JUNIORS JOURNAL Difficult is good It can be frustrating to work on things that you
don’t do well, but the struggle is worth it by Jaimee Rindy
F
or young athletes growing up in a world of glamorized sports, where competition is taught at a very
young age, it’s easy to get caught up in the medals and the trophies. And if you are anything like me, the pressure to be the best can be equally intimidating as thrill- ing. So in the moments where the losses keep adding up and the successes are sparse, what can we as players do? Over the years, I’ve found that the most frustrating moments in volleyball have yielded the greatest results. It’s best to be uncomfortable, always learning and trying new things, even if they are difficult or different.
Looking for a volleyball camp this summer?
It’s easy. Just check out Pages 60-65 of this issue of Volleyball USA for the Volleyball Camp Guide or go to
volleyballcampguide.com for a complete list of the summer’s best camps. It’s easy as a couple of clicks to register before the rush.
I remember one of my first years play- ing club. I had a coach tell me to go up with two hands when I was attempting to play any ball at the net. I was frustrated because it was much easier to go up with one hand, as it allowed for more coordina- tion. But I was determined to do it right because volleyball was important to me and I was committed to being the best player I could be. I’m really glad I listened to my coach because it allowed me to be a great blocker down the road. It wasn’t easy at the time, and I certainly wasn’t successful early on, but I stayed commit- ted to it. As a result, blocking and net play is the greatest element of my game. It’s important to keep working on the technique that you’ve learned if you want to be successful down the road. Rather than worrying about the success of a skill at the moment, think about what it will mean in the future to master that skill. Even if you don’t get it perfect right away and it seems like the technique is failing, you need to trust what your coaches have taught you. As you grow into the sport and the skill, that technique will play a large role in your success. Not only will you be training your body to perform the skills correctly, you will be preventing the dif- ficult task of getting rid of bad habits. For young teams, it’s very easy to win games by just getting the ball over the net
and forcing the other team to make mistakes. But this method doesn’t have the end goals in mind. Players who learn to pass, set and attack
properly at a young age are much more successful later on.
Those skills are difficult to learn and don’t often result in wins at first, and that can be frustrating. But players who stay commit- ted to good fundamentals and techniques are the ones who will win major tourna- ments in their 16s and 17s years. This is a prime example of how sticking to the skills will always turn out better than just taking the easy route for the sake of a win. Of course, some skills take longer than others to master. Even things as simple as keeping your hand high on an attack or not swinging your arms when you pass may take time to fix, but they will get fixed – as long as you are determined to fix them. It’s really amazing to watch your own progression and growth as a vol- leyball player. It reminds you that playing the game will always matter more than a single win. Though no one wants to lose, truly successful players will turn losses into learning experiences. Those are the players who have a true goal in mind and see beyond the current match or even the current season.
Remember that your coaches want you to be successful and they are giving you the necessary tools to do just that. Trust what they are telling you, trust the tech- nique. The wins will come. Until then, just enjoy the game and the experience.
Jaimee Rindy is a senior at Eagle Val- ley High in Gypsum, Colo. She plays for Colorado United Volleyball Club, mostly as a middle blocker but sometimes as an opposite. Her blog appears in every issue of VolleyballUSA.
“Though no one wants to lose, truly successful players will turn losses into learning experiences.”
26 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
volleyballcampguide.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76