Coaching
Addressing Athlete Burnout
Burnout is a word we are all familiar with. The number of times the word is tossed around, you’d think it would have a definitive meaning. Burnout is a “catch-all” term indicative of other issues that cause unhappiness.
Read MoreYou Need More Than Facts to Change My Mind!
Why are coaches so resistant to experimenting with new methods that might result in a modification of current beliefs? The uncomplicated answer is a lack of knowledge. Lack of knowledge may have merit in a small percentage of cases. However, what I see more often is that coaches are so ingrained in their methods and so comfortable with their practice format that they become resistant to change, regardless of easily accessible and more productive methods being available at their fingertips.
Read MoreMind Map Your Practice For Improved Organization and Learning
Coaches of all levels might consider using mind maps to maximize their potential to focus players and coaches on specific aspects of a practice activity. Mind maps have significant potential to assist in organizing practice activities, involve the players in establishing a cognitive path (or map) for improvement, and provide a greater understanding of the components of quality skill execution and team play.
Read MoreThinking About Feedback
Coaches tend to rely solely on verbal feedback, but one could argue that verbal communication is not the most reliable form of feedback. Words can be easily misconstrued. Experimenting with new feedback methods merely requires the coach to possess an adventurous spirit and a willingness to try new things.
Read MorePractice Like Skateboarders
On a recent sunny, warm day in Fort Collins, I sat for an hour watching a crew of skateboarders doing their thing at a local park. They were all stretching their limits, trying new skills, helping one another with tips, and were focused on performing cool stuff. I wondered, “why can’t volleyball players practice like this.”
Read MoreHow Might Coaches Benefit From Reflexivity?
The word for the day is reflexivity, defined as “someone being able to examine their own feelings, reactions, and motives and how these influence what they do or think in a situation.”
Read MoreOctober Newsletter
Quote for the Week: “You can’t solve a problem from the level of thinking that created the problem in the first place. “ ~Albert Einstein
Read MoreTeaching Your Players to Read and React
From early ages, through national team play, the game is being played with increased serve and attack velocities, accelerated blocker movement, and sophisticated offensive and defensive systems. The ability to “read” events becomes more important as the game’s speed accelerates, underscoring the need for improved recognition and anticipation abilities.
Read MoreThe Value of a Serious, Thoughtful Coaching Philosophy
Looking back, I did not realize how unprepared I was for what lay ahead. Despite this relative unpreparedness, I found myself at the University of Wyoming, coaching players who were only a few years younger than me. I’m thankful I was not asked to articulate my coaching philosophy during the job interview. As I began my career, possessing a well-constructed coaching philosophy wasn’t on my radar.
Read MoreControlling the Uncontrollable
Usually, when discussing the factors that might impact winning, the focus becomes a selected metric of importance, such as the number of kills per set or errors per set. These statistical items are undoubtedly significant and do impact winning. However, neither coaches nor players are in total control of on-court success. Here are a few…
Read More