How to Start Your Season Off Strong
I hope everyone had a chance these last few weeks to tune in to the Olympics and get inspired by the best athletes in the world! Especially our USA women! A gold medal in both Beach and Indoor?? How incredible! I’m definitely feeling inspired to continue my second shoulder rehab and get back on the court as fast as possible. And if you are lucky enough to be starting a new volleyball season soon, I have some tips for you to start off the season on a strong note (and earn a starting spot).
1) Work harder than everyone
This will be my blanket advice for everything, but to really start off the season on a strong note, you need to work as hard as you possibly can. Not only will you become a much better player by giving your all on every rep, you’ll also stand out to your coaches, and they’ll want to keep you on the court because of your work ethic and infectious energy. Working hard means giving 100% effort every single time you touch the ball-even in “easy” warmup drills like pepper. It means diving on the floor for balls even if you don’t think you can get to it, transitioning every time you block or play defense, giving your all even if you’re exhausted, and running in between drills and to/from water breaks. This is the fastest way to improve.
2) Be coachable
You’ll likely be learning new skills and systems at the beginning of the season. Be open to learning them! Even if you’ve never heard of what your coach is telling you or you think the way you’re doing a skill is better, give it a shot. It might take a few weeks to get the hang of something, but keep working hard at it. Some other ways to be coachable are to look your coach in the eyes when they’re talking to you, have a conversation with them if you don’t understand something, and don’t make excuses.
3) Get to know your teammates
You might be on a new team with people you’ve never met before or you might be on a team with people you’ve played with for years. Either way, the start of a new season is a great time to get to know the people you’ll be spending every day with for the next few months. Stay off your phones before and after practice and talk with your teammates! The most successful teams I’ve been on are the ones that have had the best chemistry both on and off the court.
4) Fight to win
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to scrimmage at the start of your season, so fight to win every drill you’re in! This is what has helped me get far in volleyball- my competitive spirit and my drive to win every time I step out onto the court (even if it’s just a competition with myself). So play hard and be aggressive!
I hope you find these tips helpful! If you’re starting a new season, play hard for me who’s sitting on the sidelines rehabbing an injury again! Give it your all and enjoy the process! Follow Shine On Volley on Instagram and TikTok for more tips and volleyball content!