Today was the last of the Sunday trainings I did for Willunga High School. Next week it’s off to Melbourne for the School’s Cup. Sunday trainings are usually “clinics” i do where i train-up the skills of anyone who wants to turn up and learn. I usually do 3 sessions starting at 10am. The first with the open boys, then the year 9/10 girls, then the year 8 girls.
I live an hour and 15 mins from Willunga, so it means no sleeping in, and half the day gone. But it’s OK. It’s my last year.
Today’s session was just a trial game against the Open Boys (trainings have finished for the others). Games are important since they don’t get a lot of practice with quality opposition. Only their captain, Chris Little plays State League and representative volleyball.
Games vs Drills
At this level, match practice can be more effective than trainings. Historically, the Heathfield open teams had little practice together before the School’s Cup but still had great result. They only had one small crappy gym, and since their volleyball programme finished at year 10, the older kids never got to train much. The teams were a mix of kids who played club, representative volleyball and nothing at all. What the boys would do is play weekly games against their affiliated club, Mt. Lofty’s AVL team for the last few weeks leading up to the tournament. They’d get smashed. Often in front of school crowds. it’s humbling, and good practice, and helped them get great results.
Ring-ins
I couldn’t get much of a team, but luckily an ex-teammate of mine had a wedding not far away, so I was able to round up a couple of ex-clubmates who were recovering on it to front up. So a hungover Jono “Funky” Dragt and Triton joined me and Princi to play against their 6.
With only 4, we still managed to cream them. 4 sets to 1. And the one we lost went to 27-25. Bit disappointing since i expected a lot more. Then again, Funky, Triton and I are pretty seasoned players who have played a lot together (although not for a while) and our ball control was a lot better.
Freestyling
We mixed it up a lot playing a lot of combos, quicks, shoots and backrows. The passing was really good so i could do a lot as a setter. Passing isn’t just about where the ball lands, but when it lands; too fast and the setter can’t make a play, too slow and the defence is too prepared for the attack.
last minute trainings
Tomorrow I’m taking the morning off work to work with the Open Girls. Then I have one more session with the girls on Wednesday morning before we get on the bus on Saturday night.
