Reflective Essa'y First Draft

Bajunaid. 6

Othman Bajunaid

ENGL 10 WP#2

Jennifer Mayer

10/05/2021

Volleyball: The Mental Game

In spite of volleyball including actual physical skills of hitting a ball, it also includes utilizing of the personalities to play carefully. At the point when a solitary player commits errors, changes should be made instantly to alleviate costs to the group. Mix-ups are normal events in a volleyball match-up, and now and again they may disappoint players if endeavors to address the mix-ups prove to be vain. Consequently, it requires the entire group to perk up and not squabble when mix-ups happen. The cooperative team generally embraces strong discussions like reasonable preliminaries to comfort players. Numerous things make the volleyball sports difficulties, incorporating a presentation with spryness, size of the players, and agility to jump. Volleyball presents various opportunities for errors to occur, and simple straightforward mix-ups can bring about adverse outcomes in a split of a second. In this way, making the fundamental changes instead of focusing on the errors made is vital to guaranteeing that the players don't set themselves to rehash a similar slip-up. Though mostly a physical game, mental skills are required, such as confidence, mental toughness, effective communication, imagery skills, concentration, sports intelligence, and demonstration of independence and team orientation to excel in volleyball.

Confidence 

There are three confidence levels: overconfidence, under-confidence, and optimal confidence. Overconfidence can make players blindly believe that they can perform better even without adequate preparations for a given game. Yes, the players might be adequately skilled, yet some areas require polishing through practice. For instance, if directly serving the ball gives the opponent a chance to score against the players, there needs improvement. But with overconfidence, it might be taken lightly and make the players play down to lesser volleyball competition. Under confidence, on the other hand, is attributed to mental problems of the facility to trust personal ability to perform. For instance, when a player has spiked the ball through the game, but it reaches a moment where s/he is blocked, the player might begin to undermine their ability to perform. Similarly, players with the mentality of avoiding making mistakes have a confidence issue. Optimal confidence is required in a volleyball game and is revealed through the player taking a strong court presence and owing performance. Confidence is a trait that marks out a volley ball player as unique in the pitch and as a result which is directly attributed to the chances of success.

Mental toughness

There are many distractions during the volleyball matches. For instance, crowd noise made by spectators supporting the opponents tends to affect the mind negatively and might discourage players from performing even if they have the potential. It requires mental toughness not to yield to intimidations or fear from opponent reactions. Coupled with the intimidations from opponents is the high-stress situation like minor injuries. The players need to focus on things under their control to get the motivation to keep on playing. Mental toughness entails focusing attention on a vital aspect of the game and sustaining the focus throughout the contest. Some of the factors that contribute to mental toughness include overcoming adversity, alleviating tension, managing stress, and maintaining composure upon defeat or victory. It is only when members of the team are tough enough to focus solely on the pitch that a team chances of success are increased.

Effective communication

Communication is an important aspect during volleyball matches. When it is lost, the mistakes can easily cost the game. Whenever individuals make mistakes during matches, it is high time for the players to encourage one another. Effective communication helps the team to work together without allowing frustration to demoralize the players. It also helps build internal motivation to improve and succeed at the matches. Even when a player makes mistakes, cheers make it possible to maintain focus during volleyball matches and keep on the rhythm. Communication between the players is a key element to ensuring that the game proceeds as expected.

Imagery skills

Visualizing the player positions, certain play patterns, and movements on the courts are significant in dealing with problems attributed with serving the ball to a particular target in the opponent courts. Imagery entails external and internal processes that, when employed, allow recreation of direct experience in the brain for excellent performance. Imagery skills can be learned through the instant replay of execution, feel and sight. The skills are vital, especially in difficult situations, as the mind has an established roadmap on properly executing such a scenario. Memorized skills become part of the player, and the skills serve as consultants and coaches to guide them on what to do. When players learn how to practice these imagery skills, their mental fitness is likely to improve, and it is possible to gain better individual play and team cohesion. Players need to be able to visualize the positions that their teammates are at irrespective pf whether they are visible or not based on how they are expected to play.

Sport intelligence and competitiveness 

Volleyball players need to see and perceive situations for them to complete sports tasks. A lot happens on the volleyball court, and individual players must know the play pattern, control the game, read the play and read ball flight. Such intelligence helps the players maneuver efficiently to add a competitive advantage against the opponents. Players with sports intelligence can contemplate instruction from coaches and execute game plans as required when on the field. When players have the right mindset towards the game, they attain competitiveness; they normally enjoy the competition and thieve on. With determination to win the game, competitive players turn out to be always aware of the scores. Rather than strain to win the game, they will play smart to win it by saving energy for crucial points in the matches and shining over competitors without struggling.

Demonstrating independence and being team-oriented

Every player should be proud to take decisions off and on the court and be accountable for the decisions. Demonstrating independence comes even during training, where the players need to be reminded from time to time when training is scheduled. Even the coaches and team leaders have a good time dealing with volleyball players who already have established personal standards. Such mental aspects constitute teamwork and valuing the team. Every player has a role to play in attaining the discourse community's goal and should show commitments towards attaining those goals.

Conclusion

Volleyball as a game entails more than the physical acts of serving the ball. It employs mental training, which helps the players remain on top of the game. When the above mental skills are practiced in the court, the players will see a consistent performance, keeping the team in the winner's circle. It will be easy to adjust accordingly and cope with the challenges whenever frustration or distractions occur during the game. Nothing is worth acknowledgment than seeing players work as a team to perform with composure even under pressure. Although maintaining the correct mindset in the game is not easy, it is possible and worth doing.

Work Cited

"Sports Psychology Coaching Articles." The Mental Game Of Volleyball - Article by Bill Cole, https://www.sportspsychologycoaching.com/articles/TheMentalGameOfVolleyball.html.

Stephen Walker, Ph.D. "5 Keys to Mental Toughness in Volleyball." Podium Sports Journal, 10 Mar. 2015, https://www.podiumsportsjournal.com/2014/12/16/the-top-5-mental-skills-for-volleyball-training/.

Texts and Conventions of Volleyball - Isu Writing. http://isuwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Dunbar-Millie-GWRJ6.2.pdf.