Develop tools of your trade and become an architect of excellence.
See the Game
"Dig, set, spike" morphed into "Pass, set, hit." What is your responsibility in that context? Are you a DS whose main job is passing - to initiate the sequence or "set" an out-of-system attack? Or are you a hitter who must read the set, read the defense, and execute one of many types of attack?
Control Your Emotions
Excellent players channel excitement and enthusiasm into controlled action. Learn to bring the "right" amount of activation to play. Every elite Melrose athlete learned emotional activation and regulation.
ChatGPT Plus generates both text and graphics to illustrate the relationships among different "arousal" levels and performance.
🏐 Arousal & Performance in Volleyball (Inverted-U Applied)
LEFT SIDE: 🔵 Low Arousal (Flat / Passive)
What it looks like in volleyball
Late to close block
Slow transition off the net
Casual serve receive platform
No talk, no eye contact
“Hope the ball comes to someone else”
Language athletes use
“I feel tired.”
“We just don’t have energy.”
Coaching lever
Increase intensity: short competitive drill
Force first-contact accountability
Use quick scoring games to create urgency
PEAK: 🟢 Optimal Arousal (Calm Intensity)
What it looks like
Quick read on hitter’s shoulder
Balanced block footwork
Aggressive but controlled serving
Clear, early communication
After an error: quick reset, next ball
Language athletes use
“I’m locked in.”
“The game feels slow.”
This is your “calm fire.” High energy. Low noise.
Comment: Even within the "optimal activation" zone, there are levels. Someone like Dr. Victoria Crovo was "fire" and another player like Elena Soukos was "ice."
RIGHT SIDE: 🔴 Over-Arousal (Tight / Rushed)
What it looks like
Service errors long
Net violations from tension
Over-penetrating block
Wild swings out of system
Emotional swings after mistakes
Language athletes use
“Don’t miss.”
“I can’t mess this up.”
Muscles tighten. Vision narrows. Timing suffers.
Comment: For athletes who trend toward "overactivation" tools like mindfulness (stop and take a breath) and softer music choices before games can help.
🏐 Task-Specific Nuance (Important for You as a Coach)
Different volleyball skills have different optimal arousal zones:
| Skill | Optimal Arousal |
|---|---|
| Serving | Moderate–Low |
| Serve Receive | Moderate |
| Setting | Moderate–Low |
| Blocking | Moderate–High |
| Transition Attack | Moderate–High |
A libero’s peak zone may look different than a middle blocker’s.
Athleticism
Athleticism links skill, strategy, and emotion. Every exceptional MVB player is an excellent athlete. Motivation and competitive character are necessary but insufficient.
Bo Jackson was an All-Star in both pro football and baseball. In high school, someone suggested he should try decathlon. He "walked on" to the state decathlon competition in Alabama, not knowing what all the events were...and set the state record.
It's a disservice to name individual exceptional quick twitch/power MVB athletes because there were so many. Some players rely on guile as well.
Summary: Find your MVB tools that will get you and keep you on the court. Technique, tactics, physicality, and emotional regulation are the keys that unlock elite performance.
Coaching Translation for Melrose-Style Culture
ACE: Attitude, Choices, Effort.
The inverted-U fits perfectly:
Attitude regulates arousal.
Choices (breathing, self-talk, routines) stabilize it.
Effort pushes you out of the low zone.
The best teams don’t just “play hard.” They learn to self-regulate.
Lagniappe. Get a running start... advice from Kelvin Sampson.
Kids don’t want things to be easier.
— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) February 20, 2026
They want structure, clear routines, clear expectations, and consistent follow-through.
But, structure without relationship is just control.
High standards only work when we pair them with high support.
Demand more. Teach more. Care more. pic.twitter.com/3nRSwUTGt1
No comments:
Post a Comment