Is Joy-Sticking a Problem in Club Volleyball?
Volleyball is a sport about strategy. Where are the open spots on defense? What are your opponent’s attacking tendencies? Who are the weakest blockers? Each game requires a different strategy in what type of tempo, offense, and defense you run.…
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Continue ReadingVolleyball is a sport about strategy. Where are the open spots on defense? What are your opponent’s attacking tendencies? Who are the weakest blockers? Each game requires a different strategy in what type of tempo, offense, and defense you run. Understanding the game and your opponent is what sets apart good teams from the great. Great players are able to read the opponent attackers, take quick glances before contacting the ball to see what is open on the other side of the net, and communicate this information to their teammates all within a matter of seconds. However, this strategic approach to the game is difficult to master and often requires years of experience to acquire the skill. This is where the coach comes in. From the sidelines, it is easy to spot opponent weaknesses and openings on the other side of the court. Because of this, coaches can make the easy mistake of making decisions for their players instead of letting them control the game.
I ran across this article a while ago and thought it was an interesting read for parents, players, coaches, and others who are involved in club sports.
https://www.stack.com/a/what-is-joysticking-the-coaching-tactic-killing-youth-sports
The article discussed the problematic act of over-coaching and micromanaging players. In college, players are expected to be smart, ball-control players who can make a play. Ball-control is easy to acquire through years of repetition and practice, however, having a high IQ and knowledge of the game to make decisions can only be improved through experience in game-time situations. You learn from your mistakes. For example, if a setter decides to set the third option hitter against a big blocking match-up on game point and she gets blocked, the setter will learn from her mistake and know not to make that costly decision in the future. However, if the coach is constantly making decisions for the setter on the sidelines saying, “Set so-and-so!” or “Dump the next ball!” the setter will never learn or understand why she is making those decisions. She is simply a robot on the court, with her coach performing through her.
Of course, there is a happy medium. Coaches, especially at younger levels, should not simply sit back and watch an entire set without saying a word. Players require constructive feedback in order to improve. What players need more than anything is communication from their coach that allows them to UNDERSTAND the game and what decisions to make when. Put your players in tough decision-making situations in practice, so when it comes game-time, your players are prepared to make the right decision with confidence. Make sure you are speaking in a lingo that your players understand and if they don’t, open the lines of communication so you can have one-on-one conversations with your athlete. Speaking as a former club athlete and current college athlete, nothing is worse on a player’s mental confidence than lack of communication between the coach and player.
What do you think? Do you think joy-sticking prevalent in club volleyball? And will it pose future implications to these athletes once they enter elite-level play in college?