New Arlington High School head volleyball coach Erin Stosich officially orchestrated her first summer volleyball camp in charge this week.
The former assistant took over all aspects of the role this past winter, filling in for Stacy Nelson, who led the program for two seasons.
“It still has been definitely an adjustment being the one that kind of has to have all of the answers,” Stosich said Tuesday afternoon during the grades 6-8 camp session. “But I enjoy it, too.”
Her mother, Connie Dostal, led the Howells Bobcats for many years, which has helped the Eagles' new coach in the transition.
“I have been around that and have gotten some good advice from her,” Stosich said.
The coach also finds the managerial aspects of her occupational therapist career helpful as well.
On Monday and Tuesday, though, Stosich's primary focus from 9 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. was on volleyball. She said nearly 100 campers in kindergarten through eighth grade took part across three different sessions at AHS.
“Very, very good numbers,” the coach explained.
Skills were the primary focus of the camp, regardless of age.
Fun, too, was the backbone of what Stosich and her coaches implemented during their time with the young, up-and-comers. She said skill development can make playing more enjoyable and, eventually, develops “love” for the game — which can be important to success.
To ensure camp fun, volleyball coaches get creative.
“Especially with younger kiddos, we implement a lot of games,” Stosich said. “Some are volleyball-related. Others are just, simply, energy-burners.”
Various games of tag and teamwork drills offer “brain breaks” from all of the skill and technique work the kids are doing, she noted. There will be time for such breaks with her high school players before August, but, then, Stosich will lead her first official varsity team into the fall season.
