Coaches Corner

I once met a coach. She was a good coach, and I'd heard that she was really interested in learning and improving. I told her about some research that I found on skill learning . I told her that: Guided discovery has a moderate rate of change, but changes are permanent and resistant to pressure. So, let the players ask questions and be patient. Direct instruction has has a fast rate of change but but that change is impermanent and not resistant to pressure. So do this only when there is an urgent need. Open training drills don't show improvements as quickly as Blocked Practice, but demonstrates significantly higher long term retention. So, use open drills but be patient. Less feedback is actually better for long term retention of changes. So, allow the athletes to make errors and work things out for themselves. When athletes ask for feedback they are more likely to incorporate it into their understanding, and they retain any learning. So, allow the athletes to make e

I have to admit I've really enjoyed watching the Volleyball Nations League this year. In particular, the finals were great, and one of my favourite things to watch was the French Setter: Toniutti. I really liked watching him because he could do things that other setters didn't seem to be able to do. I also liked watching him because he is one of the best couple of setters in the world, and he is 6 foot tall. For decades the prevailing wisdom in the volleyball world has been that everyone in volleyball is getting taller. But for all these predictions the fact do not bear it out, or, at least, not to the extent that is made out. Sure, the winning Russian team had outside hitters who were 6-7 and 6-9, but the best outside for France is only 6-4.* It is clear to everyone that you have an advantage in volleyball if you are tall. But, as volleyball is a game of skill, you also have an advantage if you are more skillful than your competitors. There are many myths in volleybal