The Power of Good knows no bounds!

I got an e-mail today, and I really wanted to share it with you here on the blog.  It was from Jaime's Aunt Dayna, who is Head Women's Basketball Coach at Cornell University.  It is testament to how powerful the good in our world is, so powerful that it continues after we're gone.  

#EllenonEllen

The students at the Kiski Area Intermediate School produced a terrific video about our story, and the #EllenonEllen movement.  It is an honor to share it here on our blog!  Please watch it, rate it and share it with as many people as you can.  When Ellen is well she will be ready to tell the world our inspiring story!

http://whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com/vote-entry/598#.UWqCbcr74B4.twitter

Keep Coach Ellen Toy in your prayers, as she recovers from her latest surgery.

Thanks,

Tim

An Admirable Angel

Ellen Toy is more than a coach to me; she is someone who I admire. I remember when I first met her in 7^th grade volleyball, I was scared of her. I did everything that I could to not mess up in front of her. Once I got a chance to talk to her during practice, I found out that I had no reason to be scared.

Coaches Manual. The rest of the Story...

After I finished "There's Nothing in The Coaches Manual", I was really prepared to move forward, maybe do a few more "Guest Blogger" spots and write something positive about what we've been through.  It was time.  Our team has been surrounded by sadness for far to long.  Ellen and I talked about how we needed to find positive forces and images to help all of us back onto the court.

One of the ideas we came up with was a "celebration song" kind of like "Sweet Caroline" after the third quarter at Pitt games.  We felt like, win or lose, this coming season we needed to recognize the one important lesson we came away with was everyday is a gift that deserves celebration!  

The next thing to do was...

There's Nothing in the Coaches Manual on this...

About a year ago, a package arrived in the mail for Ellen.  It was a gift from a former player, Jennifer McDowell.  Jenny has made volleyball her life.  After graduating from Plum High School,( and winning the PA state championship in her senior season) Jenny went on to play all four years at the University of Georgia, then Assistant Coach under her Head Coach at Georgia, Sid Feldman.  She accepted the Head Coaching job at Emory University in Atlanta in 1996.  In 16 seasons she has compiled a record of 512-128!  The gift made Ellen very proud!  It was Jenny's first book, a book of creative and competitive volleyball drills.  It would add more weight to the already bulky book bag Ellen carries to practice everyday.  Her backpack is filled with other drill books and handouts from clinics and camps she has attended.  She has made a habit of keeping as much of this accumulated information as that blue book bag can hold.  It must weigh 35lbs!  Add to that the experience gained by someone who has been coaching high school volleyball for 30 years.  Ellen has come up with a few innovations of her own, notably the "Setter's Box" employed to stop Kristy O'Hara from dropping her hands to her sides before and after setting, and the "Wrist Fusion" taping Jordan King's hands together, preventing her from playing balls with one hand.  Both of these inventions worked!  It would seem, Ellen had all the answers.

Pioneer Sideline's Feature on Jam the Gym

Point Park's Pioneer Sideline did a feature on Jam the Gym.  Matt Desmond  and his crew did a great job capturing the emotion of the evening.  http://vimeo.com/50436666

DVE Rocks Jam the Gym

The DVE Morning Show has been a terrific supporter of both Jammin' with Jaime and Jam the Gym.  Here they are striking the pose in their Jaime Strong Tee-shirts.  Many thanks to Randy Baumann and Jess Levo for all they have done!