The Three Most Important Questions for Volleyball Athletes/ Parents

In the volleyball world, it’s time for school team tryouts--a time that never ceases to amaze me, naturally, because I understand the amount of work required to be good or great at anything. 

Every year, I get many calls from parents and athletes inquiring about opportunities to get ready for tryouts. Sometimes they call me two to three days before their tryouts. Sometimes they call two to three weeks before, which is only a tad less puzzling.

Although “better late than never” applies to this situation, I always wonder and think about these three questions: 

1. Why do you wait until the last minute to prepare?

2. How are you supposed to acquire any sort of skill and confidence in your skill in short ammount of time? 

3. What happens after tryouts, whether you make the team or not? 

To me the answer to all of these questions is the same: These athletes need to work more. No matter where they are in their development, they need more training. More Training vs. Less Training always wins. 100% of the time.

Put in more time and effort. 

Polish your craft. 

Do a little more everyday than the day before. Do it daily. 

Do small things exceptionally well!

Improve your weak skills. Strengthen your strong skills. 

All this to say: Lack of preparation leads to poor performance! EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Part 2:

And when there’s a lack of preparation, the excuses start: 

“Coach didn’t like me.”

“Tryouts and who makes the team are too political.” 

“Too many girls tried out.”

“I am not tall enough.”

Etcetera. 

The list of excuses and gossip-y, unfounded explanations can go on and on. The only valid explanation of falling short is this: lack of adequate preparation. 

Getting ready for tryouts is cool! You should prepare. But when I receive calls two or three days or weeks before tryouts from athletes whose goal is just to make the team, it sounds like an End of the Destination approach instead of Being on the Journey approach. If you are the best you can be and continue to work relentlessly, then tryouts are just another day on your path--you are always ready. 

I often preach, “Life is a journey and volleyball is one of the paths on that journey. We are on the same path. I'm just a little bit further away down the road.”

Tryouts are a station on that path, and there will also be many stations, side-roads, and dead streets on it. Although tryouts are an important milestone they don't define the journey or the path. 

Setback sets you up for a comeback! 

No matter what happens.

DO THE WORK!