Your #tiptuesday for today is on hitting hard. I recently got to watch some very talented 13s in Florida play and they had serving and hitting down. They still struggled with the basics of defense and moving to the ball in passing, however, they could hit a set up ball! I got to thinking how does one go about teaching a kid to hit and hit hard. I discovered that fear and timing must be to the two biggest factors.
Fear. Not fear of death or punishment if the hit is out but fear they can't do it. Most girls sadly aren't taught to be aggressive so hitting a ball hard isn't going to come natural. The fear of not looking good comes in but mostly fear of not being successful. It's easier to be safe and than go big or go home.
Timing. While fear is harder to fix timing isn't! Timing of the toss when serving and timing of set when hitting. Once the timing is got down (which comes from lots of good foot work, tosses, and reps on reps) hitting hard is easy! There is something magical about a player with good timing. They seem to float into the ball and then crush it.
If you aren't hitting the ball hard you should first check your heart. Make sure you are giving it your best. Once you get rid of any fear then move on to timing. Your timing has to be right in order for you to get a good swing in. This goes for serving or hitting.
Hit hard today!
Work hard. Work together!
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Rest
There comes a point for every volleyball player that he or she needs to rest. Not just for the body but for the mind as well. If you have had a great season or if you had a bad one resting is still needed!
For those of you that had a great season you need rest because that winning "High" will fade and you will be left tired. After all you have been working hard and going hard! The rush will end and you will need to rest your mind. For those who had a bad season where you were frustrated and you didn't get what you had hoped for and even worked for. You body is tired but your mind is wore down. You need rest.
No matter what kind of season you wanted or you had resting is important! Take a few days to weeks off. Do something that is silly and not in your sport. Go have some fun and rest your brain and your body!
Work hard. Work together!
For those of you that had a great season you need rest because that winning "High" will fade and you will be left tired. After all you have been working hard and going hard! The rush will end and you will need to rest your mind. For those who had a bad season where you were frustrated and you didn't get what you had hoped for and even worked for. You body is tired but your mind is wore down. You need rest.
No matter what kind of season you wanted or you had resting is important! Take a few days to weeks off. Do something that is silly and not in your sport. Go have some fun and rest your brain and your body!
Work hard. Work together!
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
#TipTuesday: Basics of being a female athlete
A few things female athletes aren't told about working out, being sweaty, and cleaning their game / practice gear. In this blog I will give you some pointers on how to smell your best, know your body, and still get the best out of your performance on the court.
Chafing: Chaffing is not just for fat girls... Yes, I said it. If your legs touch at all like 97% of all peoples do then running and jumping in shorts is probably going to get you chaffed. Long tournament days can result in chaffing between your legs and sometimes butt checks.
Soap: We all know that taking the proper amount of baths or showers is important after being sweaty, hot, and gross yet no one talks about the soap part. I love a good shower gel! One of those that when I lather up I feel like I am not only beautiful but on a tropical island. As nice as those smell, they don't cut it for getting rid of body odor and oils that are released when you sweat a lot. The normal shower gels do clean your skin but don't hold up well against hard working woman smell. The point is you need something that won't just mask the scent but get you clean, fresh, and on to the next match!
What to use: Please take skin allergies into care when selecting which soap to use. You don't want a rash. If you want to use a shower gel make sure you get one that has exfoliates. This will allow you to get the oil from your sweat off your skin and the smell as well. Bar soap and wash cloth is what I recommend the most. Lather up that wash cloth and get going!
Deodorant: If you are being strong like a man then you need a man's deodorant.... There is no other way to say it than go get a deodorant designed for a man. You can wear this only when you play sports or work out if you want but you will need it for long tournament days or hard workouts. The cute pink sparkly deodorant you wear now isn't going to hold back the body odor for that long. It wasn't designed for you to be active with it. Watch some teams at the next tournament of high school age girls or college you will notice them using all men's deodorant.... The reason it simply works better.
What to use: You don't have to smell like your grandfather or your boyfriend unless you want too. I find a scent that is fresh and appealing to you. It doesn't have to be name brand either. The one I use body heat regulated so when my degrees increase it works harder.
What to use: Baby powder is a great start. You can also use body glide that is sold at sports stores. Some lotions work too but you are going to want thick lotion! The big key is not staying in those shorts or only those shorts all day... get some pants on. Give your legs a break from the friction. If you are having butt check chaffing issues try not wearing anything with your spandex (don't freak out mom's and dad's... those shorts were made not to have any on under them) and don't wear a thong either. Use the baby powder and the lotions to get you in less pain.
Sports bras and BO: After you have worn that lucky bra about three months in can start getting a smell that washing isn't getting out. You might think your deodorant is failing you but really it is the bra.... Over time sweating heavy amounts and getting all your oils on an under garment can build up and washing it won't remove the smell. Don't worry. You didn't just start smelling bad or anything. You just have BO (like everyone else) and your sports bra is caught up in it!
What to use: Vinegar. Soak that sucker in some white or apple cider vinegar over night. Focus on the area right under your arm pits. It may be more yellow or brownish in that area too. Once you have soaked just wash as normal. That weird to bad smell is gone!
Shoes and socks: There is a simple rule of life. Don't wear shoes without socks. Your feet will smell awful. Your shoes will smell awful. Your volleyball shoes collect sweat yet always get thrown in bags and locked up till the next time they are needed. I know from experience I have put on wet shoes from the last practice like 3 days ago..... Your shoes need to air out and dry. Never wear socks twice after a game or practice (unless your coach tells you to on his or her superstitions). Your feet sweat and your legs sweat. That sweat goes to your socks.
What to use: WASH your socks and let your shoes air out!
Knee pads and ankle braces: More things that are smelly if not given time to dry out! Ankle braces never get washed. Most athletes just take off their ankle braces and knee pads, throw them in their bag and are done. Knee pads maybe one of the most foul odors to ever enter the nose... ankle braces aren't as bad because they have a sock between them and skin.
What to use: Vinegar. Again with the vinegar but this stuff does work! Soak your knee pads and ankle braces in white or apple cider mixed with water. Let soak 1 hour to 24 hours. Raise and wash. If you can dry them outside in sunshine that is the best. If not just allow them to air dry.
I hope you have found these tips helpful. Share with a friend if you did!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
The power of passing
Pass the ball!
There is nothing and I do mean nothing worse than a player who thinks they don't have to pass the ball. Passing isn't easy by no means but trust me.... if you think you don't need to do it then you will spend a lot of time on the bench.
Passing is the foundation to the sport of volleyball. Look at the game for a second. Everything is set up based one the pass. The setter has the job to better the ball but the passer has to give the setter something to work with! There is no such thing as a player who doesn't get to pass in the game anymore. Those days are over and gone. All players are expected to pass.
Work on passing daily. I can't think of any player I have ever worked with that couldn't use 100-400 passing reps a day. Imagine how good your passing game would be if you worked that hard on passing? Use your legs and learning to turn your platform is key. The more reps you get the more you will have control of the ball which will equal you setting your self and your team up to run a better offense! That means more kills!
What to do?
If you can't go out and pass with someone every working on putting the ball to a target then you can wall pass. Take tape and make 2x4 box on a solid wall. Get on one knee and hips, shoulders, and platform facing the box start passing. It will be hard at first but the goal is to make the ball go into the box over and over again.
If you can get a hand from someone go out and pass. Focus on dropping your butt and bending your knees. Lock your elbows out and DON'T SWING YOUR ARMS TO MAKE THE PASS. Use your legs! Work on getting your body behind the ball. Move those feet too! Last thing is follow the ball to your arms and the ball to target!
Passing is hard work but it is a huge part of the game. If you can't pass... You can't really play the game. I encourage you to pass everyday. Go work your butt off and get good at passing! Next will be serve receive followed by defense!
Work hard. Work together.
Learn more at
Contact Coach Reynolds
There is nothing and I do mean nothing worse than a player who thinks they don't have to pass the ball. Passing isn't easy by no means but trust me.... if you think you don't need to do it then you will spend a lot of time on the bench.
Passing is the foundation to the sport of volleyball. Look at the game for a second. Everything is set up based one the pass. The setter has the job to better the ball but the passer has to give the setter something to work with! There is no such thing as a player who doesn't get to pass in the game anymore. Those days are over and gone. All players are expected to pass.
Work on passing daily. I can't think of any player I have ever worked with that couldn't use 100-400 passing reps a day. Imagine how good your passing game would be if you worked that hard on passing? Use your legs and learning to turn your platform is key. The more reps you get the more you will have control of the ball which will equal you setting your self and your team up to run a better offense! That means more kills!
What to do?
If you can't go out and pass with someone every working on putting the ball to a target then you can wall pass. Take tape and make 2x4 box on a solid wall. Get on one knee and hips, shoulders, and platform facing the box start passing. It will be hard at first but the goal is to make the ball go into the box over and over again.
If you can get a hand from someone go out and pass. Focus on dropping your butt and bending your knees. Lock your elbows out and DON'T SWING YOUR ARMS TO MAKE THE PASS. Use your legs! Work on getting your body behind the ball. Move those feet too! Last thing is follow the ball to your arms and the ball to target!
Passing is hard work but it is a huge part of the game. If you can't pass... You can't really play the game. I encourage you to pass everyday. Go work your butt off and get good at passing! Next will be serve receive followed by defense!
Work hard. Work together.
Learn more at
Contact Coach Reynolds
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Tip Tuesday
#tiptuesday Blocks for outsides
Setting the block can be hard to do for players. If you know you are giving up line then an arms length from the antenna is about all you need unless the outside you are trying to stop has a wicked cut. If you are trying to force the outside into the middle then you have to cut off line. That means you have to put your right hand on her hitting hand. You also need to give a little less than the ball away from the antenna. If the hitter hits into the antenna, it is out. Remember strong hands and thumbs together! Talk to your middles too! Reading is a big part of set blocks. Work hard. Work together!
#CCVC #Volleyball #CarolinaCrushVolleyballClub
#hitting #blocking
#settingtheblock
More on facebook
Contact Coach Hannah
Setting the block can be hard to do for players. If you know you are giving up line then an arms length from the antenna is about all you need unless the outside you are trying to stop has a wicked cut. If you are trying to force the outside into the middle then you have to cut off line. That means you have to put your right hand on her hitting hand. You also need to give a little less than the ball away from the antenna. If the hitter hits into the antenna, it is out. Remember strong hands and thumbs together! Talk to your middles too! Reading is a big part of set blocks. Work hard. Work together!
#CCVC #Volleyball #CarolinaCrushVolleyballClub
#hitting #blocking
#settingtheblock
More on facebook
Contact Coach Hannah
Friday, March 4, 2016
Be great
Go be great today.
Enjoy life today.
Have fun and explore today.
Don't be the normal you today.
Go run or skip today.
Smile today.
Watch a movie you've never seen today.
Be kind today.
Show love to others today!
Laugh harder at something silly today.
Compete harder today. Don't quit today.
Be more focused today.
Be a leader today.
Be a good leader today.
Be respectful today.
Don't judge others today.
Stand up for what is right today.
Fight for something important to you today.
Be your best today.
Live your dream today.
Take me time today.
Go dream today.
Be great today!
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Teammate or Family?
The term "Fam" is so over used right now by American teenagers. They all think their friends are close like family rather they are or not. It is simply a cultural thing and what they have heard others say. The term "Fam" (short for family) can be used when speaking about teammates. Not all teams that I have been on have been close like family. I played on a basketball team where I thought all my teammates could go get lost... I didn't like them and would never think of them as family. Most of the teams I have been on were like family. The one that sticks out the most to me was my senior year volleyball team. We were good and all got along. It was a labor of love to get along sometimes but we made it work. There were a few practices that some teammates and I would go get ice cream. We would ride around in my car and just be teenage girls! It was fun made so closer. I still keep in touch with most of those teammates and know what they are up too. Those teammates became like family.
Coaches and teammates play a role in this culture. Some coaches just can't get players to be warm and loving but they can give them the chance to be. Giving the chance for a bond like family to take place is key for strong teams. It is really hard for girls to want to work hard and win for the girl beside her unless she feels some kind of bond with her. It is the coaches job to give the players the chance create these bonds.
Teammates play a role in this culture because they are the culture! Being accepting and kind to teammates is the key to making strong relationships. Being the teammate that invites the whole team over not just one or two members of the team is great start or going to grab food before a practice. This helps create a family.
At some point teammates become family and that is the best part. When you can't tell who is related and who isn't is the best! If you feel like a teammate and not family it might be time to work on that!
Work hard. Work together.
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