r/volleyball • u/AnxiousGingySnap • 8d ago

General Playing up

Have you ever heard the advice that the best way to get better is to play up… or is it just me…?
The past 8 months or so I have really wanted to improve my skill level and have tried more 4’s and just playing more.

Well today was the day… new league and new team (and my friend who joined with me was out which didn’t help) wow. I left feeling defeated. I had a very serious team to start… and I felt a little below on top of that. After I was told most teams our A and AA. I’d say I’m a BB. More was said with a staff member but I don’t need to vent it all out for yall.

I want to get better… but damn. I feel quiet down in the dumps. I’ll take any and all advice.

14 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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20

u/warrends 8d ago

Yes. This applies to just about everything in life. The two best ways to get better at something are generally:
1) Teach it to someone else, or
2) Do it with people who are better than you.
So … yes.

5

u/AnxiousGingySnap 8d ago

How do you do this without feeling like the person everyone hates on the team then?

9

u/isume 7d ago

Playing up works if you are mainly working on positioning and consistency.

If you have a few miss hits that is fine but if you are being targeted the whole game you moved up to far.

1

u/AnxiousGingySnap 7d ago

I really don’t think I was being targeted. I thought the same thing. I didn’t get set to as often but I know my hits just aren’t as strong currently.

I busted my butt I’d say.

5

u/tpet007 8d ago

You find the people who understand point 1 and are a bit better than you, and play with them. They will benefit from teaching you, which gives them insight into the things they’ve learned intuitively but never put into words. You’ll benefit from seeing how they play and being pushed to raise your own level to keep up. It’s win-win, in the right scenario.

I’ve been playing for 26 years, with players of all levels. I love the sport, I love teaching it, learning it, playing it, watching it… it’s a joy to play with enthusiastic beginners and teach them new skills. Progress is so much faster at first and it’s so fun to watch someone who couldn’t serve underhand nail their first float serve.

I’m not one for drills or overly-regimented coaching. The game teaches the game, and the beauty of volleyball is each problem it presents has nearly infinite solutions.

It should be obvious I know by now what I love about volleyball and what my own philosophy is. Figure out yours, and find players who share it or at least appreciate it. Play with them often!

3

u/kramig_stan_account 7d ago

IMO, a combination of 1) play “up” but not out of your league and 2) be enjoyable to play with.

1 is about finding groups where you can grow but aren’t quote-unquote a problem. It’s fine to be the weakest link on a team, but you don’t want to be the reason a team loses (consistently - everyone has bad games sometimes). It sounds like this is something you’re aware of, which means you probably have the self-awareness to be putting yourself in good situations already.

2 can mean a lot of things. Some of it is just personality fit, but being communicative, generally positive, and open to feedback are things you can control. I would also try to chat with/befriend people off the court; between two similar weaker players, I would rather play with the one I’m kinda friends with and is enjoyable to play with.

2

u/warrends 7d ago

Don’t be a dick. It’s really easy to do things that you’re really good at but nicely and with modesty. Unfortunately a lot of people decide to take the dick route.

2

u/UnicornGirl54 7d ago

Honestly, this was going to be my advice (in different words) but this is it. Be so kind and appreciate of the opportunity they can’t hate you. Ask for advice. Bring sports drinks for everyone or buy a round afterwards. Use humor if that is naturally you. Every decent human can remember a time they were trying to get better and will empathize.

3

u/Reasonable-Source523 8d ago

The best way to get better is practice through repetition, and this is one thing that I rarely see people discuss on this subreddit. You don't practice in games; you gain experience in games by self-consciously applying the techniques you acquire through practice and collaborating with teammates.

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u/AnxiousGingySnap 7d ago

I appreciate that, I have given thought to slowing down my league and spending my money towards clinics

1

u/erboze 7d ago

If you’re nice and try hard most people don’t care

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u/AnxiousGingySnap 7d ago

Maybe.. maybe just these girls weren’t the most approachable. I’d call like “nice adjustment” or whatever it might be during plays or like keep swinging if they missed… or making small talk in between. Nope. Coldest people I’ve met between clinics and such.

1

u/terpshooters 7d ago edited 7d ago

In those multiple levels, you don’t want to be the best player because you get less out of it, but you also don’t want to struggle at the bottom or the mental game from you and your team will take a hit. If you are BB, play BB or A.

I don’t see too many details on what league you are writing about.

Either way, these leagues generally don’t have practices so to get better you need someone who can correct your form in a practice setting.

If you stay with this team, communicate, have a positive attitude, be friendly, show them a good hit or pass. Positivity when struggling is much more forgiving for teammates than struggling with a slouch and frustration.

1

u/ComprehensiveList334 6d ago

You need to play with people who are okay with your skill level and are patient. It’s not any easy thing to find. Some people are more competitive and are there to win and some are there to have a good time and don’t mind teaching you and being patient with you growing. Same thing applies to anything in life.