Mental Toughness Drills

By: Teri Clemens and Jenny McDowell

Originally Published in: The Volleyball Drill Book

Provided by: Human Kinetics

WHATEVER DRILL

Purpose

To encourage an understanding of positive communication, both verbal and nonverbal, when dealing with those in a position of authority.

Setup

The coach divides the team into two groups. Each group sits in a line facing the other. Each person in group A assumes the role of a person in an authoritative position, such as a parent, principal, policeman, coach, or teacher. The coach can assign the roles, players can provide suggestions, or each member of the group can choose a position of authority. Each person in group B assumes the role of someone who is expected to take direction from the person across from her or him. For example, if the first person in group A assumes the role of a teacher, the first person group B assumes the role of a student.

Run the Drill

1. One at a time each member of group A, in the position of authority, makes a statement to the teammate directly across from her or him in group B. The statement should be something a person with that role would be likely to say. Players can be creative and make up a situation they have not been a part of, such as a famous director giving notes to an actor, or they can use a cliché such as a parent saying, "Get right back in here and clean your room."
2. Each person in group B responds to the statement from the opposite person with just one word, "Whatever." Group B members can use any facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice they like, but they may only use the word whatever.
3. This continues for a few rounds. The coach will know when enough is enough.
4. Group A members then describe their feelings and reactions to the "Whatever" statement. They may say that it was hurtful or seemed like a brush-off.

Coaching Points

• Ask if there are other under-the-breath dismissive or hurtful comments people often use, and steer the conversation toward the effects of these statements. Talk about how such remarks can be disrespectful, cause people to judge the speaker, lower the speaker's standing in the group, disrupt practice, and more.
• Discuss and encourage the positive characteristics each team member should show during practice. Discuss what to do when one agrees or disagrees with a coaching decision or direction, and how this might affect the team.

HAMMER DRILL

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail." - Anonymous

Purpose

To help players understand the need to touch the volleyball during practice and in matches by discussing and emphasizing the need for repetition.

Setup

The coach reads the following selection to the team before a day of repetition skills or simply to help the team understand the need for repetition.

When someone in the sport of volleyball hits the ball hard, we often refer to that person as a hammer. When that hammer gets better and better, she or he wants the ball, wants to hit, and will hit any ball. The hammer doesn't care if the set is a bit off, doesn't care if the lights are dim, doesn't find fault with others. The hammer just wants the ball set to her or him and to swing hard at it. It is like the quote. The hammer just wants to hit everything. The ball is the nail! Hit it hard.

We have to think like this in volleyball. Good players want to be the hammer. They want the ball. They want the ball when the game is on the line.

A hammer doesn't have to really be a hitter. A setter can want the ball more than anyone else. A passer can want it more. A libero can want to dig more than a hitter wants to hit.

The team needs players who want the ball! Do you? Do you want it repeatedly so that you can continue to improve and to achieve?

This is why repetitions are so important. The more you set, the better you set. The better you set, the more you are challenged with tougher sets. This means more repetitions. Nothing in volleyball is more important than repetitions.

The more you repeat, the more comfortable you are with the skill. Then in games you are relaxed. You may fall into the zone - the place where you seem to play flawlessly, where it looks easy even when it is hard. This is where you want to be. You can't get there unless skills seem natural to you.

Run the Drill

1. The coach leads a discussion about the reading, highlighting the need for repetitions in volleyball and the need to maintain focus during repetition drills.
2. The coach asks players for input about how to keep players focused. This may vary with the player. The coach and players offer ideas on how to keep busy and active during repetition drills. They explore how to be helpful to teammates during repetition drills.

Coaching Point

During practice and games, remind players of this discussion by telling them to be the hammer! That simple phrase will bring the key points of this activity back to them and keep them motivated.