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.