A checklist for the end of Club season
Your club season is or will be coming to an end very soon. Hopefully it was filled with hours of competition, laughs, and fun. Just as quickly as the club season comes, it seems to fade away equally as fast. The end of the season can bring on many different emotions in players and families. Here a great list of things to do as your season comes to a close:
- Thank your coaches -Take a few minutes to draft a note to the coaches who spent countless hours in the gym with you this season. Whether you loved them or didn’t, try to be grateful for their commitment to you. Be specific about what you appreciated about their coaching style. Think about what they taught you, how they helped you improve, or an accomplishment they helped you reach. Reach out and make sure they understand you appreciate them. While a hug, text, message, or call are all great, a handwritten note will mean the most!
- Reflect –After your final event or practice, while still fresh in your mind, take 10-15 minutes to think about the season with your club team. Do alone or with a parent. Ask yourself these questions:
How did you improve on offense and defense?
Were you satisfied with your playing time? What could you have done to increase it?
What tournament was your best performance? What contributed to it?
What did you like or dislike about the club/team? Will you play for them again?
- Set Goals –Have an honest conversation with your self, family or even your coaches about what you need to improve on. Find a focus, for example – defense or serving. Look for ways to improve in this area: online videos, private lessons, camps, etc. Set goals for the upcoming year. Make sure your goal is measurable, specific and attainable. Write it down and post in your room, bathroom, locker, sports bag and anywhere else you see all day long! Next, get out there and put in work so that your goals can be met!
- Thank your parents -This thank you definitely needs to be handwritten on a note or in a card. Think of all the money your parents spent on your season (dues, shoes, fan-gear, hotels, food, etc.) Show them you appreciate their efforts taking care of the financial side of things. Likewise, put into words how they supported you emotionally this year. A few sentences will mean so much to your parents who likely love watching you as much as you love playing.
- Reach out to your high school team -Sometimes relationships with coaches and teammates are strained when playing for a different club or with new teammates. Let these people know you are just as excited for the upcoming high school season. Take an active role in preparing for the season.
- Strength Train –While you are technically in the “off season”, find a program you can do during the summer that will increase your physical strength and speed. Use the next several weeks to build your vertical, strengthen serve, or increase arm speed. Try to go into the season already in shape. That way, when the other teams are conditioning, you will be ready to start on skills and team building.
- Give Back -Now that you have some down time, find some opportunity to give back to other athletes. This could mean helping out at an open gym or volunteering for Volleytots and summer camps. Stepping into the role of a coach and leader will give you a different perspective and possibly help you understand the game better. Another great to give back is by donating your “old” club sweatshirts (that don’t fit anymore) to new incoming players. Of if you have old spandex, shoes, gym bags etc. We all know how expensive it is to look the part of a volleyball player so if you have extras that you don’t use, reach out to coaches or club directors about letting someone else use them!
- Refresh -Maybe the season didn’t go the way you wanted or your team didn’t perform well enough to extend the season. No matter what, take some time to step away from the court and regroup. Spend time with friends who don’t play volleyball, put in extra effort at school, spend more time with siblings. A little time away will help you remember why you love the sport the way you do and will give you new life when you step back into it!