As the Volleyball Season Winds Down

I took on the task of coaching 2 club volleyball teams this season. I'm pretty worn out (after all I'm not 20 anymore!), but I wouldn't have it any other way. My daughter's U10 team just had their last tournament and all in all it was a successful season. There were 10 8-10 year olds with a variety of skill and interest levels. Some were extremely competitive by nature, and others were happy just to be out there learning some new cheers, never aware whose ball it was or who won. The last day of practice I told them I was going to be democratic and asked them if they knew what that meant. On little girl said, "You're going to be nice?." Right out of an Art Linkletter show! (Now I'm really dating myself.) If they learn the basics of passing and serving and still want to play more volleyball at the end of the season I say it was a success.
We have one more tournament for my older daughter's U14 team. The competition is stiffer and the intensity is stronger, but they are still little girls who want to have fun playing the game. I'm tougher on myself as a coach at this level because I expect more of the players. I feel more pressure for the girls to learn and improve. There is still a variety of competitive personalities at this level. Some of the players like to be sillier with their friends and others are really trying to get better and meet the challenges of an advanced level. I have a little trouble with the silliness at this level, but I have to step back and remember that many of my players are only 12 years old. I also have to remind myself that everyone learns at a different rate and as hard as I try to teach, some may never learn my wonderful lessons. I must see the bigger picture. Are they becoming positive teammates, something they can apply throughout their lives? Are they learning to cope with the extreme highs and lows experienced in competition? Are they having a fun experience with the game of volleyball and feeling good about themselves? I need to judge their success more on these variables than on the win loss record. I hope you have all had successful seasons.

Is Your Volleyball Team Fun?

It is a constant struggle for me to coach 10-13 year olds and keep a perspective of what is going on in their brains. What drives them; why do they like to play; and how do I help them get that competitive spirit flowing through the bodies? Is it something they are just born with or can the drive to succeed be taught and developed? I'm really not sure, and I would love some feedback on this. Is it all that important in the greater scheme of life? I was so competitive that I don't understand not being that way. In coaching my daughters and their friends, I do try to understand and be positive with the player who is just having fun hitting the ball around and being with her friends. I think, however, there is a time or an age in their volleyball life when they have to have the drive to compete. After all, it is a competitive sport. The alternative would be to just play in the back yard or join a non-competitive recreation league. By high school players who don't quite measure up are cut so that their teams won't be too large to work with. Most schools don't have the gym space or coaching staff to accommodate all the players who come out for the teams. I hate to see dreams squashed and I would love all my players to have the desire, talent and work ethic to succeed to the highest level. Knowing that this isn't the way it works, I would then like to have all my players love the game of volleyball. I would like to see them play the game well enough to enjoy it throughout their lifetime. It is a game and should be fun to do. I would welcome any comments of this subject.

Cheering during a Volleyball Game

Coaches seem to encourage a variety of cheering styles from their players during a volleyball game. When starting out a group of young beginners, I believe it is important to keep the cheering emphasis on what their own team is doing, and not what the opponent is not doing. I guess I have a pet peeve about the "ace" cheer that teams do after their player has just served a ball that wasn't touched by the opponent. Coaches probably believe that it pumps up their players, but I always feel that it is a put down to the opposing team. I think cheering for a good serve by a teammate can be done in less of an "in your face" manner. Creating good sports is as critical as teaching the skills. Having opponents appreciate each other in a well fought game is as important as teaching them to be fierce competitors during the game. Teach them the value of never giving up and playing their very best for the entire game. Have them come together between each play to show their support of each other whether it was a successfull play or not. Use those moments of frayed emotions and meltdowns during a match as perfect teaching opportunities. Normally the meltdowns end up in poor focus and poor play. Anybody have a good ideas on this subject? I'd love to hear them. We coaches have to keep our heads together and our emotions controlled if our teams fall apart. Good luck to all of you.

First Tournament of the Season

The first volleyball tournament of the season is fast approaching and you have only had a few practices with your new team. You still need name tags so you can call each player by their correct name. Keep the expectations and pressure on your team low and the praises high. Encouragement and positive feedback for effort rather than focusing on skill performance is a good way to relax your team, and gives you, the coach, a chance to make notes on the areas that need work in the practices to follow. Because the team has not learned much of what you want them to learn about their roles on this new team, talk with them between each match. Pick out some of the good things they did, and have them concentrate on what they can contribute to their team to make the team better and give their teammates confidence . How can they be a good teammate? An encouraging word to a teammate who just made an error, and positive feedback throughout the game creates a supportive atmosphere within the team. Coaches, if we can teach the players how to be great teammates, the players will be open to learning and being coached. I guess it all comes back to the all important "positive attitude". Talk to players individually and in a group about what works for them during a game. They also need to get to know your style. I am constantly reminding players that when I coach them or question them about a decision they've made, it is not a personal attack. I am gathering information to help make them a better player and to make our team function more smoothly. If I feel that I have come on too strong, I will talk individually with that player to make sure they were understanding of my questions or directions. It is a two way street when you're coaching a team. Although the coach is in charge, to get the most out of your players, you need to know the best approach in communicating with each player. This is difficult, coaches, and I often have to bite my tongue and take a deep breath to consider what is the right thing to say in the heat of competition. Anyway, good luck with your first tournament. Think positive and be a good example to your team.

Setting Goals

I am just back from visiting my 30 year old son in Santa Barbara, California. He participated in the first Santa Barbara marathon and I wanted to be there to cheer him on. He came back from a broken ankle and started to train just a few short months ago. He is not a "runner", but he set a goal for himself to finish the 26.2 mile race. He not only accomplished this goal, but he broke 4 hours in the process. I am very proud of him on so many levels, and he feels proud that he stuck with it through lots of pain. He wrote a wonderful article about his experience on Noozhawk.com, an online newspaper in Santa Barbara. Check it out. Whatever goals we set for ourselves, there is a satisfaction in knowing we gave it our best effort. In dealing with volleyball teams, the goals will vary according to the age and skill level of the players. Give them small goals to work toward, and have them think of goals they would like to reach during the season. Long term goals are great. Don't discourage them from wanting to become a professional beach player or an Olympian, but have them also set some immediate goals they can accomplish this week and this season. Something like getting their serve over the net or learning the overhand serve might be great accomplishments for a beginning player. Assess where each player is starting and give them little improvements to strive for. You want short term goals to be attainable. With club season starting up, please write with any comments, suggestions or questions you want to share. Bye for now.

What to Look for in a Player

When selecting a team or forming a unit once you have already chosen your team, what elements of skill and personality are important? Over the years I have put together teams I thought would do very well based on their skills. That always turns out to be just a part of the whole picture. Great attitude and leadership are the key. A player who comes to practice everyday ready to give you and her teammates her all, is the player I want every time. I have made some bad picks, not knowing what lurks inside that player's soul. I have also made some excellent picks based on that special ingredient. For a young player to be a great leader without coming across "bossy"; that is a very positive attribute to have. Of course, we all want that great athlete who is also the strong, positive leader. I think it is more difficult to find the leader who is respected by her peers, than it is to find good athletes. Those great leaders lead by example. They practice hard and respect the coach's wishes without complaint. They don't get down on themselves or their teammates for mistakes made. They encourage other players when they make an error and they move on from their own errors. Players should definitely be taught these positive teammate skills, but it helps when they start out being receptive to your physical and mental coaching. Start hunting for those great leaders!

Preparing Muscles for Playing Volleyball

How many of you are tired of having your players run laps to warm up for practice or a game of volleyball? There are some new, exciting ways to warm up your muscles and work on agility skills that are fun for the players. According to Jesse McFarland, athletic trainer at the Sisters, Oregon Athletic Club, dynamic stretching and agility drills are the best way to prepare for the explosive game of volleyball. Jesse was selected to train the US Olympic team prior to the 2008 Bejing Olympic Games. Jesse came back with the latest information about the most efficient ways to prepare for your sport. In my upcoming book I will share the dynamic stretches and agility drills that I have used with my teams. The agility ladder, which many of the top collegiate teams are using, is a fun way to teach the players quickness and direction changes. There are many drills and patterns you can teach, and it is surprising how fast the players pick it up. Jesse did suggest that you switch up patterns of the drill to challenge the coordination of your players. There will be more to come on this subject. Lots of fun things to try!