Daughter wants to play a different position. How to approach it?

Question
QUESTION: My 5'8" sophmore daughter plays MB position on her high school varsity team, as she did in her first club season (2010).  She was a setter for 3 years before that.  She has great hands and is a good all-around player.  She really likes hitting, but is looking to make it at the college level.  I'm afraid that she is too short to be a college MB and suggested that she either go back to setting or try OH or DS in the next club season.   Any suggestions?  Thanks.

ANSWER: Hey Jeanne:

The allexperts website is telling me that I haven't answered this question.  

But I'm sure I did last night.  Did you never receive it?  I guess I didn't finish it?  Or never pressed "send"?  

If you have not received an answer, I'll get after that promptly.

Tom Houser
www.coachhouser.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I did not get a response my original question.

Answer
Good afternoon!

This is so odd.  I know that I answered it. Well, let's get to it.

You can talk to your child's coach all you want. And, as a club coach, I would listen.  However, most coaches (me included) will play your daughter where the team needs her to play.  

You are right, very few colleges have 5'8" MB's.  However, some club teams have no choice but to have 5'8" MB's.  Your daughter may be one again this season.  You can tell the coach that you'd like for her to be an OH, or a setter; but, if she happens to be the tallest girl on the team, and she has experience at the MB position, then that is probably where she will have to play.  

Some parents will say, "But that's not where my daughter will be in the future."  I'm sorry.  The team needs her there.  And, if she is indeed all that athletic, scholarly, possesses great character, she will be playing college vball somewhere....regardless of what position she plays in club or in school ball.

Of course, if you are very adamant about your daughter not playing a certain position, you can always tell the coaches at tryouts, "I do not want my daughter to be on a team where she has to play MB."  If the club is understanding, then they will try their best to accommodate you.  Now, don't be angry if, after they put your daughter on a team with three 6-foot girls, that she is put in the middle anyway.  haha  Wouldn't that be ironic!  But, hopefully, you guys will get on a team where she will be playing what she really wants to play.  But, beware!  If she is an awesome MB, and not that awesome at any other position, she could end up not on any team at all. That's the gamble you take if you say at tryouts, "It's this way or we don't want anything at all."

I hope that I have now, finally, answered your question! :)  If you have any more, please contact me anytime.  

And if your school coach is looking for an inexpensive (no price change in 5 years!), exciting, yet challenging site camp for summer 2011, he/she can see it right here at www.coachhouser.com.  All the pictures are still up from our 18 camps the past two years.  We can't wait for summer 2011.

Have a great day!  75 degrees and sunny today in Roanoke Virginia.  It's a great place to live!  

Coach Houser