Girls volleyball preview: O.C. teams brace for big change

As girls' volleyball teams prepare for a wide-open season with no clear-cut favorite in Orange County, much of the buzz surrounds what's to come in the winter, when the postseason ends.

After the CIF-Southern Section dropped the Association Rule, placing local schools on the same footing as the rest of California, volleyball coaches began wondering how the decision - which went into effect July 1 - will transform a sport that features such prominent off-season club teams in Orange County.

“It's definitely something that's going to change the dynamic of boys and girls volleyball,” Esperanza coach Isaac Owens said.

High school coaches, many of whom also lead club teams, now are permitted to coach their players in the offseason. But will they? And how often?

Many coaches are convinced that some of their colleagues will insist on keeping high school teams together during the club season. But no one seems ready to own up to it. Most say such a strategy would be detrimental to the players, but coaches did express support for the Southern Section's decision, provided that no one exploits it too dramatically.

Owens said he plans to meet with his team about twice a week in the offseason, giving the non-club kids a chance to stay sharp and learn from their elite teammates. Others have said they have no plans to change. Some are undecided.

Corona del Mar coach Darryl Gan has seen an immediate impact, by virtue of the fact that he's coaching. A long-time club coach of 14-18 yearolds, Gan walked through the opening that the CIF-SS created when it lifted the Association Rule.

Gan said he has no plans to push players toward his Orange County Volleyball Club.

“That was a concern that was addressed with me and one thing I really wanted people to know - that I'm not doing this to grow my club team,” Gan said.

While some coaches worry about burnout - if their sport becomes year-round for players who aren't looking to play it year-round - the top concern is for elite athletes. Club competition allows the top players to improve by playing with and against the area's best. If some coaches insist that their girls play for them during club season - rather than join the area's elite - the growth of these top players could be stunted, for the sake of the high school team.

“That is bogus,” Owens said. “Because it doesn't help the kid.”

Another coach's voice can be helpful, too.“It's great to keep them (the players) together year round, but there are a lot of talented coaches in the county,” Los Alamitos coach Dave Huber said. “As long as they (the players) are in a situation where they can get better, that's OK with me.”

Related:

• Players to watch in 2008
• Key dates
• Top 10 rankings

Contact the writer: jkay@ocregister.com