Volleyball Private Lessons

[Anonymous]

My daughter plays club volleyball (U14) and I would love to hear recommendations for great coaching/private instruction - preferably in NOVA. She has had private lessons with some coaches in the area at different clubs with mixed experiences. She's a pin hitter (outside/right side). Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think out here, trying to get good recommendations for a private coach is like trying to get a number for the total package babysitter - nobody wants to give it up.

Based on our experience, we've tried:

- NVVA has several coaches that offer privates. We were with one for a good while, but she moved on, and so did we. One thing that's nice about them is that they have their own facilities.

- Loudoun Elite is a good club, and they have some coaches that do privates (write their main contact email and they'll point you along), but you'll end up paying for the coach plus court fees, unless you can find others to participate in small group training.

- St. James says they offer privates, and they definitely have their own courts. Haven't actually tried them though.

- The guy who runs the VA Volleyball Factory in Manassas does private lessons. The reviews for his facility (mainly about him) are a bit Yelp-ish, but we like him, and IMO he is very observant and offers really good technical advice (which is what we were looking for).

Bottom line, it's a bit like dating, and you're gonna have to keep trying different ones until you find a coach/teacher who meshes with your DD. I would be discriminating though, since the cost will add up after a while; also, you will get more bang for your buck if you could do small group training instead of solo (both in terms of cost, and allowing DD to catch her breath and process what she's being taught).

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I’ll add that most clubs have links on their websites to contact them about private lessons. Start with whoever is closest to your house. It’s a bonus if it’s a place that owns the facility, since with the others you will have to pay the person and a rental fee.

[Anonymous]

Coach Johns at the St. James is amazing. She transformed my DD's hitting. They charge $100 an hour though.

[Anonymous]

My daughter did three lessons at St James. It was a gift from a relative.

[Anonymous]

You should check Libero Virginia, own facility and great coaching staff. They offer privates with the gym fee included for $120 per hour.
Had two daughters doing privates there and both made to the div 1, they are absolutely game changers.

[Anonymous]

Any recommendation on Maryland side? Close to rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coach Johns at the St. James is amazing. She transformed my DD's hitting. They charge $100 an hour though.

Really? My DD had the exact opposite experience. She had two and completely did nothing for her. Then her next clinic outside of St James did absolute magic on her.

[Anonymous]

Still look for private option in MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still look for private option in MD

Approach coaches that you like at clinics and ask them whether they provide private lessons. Most of them will happily give you their business card. We had a coach give away his business card after the clinic was over without even asking for it. Alternatively, you can write an email to any club and ask whether their coaches are willing to provide private lessons. They might have a rotating system to advertise their coaches when they receive this type of inquiry. But you won't know whether they give you the contact information of their best coach or the one who is next in their rotation. Keep in mind that a coach that has a good chemistry with a specific player may not work similarly well for your DD. It is better for you to pick a coach based on personal experience, rather than relying on other people's experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still look for private option in MD

Approach coaches that you like at clinics and ask them whether they provide private lessons. Most of them will happily give you their business card. We had a coach give away his business card after the clinic was over without even asking for it. Alternatively, you can write an email to any club and ask whether their coaches are willing to provide private lessons. They might have a rotating system to advertise their coaches when they receive this type of inquiry. But you won't know whether they give you the contact information of their best coach or the one who is next in their rotation. Keep in mind that a coach that has a good chemistry with a specific player may not work similarly well for your DD. It is better for you to pick a coach based on personal experience, rather than relying on other people's experience.

Good advice. I emailed clubs close to our house or ones DD was interested in trying out at and inquired recently and in the past. Many responded with options and rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think out here, trying to get good recommendations for a private coach is like trying to get a number for the total package babysitter - nobody wants to give it up.

Based on our experience, we've tried:

- NVVA has several coaches that offer privates. We were with one for a good while, but she moved on, and so did we. One thing that's nice about them is that they have their own facilities.

- Loudoun Elite is a good club, and they have some coaches that do privates (write their main contact email and they'll point you along), but you'll end up paying for the coach plus court fees, unless you can find others to participate in small group training.

- St. James says they offer privates, and they definitely have their own courts. Haven't actually tried them though.

- The guy who runs the VA Volleyball Factory in Manassas does private lessons. The reviews for his facility (mainly about him) are a bit Yelp-ish, but we like him, and IMO he is very observant and offers really good technical advice (which is what we were looking for).

Bottom line, it's a bit like dating, and you're gonna have to keep trying different ones until you find a coach/teacher who meshes with your DD. I would be discriminating though, since the cost will add up after a while; also, you will get more bang for your buck if you could do small group training instead of solo (both in terms of cost, and allowing DD to catch her breath and process what she's being taught).

Good luck.

Not OP but this is really great advice. Thanks!