BECOME A SUCCESSFUL VOLLEYBALL PLAYER
- Be well-rounded:
Work on all aspects of your game. Even if you are only used as a specialty player in games, keep working to develop your weaker skills. Strive to become a better passer, digger, hitter, setter, blocker and server.
- Be a team-player:
Always put the team before yourself, root for and celebrate your teammate’s successes, bring a great attitude to the group, always try to pick your teammates up, and take accountability instead of pointing fingers.
- Play, Play, Play:
The best way to improve your game is to play…A LOT! So touch a ball as much as possible, play some sand or grass volleyball, try some wally-ball, work on your ball control by yourself or with a buddy. Bottom line, the more you play, the better you will be.
- Watch and learn:
Become a “student of the game” by watching as much volleyball as possible. You can watch high level of play on TV, or go to a live college match nearby, or even watch other people play in your league.
- Expect the ball to come to you (and want the ball):
A lot of kids miss plays because they are caught off-guard (i.e. not expecting the ball to come to them). So be ready at all times no matter what!
- Move on to the next play (fast):
Don’t dwell on something bad that just happened, get wrapped up in a great play, or get mad about a call by the ref. You need to move on to the next play fast because the next point is always the most important point.
- Practice constructive/positive interaction:
Always be positive with your words and body language, keep your cool (even if you are frustrated), and communicate with your teammates during and in between plays. Talk loud and assertively when the play is in action.
- Develop your athleticism:
You can’t expect that a 2 hour practice twice a week is enough to make you a great player. Go above and beyond and work on your speed, strength, agility, jump, explosiveness on your own time.
- Lead by example:
Once you step foot in the gym, give it 100%, 100% of the time. The great ones always out-work everybody else. And leading by example shouldn’t end in the gym. You should always strive to lead by example in all aspects of your life.
- Push your development:
Never get complacent with where you are. Take your game to the next level and try new things in practice. A lot of kids wait for the coach to give them the green light to try something new. Be pro-active and step outside of your comfort-zone during practice…after all, that’s what practice is for.
- Be open/receptive to feedback and change:
In one word, be “coachable”.
- Always have a purpose:
Never allow yourself to get caught doing something aimlessly. You want to have mindful reps, not mindless reps. For example, never just go through the motions.
- Know your opponent:
Learn your opponent’s tendencies and use that knowledge to your advantage. Does your opponent have a go-to player? Does the setter frequently throw it over on 2? Do the hitters predominately hit angle? Does a particular server always serve a certain area? Pick up these tendencies and have a game plan about how to best handle this information.
- Set obtainable goals:
You should always have short-term and long-term goals for yourself. What do you want to accomplish at your next practice, by the end of the season, or in the next couple years? You should re-evaluate these goals as time goes by to see where you are and where you want to be.
- Be competitive:
All the best players in the world, no matter the sport, have one thing in common…a competitive drive. They hate to lose and know what it takes to win. BUT, it’s crucial that you show your competitiveness in a positive manner and that you know how to bounce back quickly when you don’t come out on top.