Volleyball coach preaches ‘just play'

July 17, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Volleyball coach John Kessel believes there's one guiding principle athletes - as well as coaches - need to understand in order to become better players.

&#8220The biggest thing I urge these kids to do is just play,” he said. &#8220It's how you learn.”

Kessel is a internationally-recognized coach and author who currently serves as USA Volleyball's director of membership development and disabled programs. In town for a week-long camp for middle school, high school and adult players organized by the Northern Lights Volleyball Club, Kessel said Alaska's large and energetic volleyball community is what attracted him to the camp.

&#8220There's certain parts of the United States where you say ‘do that,' and [athletes] say ‘why?' And other parts of the United States where you say, ‘do that,' and they say, ‘how fast?'” he explained.

This year's camp marks the eighth time Kessel has coached in Alaska, and he said each time he's amazed by the ability of the young athletes to absorb what he has to say.

&#8220I just love the kids here,” he said.

But while Alaska volleyball players might be plenty coachable, Kessel said that can sometimes get in the way of his ‘play-first' mentality.

&#8220When I first got here, all the kids were sitting down,” he said, pointing out that the athletes were conditioned to wait for instruction from coaches.

&#8220Traditionally, everything in volleyball is coach-controlled,” he said.

Instead of relying on coaches, however, Kessel said he stresses the idea that the best way to improve is simply through unstructured play. So instead of waiting for the coach to blow a whistle, Kessel said he'd like to see players goofing off and playing pick-up games from the moment they enter the gym.

&#8220There are cultural things we're trying to change,” he said.

To that end, Kessel said he believes that coaches need to realize that the best way for players to learn isn't by telling them a better way, but by letting the athletes figure things out for themselves through repetition. The role of coaches, he said, should be to guide the players as they learn through trial and error.

&#8220We're helping them learn by questioning them, so they understand the why,” he said. &#8220They've got to problem solve.”

Another way players can better learn to appreciate the game, he said, is to watch disabled athletes participate in the sport. He said volleyball is a sport that lends itself easily to being played by disabled athletes, and pointed out that the US women's team placed third at the most 2004 Paralympic Games.

He said because disabled athletes must rely heavily on technique, able-bodied players can learn from their disabled counterparts.

&#8220It gives them an appreciation as well as an understanding of the game,” he said.

If players are able to play the sport and gain an understanding of the game by learning as they go, Kessel said it's more likely they will develop a love for the game that will last long past their high school or college teams.

&#8220Volleyball is a wonderful sport for boys and girls,” he said. &#8220We want them to play for a lifetime.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com