The conversation ensues. "It's from a Division I head coach, so it must be good. It looks fun. Look at her sets, they are good so this must work. Let's do this at our practice with our setters from now on."
Science in sport, however, tells us the exact opposite. And so this post will hope to show you how these kinds of drills, while amusing and fun and inventive, are a drag on precious practice time and don't transfer to the game of volleyball.
"The Truth must dazzle gradually or every man be blind." - Emily Dickinson
The O.G. of the science in our sport, Dr. Carl McGown wrote this over 40 years ago: "Training is specific. The maximum benefits of a training stimulus can only be obtained when it replicates the movements and energy systems involved in the activities of a sport." He adds, "This principle suggests that there is no better way of training than actually performing the sport. We say, 'The game teaches the game'."
The setter above got good at one thing: catching a tennis ball in a cone. Coaches, what would actually have made her a better setter?
Dr. Carl answers this simply. "For example, two passers; one is taught how to pass and passes against the wall for a week. One is taught to pass and then passes a live serve for a week. Who will perform better?"
This blog isn't condemning what coaches do or making sport of their training choices and with all humility, the author of this blog was a frequent user of these kinds of drills: jokingly referred to the 'new and shiny things,' before being introduced to the science of motor learning and since, these kinds of drills have become a distant memory.
If a coach wants to rely on tradition for their coaching, how they were coached, as many coaches do, then the science of training athletes is often put in the back seat. YouTube, TikTok and other social media apps which give us instant content to our inquiries, are now a convenient go-to for coaches and their practice design. And still many of these presenting coaches look for gimmicks and the 'out of the box' ideas to get their points across, market their brands and sell their camps and dvd's to unsuspecting younger coaches who have already placed their orders for more cones and tennis balls for their volleyball equipment room.
Here is another example of a high level coach ignoring the concept of specificity in training.
For some more context in this vital training core principle, here are some more definitions of specificity:
"Essentially, specificity training means that you must perform the skill in order to get better at it.""Simply put, the principle of specificity states that how you train should mimic the skills, movements, and actions required to perform and excel in the game, activity, or event you’re participating in."
"The principle of specificity of training states that the way the body responds to physical activity is very specific to the activity itself. For example, someone who jogs can expect that their jogging performance would improve as well as their aerobic conditioning."
In the above video, what are these athletes getting better at?
A) Passing a volleyball off their midline
B) Moving to the ball
C) Catching a volleyball in a bucket
The idea of specificity is paramount not only in training our/any sport but it also is key in the TRANSFER of what is practiced to the game.
In this drill, the coach is attempting to have her blockers work on their one arm blocking technique. Some questions to ask as you look at this drill:
What are the players looking at and what would a volleyball player who is blocking be looking at while blocking?
What is the timing necessary for the players to catch the tennis balls and what is the timing necessary to jump and block an active, jumping hitter from across the net?
What is the movement required in this drill and what would be the movement requirements of a middle in a game blocking a hitter?
Your argument might be this coach is just working on hand placement or hand movement. The question is then, will what she is doing transfer to making these players better blockers. The scientific answer is a resounding no. They will be better at catching tennis balls from a low toss across the net with one or two hands.
Take a moment today, tomorrow, this weekend and look at the drills you have coming up in your practices this week;
Does this drill look like the game of volleyball?
Does this drill use a volleyball and have the ball coming from over the net? (Both of which are key to our sport!)
Will this drill require the purchase of cones, tennis balls or buckets?
Training efficiently with engagement, retention, transfer and problem solving is our goal as coaches. Be a good consumer when seeing these kinds of drills come across your social media feeds. Ask yourself these questions and be a critical thinker.
'Dazzling gradually' is how we will start to change minds about these kinds of drills. Share your ideas, help younger coaches, be open to change and see the flaws in these and other training ideas. Learn the science of sport.
Your kids might love catching volleyballs in buckets but your volleyball players will appreciate the speed of which they improve more.
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