AboutTom Houser Expertise I can answer any type of volleyball question: school, college, club, coaching, playing, etc. (I am not, however, a athletic trainer! haha)
Experience 23 years coaching varsity, JV, club.
You can see all about me at www.coachhouser.com
Publications www.active.com
www.volleyball.about.com
www.yesIcansports.com
Education/Credentials BS degree from Va Tech in Math Education. MS degree from Va Tech in Secondary Administration. 28 years teaching high school math!
The Picture! The picture that you see is my team after winning the 52-team Capitol Hill Classic in February 2008 in Washington DC. We were the only undefeated team in the 15's division. However, they presented our awards to the team that won the SILVER division! haha So the tournament directors had to reorder our medals and our player's MVP trophy, then mail them all to us later!
Expert: Tom Houser Date: 6/2/2008 Subject: libero or setter
Question Tom-My daughter is a 5'3" rising HS freshman that played libero on her 14-1 club team this season. My guess is that she won't ever be taller than 5'6", and I think her future in VB is at libero. She tried out for her HS team and made varsity, but they want her to play setter. What are your thoughts about her playing libero for her club and setter for her HS -- good, bad?
Thanks,
Mike
Answer Hey Mike!
This happens often around here. One of my freshman setters on my 2007 15's team became an opposite for her school team as a soph.....then an OH on her 2008 16's club team! The Virginia AA player of the year in 2005 and 2006 was a MB. Yet, for her final two years of club ball, she was too "small" to play MB for her National team, thus played OH. The best libero around here, who was just named to PrepVball's Defensive Dandies list, was a setter in the 7th and 8th grade. Her little sister was also a setter in middle school (I refereed her games!), yet was converted to an OH by her school coach. Then in February, still playing OH, she was named the MVP of the 52-team Capitol Hill Classic in DC (I was her coach! Cool!!)
The only problem I see in it......the girl doesn't reach her full potential at EITHER position, b/c she spends only half of her time playing it. This would really concern me if my school team setter played another position during club ball. I'd hope my setter would hone her skills during club season, not let them rust. But.....what can I do? I can't tell the club coach how to play my girl, just like the club coach isn't going to tell me how to play my school girls.
There's more good than bad to your story. She just spent 4 to 5 months serving & digging......skills that all setters must have!
My advice to you: Not many kids out there who will get a college scholarship. So have a great time, love seeing her play, enjoy the ride. My stepd. begins her jr. year at Radford University this fall. My wife & I have 2 more seasons to watch her, then after 10 years of school ball and 6 years of club ball, it'll all be done. What will we do with ourselves?
Thank you for the email.
Hope to hear from you again!
Tom
Head Coach, 2007 and 2008 Roanoke Juniors 15’s Open
Head Coach, 2006 Roanoke Junior 15 Nationals, JOVC Qualified
Director, STAR Volleyball Camps
Author, “I Can’t Wait” Drill Collection and Ebooks
