How to Prepare for Club Season
It’s hard to believe that it is that time of year again! With the conclusion of high school seasons, the commencement of club volleyball is right around the corner! Make the most of your club season by following these steps:
Write out your goals
This may sound silly, but writing out your goals makes a huge difference in improving your game. By physically jotting down what you hope to accomplish, whether it’s team or individual based, you are setting yourself up for success. Professional athletes do this all the time, in fact, many of them do it before every practice!
Organize your schedule
Organization is key for high level athletes with their many demands and responsibilities. Learning this skill will help you become better adapted to what college athletics will require if you want to compete collegiately. Being a dedicated student-athlete is a job in itself. Schedule out your week in advance including times to stretch, re-fuel, rest, balance schoolwork, complete individual workouts, put time into the recruiting process, and hang with friends. Maintaining a healthy balance of athletics, academic, sleep, and a social life is essential to your mental health. This is especially important if you are a multi-sport athlete.
Put in extra time
This is where writing down your goals and organizing your schedule come into play. Schedule some extra time to work on a specific skill that you wish to improve on a weekly basis. If you want to have a stellar season, commit to put in extra training time, whether it be by yourself, with a parent, or individual session with your coach. In addition to fine-tuning your technique, the extra reps may also catch a coach’s eye by proving your dedication to the sport. Another great way to improve your game that often gets over-looked is hitting the weight room. Focus on exercises that will strengthen your core, shoulders, and knees to avoid injury and improve your game.
Make changes in your diet
Dieting is not the answer, but making a life style change to your eating habits can not only make you feel better, but put you ahead of your competition. Experiment, research, and find what foods make your body feel at its best, because everyone is different!
Get ahead on the recruiting timeline
It’s never too early to start the recruiting process. Whether you are in middle school or your senior year of high school, if you have any desire to play collegiately, get your name out there! Recruiting can be a complex process, but this link will help break down the steps to getting started: https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball/how-to-get-recruited
The best piece of advice I can give is to EMAIL COLLEGE COACHES! Email as many as you can and as often as you can. Networking and promoting yourself is key to making you stand-out. Include general information about you, why you are interested in their program, list your club tournament schedule and include a link to video of you playing.