Tyler Coupe looks toward fall season of volleyball
Cape Gazette Sports Editor Emeritus Dave Frederick vibrated the pockets of all five of Cape’s fall coaches and asked them the same questions regarding coronavirus and its possible effect on the fall season. In this article, Frederick shares comments from girls’ volleyball coach Tyler Coupe.
CG: How do you prepare for a season you don’t know will happen?
Coupe: I'm trying to approach it normally, in regard to planning, that we'll be ready to go come Aug. 17. There's no point of making oneself any crazier by dwelling on negative things that we aren't even sure will happen. However, I am aware of the chance there may not be a season for us. I just try not to harp on that too much.
CG: What about off-season training and missing summer league play?
Coupe: The week of the shutdown was the first week of some of our off-season conditioning workouts. Losing summer and potentially summer league will hurt in regard to getting some rust off; however, it's the same for every school/student, so there's no clear disadvantage for any one team/school.
CG: Is it time to look at the class of rising seniors and to choose captains early to get leadership in place?
Coupe: The rising seniors will have a huge role in setting the tone for the potential season. I don't like choosing captains this early. I typically like to see who takes the lead during summer league, then who stands out during tryouts. Even then I usually wait a week or two to decide. In past years, I've chosen a few juniors as captains as well. It's not always a default senior, it's who we as coaches think is able to push, lead, and motivate their team the best.
CG: What restrictions or limitations do you see being placed on fans?
Coupe: I don't see athletes playing in a mask as an option. I think the physical exertion required would negatively impact the athletes while wearing a mask. I've been telling people all along I'm not smart enough to have a valid opinion, as these are things that are way over my head. I have eased back into more social gatherings, primarily around playing beach volleyball. If it's my first time seeing them in several weeks, I ask their comfort level; if they want to hand shake or share a hug, OK. If they're not comfortable, then I won't. It's certainly confusing as we try to navigate what's right and what's wrong, especially when there doesn't seem to be a consensus on either end.
CG: If it comes down to coach at your own risk, will you coach?
Coupe: I think I would still coach. I would try to reiterate to the players and families, it's completely up to them with what they were comfortable with. I would not force any returning players to come back or influence them in any way. If the athletes want to play and their parents approve, I would be happy to coach them.
