Lloy's Corner: The Transition from Club to High School Volleyball
The transition from club volleyball to high school volleyball is much harder then the reverse. When switching from HS to club, most players are “upgrading” to teams with more high caliber players that are probably more motivated than the players on their HS teams. This is not always the case, but it is true most of the time.
So, how does a club player go into a HS season and find ways to get better? Here are some suggestions.
1. Go into the HS season with a POSITIVE attitude. Your HS team doesn’t want to see your “this team isn’t as good as my club team” face. Go in with the expectation of having a great year.
2. Learn new skills. This is a great opportunity to become a better leader. There are probably lots of leaders on your club team (probably too many). On your HS team, you may be one of the best players, so you need to show leadership and motivate others to work hard by YOU working the hardest every day. Be vocal and show your team your love for the game.
3. Choose one or two skills that you really need to work on and make that HS season the time to perfect it. In club, your director or coach has hundreds of kids to train so sometime extra reps are hard to get. But in HS, numbers are smaller and gym time is more readily available. So get extra passing, setting or serving reps to tune your game into a high gear!
4. Learn how to be “the woman/man”. In big moments, most club teams have multiple players that can make “the dig” or “the kill,” but in HS ball you may be the only one. So, learn how to win those big points by demanding the ball and then delivering, or by making that “dime” pass or huge “lippy dig” to set your team up for the big match point.
These are just some of my thoughts about that tough transition from Club to HS. Now, go be great. It’s the only road to take!!
Your 2008 Gold Medalist,
Lloy Ball
Source: Original Smack Sportswear Blog