Mission Statement
Our mission at the Karch Kiraly Volleyball Academy is to deliver fundamental training principles, physical and mental preparation and game-like challenges using our highly accomplished staff of instructors. The transfer of knowledge and sharing of experiences between instructor and student is to have immediate and lasting impact — in volleyball and in life.
Karch Kiraly
Sometimes when speaking to younger players, Karch has been asked the question, "How did you prepare to win an Olympic gold medal?" His answer is always: "I didn't. I prepared to help my team win the next play, because if we could win the next play, and the one after that, and so on, we'd always have a chance to be the best." Karch has continued to train, practice and compete throughout his career with a belief and focus on "the next play." For Karch, the next play has always served as the opportunity to strive for greatness. What happened earlier in a match, or only a few seconds ago, is immediately irrelevant because the next play always represents another moment in which to lead, to help teammates, to make a key play and to be better.
For more information on Karch please see his biography located in the Coaches section of this site.
Training Principles
The Karch Academy employs a series of guidelines:
- Simpler is better than complex — it is more repeatable, dependable and resilient under pressure; simpler works in big matches when it counts most.
- Be as well-prepared as possible — How do I make the team play better when I am on the court? How do I employ my strengths best for the team? How do I improve my weaknesses?
- Follow proper learning principles —
- Beginning/mental/cognitive phase = seeing, identifying and developing the key components of a skill
- Intermediate/practice/associative phase = refining movements, linking skill parts into smooth action, reacting more and thinking less
- Advanced/automatic/autonomous phase = responding automatically, instinctive reaction
This program is specifically focused on training and preparing young minds. We will teach information only as it is needed so as not to overwhelm student players with too much information - this represents a wasted opportunity. Similarly, we will quickly establish the respective skill levels of our players and we will not waste time presenting information already mastered.
Competitive Training — The Karch Academy will combine many training techniques, but we will live by a priority principle, that the best way to improve play is through on-court competition. Drills and easy toss exercises serve a purpose; however, a player cannot be expected to react properly and control the ball during real game situations without thoroughly acclimating to the stress of competition. The coaching staff shall create, design, expose and critique academy students during competitive situations.
Mental Preparation — The academy's philosophy regarding mental preparation is to understand what it means to see, not just look. The best volleyball players see the entire court, all the players and the ball movement together. Karch provides an example, "Seeing the game means seeing where the serve is going (the deep corner) anticipating the ball to be passed to a certain spot (out of optimum position), anticipating the breakdown in the offensive play, and immediately reacting to take away and shut down the one option left in the opposing team's offense." To improve this ability we rely on visualization drills which: 1) consider various permutations of a play, 2) put the player in the right spot to handle each play permutation and 3) identify the best response to each possible play.
Mental preparation also utilizes film analysis; it serves as a starting point for visualization and, in turn, leads to advanced preparation where real responses are examined. Emphasis is on the ability to focus on the right things at the right time, and to respond to those events in a positive way. Great athletes have the ability to assess any situation and respond in a positive and effective way.
Physical Preparation — Our physical training regimens are prescribed to improve specific volleyball skills that will make each individual a better player. During the five days of the academy we will not create great athletes (higher jumpers, faster runners, more agile playmakers), this would be an unrealistic expectation; however, everyone will walk away with a clear plan on how to become a better physically trained athlete. The plan will include strength, agility and endurance programs plus nutritional assessments and recommendations.