Let the Competition Season BEGIN!!!

Below is a list of where each team is playing for the RMR Seeding Tournament this Sunday, January 21st. For directions to a facility, click here.

Good Luck to all Teams!!!

Scrimmage Weekend - A Moment
“Under the Lights”
By Jim Miret, FRVBC Head Coach

With the close of our annual scrimmage weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to share a few thoughts with you.

We have some definite goals and objectives for running a scrimmage weekend before we begin playing in regional competition.  We want to:

1. Simulate a real event by wearing uniforms, using officials, score-sheets, real match protocol, playing in presence of a crowd, and playing traditional length sets (games).
2. Try different line-ups, to see how each functions under the pressure of competition
3. Try players in different roles, to see how they perform under the pressure of competition
4. Work out the kinks that exist as teams play in different serve receive formations, and run different defense formations
5. Give the coaches a chance to see how their teams will respond when playing poorly and playing well, to better prepare us for the Seeding tournament next weekend.
6. Help each coach identify what the team needs to work on before we have our early competitions
7. Help each coach evaluate where each player is and what needs to be done next in the team’s development

I like to use the analogy of performing in competition as being under intense light. In this situation, sometimes people shine, sometimes people melt. 

When we shine light on something we see how it actually is, not how we think it is, or how we want or hope it is.  Seeing how our teams are and seeing how our players are “under the lights” helps us more precisely plan the next steps to develop the team’s and the players’ full potential. 

Based on how our teams and players did “under the lights” of our scrimmage weekend, our coaches will make decisions on how to use their personnel and which strategies going into the Seeding tournament next weekend give out teams the best chance to be successful.

I was talking with a veteran FR parent on Saturday.  He asked me what I thought of the teams.  I told him I was pleased and that we have a lot of work to do.   He commented that all the teams are a work in progress from now until we head off to the Junior Olympics. 

I couldn’t think of a better way to look at the endeavor we have just embarked on.  All of us - coaches, teams and players - are a work in progress. The future will hold many challenges, trials, failure and successes. Today we area at a certain point, working hard to improve and progress; tomorrow we will be better than we were today.

We don’t need to worry about being “under the lights” and what it might reveal to us.  We’re not “there.”  We’re a work in progress - moving toward our goal of being nationally competitive.

Developing Competitive Toughness
By Tim Engles, Sports Psychologist

In the next few weeks, all FRVBC players will be facing the competitive challenges of scrimmages and the Power League seeding tournament.  We all talk about being mentally tough in competition, but what does mental toughness really mean and what does it entail?

Mental toughness is about managing your thoughts, emotions and focus of attention.  Here’s what Maggie Sherrill and MacKenzie Marlowe learned about mental toughness in the pre-season.  They call it “Sally Eats Noodles.”

Before the point starts, See.  Visualize yourself “doing my job.”  For passers, this means seeing themselves tracking the serve and passing to the appropriate target using “Hit, Mine, Pass.”  If the passer is also a hitter, she sees herself handling the pass, and then moving outside, calling to the setter and swinging to kill on the set.

For the server, it means going through her serving routine: taking a cleansing breath, visualizing her serve, and breathing in and out as she tosses and serves.  For blockers, it’s seeing themselves moving to the set and stuffing the hitter.  For the libero, it’s digging and controlling the opponent’s hit.

Then it’s time to Execute.  Notice the rhythm and depth of your breathing as you prepare for the ball to come into play.  It’s impossible to breathe diaphragmatically (abdominal breathing) and feel anxious at the same time, so use belly breathing to keep your mind confident, quiet and ready.  (Look for an upcoming article on the correct way to breathe diaphragmatically.)  Expect and “want the ball” to come to you.  As the ball comes into play, call out “Hit, Mine, Pass” to focus with relaxed eyes on the ball and respond to what it’s doing.

When the point ends, Notice and correct.  Now’s it’s time to use visualization again to notice what you did, reinforcing the things you did well and correct any errors.  For correcting, first take a cleansing breath and then pick just one thing to correct.  Visualize yourself making the correct move and seeing the good result.  Then it’s time to get ready for the next point.

FREE SCREENING FOR CUSTOM ORTHOTICS

Nicole P. Rabanal PT, CSCS will be offering free screening for Sole Supports custom orthotics to the Front Range Volleyball Club.

An orthotic is supportive device which is placed inside footwear, to change the mechanical function of the foot.  It works dynamically during weight-bearing activities like walking, running and standing.

Functional dynamic casting is very important to ensure an individual correction and fit.  Sole supports is the only manufacture providing a full arch contact orthotic, thus changing the way your foot works and is comfortable at the same time.  Correcting the biomechanics of the foot may help alleviate foot, knee, hip and back pain through control of excessive pronation.

The screen includes a 10 minute evaluation of standing posture, arch height, functional loading of the foot and leg and Pedograph (an ink footprint analyzing weight distribution through the foot while walking). Make sure to download, print and bring the orthotics disclosure form to your scheduled fitting.

The orthotics are being offered at a reduced cost of $200.00.   This includes the evaluation, casting and shipping.  This same produce can be purchased for $300 - $500 depending on the provider.  Nicole, as a FRVBC alum, is willing to donate her time in an effort to give back to an organization that was so beneficial to her as a young athlete.

Need More Practice or Uniform Gear?
Click here to download the order form. If you have any questions, please email Erin.