What Coaches Look for in a Player

Here are some of the Athletic Skills coaches look for in players.

They are in any type of order:

 

Power: Force applied as quickly as possible

 

Agility: Ability to change direction while maintaining balanced, speed and body control!

 

Mobility: Changing body position during movement

 

Footwork: Ability to perform quick foot movement patterns related to movement skills

 

Stability/Balance: Functional strength to maintain a particular body position

 

Flexibility: Movement around a joint or limb

 

Acceleration: rate of change in velocity

 

Recovery: Ability to return repetitively to a ready state for activity

 

Strength: Ability to apply or resist force

 

 

 

Here are some of the Character Skills coaches look for in players and their parents to consider taking a player on their team:

 

Coachable:

You can be the one of the best players around, but if you don't let a coach show you their way, (and there is more than one way to do a skill, run a offense or defense), you do not become useful to the team, but more of a negative vibe. Listen to your coach, try to understand their approach, try it, and combined your efforts of what you have learned from others to make it work for your new coach and team.

 

Self-confident:

You must believe in yourself. Our club has a saying,

"Never Say Can't! A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory." One of the biggest secrets to learning the skills needed, is believing you can.

 

Positive:

Positive attitudes go along way in keeping your team focused and in a game. "Shake it Off " is often heard on the court. You will never get every pass, or every hit, staying positive for your team and yourself will prove to be successful at the end of the day.

 

Enthusiastic:

Show your coach and your teammates you want to be there and are willing to learn and put out 100% each and every time. Don't get frustrated when you are introduced to something new, find a way to get interested, discover the meaning behind the task, enjoy learning to discipline yourself.

 

Cheerful:

Some people might think this is the same as being enthusiastic, but it's not. Being cheerful, is being energized when you are supporting your teammates, it's staying positive and cheering on your teammates when you are sitting out of a drill or game. It's not being somber when you messed up, or are mad at something or someone when you are at practice or a match. Smiling can always makes them think what are you up too!

 

Fun:

Enjoy what you are learning, doing, and experiencing . Remember, that one moment will not return-so find a way to make it worth a happy thought.

 

Committed:

To have a successful team, you need teammates and coaches that are committed to the goal the team has set for themselves. It's about the team, you as an individual come second to the team. Think about the consequences of going out the night before a match, or not doing your homework until the day of practice. Be at practice early,complete your self warms ups correctly, do your personal workout at home, complete your chores so you have time to give volleyball, family and friends.

 

Helpful:

Making a team successful takes a lot of people working together. Don't wait to be asked to help take down the net, clean up water bottles, spills, put tape down, check air pressure in balls, count balls, set up for drills, etc..Talk to your team members and come up with ways you can be helpful to each other and the team. Maybe a team member needs some tutoring, so they are not distracted about school work on the court, you will be surprised at how being helpful to each other makes being a team so much easier.

 

Caring and Respectful:

Think before you speak, who could you be hurting by your comments, stop rumors and negative talk before it becomes hurtful. Care about your teammates does not mean you must be best friends on and off the court. It means you care about them as a person, and will support them as a team member. You have to respect the players that make up your team for the team to be successful. You may not like someone as a person, but you need to understand and respect why your coach has put them on the team. Every person on the team has a role to make the team a success. Learn what each person role is and help them succeed at their goal.

 

Self-disciplined and Self Control:

This is the hardest for a coach to teach. It has to come from in a person. You have to want to understand the results of your actions. There are always consequences for your actions and attitude. Make yourself disciplined to feel and see the results of your efforts. Not having self control can and do destroy players and teams. You have to learn to let bad calls, missed balls, and bad days fly away. Anger produces errors, self discipline creates success. If something or someone gets to you, know when the appropriate time is to address the issue. It is never on the court! Having a foul mouth will get you off the team. Having a temper you cannot control will get you off the team. If you have had problems in the past, talk to your teammates and coach, ask for help!

 

Reliable and Honest:

You were selected for a team because the coach felt they could count on you to play your part in making the team a success. It might not be the part you wanted, but you are needed. Show up on time, be ready, don't make up stories so you can go to a birthday party, the mall shopping, or to play in another sport the same day you have a volleyball game. Teammates and coaches always find out, and it just causes problems for the team. Be honest, if their is a special event you would like to attend, give your coach and team as much advance notice as possible. Make good choices as to the importance of the event verse the need of the team that you committed too.

 

Appreciative:

If you are not already, learn to be appreciative to your parents, family, friends, teammates and your coach. They are all sharing in teaching you thinks everyday. Let them know that you notice their efforts. When's the last time you thanked you parents for signing you up, driving you to events, paying for your classes and gear? Offer to help out at camps or clinics so you can share what you have learned. Remember that their is always someone else out their that could use their support, and you are the one that received it.