Gold Medal Squared Volleyball

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"The information presented to us is cutting-edge and revolutionary, although after the first day I was very disappointed to learn that I really knew nothing about coaching volleyball. This clinic challenged all principles and practices that I was taught in many years of playing on different levels. In the end however, this clinic was a shot in the arm of INFORMATION, enthusiasm and motivation to get out there and coach more effectively and mindfully while building relationships with my players. It also reminded me why I love the game. Once again, thank you . . . I would definitely attend this clinic again."

Natalie Oana-Russo

This is Adam Black from Pierce College down in LA. I just wanted to email you to inform you about some great things about Pierce men's volleyball program. We finished 2nd in the state this year losing to Long Beach City College in the finals. The great news however, has nothing to do with the finals. The great news is that I was able to apply the methods from GMS to my coaching, my team, and my season. Everything from the training, to the office work, and to the games. GMS has truly made this season very memorable and rewarding.

All of a sudden teaching became effective, strategy was based on percentages and correlations, and positive energy flowed from the bench in our games. Through the principles, methods, and most importantly the role models of GMS (Carl, Ron, Marv), I was able to take individuals of moderate talent and create a team that went to the finals. These results are not the fruits of my labor rather it is the outcome of many hands working together (coaching staff, players) with GMS as the guide. Thank you Carl for creating a wonderful organization. Hope to see you at one of the clinics."

Adam Black

"My 16 girls team just came in second in the 16 Club tournament at the Lone Star qualifier (out of 160 teams) and qualified for Nationals. We never won a warm-up the entire tournament, but once the game started our serving, passing and defense were too much for almost everyone. I have no doubt that the middle-middle defense has been a big reason for our success. Thanks again - this has been a dream season."

Chris Reid

I wanted to take a moment and thank you for the outstanding education you provided in a fun, gracious and supportive way.

I haven’t played in 20+ years and have never coached a volleyball team, yet I had the Portola High School varsity girls fall into my lap when the varsity coach quit one week before the season began. Thank goodness I attended the clinic—it was the ONLY way I could have survived the season. My notes and clinic materials lived in my coach’s briefcase, and I referenced them everyday. Without the three days at your clinic, I would not have been able to provide the structure for our girls that they absolutely needed.

You’ll be pleased to hear that our tiny mountain school had some success. We finished as league co-champions, CIF Northern Section finalists, and made it to the first round of the NorCal regionals in Division 5—all with three freshman starters. While it was the girls who got the job done, I could not have held the team together without the lessons I learned in July. I have no illusions about my abilities as a volleyball coach—there are truly miles and miles to go. However, there is no question in my mind that your efforts had a significant, positive effect on 12 young women in Portola, California."

Greg Hill

"This year was our most successful ever. In our 5 previous seasons, we have never finished better than 8-6 regular season and 10-8 for playoffs. The school only made state once, in 1984, and the program was awful. This season, we were 12-2, ranked in state, and had a great season. The girls lost to Kings in districts, but we won the third berth to state, ranked #10. We had an incredibly difficult draw, but beat #4 Grandview and #1 Kings on the first day, then #8 Lakeside to get to state finals. We did lose to Pullman there, but how many chances do you get to play in a state championship? I was extremely proud of the girls.

Where you made a great difference was in how we approached volleyball. At the state tournament for 1A and 2A (we are a 2A school) there was only our team swingblocking. I was asked why we swingblock by a kid from another team in our league, and told her why. She stated that they were not athletic enough to do it. I asked if we were more athletic than her team. I think she got it. There was 1 jump server on the other 31 teams, and we had 5 in the tournament. Our girls jump served through out, including the semi final where Lakeside had two match points fought off with jumpers. I remember at GMS that you stressed the girls jump serving, and never saw anyone else doing it. It has become a really cool thing for us, with kids at JV and C team jump serving pretty darn effectively. The middle/middle defense ended this season with 4 kids breaking our digs record. Pretty cool indeed.

I went to GMS without my wife (our head coach) and was slowly able to turn her old beliefs around. She will be attending this year with me, and it will make everything make even more sense. I love what Jim, Carl, and Marv bring to coaching, and your staff has been so helpful and courteous. It may seem like small things to you, but it means a lot."

Brent Detta

"I attended your clinic this summer in Dallas. I incorporated everything I could possibly incorporate that you gave me at that clinic. We were 24-8-1. The best record this program has ever seen!!! We competed for the first time in the championship match in our district tournament. I just wanted to say thank you !! We I plan on attending as many more clinics as we possibly can, and are working towards having your student camp between our two schools."

Mary Colin

My name is Gail, and I attended the Gold Medal Squared clinic at UW in May. I had dropped notes to both of you to tell you how absolutely life-changing the clinic was for me as a coach, and now that I'm halfway through my high school season, I just wanted to let you how things were going. Oddly enough, I am regularly finding myself saying "It's OK to hurry" (which Carl said during clinic) or thinking, "Individuals never lose the desire to be treated like individuals" (which Marv said during clinic).

My current team is a great balance of work ethic & skill (for the last few years, my teams have been either one or the other), and using the GMS material has been a blessing! That is the great thing about the cauldron and most of the clinic drills -- even if you feel like slacking off for even just a minute, girls are funny in that they don't want to look bad in front of other girls. Carl sent his cauldron to me after the clinic, and after some modifications, I introduced the CAULDRON to my team from the beginning in late August, and the girls absolutely "love to hate it, and hate to love it."

In speaking with fellow coaches, we've noticed a recent trend in our culture -- one that tells the girls that "it doesn't matter if you win or lose" and "it's OK to be OK." Compared to my playing days (which weren't that long ago, mind you!), my coaches drove me hard early, and when they weren't around to do that, I drove myself. It can be difficult to plant the seed of competitive drive into some of these girls, but the cauldron helps to do that by positively motivating girls and making them think. The cauldron and the methods taught at GMS are absolutely great; it IS OK to push these kids to be great competitors again and not settle for anything less than their best.

In just this last five weeks of coaching on the GMS system, I've learned more about myself and the importance of my role than I have in my last five years of coaching. I'm so fortunate to have been exposed to this system early in my coaching career, and I'm excited to see how the efforts pay off with these girls in the years to come!

Gail Cornelius