Reminders: Limit conversations with coaches or other staff members upon arrival, between sets/ games, TO, and after a match has ended. Perception is everything.
Modified: as hard as it is to sometimes stay engaged you need to do your best. Most 7th graders have never touched a VB except in PE class and we all know how PE volleyball goes. It doesn’t help a program. They are improtionable individuals and need a good experience to keep them coming back and falling in love with the sport.
Be patient with coaches at this level too. A gotcha at the JV/V level is a gentle reminder at the mod level. Ex. entering the sub box to coach or call a TO during a game. Discreetly remind them at a stoppage of the rule. If out of rotation try to be proactive and fix players and let the coach know why. We want this to be a good experience for all. Keep doing a great job.
R2’s need to remind themselves to watch off ball, and look for rotational overlaps. R2 should also be checking both benches during the game to see if the coaches need anything or they are requesting anything. During TO our backs should only briefly be turned to the R! to verify the score/scoresheet is correct and if Libero is in or our. Then you should turn and face the R1.
If there is an obstruction on a court not only do you discuss this at the captains meeting, but you must also notify both coaches of the rule pertaining to overhead obstructions.
If you are not 100% sure whether it was a player or a ball that contacted the net, error on the side of caution. Same with touches and in/out calls. Rather put yourself in a better position to make the call correctly.
No drive by substitutions. Slow players down when subbing. If bad habits bleed over to sectional games these teams could be reprimanded or carded by other boards. The last thing our board needs is a comment like: “This is how we have been doing it all along.”
Always use the language of the rule book when you are explaining something to a coach or a captain.