Coach’s Corner Kids are so unpredictable! It was an interesting week in volleyball. I am still not sure what to expect from this season for any of the three teams four games in now.
My little ones won both of their games and did so pretty handedly. They played better than they did last week and got better as the night went on which is what makes me the happiest. Seeing the improvement happen real time is the greatest part about being a coach. They took two of their three sets in their first game and swept the second game.
It is not what I am used to seeing anymore. It is a rebuilding process, a learning process with that team for the most part right now. I have a couple kids that know what I expect of them and are trying to get everyone else on the same page. I think they’ll get there.
The team I just moved up from that level struggled a bit this week. I am not sure what got into them but none of them looked right. Balls on the floor, no talking, not as much hustling as I’m used to seeing from that team and they suffered the first loss they’ve had in that league in four seasons. They seem to have taken it pretty hard as none of them stayed after the game to talk to me and they know I always want to talk to them after the game. I took it pretty hard myself. It’s hard because six of them moved up, one of them I was not sure was actually ready to move up. Two were already on that team at that level and two are new to me completely (and are boys at that). So the two that have been there are trying to mesh with the six that moved up and the two newbies are trying to fit in all around, especially being boys.
I think that is the biggest obstacle. Practice this week, I think I will have to take the blame for the loss so it is not resting on them and apologize for being too hard on them to get them back to volleyball. I think it is time to resimplify everything for them and let them just play together. That’s how I’ve always gotten the best out of the eight kids that I know so well. I’m also afraid with them, well there’s two things I’m afraid of, one is that there are too many of them now that want to step up and be the leader so they’re not focused enough on what they need to do personally. Second, I’m afraid some of the girls that aren’t used to having boys around are a little too focused on the boys. We’ll get there. I know they can do it.
The team I took to the highest of the three divisions played well this week. They got their first win, so that was a relief and they played better every set as well, until the end at least. They are getting used to each other more now and learning how to be more active. They had the opportunity to win both games but let a couple plays go during a set and gave it away. But, they’re working and that is what matters. I saw one girl play a lot better this week – a huge improvement already. Now they’ve seen the teams, they’ve felt it and they know what is happening. I hope, going forward, that is all they needed to get there.
Overall, I think it was a good week. Each team had a lightbulb moment, whether it be teamwork, losing or growing into the game – we all were able to take that step to improvement and that is all I can ask for as a coach.
My little ones won both of their games and did so pretty handedly. They played better than they did last week and got better as the night went on which is what makes me the happiest. Seeing the improvement happen real time is the greatest part about being a coach. They took two of their three sets in their first game and swept the second game.
It is not what I am used to seeing anymore. It is a rebuilding process, a learning process with that team for the most part right now. I have a couple kids that know what I expect of them and are trying to get everyone else on the same page. I think they’ll get there.
The team I just moved up from that level struggled a bit this week. I am not sure what got into them but none of them looked right. Balls on the floor, no talking, not as much hustling as I’m used to seeing from that team and they suffered the first loss they’ve had in that league in four seasons. They seem to have taken it pretty hard as none of them stayed after the game to talk to me and they know I always want to talk to them after the game. I took it pretty hard myself. It’s hard because six of them moved up, one of them I was not sure was actually ready to move up. Two were already on that team at that level and two are new to me completely (and are boys at that). So the two that have been there are trying to mesh with the six that moved up and the two newbies are trying to fit in all around, especially being boys.
I think that is the biggest obstacle. Practice this week, I think I will have to take the blame for the loss so it is not resting on them and apologize for being too hard on them to get them back to volleyball. I think it is time to resimplify everything for them and let them just play together. That’s how I’ve always gotten the best out of the eight kids that I know so well. I’m also afraid with them, well there’s two things I’m afraid of, one is that there are too many of them now that want to step up and be the leader so they’re not focused enough on what they need to do personally. Second, I’m afraid some of the girls that aren’t used to having boys around are a little too focused on the boys. We’ll get there. I know they can do it.
The team I took to the highest of the three divisions played well this week. They got their first win, so that was a relief and they played better every set as well, until the end at least. They are getting used to each other more now and learning how to be more active. They had the opportunity to win both games but let a couple plays go during a set and gave it away. But, they’re working and that is what matters. I saw one girl play a lot better this week – a huge improvement already. Now they’ve seen the teams, they’ve felt it and they know what is happening. I hope, going forward, that is all they needed to get there.
Overall, I think it was a good week. Each team had a lightbulb moment, whether it be teamwork, losing or growing into the game – we all were able to take that step to improvement and that is all I can ask for as a coach.
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