The difference you want to see, starts with YOU

Posted on May 02, 2013

Not all of us are morning people, and some of us don’t like driving so far. But when we got up and dragged our bodies out of bed, just to see this horrible weather that was playing it’s part outside, we could do nothing but mumble a few words of hate into the slicing-cold air.

Upon arrival we were welcomed into a classroom environment. First thought going through my mind: I finished a whole week of lectures yesterday, and the weather just froze all my brain cells. What did I do to get punished like this?

This coaching clinic didn’t only open our eyes, it also opened up doors and windows to a world of possibility

If you want a stable pyramid, you need to ensure that your base is strong. This is a statement considered as a logical goal reached naturally. But do we have adequate resources?

Volleyball isn’t all about your physical appearance. Of course, your size and your strength play a big role in this game, but your age and your emotional level play a crucial part when it comes to competing. A child gets skills from doing things he considers as fun.

Play to Train – Playing is unconscious training.

Even though the brain cells were frozen, the important things still made it through to us. There were scenarios and statements thrown around that really got your hamster running.

Two hours of training twice a week is not enough. Anyone who is serious about the game knows that. But what do we do about it? How many of us take a portion of our ‘me-time’ each day to spend it on keeping our fitness level where it needs to be, or trying to perfect the skills we need for our specific position? There is no time for fitness drills, or basic skills training in the 2-hour training session. And if we’re not willing to try and do it ourselves, what does that say about our seriousness towards the game?

Where there’s a WILL – there’s a WAY

If we call ourselves a team, we need to act like one. We need to support and encourage each other. And this includes the coach. The coach isn’t a know-it-all figure who shouts drills at you. No, we as players are allowed to help the coach – whether it is to make training interesting, or to get the team back on track emotionally. In the end we’re all trainees, no matter what our position in society is.

Realise that we evaluate each other each day. Outsiders evaluate the players and rate the team accordingly. How do you change that? Start with yourself. See what difference you can make to change the attitude and the view of others towards the game.

Ask yourself: Am I playing volleyball for the social part of it, or am I in it to win games? Once you know what you want out of it, start making a difference, whether it’s in yourself or in your teammates.

Next on the agenda was a physical session. This really helped getting the blood flowing. In this session we had a chance to show them what we’re made of out on the court. Or, if you struggle with anything, this was your chance to ask for help. Easy, step-by-step explanation of what should happen and how to achieve this, was followed by repetitive trying until perfection was reached. Even bad techniques were pointed out, and immediately help was available to make sure that incorrect technique would never occur again.

I’m sure that I’m not speaking only for myself when I say, that this was a wonderful opportunity valued and appreciated by everyone who attended. There’s no doubt that a lot of preparation went into this day and we, from TuksVolleyball, would like to thank each and every person who made this day possible. We would also like to urge others to attend any similar events as often as possible. This is a chance offered to us on a silver platter. Let’s use every opportunity we can get for our own benefit.

So, are you ready to start with the person in the mirror and make the difference you want to see?

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences