3 Tips to Make the Most Out of Practices As a New Volleyball Coach
The best kids volleyball coaches manage to coach in a way that helps kids understand and develop the skills they need to play volleyball while also ensuring that they have fun at the same time.
While this can be easier said than done, there aren’t many more rewarding experiences than coaching a group of kids and getting them excited in such a fast-paced and action-packed sport. This can make all the time and hard work you put in worth it.
Here are 3 tips we think that will help you maximize the time you spend with kids during practice.
Use Creativity
We all know that kids don’t necessarily have the best attention spans, especially when it comes to monotonous tasks that leave no room for experimentation. Therefore, think about what you can do to make a drill more interesting. You don’t have to follow exactly what you see in a book.
We’ve found that focusing on drills that keep the kids moving while also matching their skill levels is your best bet. For kids, it’s hard to keep their attention long if they are stuck in line watching their teammates and waiting for their turn.
Focus on Fun
There is no better way to get young boys and girls interested in volleyball than focusing on fun. If they’re playing with a smile on their face, then you know you’re doing your job well.
This can mean deemphasizing mistakes, letting them know that making mistakes is completely normal and are invaluable to help improve their skills. Or leaving plenty of time for practice matches, as matches are usually more fun than drills.
Additionally, remember that the last thing you want to do is yell at kids or take them out of the game if they’re not doing “well.” As long as they give their best effort, you can’t ask anything more of them.
Be a Positive Influence
It’s easy to think that your role as a coach is to just teach your players to become better at volleyball. But as a coach, you’re also in a great position to impact them in other ways and use the joy of volleyball to positively influence them in other areas.
You can stress the importance of hard work both on and off the court, the value of exercise and healthy eating, the value of sportsmanship, as well as build up their confidence in other important areas. This can make coaching kids volleyball a much more rewarding experience for both yourself and them.
A good time to do this is at the beginning of practice while the kids are stretching. It will be quiet and all of you will be together, so it’s the perfect opportunity to interact with the kids on a more personal level.