The power of being in shape

A lot of people think sports should just be playing the sport and whatever you get out of doing just that will get you in shape. It doesn't work that way. If you want to be a good to great volleyball player Then start running. Work on your sprints. You might amaze yourself with how much better you will start playing. Playing faster better teams require speed to win. You can't sit on your butt all day and night thinking you will just be the best. Laziness is real and easy to fall victim to; nevertheless, to be the best it takes a lot of doing. So get up. Step up your game and get in shape. Your game will step up once you do.

Stretching: Can't put a band-aid on a muscle

My freshman year of college I strained / had a tear in my hamstring. I went from volleyball to basketball with zero down time. During the first scrimmage of the season in lay up lines I went up and there it happened.... Feels like a bad cramp if you have never strained or tore a muscle. It was an injury that nagged me all season. It drove me nuts because my teammates though I was just faking after a month went by and I was in the same boat of pain. I had the trainers give me exercises to do and lots of stretching. I even had to ride a bike twenty minutes before I started warm-ups to be extra warm.
     After an altercation with a teammate (we ran our mouths to each other) in practice the coach explained to me that it was hard for the other girls to understand I was really hurting and not faking. He said that if I was in a boot like for ankle they would never question my injury but because their was not a sign visibly of injury it seemed to the untrained mind I was faking being hurt.  There was no band-aid to put on it.
 There are no band-aids for muscle injuries. We can't treat a sore or injured muscle like we would a broke arm.  There are no casts for strained groins and there are no boots for tore biceps.  Understand how muscles work and be supportive of the muscle injury players.  After all who are we to judge who is hurt and who isn't. It is not our bodies!

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Stretching tip:  Quads 
The most overuse injury reported in volleyball athletes is patellar tendonitis or “jumper’s knee.” Jumping from a crouched position to block or spike a ball causes your quadriceps to contract and puts stress on your knees. Stretch your quads daily!

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The devil is in the details

Do you want to get better as a player? Then work on the details.

You can't tell me you are doing everything you can do to get better and be the best player you can be. Setters are my favorite players when it comes to working the details. The reason is you can set the ball inside, work on footwork, and set up markers to set the ball into without hurting the house! If you are getting called for 2 hits and struggling with getting the ball out or back.... Well are you working the details? Are you practicing at home? If you aren't don't complain when you are making a choice to not be better. Hitters, work on your wrist snap and footwork.. How is your blocking footwork? Passers are you watching film and working your platform?

You can always work to get faster and jump higher... The devil is in the details. You have to keep working to be better. Waiting won't work but wanting and working will!

Play hard. Play together.

Get angry

Battle ropes. Have you heard of these or used them? They are thick heavy ropes that are used in workouts. You grab them and move them which works your shoulders and arms. The best way is to stay in a very athletic position (like a squat). The ropes weigh about 40-50ibs each. These ropes can beat you down if you let them. You have to get angry with them and slam them into the ground. These are my favorite thing to do in the gym. Why? Because you have to get angry. You have to get pissed off and throw the rope. As I said these can beat you down if you let them. You have to engage your beast mode and slam those ropes! Just like volleyball sometimes just doing it doesn't work. You have to get angry and ignite the fire in your belly to get the best out. Get angry when you are being beat down and do something about it. Engage your play and have enough... that means you don't quit but go make a difference!  Get angry and take back your game. Own it just like you can own those ropes.

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Winning: More than Talent

We are in the heart of club volleyball season as we enter the first weekend of February. Most all club teams are playing this weekend. Some in regional tournaments and some in two day format. There can only be one winning team per age group this weekend. Odds may not be in your favor. Winning is more than just talent. You may have a stacked team and you may only have one or two good players.  Winning is more than medals at the end of the tournament. Winning can be measured in how much you got better and well you performed. Ask yourself, did I support my team? Did I bring my best to my team (on the floor and on the sideline)? Did I pull my weight? If yes to any of those or all then you are a winner. Talent is great and I believe that everyone should push to be the very best that they can be. I also believe in winning small victories and looking for the winning moments along the way. I wish everyone the best of luck and I hope you win. Win the tournament if you can and if not win the personal battles of growth and development.  Have a heart of a champion and do your best!

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Shut up and Listen

Coach Parish was the head volleyball coach at a small local college where I went to summer camp. This camp was in the 3rd week of June in a gym build before the luxuries of A/C. Needless to say it was hot and to make matters worse for me my home A/C went out that week too. The NBA finals were being played that well too! I remember sitting on a warm gym floor pouring sweat before the warm ups started and coach Parish asked the question who was watching the NBA? A few girls raised their hands but I wasn't one of them. I barely knew the finals were being played and never watched the NBA. Coach Parish gave the group a confused look and asked why more of us hadn't watched the finals; Before anyone could answer she added that it was very important for us young athletes to watch championship teams play even if it wasn't our sport.... We could learn from top athletes because the work ethic was the same she added. As I grew up I learned what she said to be true. I have learned that watching boxers focus before a fight or football players game mange can all be helpful to me! All champion level athletes have something they can teach us about being the best! It might be how they got there or how they train. Maybe it is their mental game or being blessed. Sometimes we have to shut up and listen to what these athletes say and even listen to their actions. I encourage you to shut up and listen. In the words of coach Parish, "Watch all champion games!" It is good for you.

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