Email Campaign Archive

How to Change the Opposing Server

By Mike Tully

Until last night, I believed that serving was a
unique skill because, like hitting a golf ball or
attempting a foul shot in basketball, it was
performed without any interaction with an opponent.

But I changed my opinion after a blackboard
session at practice. We were going over the
reasons why a passer should keep their eyes on the
server, and we were coming up with some familiar
reasons:

-By watching where the server stands, you can tell
if they're a jump-server or a standing server.

-By watching the eyes and feet, you can tell what
direction they will be serving the ball.  

Then came this gem from Lauren, a coaching
colleague: By staring right at the server, and
showing your alertness, you can actually make the
server aim at someone else. Lauren is a onetime
nationally ranked hitter in college and is now
working in our gym. I asked her if you could
actually intimidate the other server. Lauren said
that, yes, definitely, you can affect the server
just by your body language as a passer.

This information really struck me but, actually,
it should not really surprise "Yes, I Can!"
coaches and athletes. After all, "Yes, I Can!" is
about the mental game. And so much of serving and
passing is mental.

It reminds me about something Director Dave Cross
emphasizes at the annual overnight camp in
Oberlin, Ohio. Dave says that when coaches speak
to their team, only a small percentage of the
meaning comes from THE WORDS THAT ARE SAID. Most
of the meaning comes from HOW IT IS SAID.

We are mammals. We have survived this long by
sensing opportunity and danger. If, in the jungle,
you are wounded, you become easy prey. Same way on
the volleyball court. If you show frustration, or
weakness, the other team will sense it and pounce.
If, on the other hand, you project strength and
confidence, the other team will sense that, too.

Serving and passing is a game within a game, where
we try to project strength and probe for
weaknesses. It's a one-on-one battle like the
confrontation between a pitcher and catcher in
baseball/softball, or between a defender and
attacker in basketball.

As coaches, we must remind our players to keep
their body language strong. Staring down the
opposing server is good practice for staring down
danger. 

-Mike Tully is a member of the "Yes, I Can!"
coaching staff. You can hear him now on his "Pep
Talk" hotline at (973) 773-2151.