Transitioning from Club to College

Top Flight VBC
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

With club season now over, soon many high school seniors will be reporting to preseason. The excitement of starting something new and the feeling of nervousness as you to take the next step is completely normal. The nature of your transition depends a lot on what you do to prepare for it. Though this topic is most urgent for high school seniors, those of you with a little more time have an opportunity to get ahead of the game if you start preparing now.

The most important consideration coming into college is health. It is great to get reps and play a lot of volleyball, but you need to be smart about how you do it. Improper mechanics are a huge problem in club and high school volleyball. This issue will follow an athlete into college if they don’t focus on the proper mechanics their coaches are trying to teach them. For example, just because you have always landed on one leg when you hit and have been successful doing so, does not mean that is not an ACL tear waiting to happen. Dedicating your time to mastering the proper mechanics will give you a better chance to play at a higher level. College volleyball is faster and more physical than club or high school volleyball. There are going to be players who have gone through two or three full years of working out at the college level and will be stronger than you. You do not have to try and catch up with those girls before you even step foot on campus. But the more experience you have in the weight room and the better shape you are in, the more prepared you will be to go up against the older players and less chances you have at getting injured.

There are more ways than just physical to prepare for the transition to college volleyball. Preparing yourself mentally is just as important as physical preparation to play at the next level. You do not have to touch ten feet or be able to blast the ball to make a different on the court. There are many aspects of the game that have nothing to do with physicality. A great player needs to understand the rules, strategy, and flow of the game. Learn to understand how volleyball works, not just how to do the skills you are taught, but the why you do them that way. If you understand the why, then you will get better at the how. Each situation presents you with a choice and how you make that choice could be what makes you a great player. The game of volleyball comes down to a series of situations. Most young players concentrate on developing their skills physically. Set yourself apart and spend time developing the mental side of your game as that is one more way you can contribute on the court when you get to college.

Chances are when you dream about what is coming next year, you see yourself on the court. This is an excellent goal and you should absolutely work towards it. In order to be the best player that you can be at any level, you need to learn how to motivate yourself. You are the only one who knows how hard you are working and how much more you can do. You are in charge of holding yourself accountable for doing everything you can to get better and achieve your goals. You want to enter college excited to play and learn, not apathetic and burnt out. In order to work as hard as you need to as a college player, your motivations are going to have to come from the heart. So, before it’s time for college, figure out a balance between training hard and cultivating that love for the game. College is a big step and commitment in your life. Remember to enjoy the college experiences, cherish the friendships and memories, and lastly never settle to give anything less than your best on or off the court.

Top Flight VBC

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