By Staff
NILES - In less than one month the USA Girls Youth National Volleyball Team will begin training for the 2005 FIVB Girls Youth Under-18 World Championships under the watchful eye of head coach Erikka Gulbranson.
The 2005 Youth National Training Team convenes in Colorado Springs on July 8 for selection and training in preparation for the 2005 Youth World Championships in Macau, China, from July 23-31, 2005.
But before Gulbranson starts training the US Youth National Team she will be in Niles June 27-29, to give a volleyball skills clinic to area volleyball players.
There will also be a coach's clinic June 27 and June 28 for area coaches.
Gulbranson will be teaching the USA method of teaching and training volleyball.
Dennis Cooper Director of Krush Volleyball Club in Niles met Gulbranson in January at the Olympic training site in Colorado Springs.
Cooper was in Colorado Springs for the National High Performance Coach's Clinic where Gulbranson was one of the presenters.
The focus of the HP Clinic was in two major areas. The first part of the clinic concentrated on "Training your Trainers to Train".
The second part of the clinic was used to teach the intricacies of skill training progressions used by USA Volleyball at all age groups.
While at the HP Clinic Cooper approached Gulbranson about possibly coming to Niles to give a clinic to the local players and coaches.
When Cooper returned he contacted Niles volleyball coach Jamie Foster and Brandywine volleyball coach Gary Whitney to see if they were interested.
A long-time fixture in the USA Volleyball camp and clinic structure, Gulbranson had graduated from assisting in the USA A2 camp and Austin Christmas camp to become head coach of the WJNT A2 camp in Colorado Springs. She has successfully completed assistant coaching duties with the 2003 Youth National Team and the 2004 NORCECA gold-medal-winning Girls Junior National Team.
Sign up is this week for the clinic at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, 683-8157. The morning session, for 6th-8th grades, will be held at Brandywine High School from 9 a.m.-noon.
The afternoon session is for high school players from 1-4 p.m. at Niles High School.
Cost for the Clinic is $80
There is a coaches clinic from 6-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Niles High School.
Cost for coaches is $20.
For more information go to www.krushvbc.com.