T E A C H I N G T H E G A M E
14.
Use names when identifying the teammate you want to make the play instead of using terms like “go” and “you.” We have names for a reason, and it can do wonders with communication on the court!
Go for every ball rather than premeditating whether or not it is playable. The only way to know if a ball is unplayable is if you go all out for it and don’t get it. One great save that leads to a point may be the difference between winning and losing, so go for every ball. Make it a habit to give maximum effort every time.
– Bill Neville, national commissioner for USA Volleyball coaching education, founder of Nevillizms
11.
Stay in the moment. If a mistake happens (and it will from time to time), turn the page and pre- pare for the next play. Do not allow an error on the prior play to have an adverse effect on your ability to focus on the task at hand. A volleyball match is like a book, and each play is a page in a chapter of that book. Turn the page after each play and stay in the moment.
– Craig Dyer, assistant coach, Penn State University women’s team
12.
Remember to breathe. Breathing is the best way to calm your body down and bring your mind back to the present. When your mind starts to race or think about plays in the past, take a deep breath and think only about that breath. It will help bring you back to the present and to what matters most: how to win the next point.
– Jamie Morrison, assistant coach, U.S. Women’s National Team
13. 44 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
– Christa Dietzen, USA middle blocker, 2012 Olympic silver medalist, captain of gold-medal winning 2014 FIVB World Championship team
15.
Understand that you’re always involved in the play. When the ball gets set to the other pin hitter, I bet you 90 percent of athletes stop and watch their teammate hit the ball. Invari- ably, the hitter coverage that is most needed is that person, because the ball has a funny way of finding that side of the court. And that person isn’t in an athletic enough position to react. That’s a mistake you should never make. I tell people, ‘If you want to stand around, go stand around on the bench.’
– John Speraw, head coach, U.S. Men’s National Team and UCLA men’s team
16.
Setters: Error high rather than low when setting the middle attacker. The setter middle connection is some- thing that takes time, but, as you are working on this con- nection, it’s always important to error on the higher side. At least if the ball is a bit too high, the middle can still tip it in. If you under-set a middle, they will likely hit into the net.
– Lizzy Stemke, head coach, University of Georgia women’s team
PHOTO: PITTSBURGH
PHOTO: USAV
PHOTO: DON LIEBIG
PHOTO: DON LIEBIG
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