Coach’s Corner
Last week was a long week of volleyball. All three of my teams had their last two games of the season before they started the tournament.
Tuesday, my little ones played first. They took all 6 sets and really looked like they were ready to run through the tournament. Wednesday, they had their first tournament game and they won that like it was nothing. That meant they moved on to Thursday for the semi-finals and, possibly, finals. They made some mistakes and lost a close first set but came back in the 2nd to force a 3rd. The 3rd set always goes faster because they only go to 15. I put our best server up first because that always sets the tones for those kinds of games. She missed. It was 8-7 when the ref made us switch sides. This league has never done that before but we went ahead. We could not get ourselves back together after that.
I was sad. That is the first time I’ve lost at that level. Granted, it was a new team because I just moved six of the girls from that team up to the next level. But, I knew those girls could do it. They had the best record in the regular season and they seemed to be feeling so ready for it. I guess we win some and lose some.
Tuesday also was my middle teams last two games. They went 1-1, played really good though. They played a tough team their second game and they hung tough, made some avoidable mistakes, didn’t get a couple bounces and that was just how it went that day.
Thursday, they played their first tournament game. The other team took us to 3 sets, which was avoidable but, the parents loved how animated I got that game. I was not happy with some of the mistakes we were making and let the players know they can’t do that if they want a chance. They buckled down after that, it was about half way through the second set after they had already dropped the first. They needed that second to be able to play the 3rd and move on. After that, they never looked back. That moved them on to Friday for the semis and hopefully finals.
Friday, they played two real close games but they couldn’t get rid of the mistakes they had been making recently and that was the difference in both sets. They dropped both sets. They’ve never dropped two in a row like that. I should have found a way to animate myself again, I realize now. I was so nervous for those games. Those were the kids I had just moved up. Those were the kids I had never lost with. Those were the kids I was trying to get ready for club.
I pulled myself together until we left. I talked to some parents and told everyone how hard they played and how good they did moving up. They were mostly 11 year olds playing against 12 and 13 year olds. Even the 12 club teams play with the softer balls and a lower net and I had these girls playing with a standard ball on a standard net and they were never scared of the moment. But I was sad. After I got outside and away from everyone, I cried. I don’t do that often, but I did. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I really want everything for those kids, they’ve all been with me for a year and a half now and I give them everything I have and just always want to give them the best. It was crazy because I expect more from them than anyone else did. Even the league directors and other coaches didn’t think they’d be able to even close to run through the league like they did and one of the league directors reffed that last game they played and was not disappointed in their play at all.
Back to Wednesday, my oldest team played their last two games. They ended up losing both again but played pretty good for them. The one player that I’d been having the most issues with really stepped up for me and at the end of the night, I talked to them about being a team.
When they came Thursday to play, I thought it was a whole different team. They talked to each other in our huddles, they told each other what they all needed to do, they had ideas and opinions and they were a team and cared and wanted it. For the first time all season, they were together, as a team and knew what they needed to do. I couldn’t have been any happier! They killed the first set. I had never seen them play so good. The 2nd set was a lot closer and they ended up losing it but they played pretty good still. The 3rd set to 15, they stepped on it and they closed hard. It was their best game BY FAR of the season. Not even close.
Their second game, they forgot how bad they wanted it. They lost BAD, it was one of their worst games of the season in that first set. And I just didn’t even know what to do to help, more or less fix it. I talked to them about it and got them refocused and the 2nd set was right up there with that first game. They played so good. They lost but they hung tough. This was a club team they were playing, experienced players and coaches coming off a club season playing together. Overall, I was very happy with how they played. A couple of them were a little disappointed but, they knew who they were by the end there and had to be happy with how far they came.
I like giving my teams every possible chance to win. It’s never been all about winning, but everyone knows it’s a little more enjoyable when you do. But, losing just makes you stronger and gives you something to learn from and gives you a reason to really look at everything. And this season, I finally realized that’s not just for the players.
The coach that took us out at my lowest level doesn’t want to coach anymore and wants her kids on my team. Not because we win, but because she likes how I coach and likes how the kids on the team play. Another parent on that level asked at the end of the season if her kid could be on my team. Not because we won. Every season people have asked to be on my team at that level and I just assumed it was because they wanted to be on the winning team. They just like how I am with the kids and like how my kids play.
After my middle team lost, parents from the team they beat us asked if they could play for me at the higher level when they come back. They’ve been watching my practices and like how I am with all the kids, not just at the games.
Even after losing, I’m getting just about all my players back, too. Even though it was the least successful season I’ve had on paper, I think, overall, I just finished my three most successful seasons. Funny how that works.
Last week was a long week of volleyball. All three of my teams had their last two games of the season before they started the tournament.
Tuesday, my little ones played first. They took all 6 sets and really looked like they were ready to run through the tournament. Wednesday, they had their first tournament game and they won that like it was nothing. That meant they moved on to Thursday for the semi-finals and, possibly, finals. They made some mistakes and lost a close first set but came back in the 2nd to force a 3rd. The 3rd set always goes faster because they only go to 15. I put our best server up first because that always sets the tones for those kinds of games. She missed. It was 8-7 when the ref made us switch sides. This league has never done that before but we went ahead. We could not get ourselves back together after that.
I was sad. That is the first time I’ve lost at that level. Granted, it was a new team because I just moved six of the girls from that team up to the next level. But, I knew those girls could do it. They had the best record in the regular season and they seemed to be feeling so ready for it. I guess we win some and lose some.
Tuesday also was my middle teams last two games. They went 1-1, played really good though. They played a tough team their second game and they hung tough, made some avoidable mistakes, didn’t get a couple bounces and that was just how it went that day.
Thursday, they played their first tournament game. The other team took us to 3 sets, which was avoidable but, the parents loved how animated I got that game. I was not happy with some of the mistakes we were making and let the players know they can’t do that if they want a chance. They buckled down after that, it was about half way through the second set after they had already dropped the first. They needed that second to be able to play the 3rd and move on. After that, they never looked back. That moved them on to Friday for the semis and hopefully finals.
Friday, they played two real close games but they couldn’t get rid of the mistakes they had been making recently and that was the difference in both sets. They dropped both sets. They’ve never dropped two in a row like that. I should have found a way to animate myself again, I realize now. I was so nervous for those games. Those were the kids I had just moved up. Those were the kids I had never lost with. Those were the kids I was trying to get ready for club.
I pulled myself together until we left. I talked to some parents and told everyone how hard they played and how good they did moving up. They were mostly 11 year olds playing against 12 and 13 year olds. Even the 12 club teams play with the softer balls and a lower net and I had these girls playing with a standard ball on a standard net and they were never scared of the moment. But I was sad. After I got outside and away from everyone, I cried. I don’t do that often, but I did. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I really want everything for those kids, they’ve all been with me for a year and a half now and I give them everything I have and just always want to give them the best. It was crazy because I expect more from them than anyone else did. Even the league directors and other coaches didn’t think they’d be able to even close to run through the league like they did and one of the league directors reffed that last game they played and was not disappointed in their play at all.
Back to Wednesday, my oldest team played their last two games. They ended up losing both again but played pretty good for them. The one player that I’d been having the most issues with really stepped up for me and at the end of the night, I talked to them about being a team.
When they came Thursday to play, I thought it was a whole different team. They talked to each other in our huddles, they told each other what they all needed to do, they had ideas and opinions and they were a team and cared and wanted it. For the first time all season, they were together, as a team and knew what they needed to do. I couldn’t have been any happier! They killed the first set. I had never seen them play so good. The 2nd set was a lot closer and they ended up losing it but they played pretty good still. The 3rd set to 15, they stepped on it and they closed hard. It was their best game BY FAR of the season. Not even close.
Their second game, they forgot how bad they wanted it. They lost BAD, it was one of their worst games of the season in that first set. And I just didn’t even know what to do to help, more or less fix it. I talked to them about it and got them refocused and the 2nd set was right up there with that first game. They played so good. They lost but they hung tough. This was a club team they were playing, experienced players and coaches coming off a club season playing together. Overall, I was very happy with how they played. A couple of them were a little disappointed but, they knew who they were by the end there and had to be happy with how far they came.
I like giving my teams every possible chance to win. It’s never been all about winning, but everyone knows it’s a little more enjoyable when you do. But, losing just makes you stronger and gives you something to learn from and gives you a reason to really look at everything. And this season, I finally realized that’s not just for the players.
The coach that took us out at my lowest level doesn’t want to coach anymore and wants her kids on my team. Not because we win, but because she likes how I coach and likes how the kids on the team play. Another parent on that level asked at the end of the season if her kid could be on my team. Not because we won. Every season people have asked to be on my team at that level and I just assumed it was because they wanted to be on the winning team. They just like how I am with the kids and like how my kids play.
After my middle team lost, parents from the team they beat us asked if they could play for me at the higher level when they come back. They’ve been watching my practices and like how I am with all the kids, not just at the games.
Even after losing, I’m getting just about all my players back, too. Even though it was the least successful season I’ve had on paper, I think, overall, I just finished my three most successful seasons. Funny how that works.