Training with VolleySensei

Two cases in the Tokyo Olympics. Says a lot about our systemic bias.

Olympics and Athletes’ Health Simone Biles, currently the most decorated American gymnast, withdrew from team finals in the Tokyo Olympic Games citing her mental health, earning ire from pundits all over the internet. Granted, …

http://volleysensei.com/on-passing-the-ball

On passing the ball Coaching volleyball is often predicated on the idea that the different strategic touches on the ball (“passing”, “setting”, “attacking”) are modular skills that can be independently practiced that …

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5b9Dyflhul/

Most people start kids on volleyball with an exercise like this as a measure of their ability to play. Except it just introduces poor reflexes: this activity will almost never happen in the real game, and it does not include the important aspect of controlling the ball over the net. If we can only stop this, then we won’t have to break the habit to get players to improve.

I literally spent about 5 minutes showing my nephew Olin (11) how to make a platform, bend his knees and to roll his shoulders forward and keep them tight. This is the result. We played pepper for about 20 minutes. He’s never played volleyball before! What?! Sorry sis....he’s coming to play junior boys volleyball for his uncles team.... #imnotjoking #juniorboysvolleyball #volleyballfamily #thisisawesomeness #imjustagoodvolleyballcoach #teachemyoung #cevab

Drills aren’t the solution. Compartmentalizing skills aren’t to the benefit of the student, they’re to benefit the coaching industry.