Being able to play competitive volleyball for the majority of my life has been a blessing. Ever since the fifth grade, this sport has given everything to me and has taught me some of the most important life lessons. Here are a few of them that I would love to share:
There is no “I” in “team.”
Volleyball is one of the biggest team sports that I can think of. Each player on the court has a specific and important role: the libero and defensive specialists pass the ball and start the play, the setter runs the offense and the offense terminates the ball. You can’t set the ball without a pass, and you can’t make a kill without a set. Every single player is crucial to every single play and if one person slacks off, the whole team is doomed. Partial to the contrary, you can’t have a star player because they cannot do their job without the rest of the team. This goes with everything you do in life. No matter how far you have made it or how successful you have become, everyone has a foundation of people who has built him or her up to the person they are today. Without them, they would be nothing.
The only side of the court you can control is your own.
The volleyball net separates the two teams for a reason. The outcome of the game lies in your hands. It’s up to you to better the ball and work together as a team. It’s up to you to watch the block and look for an opening. It’s up to you to throw yourself at the floor with full force just to stop the ball from hitting the ground. It’s up to you to take control and be a leader. It’s all up to you.
Confidence is key.
Never confuse confidence for cockiness. Cockiness is one of the biggest tragic flaws. With everything that you do, there will always be room for improvement. However, confidence is truly everything. On the court, there will always be fans bickering and trying to distract you or make you mess up. There will always be parents speaking badly of other players. Unfortunately, there will always be teammates bringing other teammates down. No matter what these people say or do, the only person who decides if any of it matters is you. Once you stop believing in yourself, others will see it and believe it as well. Being timid will not get you anywhere in life. Be confident and know that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to, no matter how many obstacles that may stand in your way.
Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes permanent.
The amount of experience is meaningless if you do not put any effort in. Every drill in practice is meant to be played with the same intensity you would have in a game. So when tournament day comes around the corner, you are prepared. There will always be room for improvement, so take advantage of the potential that you will always have. Do not cut the corners when you are running laps. Make sure you complete every single repetition in the gym. Muscle memory is real; the more you practice, the more these good habits will come naturally to you. Dive and throw your body at every single ball because even if you do not reach it, you are able to see how much closer you get each time.
Negative thoughts = negative results
Every single coach that I have played for has said that volleyball is 10% skill and 90% mental. If you hit the ball into the net or shank a pass, it’s okay. Learn from the mistake, move on, and do not do it again. We are all human and are very far from perfect. Dwelling on each mistake will only prevent you from moving forward.
Never stop working your hardest.
Sometimes you may be working your ass off on the court but it still isn’t good enough – and that is completely okay. I have played competitive club volleyball for six consecutive years now, and I have spent countless hours in the gym. I have played for coaches who have told me that I am not good enough, and believe me; I have had my fair share of losses. There is no such thing as a perfect game - even the games that you do end up winning. There are high and low points to every single game, but the real winners are the ones who can overcome the low points. You cannot win every single game, and you certainly cannot win every single point. The most successful players are those who learn from their mistakes.
Embrace your success.
The feeling that you get when you know your hard work has paid off is indescribable. When your team makes a huge comeback and wins the game in five sets or when you dig a ball that was expected to hit the floor, you feel on top of the world. Embrace that feeling. Remember what it feels like. Use it as motivation for the future because you know what success feels like, and you would do anything to have that feeling once again.
“Somewhere behind the athlete you’ve become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back… play for her” – Mia Hamm
