From Player to Coach

By Lisa Timpf

The transition from player to coach is often a difficult one to make.

Former national volleyball team member Karen Fraser, a standout for Dalhousie's women's volleyball squad for five years, made that change in the '84-85 season, while coach Lois MacGregor took the year off.

Fraser successfully exploited her national team and collegiate playing experience to coach the Tigers to an undefeated league record and a berth in the CIA U championships. Fraser was pleased with the league record, but disappointed in the Tiger's eighth-place finish at the national intercollegiate finals.

"Had we had more competition during the year, I feel we would have done better at the nationals," said Fraser. "We didn't have the experience in close games, except for the Dalhousie Classic and the York tournament."

"We're hoping that next year the Dal club team will be strong so we can practise against them," said Fraser.

Playing men's teams as a form of practise doesn't really simulate game conditions for women's matches, Fraser found.

"We tried playing a bantam men's team," said Fraser. "Their hitting was better, but their passing and defensive skills were poor by comparison. But if we played guys at a higher level, they hit the ball too hard, so again it didn't simulate women's game conditions."

Problems in making the transition from player to coach are sometimes compounded if the coach is involved with the same team he or she played for previously.

"I was really worried at the start of the season because I was friends with quite a few of the players, and I wondered if they would take advantage of that," said Fraser of coaching her former teammates.

"But, although there were a few rocky times, there were no real problems. It was a very cohesive group this year, and I was able to retain the friendships without losing their respect. "

"I was really happy with the way it worked out."

Another area of difficulty in the transition process lies in the coach finding him/ herself still wanting to play.

"When the team was playing poorly in a game, I found myself wishing I was able to go out on the court to help - I felt so helpless on the bench," said Fraser. "And when they were playing really well, I wished I could be out there because it looked like so much fun."

Fraser did not play this year at the club level, but hopes to be able to get back into it. However, having played at the national level, this will require a change in approach.

"I'll have to go into it with the attitude that it's just for fun- I have to be really patient and try not to get frustrated," said Fraser.

Although she entered the coaching experience this year thinking of it as a short-term project, Fraser enjoyed the experience and now hopes to make it a long-term concern.

"I would like to remain involved in coaching," she said, "and I'm hoping to take more (NCCP technical) courses."

''I'd like to stay involved at the intercollegiate level, with an eye to perhaps someday being able to help out with coaching at the national level."

Fraser hopes to retain her involvement with the Dal team next year, as an assistant to returning head coach Lois MacGregor.

First published in the Dalhousie Gazette vol 117, iss 27 on April 4, 1985