The Achieve Volleball Club is committed to teaching young players the fundamentals of the game. Although athleticism is important, the mental aspect of volleyball is also significant. Through experience at the club level and by participating in tournaments and clinics, players will gain a "volleyball IQ"--an understanding of the game that will make them dominant on the court.

Indeed, there are millions of people who enjoy volleyball at the basic level. But even the casual observer will notice how the game favors those who deploy even basic tactics and team strategies.   This is the point where the game changes most: when the smart can defeat the strong.   

At its core, volleyball is restricted by earth’s laws of physics.  Every player, from playground novice to Olympic champion, requires gravity to draw the ball to the floor. Velocity, inertia and energy define the limits. The game favors the mathematically inclined, who understand geometry and probability. All the science boils down to one simple and irrefutable law of volleyball: every core skill of the game can be performed better by a player in the proper position. Every extra reach, shift and adjustment reduces your efficiency.

Add this perspective: one genie, one bottle and three wishes.
After your new iPhone and the plasma TV come the really hard choices. Would you prefer 3 more inches of vertical or the ability always to know where the ball is going next?   The gift of premonition sure makes blocking easier, not to mention serve receive.  Setting becomes a lot less dicey if you always know where the pass is going.

Such prognostication is often referred to as a player’s volleyball IQ (VBIQ). For most, the VBIQ matures at a different pace than most physical skills, in part because it is solely acquired over
many years of watching random plays unfold. The patterns and tendencies can be so subtle that one would have to witness hundreds of attempts to recognize a repeating pattern. In many
cases, the progress is slowed because the player is not actively looking for these kinds of clues. The active discovery process does not begin without some moment of epiphany – that point
when a player realizes, “I need to pay attention because this stuff is important.” I believe that moment should be emphasized by volleyball coaches at a very early stage of player development.   Clearly, the effects of physical skills are greatly enhanced when
combined with an elevated VBIQ. So train VBIQ right along with the physical skills. It adds relevance and heightens awareness.

For example, when teaching a player to serve , we give a lot of attention to the toss. “You must toss the ball to this spot every time.” Now extend the lesson. “When your toss drifts too far to center, what happens? Your serve goes left.” “When your toss gets too low, what happens? The serve flattens out.” Transfer this knowledge directly into serve receive training. As a de-
fender, watch the server’s toss. If the point of contact moves, you now have a better idea of how to adjust. Your VBIQ gets you closer to the ball before your feet are even engaged.

There is an abundance of resources dedicated to the physical training of volleyball athletes. One is hard-pressed to find training aids for VBIQ. On-the-job training is the best most players can hope for. So what can you do to pull your team ahead of the VBIQ learning curve? Many of our tried and true practice drills can easily be adapted to VBIQ drills. Simply change the focus to observing the visual clues. It may sound remarkably counter-intuitive, but we must first reduce
our focus on the ball. The flight of the ball tells the story of where the ball has been. There are many more revealing clues that better predict the future. Remember, the value of
VBIQ comes from knowing what will come next while others simply respond to what has happened.  

One common trait of the VBIQ elite is the ability to bring into focus the player who will play the next ball. Once the ball is in motion, there is little to be gained from watching its flight.   Nothing will change its course and speed, which makes its destination quite predictable. The next player in the series can tell you a lot more about the future. Is this player in a good position to play this next touch? If the player has arrived to her position early and is displaying a calm and confident demeanor, that player probably has a wider array of options open to her.   Most players give some kind of tell.  Those who have a high VBIQ  are constantly trying to figure out what those tells are and capitalize on them.  

One of the unique challenges of VBIQ training is the lack of metrics. How can a coach tell that the player was actually watching and processing the correct information? The most effective way is to ask the player to verbalize her thought processes as they occur. Ask the player to do a live play-by-play while the action is underway and listen to what is being said.  You can quickly tell if both the focus and interpretation are accurate. If you have video tape equipment, position the players next to the microphone. You can later replay the moment, along with the player’s commentary, for review.  

Another significant benefit of practicing verbalization is how well it translates into game-time court talk. A high VBIQ player can become an effective court leader whose voice guides the rest of the team. Others will learn to recognize for themselves the same clues your VBIQ leader is describing. One active mind connected to a loud, clear voice can produce far more VBIQ training than many hours of drills.

Focus your attention on the things that are in your control.   VBIQ training has a far better chance of improving our game than trying to grow.
Instead of trying to grow, try a little training for the brain.

By Larry Smith