Tuesday, 16 Jul 2024

Getting More Than One Ball Flying in Practice

Learning any motor skill, whether it’s a sport technique, a video game, or a musical instrument, requires practice. While watching or reading about a skill can provide ideas, true mastery comes from actively engaging in the skill. This is why practice is essential for skill development. To illustrate this point, let’s consider how young people learn to drive cars. They may observe their parents driving for years, but it is only when they start driving themselves that they truly acquire the skill.

Importance of Game-like Practice

When it comes to sports, athletes often spend too much time standing in line or listening to coaches instead of actively practicing. To enhance learning, we must create an environment where athletes can perform skills in a game-like manner. A key principle to consider is that “if you only have one ball in the air above your court, you should simply be scrimmaging with some variation of scoring.” The game itself trains the brain, and the more balls we can get flying around in the learning space, the better.

Enhancing Practice Techniques

In the past, coaches would break down every possible situation and teach players how to handle them. However, a wise coach understands that teaching players to problem-solve on their own is more effective. The game itself presents various situations, and players learn and remember lessons better through experiencing them. It’s important to allow failure to happen and provide feedback when necessary, without constantly correcting every error.

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Tips for Game-like Practice

To maximize learning and repetition, here are some tips to incorporate into your training:

  1. Set up multiple nets: Even if the nets are not full-sized, having more nets allows players to read the ball through them effectively.
  2. Split the court: If there is only one net, split the court in half using swim noodles to create separate playing areas.
  3. Create stations: Set up stations around the net where 2-3 players can break out and have a second ball flying. If a station doesn’t have a net, players can play 1 vs. 1 with one player acting as the net. Keep track of the highest number of ball control repetitions in a cooperative way.
  4. Ribbon/Rope station: Set up a station in a corner with a mesh that catches the spike and rolls it back, allowing players to work on pass-dig/set/spiking reps.

By incorporating these techniques, players can experience game-like situations, improve their skills, and have fun in the process.

FAQs

Q: Why do players love game-like practice drills?
A: Game-like drills provide players with a more realistic and engaging training experience. They start with the serve, just like every point in a match, and they go over the net rather than being a drill in front of a net. Additionally, the team size allows each player to touch the ball, promoting active participation and teaching problem-solving in a creative, reality-based manner.

Q: How can other sports modify their game structure to encourage more touches?
A: Various sports have found ways to adapt their game structures to increase player involvement. For example, National Hockey League teams often play 2 vs. 2 with three pucks in play across the short side of the rink. Similarly, USA Basketball has successfully set up six basketball hoops in gymnasiums to promote more touches and active participation.

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Summary

In summary, to master any motor skill, including sports techniques, it is crucial to actively practice and engage in game-like situations. The more balls we can get flying in training, the better our athletes will become. By incorporating techniques like setting up multiple nets, creating stations, and embracing game-like drills, players can enhance their skills and enjoy the learning process. Let’s strive to provide athletes with the best learning environment, encouraging them to problem-solve and grow as players. Join us at Alpinetgheep.com for more insightful content and further your understanding of effective training methods.