Northern Lites Volleyball, Northernlitesvball 2008, program not reputable, ripoff to parents of serious players Reed City Michigan
The new off season volleyball season has started and Northern Lites has returned based out of Reed City Michigan. BE CAREFUL OF THIS PROGRAM! It is now being run from a recreational standpoint. The people involved are self interested and not player interested.
You will be charged for this program but only receive the basis of recreational volleyball. The coaches are not qualified to improve players at the high school level. The lead coach was discharged from Reed City Schools for inappropriate behavior to the female athletes. This person was hired because of personnel friendships.
Any person joining this program must watch out for their children. Their safety is at risk. They will not be given the tools to improve and advance a player. They are just looking for numbers. It is recommended you find a reputable program. Their first year the director stole parents money and didn't pay for the tournaments.
The second year, the people that ran it did not listen to the reputable coaching staff but made the teams based on their own self interests, then fired the very reputable head coach the day of the state tournament because he was aware of many issues with the group of Reed City parents that were not in the best interest of the players.
Now they are trying again this year with a rec volleyball standard while hiring a coach who should not be around adolescent girls. Be advised that your child and money would be safer and better suited in established, reputable programs throughout Michigan.
Concerned for the children
Grand Rapids, Michigan
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Northernlites
Grand Rapids,Michigan,
U.S.A.
The Facts are Straight, but you are not
#3Author of original report
Fri, April 18, 2008
The facts are straight and your response is not. First off, Northern Lites does NOT have ONE coach working for them that lead a team to a State Championship last year. So you are being dishonest in that statement.
Second, in reference to their head coach last year......you need to state all the facts and not be selective in that matter. You obviously have only been told by this group what they want you to believe.
It is sad you take this report personnally, but the facts are the facts and defensiveness is something to question.
Finally, a child can play volleyball wherever and whenever, it does not make them a better player unless they are being coached correctly and being taught proper skills. You can run the same drills over and over again, play in tournaments but if improper technique is not corrected and advanced skills at an competitive level are not taught, than progression fails.
You do not have one coach there who coaches at a Varsity level or who has played at a college level. Furthermore, are any of your coaches certified? Are they required to have any professional training each year?
I admire your passion for the sport and your protection for your players, but when you speak of having facts, you best have solid ones of your own.
Volleyball Fan
Howard City,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Get Your Facts Straight Before You Go Spreading Rumors
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, April 17, 2008
I believe that before you start bad mouthing people you should get all your facts straight. For one, the person that you speak of being discharged by the school system is NOT coaching for Northern Lites. So that would be lie number one. The second is regarding the letting go of the coach at states last year. Are you aware that he had a college volleyball player playing as her little sister? That in itself is illegal. He did get in trouble by NCAA for that. Third is how you claim that the coaches will not better the athletes. I take that quite personally.
As you can now imagine, I am one of those coaches. I helped lead a high school team to a state championship this past year, so I do believe that I do know a little something about the sport. One of the reasons I coach is to help the kids, so I am offended that you say the kids are at risk. Not a single one of us would do anything to hurt these girls.
This program is not run like a recreational department. The younger girls will be playing some rec volleyball, but the older girls are going to tournaments just like any other AAU program. We are located in a rural area where income is not as high as in the big cities like Grand Rapids, but you know that. We try to keep our costs down and not do as much as bigger cities so more girls are able to get a chance to play the sport they love. I believe that any chance that the girls are able to play outside of school will only make them better in the long run.
So next time you start to run off at the mouth, make sure you get all your facts straight.