It’s that time of year when Club Director’s are preparing for the upcoming season. You are getting budgets and schedules together, and have your list of to-do’s.

Most importantly, you are working to put together a top notch coaching staff to train your athletes, followed by a plan to keep them long term. The JVA now offers an extension to your JVA Club Director membership where you can upgrade to a JVA Organizational membership so your coaches can utilize the same great benefits you have. An Organizational Membership can give all of your coaches a membership to the JVA and American Volleyball Coaches Association. What draws in a coach and makes them stay? Compensation is always great, but not all clubs can afford to pay top dollar.

Here are some perks you can offer to attract new coaches to your club and then retain them for a long time:

Let Them Coach!
If the club director/program coordinator takes care of the travel arrangements, paperwork, scheduling, and tournaments, then the coach only has to worry about coaching their team. Provide Education. All great coaches want to learn more. Give them opportunities for coaching clinics and access to resources. Allow them toaccess all of the same JVA BENEFITS that you receive. Our coaching resources below will help your coaches expand their coaching minds!

  • Coach to Coach videos
  • Player Development (Physical and Mental)
  • Recovery and Rehab
  • Game Management
  • Discount to AVCA Concention – Click here to register!
  • Stats

Back Up Your Coaches in Parent Related Issues.
Nothing is more frustrating to a coach as when they have to deal with parent issues without the support of their Club administration. Hear them out and guide them to possible solutions. Listen to Your Coaches Ideas. Let your coaches feel as if they can have a voice. Hear them out if they have a new training tip that may benefit the club. Creating an environment where coaches feel comfortable having an open discussion with their administration will keep them around longer.Give Your Coaches the Tools to Succeed. If they do not have the proper equipment to do their job, how do you expect them to produce? A cart, balls, cones, nets and whatever else they feel necessary within limits is needed, make sure they have them.

Coach Bonding
Your club is one big team. Create opportunities to get your coaches together. Have a beginning/end of the year party, team building one night, a dinner at a tournament or maybe a game night? Give them a chance to get to know each other and create friendships. In turn, you will see them supporting each other at events.

Dress Them Up
We all love new gear, so make sure you let your coaches have some great options to sport on the sidelines. This is also great marketing for your club. If they like what you give them, they will wear it outside the gym.

Give and Receive Feedback
Whether you are throwing them a high five, or helping them work through a line up, they want feedback. Do not make them feel like they are coaching alone. Let them know they just did a great job with that match. Also, make sure you have a format for getting feedback from your coaches. It’s important that they have an outlet to share their ideas and experience with you.

You cannot keep every coach happy, but if you can obtain an environment of open communication, education, and an overall enjoyable experience, coaches will stick around! You just need to make sure you give them the resources to succeed.

For more education on running your club click here. For related reading for Club Directors click here.

About the Author

Lisa Wielebnicki is the Director of Member Development at the JVA.  Lisa joined the JVA Staff in December 2013. She has a solid volleyball background at all levels. After completing her volleyball career at Purdue University, Wielebnicki served as the Student Assistant Coach followed by three seasons as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Samford University where her responsibilities included recruiting, aiding in day to day team training, managing community service functions, and coordination of camps. In 2011 she helped guide the program to its first NCAA appearance.