Coaching and Teaching

I started coaching volleyball before I started teaching. I was lucky enough to get a job coaching high school volleyball while going to college. It was a way to make some extra money, work on my teaching skills, and be around the sport that I love.



Looking back at that time period, I realize now that I really learned a lot of great teaching strategies, and a lot of patience. Coaching in a way has molded me into the type of teacher that I am. I guess in essence, I look at it as a competitive thing. I want all my students to succeed, and I challenge myself, and them, to achieve goals. Just the same with volleyball. I have had much success in regard to wins and losses. I have also had players tell me that they learned to love the game, which means a lot to me.

In volleyball, the things that I stressed were that if we use our heads, and play smart, we already have an advantage. Then we go on to strategies that will give us more advantages, which of course involves fundamentals and skill-building.

In teaching I go through similar conversations. "Yes, you will need to know how to multiply, because you're going to be working on more complex problems next year." A very important aspect in the classroom, at least for me, is a positive attitude. Believing something can be accomplished.

I feel the same way on the volleyball court. The team has to believe in me, and I in turn come up with techniques that will get us above the competition.

I really do feel that coaching and teaching help each other out. I know for sure that coaching has molded me into a more passionate teacher. And I do feel that my teaching strategies have helped me get my ideas across more thoroughly on the court.