Learning and Relief

Learning and relief.

This was a big weekend for us as we played Regina Cougars.  They were tied with us at 2 wins.  This has playoff implications for both teams.  Traditionally 8 wins would get a team into 7^th spot. With the addition of UBCO from Kelowna to the league it could mean a team would need more.  So with this weekend marking halfway point of the season we needed both wins.

We continually preach team first and doing what you can do help the team become better.  This is easily portrayed with the main players.  As they have a chance to show it on the floor. It becomes tougher when you are a reserve.  How can they contribute to the team concept? WE keep telling them that they make us better in practice and that they have an opportunity to learn the game in a practice situation.  At some point they will be needed to come on the floor and perform.  This is tough because every player at this level has been the starter and go to player on their highschool teams.  Many see other players on oppositions getting opportunities to play and are having success and they know that they are as good as them.  But in our situation we need them to help keep getting us better and their time will come.

In the first match against Regina this happened.  We lost the first set again Jumping out to a decent lead to watch is dwindle away losing the set by two.  This was tough on our team emotionally, they did their best not to show it.  Held their heads high on the side switch and ran into the team huddle, but what went wrong continued to haunt us.  Our passing went out the window.  Late in that set Becky and Sara made a lot of subs and gave the starting group a chance to rest.  Our reserves lit it up.  They played with tremendous energy and put pressure on Regina.  Shanlee in particular was a force passing and scoring. We lost the set but earned some respect.

Becky and Sara went back to the first group but left Shanlee on the floor.  It was a great adjustment.  Regina was well prepped for our team so having a new player on the floor seemed to change their focus. Shanlee was their passing target and she was able to hold her own allowing our middle and rightside to get going.  WE came together and won the match in 5.  That was a huge relief for us. It was a total team effort.  To be able to put that in our mental back pack and know we can pull through.  To also see that our young team members are still improving a lot adds to our confidence.

Tori was in the same situation as Shanlee last year, she played spot duty and usually in situations where we needed an emotional lift.  When you are practicing a player doesn’t realize how much they are improving.  For Tori it was the New Years tourney at Laval.  We had the opportunity to play against FX Garneau a CCAA team that won the silver medal at Nationals.  Tori played in all those matches as did our young players.  WE were able to sweep them both times we played them.  She was then able to understand the level of volleyball she was playing at everyday.  It changed her focus.  Tori  also committed to doing her physical training this summer and has improved drastically. Now in her second year she is a valuable member of the team and rarely will be off the floor.

After the match we found out the strike was over!!!!  I was able to get back with the team officially after midnight.  I was so excited, the reaction of the team surprised me.  Of course the first thing they thought of was the unknown.  What is going to happen with classes, I have missed 7 exams are we going to have to write them all in one week? How many assignments are due?  This was going to be a big distraction for tomorrow.

We went into practice and had a good conversation about dealing with what we can control, and that was our team prep for todays match.  We also talked about what would be the best thing for the team, Should I take over immediately as head coach.  After talking as a coaching group and with some of the players we decided that Becky would head coach the team one last match.  I would assist her.  I haven’t been at practice in 7 weeks.  I am not in the best situation to make decisions based on athletes ability in certain situation.  Plus it is a great opportunity to show team first. To practice what we are preaching all the time.  I wanted to be back coaching so bad, but it was better to assist.

We really emphasized defense and being able to release to off speed shots or balls of the block. Forty minutes of our hour was dedicated to that type of drills.  We also took some time to make adjustment to block their rightside player.  We moved inside and defended one and relied on the player in 5 to dig the line shot.

Last week we talked a lot about communicating and then making adjustments as a group.  Well Saturday it all fell together.  We played great the team was able to make the adjustments.  Early in the first set Jaryn was able to chase down a ball that went sideways off a block and we were able to win the long rally. Kellie was so loud on defense that it became contagious and everyone was talking. It was fun to watch the team play.  We decided to start Chloe again.  WE had a good discussion about her focussing on passing a defending.  Her attacking would take care of itself.  The better she passed the more opportunities we would have to run middle and rightside.   The more seams she would have in the blocks.  Chloe knows she is a strong ball control player so this wouldn’t be hard for her.  We also know that Shanlee is breathing down her neck...Competing together makes us better.  Having fun with the competition makes us better.

We won 3-0 which leaves us at 4 wins and matches this weekend which we can reach .500 ^ wins going into Christmas break gives us a chance.