TK Volleyball
Building better athletes and better people
OUR MISSION
To create a mentally and physically healthy environment for young athletes to test themselves through challenging training and competition. Athletes will be encouraged each and every day by a supportive staff of coaches who will seek to actively improve the overall lives of these athletes by being positive mentors who both know the game and seek to create balance between sport and life.
THE STORY BEHIND "TK"
What does “TK” mean? TK is short for “Talitha Koum” or “Taley Koum” (masculine) which when translated, means “Little girl/little boy, get up, arise.”.
TK difference and
Our mission statement is clear. We want to provide a healthy environment where athletes can be challenged - and challenge each other through the practice of healthy competition. We started this club as an alternative to those that already exist because we know that our methods work, and we know we can provide exactly what athletes want: An environment that is challenging, tough, and disciplined while at the same time being fair. They want an environment based on support and encouragement where every athlete knows exactly where they stand and what they need to work on individually at all times.
We believe that there are four pillars that support the healthy training of any athlete. If each of these pillars are strong, then the athlete has an excellent foundation upon which to build. Training these four pillars is the underpinning of our philosophy and reflected in just about everything we do.
This is how we measure our success. Not by how many games or tournaments or medals we win – or by how many athletes we send to college. We measure our success on how many athletes leave our gym at eighteen as healthy young adults ready to live whatever dreams they may have and fully prepared for any challenge the world may decide to send their way.
The Four Pillars
-
PHYSICAL
- STRUCTURE -
- SYSTEMS -
- PHYSIOLOGY -
- FORM -developed through a combination of strength training, physical challenges, stretching and mobility work
- STRENGTH -
- FITNESS -
- MOBILITY -
- ENDURANCE -
-
MENTAL
- CONFIDENCE -
- FOCUS -
- TOUGHNESS -
- PRESENCE -built by learning to push through physical challenges to develop an understanding that everyone is capable of so much more than they might know
- SELF-ESTEEM -
- FORTITUDE -
- TENACITY -
- GRIT -
-
EMOTIONAL
- FEELINGS-
- CREATIVITY -
- RELATIONSHIPS -
- FAMILY -built on confidence created by the physical and mental pillars; allows the athlete to learn to be vulnerable and approach life with a student's mind
- RITUAL -
- MEDITATION -
- CONTINUITY -
- VISUALIZATION -
-
AWARENESS
- WISDOM-
- COMPASSION -
- CONNECTION -
- PURPOSE -an athlete with the strength and confidence to allow themselves to be vulnerable will awaken to the realization of a world outside their own - and of their responsibilities within it
- APPRECIATION -
- REALIZATION -
- INSIGHT -
- COMMUNICATION -
how we are
-
team only practices
No master coaching sessions or otherwise "shared" practice sessions unless preparing for competition through a scheduled scrimmage. Does this mean that coaches will isolate themselves and refuse to collaborate? Not at all! Quite the opposite in fact. Coaches are expected to lean on each other to strengthen teams.
-
strength and conditioning
TK Volleyball has on-site coaches and all athletes will receive strength, conditioning, mobility training as well as prehab for injury prevention.
-
mental
We address the mental aspect of sports and will train our athletes with healthy coping mechanisms such as basic breathing and visualization skills. We will also offer help with both internal and external negative dialogue - all skills that will prove valuable both on and off the court.
-
balance
We are truly attempting to create a better sense of balance for all families and their athletes. With careful attention to detail in regards to scheduling of practices and competitions, we strive to create a season that will offer top-notch training and competition with a healthy home and school life.
-
rejuvenation
We work hard in the gym - that much is certain. However, we also understand that "more" is not necessarily better. Muscles aren't built during a workout; they're built while we sleep. Rest is even more important than the reps we take in the gym. Overtraining leads to fatigue, which leads to acute injuries and chronic pain - both of which contribute to an athlete's learning to dislike the game. Because of this, key rest and rejuvenation periods are built into every single age group’s training plan.
-
mentoring
Not only will our older athletes act as mentors to our younger athletes, but we also work to have veteran parents available to assist parents new to club volleyball or to any parents who just want a sounding board in regards to recruiting, the stresses of competitive sports and/or what it means to be the mom or dad of a teenager.
-
real life
Regular team-based meetings with discussions regarding time management, stress reduction, leadership, positive self-talk and other pertinent topics as deemed necessary by individual coaches to their particular team.
-
academic recognition
We understand that many in club VB pursue athletic scholarships, we also feel that our athletes’ work in the classroom is of utmost importance in affording them more opportunities and choices that could yield a better fit for them and their future. To that end, we will have programs that recognize academic achievement among TK athletes.
-
recruiting
TK has a dedicated Recruiting Coordinator with the means to create a dynamic experience for every single athlete, - regardless of whether they want to go to a top D1 program or have something smaller and more intimate in mind such as a D2 or D3. We feel that our athletes and families need guidance through this arduous process and we are dedicated to doing whatever we can to help.
-
parent involvement
At TK Volleyball, we realize that what we are doing involves more than just training an athlete. We are helping parents to instill in their children the mindset and tools necessary for dealing with real-world issues. Volleyball is the vehicle, but it is neither the trip nor the destination. And their family is along for the ride - more often than not clueless as to how this whole thing works. As such we think we owe it to them to do our best to help them through the process.