Coach Larochelle shadowing national teams

Nipissing Lakers women’s volleyball team head coach Marc LaRochelle got a rare opportunity recently to learn from some of the best volleyball people in the country.

LaRochelle, who will serve as an assistant coach with U-18 Team Ontario girls’ that will participate at the 2014 National Team Challenge Cup, was able to shadow both the men’s and women’s national teams at the World Championship Qualifiers in Mississuaga, Ontario.

Along with the other coaches, LaRochelle met Team Canada’s coaching staff, observed both the men’s and women’s training sessions, took part in the OVA Team Canada coaching clinic and watched a total of four matches – two women’s and two men’s – over the two days there.  On top of that, LaRochelle and the coaches joined Team Canada’s staff in team meeting’s and briefings throughout the weekend.

LaRochelle said this isn’t a chance many coaches get, so he was excited about it and was looking forward to learning from some of the top coaches in the game.

It was a busy two days for LaRochelle and company, but despite the busy schedule, the weekend will provide LaRochelle and the Team Ontario staff an insight into how the national team operates, plans and executes throughout a game-day, or in this case, back-to-back game-days.

The weekend will add to LaRochelle’s arsenal when it comes to not only assisting Team Ontario, but also preparing the Lakers as they enter their second season in the OUA.

Despite the season being a few months away still, the more information, experience and knowledge LaRochelle has, the better equipped he’ll be to lead the Lakers to success.