We have been working with individuals for many years.
Our coaching staff have a combined 35 years of experience and have coached internationally. Whilst we have this experience we are very happy to work with athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Sessions start of with a thorough discussion with the athlete, parents and in some cases current coach / teacher to establish current knowledge, skill level and goals. Then we let the athlete perform various skills to ascertain their current level and priorities, then discuss the plan with all involved.
From the first session our athletes begin to gain in confidence, knowledge and ability. The drills we use constantly challenge the athlete to improve their skill and improve their conditioning.
Most sessions run for 1 hour in duration although we can extend these to 1.5 hours for athletes with a high level of fitness.
We currently coach athletes from all areas of Melbourne and would be happy to provide testimonials or contact details to satisfy parents that we can assist your athlete to acheive.
Simply call us on 0407 844 881 or email programdirector@volleyschool.com.au and we will respond.
Letitia Sindt - current Victorian Under 15 Blue team Setter and Monash University / Hailebury athlete has been training with us for 5 months and has made rapid progress. Here's what she had to say.
My parents could see from watching me train that I was having trouble with some of my skills in volleyball. I had lost confidence in my setting skills and so although I had improved a lot I realized I needed help so that I could keep improving and could be more confident on the court.
My parents and I decided that I would benefit from having lessons with Dan. The sessions with Dan have been extremely helpful, while I am there he videos me doing a skill and then he teaches me how to do the skill better and re videos me. This gives me the opportunity to see how I was moving while I was doing the skill and what I needed to adjust to perform the new skill better. It is so helpful to see the way that you really move and compare it to the way that you think you are moving. I can also watch my improvement and better monitor my skill changes in the sessions which helps me to improve.
During the sessions Dan also uses key words for example " Limit" or "Square up" these words are very helpful because I can attach a concept to them and when I am not with Dan I can think of these words and remember my technique so that I maintain a high standard while away from his sessions. During the sessions Dan only needs to say the key words and immediately I can associate a skill I need to perform so that my mind is always clear and not cluttered trying to think of too many things at once. The sessions also keep building my knowledge of volleyball skills. Week by week I practice new techniques and once I have learnt them Dan introduces some more that build on the concept or movement I have just learnt in this way I am always improving and expanding my volleyball knowledge.
Dan never yells during the sessions and makes learning lots of fun he constantly gives me positive feedback and sets realistic goals for me to achieve. He always asks me if I understand what he is talking about and always asks how I feel so I give him feedback and from this he judges whether I understood the concept of what he is trying to teach me in the sessions. He also demonstrates all the movements he teaches so that you can see what you need to do. If I am not sure he will always find a simple way to explain things so that I do understand . Not only has taught me about setting but he has also taught me about improving my passing, spiking and blocking skills and so has improved my overall game. Dan always allows me to do what I want but he also advises me on things that I could do better. I realized how little I knew about playing volleyball as Dan has taught me about how the game is played, the on court positions and what their roles are and many of the plays that are used while playing the game. He has also shown me the pathways that are available to State and National Teams and also that volleyball scholarships are available to students who wish to study overseas. This has allowed me to judge for myself where I would like my volleyball to go and that these are achievable goals if I work hard. He has also given me exercises and drills that I can practice at home to increase my overall fitness for volleyball and to make the techniques I learn from Dan easier to adapt to. He has increased my overall confidence by increasing my skills and this has followed through to my on court role.
Now I feel very confident in whatever role I am assigned by my coaches at school and at the club that I play for. Normally at training Coaches have very little time with so many people training to be able to concentrate and teach individuals one on one skills. However they do notice when you improve and they are very happy with my progress and my new role on court. I really look forward each week to my sessions with Dan I never thought learning new techniques could be so much fun.
If you want to improve your volleyball you should try these sessions. Letitia
Here's what Jess Houghton from Victorian Under 17, Yarra Ranges and Billanook College said.
"Dan has helped my skills by lots of repetitions and new drills that I'd never done before.
Video analysis helped me because Dan picked up on things I’d never notice myself, and I could see myself improve the skills by watching them back afterwards.
Dan taught me the theory behind some drills as well as how the pro’s use it, and why it is the most efficient way of performing the skill.
Dan uses key words that help you remember what the skill should feel like when you’re performing them.
Dan pushes me to try new things , like blocking and jump serving.
Dan’s sessions are always full of things YOU want to work on. He doesn’t decide for you. He asks what you think you need help with and spends a lot of time going over that and fixing up the skill.
Dan offers advice on excercises that could help you improve physically. He suggested that I do some weights work to improve leg strength, therefore increasing my speed, stamina and jump.
Dan asks you what you want to work on, but also suggests things that may help you in the long run.
The 1 on 1 nature of the sessions helps improve you much faster than regular trainings ever would because the session is focussed on you"
Video analysis helped me because Dan picked up on things I'd never notice myself, and I could see myself improve the skills by watching them back afterwards.
Dan taught me the theory behind some skills, as well as how the pro's use it, and why it is the most efficient way of performing the skill.
Dan uses key words that help you remember what the skill should feel like when you're performing them.
Dan pushes me to try new things, like blocking and jump serving.
Dan's sessions are always full of things YOU want to work on. He doesnt decide for you. He asks what you think you need help with and spends a lot of time going over that and fixing the skill up.
Dan offers advice on excercises that could help you improve physically. He suggested that I do some weights work to improve leg strength, therefore increasing my speed, stamina and jump.
Dan asks you what you want to work on, but also suggests things that may help you in the long run.
The 1 on 1 nature of the sessions helps improve you much faster then regular trainings ever would because the session is focussed on you."
Breanna McGrath from Victorian Under 17 Team, Waverley Christian College and Monash University Volleyball club said
"Dan Higgins involvement in volleyball camps first led me to taking up volleyball. Then after eight-nine months of playing, my volleyball game and skills started to wane. I started one-on-one trainings with Dan and a month later I feel like I have really lifted my game. Dan is an amazing coach because he is great at motivating, technically gifted and he challenges me regulary. I am now looking at becoming more heavily involved with volleyball"
Here's what Harley Atcheson from Victtorian Under 19 Men's team and Latrobe Valley said,
"Dan Higgins had helped me in many ways firstly during my training sessions with Victoria State Trainings in 2008, when he coached our U17 boy's team.
This is why I decided to have private training sessions with him as I felt and knew from previous coaching I would benefit from more one on one coaching.
Dan used video analysis to help correct positioning of my body during many different Volleyball skills. This made it a lot easier for him to explain what I was doing wrong. This enabled me to understand how to correct the incorrect actions I was doing.
He also showed me new skills and different ways for doing skills that I thought I had mastered.
Dan guided my strength with very positive feedback directing me in the right direction for improvement. His sessions are conducted in a very professional manner. He never turned around and said okay you can't do that, lets just move onto another skill. He would make me keep working to improve that skill and not give up.
Having the personal contact with my coach was great, giving me exercise information to help build up my body and mind physically. Also feedback if I was sore after a training session and what to do to improve this from happening again.
Just love the one on one coaching allowing me to ask questions and have the time to see what I can improve on in my Volleyball skills and my role as a player. This I could not get from any other venue at this time as I live in the Latrobe Valley Gippsland.
I know Dan's coaching has and can put a more positive attitude towards my Volleyball skills, training, exercise, eating healthy and just wanting to improve more and more".
If you are interested in some individual coaching contact us for more information 0407 844 881.