I'm trying out for the volleyball team. Any tips on how to impress the coach?

Question

I'm trying out for the volleyball team. Any tips on how to impress the coach?

Answer 1

I would worry more about playing than trying to impress the coach. I understand what you're asking and as recently as today I was trying to impress my new coach and got too nervous and worked up and didn't play at the top of my game. Once I stopped I was fine and she noticed how good my serves were without me showing off. Coaches have probably seen great volleyball players with great talent in their day so trying to impress them unless you're Kerri Walsh will be difficult. You can impress them otherwise though by being:

A great team player. Stay in your area but back-up teammates by hustling to shanked balls and communicating with them about what the ball is like "Short! Tip! Free! Out! and positions like Backrow! Middle!" and be loud about when you want the ball if you're a hitter, my coach today told us the most obnoxious with their voice gets the most balls, lol.

Outstanding work ethic: Meaning, you don't give up ANY ball without a fight. You hustle to a ball your team mate hit way out or throw yourself on the floor (if needed) to get a really short tip. don't let anything hit the floor without a fight and even if it does, at least you made the effort. Coaches hate it when you just stand there not paying attention and don't hustle for a ball. Even while in the court if it goes out and a partner goes after it, run with them so they don't have to bump the ball backwards all the way back in the court, you're there to back them up.

A player with a good attitude: Here's a real example of why you SHOULD keep a good attitude no matter what: A girl on my team gets very bent out of shape if she hits a few balls out of bounds or if she can't get timing to hit and once she gets in that mood, she can't pull herself out. She's rude to other players because she ignores them when they try to high-five her or she won't listen to friendly criticism from the Coach nor players. My coach asked me after practice if I noticed her attitude and I said yea, and that is was upsetting a lot of people and makes us feel uneasy and the coach says "Yea, she'll have to be JV this year" when this girl was supposed to get a Varsity spot. You never know who or how many others are paying attention to little things like that. If you're having an off day, shrug it off. If you do, you'll get past the block and play better. Give teammates high fives when they do something good, laugh, play, have fun. Help other players out if they don't understand something. Just don't dwell on your own playing or you'll never have fun or get better.

Play smart: Don't just "hope" you get the ball back over. Play smart. Don't play blindly, the other team, more times than not, gives away hints of where they will be spiking. Really listen. Read the opponents body language. If a server comes up and just serves the heck out of your team, a six point run, and then you go through rotationsand she's back up, keep in mind where she kept serving, how, and to whom she was serving and adjust to it. That's a great word to stick by, ADJUST. I know this is all corny but you have to buy into it if you want to get better. No matter what, adjust to things. Don't make excuses of "oh she got by me with that tip". Realize the repetition of some players and then you'll be able to be at the right place at the right time. Also, when you have the ball, read open court on the other side. If there's a hole in the middle all the time or an open corner in the back, try to get the ball in there rather than easy balls right to the middle back.

Be open to learn: If you're cocky (which falls in to the attitude category) or think you're hot stuff and are the best, coaches won't like that. You WILL mess up sooner or later. The ability to accept criticism and work on what's wrong and fix it is worth so much more than a talented player that has a bad attitude. If your coach pulls you aside and tells you how to do something, you don't have to kiss his/her butt but just say Ok and that you'll work on it and do so.

I'll add more later if I think of some but this is the fundamental things a coach wants to see besides skill of course. Good luck with try-outs, don't get too nervous about them or your brain and body will be a block from good playing.

Answer 2

In my experience Coaches are impressed by enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, and skill.  If you've already got the skills then impress him with your work ethic and attitude.  If you haven't got the skills...work on those too.  Acting like you are too cool to listen, like you are better than the other players or smarter than the coach isn't impressive.

Answer 3

My friend plays small D-I volleyball.  One thing he said during tryouts (in order to get rid of walk ons) is that they try and see if people will dive and hit the ground.  So one thing is to never give up on a ball, hustle, and when you have to dive and hit the ground (but make sure you don't over do it and look foolish)

Answer 4

well to impress a coach u rally need to have a good set cause once u do a good set she thinks you can do anything trust me on this