning principles around this.
Test data interpretation
Annual Plan modification based on test results

Step 7: Establish T-7 Team Position

Volleyball Coach: