avalanchevolleyball

Director's Letter

Dear Parents & Players,

I would like to start by saying I am so excited to now be a part of the Avalanche Volleyball Club family. I am truly honored to be the new director and I am looking forward to building upon an already great program.

Volleyball has been a significant part of my life year-round since 1994. I began playing competitive volleyball at Sports Performance Volleyball Club for 6 years and then went on to play Division II volleyball for Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. There I received a Bachelors Degree in Special Education with a minor in Psychology; soon after I completed my masters at National Louis University. Recognizing, over time that my passion for volleyball was an ever-growing seed in my heart I decided to branch out and discover myself as a coach.

Over the past 9 years, I have coached a variety of ages in many different environments, which has allowed me to experience a great deal of talent, skill levels, and coaching styles. I spent two summers coaching and facilitating Sports Performance camps to girls of all ages. Throughout my eight years of coaching club at Straightdown Volleyball Club and Naperville Volleyball Club I have been the head coach of 17U, 16U, 15U, and 14U teams. Of these teams, four of them were travel teams that participated in National Qualifiers. I have also directed and coached many individual private lessons as well as developed jump training and agility training programs for volleyball players of all ages. During my club volleyball seasons, I also officiated USA Volleyball at all levels including Division III College matches; in order to observe and grasp another perspective of the game. Along with club volleyball, I have also coached three seasons of high school volleyball at the freshman and sophomore levels.

Currently, I am teaching my sixth year of Summer School with District 200 working with special education students in the elementary levels. In August, I will be starting my seventh year at Wheaton Warrenville South High School as a Special Education teacher and my third season with Wheaton North High School's volleyball program.

I feel the skills and knowledge I have gained both as a player and coach of volleyball and now as a teacher have prepared me to work with athletes of all ages and recognize some of the components in life that help make individuals successful. Components such as communication, consistency, work ethic, goals, determination, self-reflection, positive relationships, and team camaraderie are just a few. The relationships I have developed over the years with players, coaches, and parents are irreplaceable and the moments of success and growth I have witnessed have made my passion for volleyball even greater. Like most coaches, I have coached teams that were very successful, teams with unrefined/raw athletic talent, and teams with very little talent. Having coached this variety of diverse teams has convinced me of how important these components are in the growth of an athlete.

Director Katie ValentinoIn closing, I am not only eager but dedicated to enhancing the growth, skill level, commitment level, excitement and passion of volleyball on to those who share the same want and desire. I look forward to achieving this goal in years to come making Avalanche an even stronger program with well-rounded athletes who have a competitive edge. I am truly excited to meet you and hope you will help me in achieving the vision to make 2011 a great club season at Avalanche!

Sincerely,

Katie Valentino
KValentinoVB@gmail.com
630-995-5308