AS part of the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association’s preparations for the Pacific Mini Games that will be held in June next year, it invited Guam coach Mike Rabago to conduct a coaching development session Friday at the Agape Christian School gym.
Back in 2019, NMIVA received a Federation Internationale de Volleyball national team coaching development grant with a plan of execution in 2020.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the implementation of the grant last year.
“When our new NMIVA board came in, we got the ball rolling to get it going again,” NMIVA president Somia Quan said.
“The coaching clinic on Friday was just a way to get Coach Mike familiar with some of the men’s national team players as well as the volleyball coaches here, see where our playing level and coaching capacity is, and build a plan from there.”
Quan said “the ultimate goal for our partnership with Mike is to produce national team coaches for beach volleyball in the Pacific Mini Games and beach volleyball and indoor volleyball for the Micronesian Games; but if it also helps our other coaches at various volleyball development stages receive more knowledge and resources, even better!”
Rabago shared tips with middle school/high school coaches along with drills and strategies that involved the participation of the CNMI’s former men’s national team members and other volleyball players.
These coaching tools and techniques could also be implemented at the middle school and high school levels, Rabago said.
NMIVA board member Shawn Davis said Rabago’s coaching methods are something not to be taken lightly, adding that his intense practice sessions are what the CNMI needs in order to compete in the Pacific Mini Games.
“I’m here to touch base with the coaches and players,” Rabago said, adding that it is important to prepare for the Pacific Mini Games.
He said the drills he ran on Friday included loud music in the background to mimic the noise of the crowd so that players and coaches can get used to background noise while playing.
Asked about the CNMI volleyball players, Rabago said: “I’m glad that they are young. But I have not had a chance to watch a six-on-six match so I don’t know the total expectation of what their caliber is really at. I’m throwing something brand-new at them, and it’s going to break them or make them better.”
Rabago’s contract is the first step in a multi-phase coaching development plan with NMIVA.
He is an FIVB Level III certified coach and an Oceania Sports Education Master Educator. He is also an Honor Graduate of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s International Coaching Enrichment Certification Program.
To prepare for the Pacific Mini Games, Quan said “the first step is to get a coach, and we hope to have a few come out of this partnership with Mike.”
She said NMIVA is also starting to host island tournaments, the first of which is a 4×4 co-ed grass tournament in May.
“The idea is just to get the athletes out there again and playing. We’re hoping to have various tournaments for the rest of the year, shooting for at least one NMIVA-affiliated tournament per month,” Quan said.
“Once we get the coaches, it will be up to them to determine how they want to select their teams. NMIVA will be there to provide the support both equipment-wise and logistically for them to get it done, but usually beach volleyball teams are selected by hosting qualifying tournaments.”
Because NMIVA does not have an official court, Quan said they usually practice at Fiesta Resort & Spa or at the Agape Christian School gym.
A grassroots program for the middle school and high school volleyball leagues is among NMIVA’s priorities, Quan said.
“Grass roots programs are significant because they are often the first exposure of volleyball that young individuals will have if there isn’t someone in their household that is a volleyball lover. The introduction of the sport for a youngster is usually at the foundational level and primarily recreational. Also, these grassroots programs tend to get people who are not normally volleyball players somehow involved, whether it’s running the tournament boards or becoming an official.”
For individuals who are interested in coaching beach volleyball for the Pacific Mini Games and indoor volleyball for the Micronesian Games, contact NMIVA at [email protected]
Coach Mike Rabago shares a few words with players during the coach development event held Friday at the Agape Christian School gym.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
Coach Mike Rabago, left standing, poses with current and former CNMI men’s national team players, coaches and other volleyball enthusiasts.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
