Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of questions that are frequently asked by new volleyball coaches regarding coaching volleyball in the state of Minnesota.
Question #1: I just got hired and I've never coached before. Where do I start?
A good place to start would be to check out our Coaches Timeline. This will give you an idea of what you should be doing at different times throughout the year. Get as much information from your athletic director as possible, as well. If you've never coached before, you can find good references online through our Links Page or in written publications at the book store. Volleyball coaches in Minnesota are also very supportive and helpful. Find out from your AD what section you are in, and you can contact your section representative. He/she can also point you in the right direction.
Question #2: What is a section representative?
Volleyball teams in Minnesota are first broken down by enrollment into four classes (top 64 enrollments is AAAA, next 64 is AAA, next 128 is AA, and the remainder is A). Each class is broken into eight geographical regions, called sections. Each section has one coach representative that is responsible for keeping the section coaches up-to-date on volleyball news. Section representatives participate on the Board of Control for the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association and will send you reminders and updates via email throughout the season.
Question #3: Why should I become a member of the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association?
There are many reasons to become a member, many of which are addressed on the Membership page. The most notable reasons are 1) insurance and 2) awards. It is very important for coaches to be covered under insurance to ensure protection from lawsuits in the event of an injury or other accident. Not only do coaches want to be protected if they are injured while coaching, but coaches can also be considered liable when players are injured. In addition, your team and players will also be eligible for All-State and various academic awards. Unfortunately, if you are not a member coach, your players are not eligible for awards - no exceptions.
Question #4: What is the clinic all about? Should I really go to that?
The annual MNVBCA Coaches Clinic is held on a Friday and Saturday in early March. It definitely isn't mandatory, but it is highly recommended. You get to hear several experienced college and high school coaches (even former Olympic coaches!) talk about many different aspects of the game over two days. The clinic is also an excellent networking opportunity, both at the Friday night coaches social and throughout the clinic. Even the most experienced coaches come away with something new every year, and it is a ton of fun! Find out more about the clinic on the MNVBCA Clinic page.
Question #5: Since I'm a new coach, I'm guessing my team won't be very good. Should I really worry about awards?
Yes! First of all, no matter how your team performs on the court, they can always earn Academic Awards. On top of that, you should always be keeping statistics throughout the year, as you never know if one of your players will have a breakout season. In that case, you should nominate your top players for All-State Awards early in the season. In the event they don't have a great season after all, you don't have to submit stats at the end of the year. For more information about how to keep stats and what are some good guidelines for "All-State caliber players", check out the Deadlines-Definitions-Guidelines page. Be sure to pay close attention to the awards deadlines, as nominations aren't accepted after the deadlines!
Question #6: All of that statistical information from the last question is a little overwhelming. How am I supposed to keep all of those stats?
There are a few different options for keeping stats. You can have players on the bench, managers, lower level coaches, or parents (at your own risk) keep stats. You can also record your games and take stats yourself. It is important that whoever will be keeping your stats knows how to define a kill, dig, ace, etc., so be sure to pass along the document linked above. If you have a standout player and you decide to submit All-State stats for her at the end of the season, the more thorough the stats, the better. If stats are incomplete or outlandish (because the person keeping stats doesn't know the proper definition of each statistic), it works against the player when their stats are brought before the All-State committee. It may seem like a large task now, but it's worth it!
Question #7: You've mentioned All-State awards, but how does All-Conference work?
All-Conference awards are determined by the coaches within each conference. Every conference handles this process differently. Ask your athletic director or an experienced coach in your conference for specifics on how this works.
Question #8: How do playoffs work?
As mentioned in the answer to Question #2, each class is broken down into eight sections. Your section holds a single-elimination tournament, and the winner advances to the State Tournament. Many sections in outstate areas break the sections down into geographical subsections, so you may have a North and a South half of your tournament (or East/West, Subsection 1/Subsection 2, etc.), where the winners of each play for the section championship. In the week or two leading up to your section tournament, the section (or subsection) will be seeded based on either a coaches vote (some sections do this face-to-face, some by email) or by the QRF Rankings (a computer ranking system). Once this is completed, the playoff bracket will be produced. From the start of the playoffs moving forward, a loss will result in the end of your season, so prepare accordingly!
Question #9: How can I brush up on volleyball rules?
The best way to do this is to read through the rulebook. Hopefully, your athletic director gave you a copy of the most recent rulebook. If not, you can order one through the NFHS website.
Question #1: I just got hired and I've never coached before. Where do I start?
A good place to start would be to check out our Coaches Timeline. This will give you an idea of what you should be doing at different times throughout the year. Get as much information from your athletic director as possible, as well. If you've never coached before, you can find good references online through our Links Page or in written publications at the book store. Volleyball coaches in Minnesota are also very supportive and helpful. Find out from your AD what section you are in, and you can contact your section representative. He/she can also point you in the right direction.
Question #2: What is a section representative?
Volleyball teams in Minnesota are first broken down by enrollment into four classes (top 64 enrollments is AAAA, next 64 is AAA, next 128 is AA, and the remainder is A). Each class is broken into eight geographical regions, called sections. Each section has one coach representative that is responsible for keeping the section coaches up-to-date on volleyball news. Section representatives participate on the Board of Control for the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association and will send you reminders and updates via email throughout the season.
Question #3: Why should I become a member of the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association?
There are many reasons to become a member, many of which are addressed on the Membership page. The most notable reasons are 1) insurance and 2) awards. It is very important for coaches to be covered under insurance to ensure protection from lawsuits in the event of an injury or other accident. Not only do coaches want to be protected if they are injured while coaching, but coaches can also be considered liable when players are injured. In addition, your team and players will also be eligible for All-State and various academic awards. Unfortunately, if you are not a member coach, your players are not eligible for awards - no exceptions.
Question #4: What is the clinic all about? Should I really go to that?
The annual MNVBCA Coaches Clinic is held on a Friday and Saturday in early March. It definitely isn't mandatory, but it is highly recommended. You get to hear several experienced college and high school coaches (even former Olympic coaches!) talk about many different aspects of the game over two days. The clinic is also an excellent networking opportunity, both at the Friday night coaches social and throughout the clinic. Even the most experienced coaches come away with something new every year, and it is a ton of fun! Find out more about the clinic on the MNVBCA Clinic page.
Question #5: Since I'm a new coach, I'm guessing my team won't be very good. Should I really worry about awards?
Yes! First of all, no matter how your team performs on the court, they can always earn Academic Awards. On top of that, you should always be keeping statistics throughout the year, as you never know if one of your players will have a breakout season. In that case, you should nominate your top players for All-State Awards early in the season. In the event they don't have a great season after all, you don't have to submit stats at the end of the year. For more information about how to keep stats and what are some good guidelines for "All-State caliber players", check out the Deadlines-Definitions-Guidelines page. Be sure to pay close attention to the awards deadlines, as nominations aren't accepted after the deadlines!
Question #6: All of that statistical information from the last question is a little overwhelming. How am I supposed to keep all of those stats?
There are a few different options for keeping stats. You can have players on the bench, managers, lower level coaches, or parents (at your own risk) keep stats. You can also record your games and take stats yourself. It is important that whoever will be keeping your stats knows how to define a kill, dig, ace, etc., so be sure to pass along the document linked above. If you have a standout player and you decide to submit All-State stats for her at the end of the season, the more thorough the stats, the better. If stats are incomplete or outlandish (because the person keeping stats doesn't know the proper definition of each statistic), it works against the player when their stats are brought before the All-State committee. It may seem like a large task now, but it's worth it!
Question #7: You've mentioned All-State awards, but how does All-Conference work?
All-Conference awards are determined by the coaches within each conference. Every conference handles this process differently. Ask your athletic director or an experienced coach in your conference for specifics on how this works.
Question #8: How do playoffs work?
As mentioned in the answer to Question #2, each class is broken down into eight sections. Your section holds a single-elimination tournament, and the winner advances to the State Tournament. Many sections in outstate areas break the sections down into geographical subsections, so you may have a North and a South half of your tournament (or East/West, Subsection 1/Subsection 2, etc.), where the winners of each play for the section championship. In the week or two leading up to your section tournament, the section (or subsection) will be seeded based on either a coaches vote (some sections do this face-to-face, some by email) or by the QRF Rankings (a computer ranking system). Once this is completed, the playoff bracket will be produced. From the start of the playoffs moving forward, a loss will result in the end of your season, so prepare accordingly!
Question #9: How can I brush up on volleyball rules?
The best way to do this is to read through the rulebook. Hopefully, your athletic director gave you a copy of the most recent rulebook. If not, you can order one through the NFHS website.