Dennis in Colorado Springs: Day Two (Humbling)

Dear Players, Parents, and Friends of the Skill Ignition Volleyball Club,

After 14 hours of on court instruction and classroom instruction, I am admittedly bushed. Let's face it, I'm not a spring chicken anymore, but, I must say, being a part of something this big, this incredible makes me wish it would never end. For as much as I think I know about the sport of volleyball, I'm slapped back to reality at every turn when I listen to the real "professionals" talk about things and offer their slant on the sport of volleyball.

What touched me today was the classroom instruction that centered on the myths surrounding the coaching of volleyball, which I found interesting. For those of us that coach, this might be a bit painful to hear, but, here's a couple of examples:

1. How many coaches have you heard that, in order to increase the chances of completing an attack hit, the hitter must snap their wrist? I know I've been guilty of encouraging players to snap their wrist. But, what is the reality? Based on studies conducted by USA Volleyball and others, wrist snap has virtually NOTHING to do the speed of the attacked ball. There are other factors we could discuss, but, for this discussion, the wrist snap really doesn't even occur until AFTER the ball has left the hitter's hand. In fact, high speed photography clearly shows that, at the point of contact, the wrist actually reflexes BACK a bit. And, how long is the volleyball in contact with the hitter's hand? LESS THAN, LESS THAN 0.010 seconds. Stop and think about that. LESS THAN ONE TENTH OF A SECOND. It certainly takes LONGER for you to snap your wrist than it does for the ball to contact your wrist. It would be more correct to encourage players to "reach high" and "contact the top half of the ball". Any hitting action on the TOP half of the ball generates spin.
1. They also presented a study that I found fascinating. Sorry, but I am an engineer and find numbers and statistics fascinating. After the Beijing Olympics, USA Volleyball did a study of the Men's Olympic Volleyball Team and the TOTAL amount of time, in ALL of their Olympic matches, that the ball was in contact in their players. A match may last 1-2 hours and they play 7-8 matches at the Olympics? Care to guess? See "ANSWER" below for the answer.
2. It was hammered home again and again that, as coaches, we need to realize something about what it is we are doing. We are teachers. The question was asked, by a show of hands, how many coaches learned to ride a bike as a child? All hands went up. Then, how many of you learned first by pretending to pedal the right pedal only, then the left, then practicing how to hold the handle bars? We laughed. Then, they asked, how many of us had a bike riding coach that took us thru the trials and tribulations of learning the process? Coaches need to teach, then get out of the way. Are we are practicing to practice? Or, are we practicing to perform? If we are practicing to perform, then our practices MUST consist of random opportunities for the players.
3. Another "I'm guilty of this from time-to-time", is the concept of tell players to watch the ball into their arms when passing. Fact is, your eyes should be looking toward the passing target at the point of contact, not at your arms.
4. USA Volleyball and it's Olympic coaching staff have reiterated it clearly that, "Reading is the most important volleyball skill. If you can read a hitter, are you a better defender and blocker? If you can read a server, isn't your serve receive better? If you can read a defense and blockers, aren't you a better setter? So, our question to each of you is, 'How do you teach your players to read?'". 
1. Hugh McCuthcheon (US Women's Olympic Volleyball Coach) said it best, I think. "See, look, see, look." "See" is more of a broad focus and "look" is a closer focus. His example was defense, "See" the pass, "look" at the setter, "see" the set (speed, location, direction), "look" at the hitter...then dig the hit.

I have spent a long, long time searching for the "answers" and am so glad I've been exposed to them. I am 100% sure that I am a more knowledgeable coach and I just hope to be able to put the teachings to practical use on the court.

ANSWER: .................................................................................................................................................................................................27.4 seconds! The question is, what are you doing the rest of the time during the match?