Winning Plays - "Shout Out"

Little things become big things. Make winning plays. pic.twitter.com/GvUWos7jYg

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) October 11, 2025

Coach Berge points out that winning plays come in different shapes. Some coaches film the bench to watch 'engagement'. 

Winning volleyball plays that get less attention:

• On court communication
• Avoiding violations (e.g. staying out of the net)
• Alertness to rotations (no errors)
• Closing the double block with anticipation, footwork, quickness
• Defenders who keep "low probability" plays alive
• Defenders who are always ready to defend during their attacks

Shout out. I noticed during yesterday's game how vigorously Adele Akland was cheering. She was making a difference although not on the floor. 

I asked ChatGPT to generate a post on subtle actions that impact winning. I highlighted a few points.  

The Hidden Game: Subtle Plays That Win Volleyball Matches

Not everything that wins matches shows up on the stat sheet. The best teams master the quiet skills — communication, positioning, poise, and restraint — that separate good from great. In volleyball, invisible work often produces visible results.

1. Communication Before Contact

Elite teams talk early.

• Call the ball loud and clear.

• Alert teammates to the hitter’s approach or coverage gap.

• Setters announce, “I’m off,” and passers echo, “Free ball.”

That constant chatter creates mental clarity. Silent teams play cautiously; talkative teams play confidently. The conversation becomes choreography.

“When we talk, we synchronize; when we’re silent, we improvise.”

2. Coverage and Anticipation

The casual fan watches the spike. The experienced coach watches the cover.

• A well-positioned cover after a blocked attack keeps a rally alive.

• Middle blockers who land balanced can re-jump or close on tips.

• Defenders who read the setter’s eyes buy their team an extra second.

Those seconds win long rallies — the plays that swing momentum.

3. Resets and Second Chances

Good teams win first-ball points. Great teams win scramble points.

• Smart setters make playable choices out of chaos — high and deep instead of desperate.

• Liberos who know when to bump-set versus overhead-save stabilize the next contact.

• A team that can “reset” under pressure demonstrates emotional control.

You don’t practice chaos for chaos’ sake — you practice to stay calm when chaos arrives.

4. Avoiding Unforced Errors

Sometimes the best play is no play at all.

• Holding your block instead of reaching into the net.

• Checking your foot on the attack line before jumping.

• Knowing the score and situation before taking a risky serve.

Volleyball’s margins are razor-thin. Avoiding violations, overlaps, and silly net contacts keeps your team’s rhythm intact. Every unnecessary error you eliminate pressures the opponent to earn every point.

5. Supporting Teammates After Mistakes

After a shanked pass or missed serve, body language can heal or harm.

• Teammates who make immediate eye contact and clap reduce shame.

• A calm “next ball” communicates trust.

• A leader who defuses tension keeps everyone in the present.

You can’t always control outcomes, but you can control emotional recovery time. Championship teams rebound fast.

6. Intelligent Transitions

The transition between defense and offense — that split second after a dig — defines volleyball IQ.

• Middles who turn quickly to load for a fast attack give setters options.

• Pin hitters who sprint off the net open space for a “back one” or pipe.

• Defenders who transition to coverage rather than admiring the dig prevent surprise blocks.

Those movements don’t make highlights, but they make sideouts.

7. Serving Strategy and Restraint

A service ace gets applause; a smart serve earns respect.

• Knowing when to aim deep or short, float or spin.

• Serving tough without chasing aces that become service errors.

• Recognizing a struggling passer and targeting her repeatedly — the silent pressure play. (Some call that "finding the fish")

Serving is offense disguised as defense. Intelligent risk beats reckless aggression.

8. Subtle Leadership

Leadership isn’t always the huddle speech. It’s often micro-actions:

• A captain who quietly straightens a younger player’s jersey or offers the towel.

• The senior who models hustle in warm-ups.

• The setter who whispers encouragement between points.

These behaviors don’t trend on social media, but they define The Standard.

9. Playing the Score

Awareness separates good players from smart players.

• Knowing when to use a tip instead of a blast at 24–23.

• Recognizing when a timeout will ice the server.

• Managing emotional energy during long sets.

Volleyball is as much about emotional rhythm as physical rhythm.

10. The Discipline of the Small

Winning isn’t about finding one big thing; it’s about doing a thousand small things right.

• Being in ready position on every point.

• Checking rotations.

• Keeping the ball off the floor one more time.

“Championships aren’t built on miracles. They’re built on moments nobody noticed.”

Closing Thought

The box score tells a story of points. The film tells a story of people — of timing, trust, and togetherness. Coaches like Scott Celli teach the visible game and the invisible one: how to communicate, how to reset, how to be unselfish.

Because in volleyball, as in life, the unseen effort makes the seen excellence possible.