About Dick Powers Volleyball
Dick Powers has 50 years of successful experience in playing, teaching, training, and coaching student/athletes from collegiate to elementary school ages.
As a member of the Men's Volleyball Team at Ball State
University, Powers developed a unique, in-depth knowledge and understanding of the very specific movements that make this sport special.
Powers began teaching volleyball in his freshman year at Ball State when being asked to teach a "power volleyball" class in late 1971.
Known for his unique Skill Isolation System of training in the sport, Coach Powers has trained over 20,000 athletes and hundreds of coaches. His exclusive training for young athletes focuses on the distinct biomechanical movements that allow any player to experience success and confidence at any level.
In his one-of-a-kind style, Coach Powers trains the body and the mind and creates an intense, fast-paced and fun learning environment for anyone ready to understand how good they can really be...with the right training.
How Dick Powers became "Powers"
and
How a Farm Kid from East of Angola, Indiana Learned How to Play Volleyball in Four Months - at Age 18
In the fall of 1971, "Powers" saw his first glimpse of Division I politics in baseball at Ball State University and decided, "What the heck." "I have a tuition scholarship for academics, don't have to play ball for it, and want to do something at Ball State other than going to class.
Powers knew of Ball State Men's Volleyball due to conversations with former players, Larry Duncan and Mick Haley.
In October of 1971, Dick Powers, knocked on Dr. Shondell's office door in "Men's Gymnasium'" in the Men's Athletic Department (Pre Title IX) and asked the man sitting at the desk if he was Coach Shondell. During this initial meeting with Dr. Shondell, Dick Powers became *"Powers."
When Dr. Shondell asked Dick Powers in this first meeting if he knew how to play volleyball and had he ever played, "Powers" answered, "No."
"Powers" as Dr. Shondell still calls him (none of the Ball State Men's Volleyball Program's members have first names - to this day) he was told what he could expect.
Beginning Winter Quarter 1971-72 Powers was provided the opportunities to learn how to play volleyball and how to play on a volleyball team through daily warm-ups before practices with "All Americans," detailed and specific instructions in how to anticipate, move, and skillfully play a volleyball and how to play on a volleyball team.
There were also many hours of additional practice time spent by Powers trying to learn this new and challenging sport.
In early December of 1971, “Powers” had enrolled in a P. E. class, Power Volleyball. He thought that might be a good idea - since he didn’t really know how to play volleyball and with 65 guys trying out for the Men’s Volleyball Freshman Training Team and only 18 to be kept three months later, Powers thought it might help him “make it.”
Within the first month of the P. E. class, Instructor Freeman made Powers a deal that - if "Powers" would teach the class, Instructor Freeman would give "Powers" an "A" in the class.
"Powers" got the "A,"and during the next four years, he went on to learn a lot about performance, teaching, learning, art, music, math, nutrition, physiology, language arts, volleyball, confidence, and success. Powers even got to study Open Education in England during his junior year.
In March of 1972 as the Freshman Ball State Men’s Volleyball Team walked into the old St. John's Arena at Ohio State with a starting Primary Passer and Left Side Attacker named "Powers" – he thought this volleyball thing was "OK" and "Y E S !" began...
About Coach Powers
What others say...
"As a shy, unconfident 8th grader, I first walked into Dick Powers' classroom. As a senior in high school, I walked out a confident, outgoing leader. Dick Powers has taught me more about volleyball and life in the few years I have trained with him than any previous coach I have had. He provides a learning environment that is appropriate for high level training."
