Perhaps because of easy access to social media and blogging apps, there’s a greater volume of material on volleyball coaching being published than ever before. It is generated by people around the world, some of them Volleyball Development Camps coaches. Currently the hot topics seem to be concerned with innovative training methods and new philosophical approaches to coaching our sport.
Sifting through the material can be pretty time-consuming, and time can be hard to come by. But some items in this homework exercise for coaches are very good and definitely worth the time required to find them, view them, consider the message and, if relevant, to put their advice into practice. Some are real gems to memorise and keep close to hand.
It seems most of the material is dedicated to helping coaches be better at their job. In comparison, aside from the tutorials on playing technique, there doesn’t seem to be the same volume of advice on how athletes can be better at their job. Of course, it all starts with attitude and commitment – and since no one would disagree with such an obvious thing maybe that’s why relatively little is written about it.
But it does all have to start somewhere, even for the youngest athlete. Perhaps with self-discipline.
A recently uncovered gem is an essay called “Is Your Athlete Not Getting Playing Time? 10 things they can do that require zero talent”, in which a former NCAA D1 volleyball athlete-turned-coach examines how young volleyball players start the process of growing into adulthood through club participation. Pointing out that coaching seems to be most effective when athletes are proactive in their contribution to the coach-athlete relationship, it listed behavioural traits that make for the type of athlete coaches dream about. And those traits are founded on, guess what? Self-discipline, a positive attitude, and commitment.
These Ten Commandments of becoming a good volleyball athlete are:
- Be on time
- Adopt a strong work ethic
- Make an effort
- Control your body language
- Keep a high level of energy
- Display a positive attitude
- Show passion for the sport
- Be coachable
- Do extra
- Be prepared
Wow. Of course. It’s just so obvious…
Some VbDC coaches are impressively devoted to digesting as much information about our sport as they possibly can. As a result, new thinking is always being introduced to our programmes. Some of what they bring is amazingly creative and some remains true to the more traditional styles of coaching. That’s OK, there’s a place for every methodology; what matters most is that it is effective and helps the athlete perform to the best of their ability. The important thing to remember here is that whatever philosophy a coach follows, whether it’s old school or ultra-modern, the various formulas for success always start with the athlete, and to a large degree it depends on how well they follow those Ten Commandments.
These characteristics so desired in a young athlete by their coaches require parental guidance, especially in the early years of an athlete’s career. The athlete gradually, steadily, needs to learn how to apply them to their own lifestyle, with their coaches and in the companionship of their teammates – independently and without excessive parental intervention. It can be a tall order for parents to step back, but if those Ten Commandments are imprinted into a youngster’s behaviour that’s a solid start, and under a good coach’s tutoring the athlete will begin to develop.
Bob Pickens, VbDC staff
