Intensity, Energy, and Purpose: The Volleyball Tournament Mindset Coaches Notice

*Originally Posted 3/20/2024

What should your mindset be going into a tournament weekend like Indy, Triple Crown or any other qualifier?

Indianapolis is always one of my favorite places to go. Plenty of restaurants downtown and usually some good food trucks outside as well (although that didn't happen this year). If needed, there is always Steak & Shake to bail you out in a pinch; Mint-chocolate chip. Anyone else?

I get to stay at my favorite Bed and Breakfast with Breakfast each morning and fresh baked cookies everyday. No, it's not my grandmother's house.

The last several years there were courts over at Lucas Oil Stadium as well (again, not this year)! It's a little bit of a walk, but it's pretty cool to stand in the middle of that stadium and look up.

Here is my take away from last weekend:

Intensity, Energy and Purpose

Intensity

I talk about the physicality of this sport all the time. It's a sport where the other team is going to score; you're going to make mistakes at some point. It is that back and forth that makes this game so exciting and difficult to watch at the same time. It has a TON of ups and downs. It carries all the emotions of staring a loss in the face, when the other team scores match point and you only have 20; then roaring back to score 6 straight points to win 26-24. Quite the emotional roller coaster. You have to bring a high level of force and strength mentally and physically to be successful over the course of the weekend.

Energy

Not everyone on a volleyball team has the same personality and that's perfectly okay. What you can't do is suck the energy from your teammates. I watched several teams purposefully wait for everyone to be in the huddle before moving to their next position. Passers would be sure to high-five each other before the other team served. They weren't lazy about it either. The thing about "energy" is that it can get zapped pretty easily. It just takes one teammate not buying in to these things in that moment and now all of a sudden everyone has to use up their energy to PULL that person back up off the mental floor. It's hard. Three days of matches is difficult and draining of your mental and physical energy. When you can SHOWcase that energy though, it makes a huge difference with your team. The cheering, clapping and even pushing GIVES energy. When the collective is more energized, it makes some of the low moments easier to come out of.

Purpose

I think it's important to remember what your goal is. The hardest part about this at a qualifier is that the purpose of getting a bid can go away after your first two matches of the weekend. I think it's important to be sure that you have more than 1 goal and 1 purpose for the weekend. What are your goals defensively? Offensively? As a team? Individually? There are still things you can accomplish in those 3-4 matches over the course of a weekend even if you aren't going to get a bid. Is it hard to always play with purpose? Sure! But focused and determined athletes stand out.

All three of these things are items to focus on at your next tournament or qualifier. College coaches are watching these things when they come watch you play. Lack of energy, intensity and purpose can easily come across to college coaches. Remember, you want to be showing them your best. If they are coming to evaluate your skill level and you're not playing with a high level of intensity, they will notice.

If they are watching a libero or a setter that demonstrates low energy, why would they want to recruit you in that position?

Are you playing determined volleyball?

Are you communicating and and encouraging your teammates?

Are you playing with the same intensity in a match that could win you a bid vs a match that doesn't?

Self-evaluation is one of the tougher things to do in life. Sometimes it's even harder when your coach points out things you can work on during a film session. Be willing to improve your intensity, energy and purpose just like you would any of your other volleyball skills.

What's your mindset going into this weekends volleyball tournament?

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