I decided to start a new thing. I’m gonna post a volleyball video that I like (and didn’t shoot) every Friday!
Let’s start by taking a trip to Spike Town! A collection of amazing kills from players all over the world (with some appropriate music). Sure wish I could bounce it like that.
Have a hard time moving on from that last play? You’re not the only one.
I’m watching US Team Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser lose to the Brazilians 4-10. The ref made a bogus 4 hits call and a usually cool-headed Todd Rogers overheated.
Todd can’t get his head back in the game. The announcer attributed the last 6 unforced errors to Todd’s “road rage.” And this is an Olympian. A highly skilled player deemed the “Best Defensive Player” in the FIVB. One little play has completely changed the game for the Americans.
Why am I telling you this? Because as a coach, I’ve spent at least 60% of a season coaching mental toughness. Mental toughness helps players get passed errors and poor ref calls, and win games. As the announcers keep repeating, “Todd needs to clear his head and focus on his game.” If a key player cannot get passed one error, it will snowball, just like it did with Todd Rogers.
The game just ended 10-21.
I know what you’re thinking, “If Todd Rogers can’t do it, how am I supposed to do it?” And to that I say, for one, this situation is an anomaly. Todd Rogers is a rock of a volleyball player – emotionless, strong. And, second, it’s not about how physically tough or skilled you are, it’s about your confidence, your mental toughness. Can you make an error and not dwell on it? Can the ref make a poor call and effect your entire game?
Check out this article on mental toughness. Show it to your team.
Here’s what I do: Practice drills that require your team to come back from a deficit. Put them in unfamiliar situations frequently. Help them focus on the game as a whole and not individual plays. Have teammates help build player confidence.
Oh, and in case you were wondering. Todd and Phil just came back and won the match. Making this their 9th FIVB gold medal this season (never done before). Todd’s comments, “I lost in that second match but really came back in the third. I let it go and that’s what true champions do.”
Limited time to practice ball control? Introducing four 60-second ball control drills! What’s more, they’re partner drills (my fave)!
(For the sake of time in this video, we only show either setting or passing but we have the girls do both.)
First, we’ll start with the easy one. As a pair, the girls must get as many passes/sets as they can in 60 seconds. This means low, first tempo passes and sets.
Second, the pair must get exactly 60 passes/sets in 60 seconds. This means low, first tempo. It should only be one second from each pass/set to the next.
Third, the pair must get exactly 30 passes/sets in 60 seconds. Higher, second and third tempo passes/sets in this one.
And fourth, the pair will pepper for 60 seconds. If they drop the ball at any time in the 60 seconds, they must spend the remainder of the time doing “partner pushups” on the volleyball (as seen in the video).
If your team cannot complete any of these tasks, it’s up to you if you want to have a punishment/reward system. Perhaps a little Court Fun’s?
