Three Ideas Newsletter 12.10.25
Hey everyone!
The year before winning our first Big Ten Championship at Ohio State in 1989, we actually finished in sixth place in the conference. We battled hard that season—took several of the top teams to five sets—, but we didn’t have the intangibles to close out crucial sets needed in tight matches.
What made that team special, though, was their leadership and willingness to grind. They decided they were good enough to win a championship and collectively chose to pursue one. That meant committing to a tough off-season—6 a.m. lifts, running sessions, attendance in “open” gym practices, the whole deal. Standards went up, both on and off the court. And it paid off. They reached their goal and won a Big Ten championship the following season. A few of the younger players maintained that same mindset, won another title two years later, and proceeded to take Ohio State to the Final Four in 1991.
As I sit here with the NCAA transfer portal wide open, I can’t help but think about how different things feel now. So many players are putting their names out there, praising their current team and staff while walking out the door. It makes me wonder—how many teams today would fight through the kind of challenges my ’89 team did instead of leaving for an easier or more profitable situation? What is the correlation between making a team commitment to put in the work in the off-season and winning championships?
I get it—opportunities and NIL money can be tempting—but it’s sad to see players give up the grind that builds real growth. There’s something powerful shared by teammates who choose to stay, fight, and push through challenging times together. That shared process—those early morning workouts and tough matches—creates a team bond that is lasting and a kind of success that no paycheck or shortcut can replace.
**Note – I’m going to be taking a few weeks off over Christmas and the New Year holidays. I’ll be back in the first part of January.
Thanks for reading!
~Jim
Quote for the Week – “Systems are for people who care about winning repeatedly. Goals are for people who care about winning once.”~James Clear, author of Atomic Habits
Three Ideas For This Week
Idea #1 –Work on a Variety of Attacking Scenarios – There is a tendency to teach attack approaches as if every situation on the court will be the same. Budget time in your practices to work on a variety of approach angles (inside/out or outside/in) along with four-step, three-step, and two-step approaches. Three-step and two-step approaches are especially relevant when transitioning from defense to attack. Volleyball is a situational game. Practice as many situations as possible so they are prepared for the random scenarios that will occur. I detail this concept in this whiteboard. VIDEO
Idea #2 – Analysis of The Jump Serve – Since most players are using a jump float, in this video, we analyze the key concepts of the jump float serve. VIDEO
Idea #3 – Verbalizing = Understanding – In a drill situation, ask the player what they are working on. If they aren’t specific about what they are focusing on, chances are they aren’t focusing on anything. In a team environment, don’t assume that what you said will equal what they heard. I ask players to repeat back what was just presented. If a player cannot articulate their understanding of a concept, it is safe to assume they don’t understand the concept. That’s okay, but it mandates further instruction or a different method of communicating.
Video of the Week – A “down-ball” and a “free-ball” require two distinct defensive movements. Many teams treat them the same. In this video, we detail how to defend both. VIDEO
Archive Blog Post– Controlling the Controllables – There are many factors that are outside the control of the coach or team that impact winning. In this factor, we focus on what the coach can control that will impact on-court success. READ MORE
900 Square Feet- Lee Feinswog writes a great daily newsletter that focuses on all aspects of volleyball (college, club, beach, international). If you want to stay up with the daily events in our sport, this is the best resource available. To get on the mail list, hit this link. 900 Square Feet
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
To join the newsletter mailing list, visit the Jim Stone Consulting Homepage (link below).
~Jim
