Coach Profile- Coach Bal, Assistant Coach U18

Coach Bal the Track & Field sprinter

Coach Bal the Volleyball Player

We dove into some "get to know Bal" questions and here is what we learned! 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given or received as a coach?
The best piece of advice I was ever given and often share with athletes is just to be coachable. Everyone is going to get all the messages from tons of different coaches in their lifetime, but always being able to take feedback and adapt it is how you will continue to grow at anything you do. This goes for us as coaches and parents too!!

What’s one skill or drill you think every athlete should master?
Every athlete should master the ability to move on from what’s already happened and in the past. We never will become masters at anything and there’s always something to learn from. 

Do you have a favourite coaching memory or proudest moment with a team?
Every year I think we add a little bit more to the memories and pride we have with our teams. But a fun memory was our first year at SVC, we didn’t win much but when we got our first set win the girls were so excited and really built a foundation for growth and success. We are now a mid pack Div2 team which is so great for such a new club with kids who mostly didn’t start playing until about the time we started SVC. 

Who was your most influential coach or teammate when you were younger?
Hands down, the reason I coach, Mrs. Pat Marsh. She dedicated her life to everything we did in sports. She volunteered every year for Grad, even through the years her kids weren’t graduating. She taught us through her passion and action through sport, mainly Track and Field. That’s what got me into coaching Track and Field, but when SVC started I knew I needed to be inside coaching, not outside. 

What’s your go-to hype song or pre-game ritual?
I’d have to go to my old school roots here. I love all music, but what got me/my team going was some old Metallica. 

What was your favourite subject (or least favourite!) in high school?
My favourite subjects were anything to do with Math. 

Did you play other sports besides volleyball?
Growing up in the North, everyone played hockey. I didn't because that was way too expensive, so we found sports that didn’t have such a big expense. I played volleyball, basketball, and did track and field mostly. 

Share a funny or embarrassing sports moment from when you were a teen.
The year I played college volleyball in Kamloops, I rolled my ankle pretty bad, and when I got further into recovery, I served thousands of balls through practices. We were at a tournament in Alberta and I got subbed in to serve because I had perfected my float serving. I got in, went through my usual serving routine, tossed up to serve and totally flubbed it. I think the ball barely made it to the attack line. I’m sure no one else remembers it but I sure did. 

If we opened your high school yearbook, what superlative would you have wanted to win? (most likely to...) 
For sure it would have been "Most likely to coach sports as an adult"

What’s your biggest success or accomplishment outside of volleyball?
4x100 (anchor leg) 1988 BC Summer Games Bronze or BC Provincials Sr Boys Javelin BC 6th

If you could instantly learn any new skill (sports or not), what would it be?
Hockey. I’d learn to play hockey. I know the sport but didn’t play it. 

What’s one thing your players might be surprised to learn about you?
Athletically: I used to be able to touch the top of the shooting box above the basketball hoop.
Non athletic: I can type 120+ WPM

Do you have a motto or favorite quote you live by
Live the life you love. 
Love the life you live. 

If you could challenge your team to a non-volleyball competition (like karaoke, trivia, or board games), what would you choose?
Lifting heavy stuff! Otherwise they’d smash me at everything 

Find Bal's Coaching picture and bio, along with our other amazing coaches by clicking here!