Coaching Philosophy

Coaching is an exceptional responsibility. The role of a coach in the development of a student athlete’s life is second in weight and influence only to that of the athlete’s parents.

The coaches of the Santa Monica Beach Club take this responsibility very seriously. We believe the responsibility is less a weight placed on our shoulders and more an incredible opportunity to influence young people positively through the sport of volleyball. We believe every coach is charged with the duty to help their players become responsible, autonomous individuals. And we believe coaches should commit to improving the skills of their players, should foster a strong sense of self-confidence in their players, and should do everything in their power to help their players, and their teams, succeed.

Santa Monica Beach Club has developed a number of philosophies for our coaches to help facilitate the achievement of these ideals. These philosophies are player development goals, outside the scope of success on the court.

Teach the Skills. Quality coaching and instruction is paramount in any athletic program. At Santa Monica Beach Club, we emphasize the skills at all levels, tailored to reflect the changing nature of the game as the boys age and develop. SMBC players and parents have come to expect top-tier training from our club coaches, as we believe they should.

Teach the Meaning of Teamwork. Volleyball is a high-density team sport: six players occupy a small court space, and must move and work together effectively to find success. SMBC coaches teach their players to respect their teammates, opponents, officials, and themselves. We promote the idea of cooperation and togetherness, and work to instill this idea in our players from the outset of the season.

Understand Winning. The ultimate concept of a team sport is that winning is out of one player’s control. SMBC focuses on the notion, first and foremost, of playing your best as an individual player. Winning, therefore, is the by-product of a well-organized team. The benefits of winning are numerous: increased confidence, increased motivation, better ability to handle setbacks, etc. SMBC coaches strive to teach our players the significance of winning, while at the same time underscoring the two most basic concepts of team sports: improve your skills and play the best you can.

Build Player Confidence. SMBC coaches emphasize positive individual development. The nature of volleyball requires players to be both self-reliant, with little coaching help from the sidelines in the middle of the game, and united with the other teammates on the court. Our players learn to take personal responsibility for their actions, with help from both teammates and the coach in establishing personal confidence through success on the court.

Develop Friendships. Athletes among all age levels agree one of the most melancholy moments of any season is the moment when everyone must say goodbye. SMBC coaches seek to foster the friendships that grow between players and their teammates, players and parents, players and opponents, etc. The value of these friendships and their ability to last beyond the end of club volleyball are the true rewards of athletics.

Cultivate Parent Participation. SMBC coaches encourage parents to be involved. Open lines of communication between parents and coaches establish this, and player-parent conferences further support it. A strong and positive coach-parent relationship can work wonders on the confidence and happiness of both individual players and the team.

Nurture a Passion for the Sport. SMBC coaches love the sport of volleyball; our passion for the game is the reason why we coach. SMBC believes it is an essential component of coaching to nurture this passion in our players. Volleyball is a lifetime sport: there is nothing more rewarding than seeing graduated players come back to coach for our club, simply because of their passion for the game.

Our Mission

Since our conception twenty three years ago, under the direction of legendary coach Mike Norman, SMBC has established itself as the premier volleyball club throughout the West Side, San Fernando, and Conejo Valley/Ventura County areas.

At SMBC, it is our goal to instill a standard of excellence, beginning with the quality of our coaches, and ending with the competitive environment created by our players. It is our mission that your son may develop a deeper love of the game, as well as a more meaningful understanding of “personal best” through a fun and intensive experience with our staff.

Furthermore, we at SMBC believe that success is not based solely on winning but is rather found in the pursuit of winning. To that end, our goals are to provide outstanding training in the fundamentals of volleyball, and to compete and achieve success at the highest level in all local and national tournaments that we enter. SMBC goals are also to impress upon our players the importance of sportsmanship, commitment, responsibility, goals and teamwork, and to assist in the process of turning young boys into men heading for college (with or without a future in college sports).

Alumni

In 2006, SMBC sent all 10 seniors from the 18 and under division off to play collegiate volleyball, the majority with scholarships. Over the years SMBC players have played for such schools as UOP, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, USC, Harvard, Princeton, UC San Diego, Pierce, CSUN, and UCSB (among others).

Our Family

We are not just a club here at SMBC, we are a also a family. In an era where players bounce from club to club, SMBC has one of the highest retention rates fore returning players. Each season, over two-thirds of the athletes who play on SMBC teams are returning SMBC players.