Coach Jimmy Swindler motivates volleyball teams to success
By Amy Hitt
Three years ago, Jimmy Swindler became the Co-Coach of the Junior Panther (JP) Volleyball team, with founder Gerard Frank. That year they did not win one game. This year they will be defending the title they won with a 10-1 record, Valley Middle School Conference Champions.
When the season starts on September 8, 2008, Coach Swindler will be on his own, as Coach Frank will not be coaching. Coach Swindler is not only a graduate of RCHS, he was the Valedictorian of the class of 1978. He has a Bachelors Degree in History from UVA and is the 6th grade history teacher at RCES. He, his wife Beth and children Trey and Addie live in Castleton.
Coach Swindler is one of the best motivators I know, be it in the classroom or on the court. His coaching philosophy is that in Middle School all players need to be taught skills during practices and then during the game you play the best players. A team needs to learn to win.
“I do not follow a ‘rec league’ approach, in that I do not keep everybody that comes out for the team nor do I guarantee playing time. I keep as many players as I possibly can, but I view Middle School athletics as a training ground for the Varsity level,” comments Swindler.
He also feels strongly in the “team concept” - we learn as a team, we win as a team and occasionally we lose as a team. “In practice, EVERYONE is equal! In games, while we are not necessarily all equal, as measured by playing time, we are all on the same team and equally share in the thrill of victory, the satisfaction of a game well played, and the disappointment of a loss,” states the coach.
From his own experience as a former RCHS Varsity basketball player, sitting on the bench as part of a winning team beats playing ten minutes every game as part of a losing team. By putting time in on a middle school team in the 5th & 6th grade and practicing diligently, a player will be getting their game time in the 8th grade if not sooner.
Coach Swindler has many returning players and many players that he feels are ready to take their game to the next level. He hopes to see a continuation of the tremendous fan support that the JP Girls team had last year. “It was a valuable part of our success,” states Swindler.
Swindler motivates his team and his students all the time with valuable lessons and encouraging them to give their all to everything that they do–whether it is by joking around with them as he does, or by talking seriously with them about what they can do to improve their game or their grades.
“He makes learning fun,” says Dylan Hitt. “You want to go to his class and I wish I could play volleyball, just so he could be my Coach.”
A lot of the Varsity players started out playing for Coach Swindler and Coach Frank. Some of the success the Varsity level has had is due to these men putting in their time with the players and teaching them the basics. Consistency and knowledge of the sport in a program breeds champions. Good luck to the Girls JP Volleyball VMSC Champions as they try to defend their crown this upcoming season.
-- Admin
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