Team Huddle
Playing as a team
Going for it...not the most flattering photo. But it shows the game.
Team encouragement on court
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Volleyball SAISA
Volleyball was a wonderful action activity that really allowed me to bond and work collaboratively with the other girls on the team. It also allowed me to work on understanding my areas of strength and areas that I need to work on. I realize from volleyball that I’m much more committed to an activity when others need and demand me to be there and I then show perseverance and commitment because these people push me on and because I enjoy the physical work and overall experience more when I have a team to work with. I also understand that I need to grow in my knowledge of how far I can push myself without bad consequences and how I can be stronger then I think, but only if I get rid of my own mental barriers telling me I can’t. Outside of volleyball I began planning and initiating my own fitness regimes that would increase my playing ability for the Libero position. To achieve this I often used my equipment for my aerial silks, which I already had, and modified to the meet the present needs; by doing this I developed new skills on both the aerial silks and in volleyball.
During SAISA I hosted two girls from the Bombay/Chennai School, Maja and Chaeli, and played throughout the tournament as Libero. Overall the tournament was great fun as we got to meet new people and learn about new places and the way other people lived their lives. It was also fun because everyone had a love for volleyball there and we could all bond over this similarity together. There were definite moments where tensions had to be worked out, but overall the teams worked really well with each other. As a team we also had to initiate some new activities as we accommodated the extreme increase of people. We often ended up warming up, cooling down, and doing skill work on the field, which allowed others to use the gym. Overall the SAISA was a tremendous success and we, as a team and as individuals, all feel very proud of what we accomplished. It was really nice for all of us to be able to see our perseverance and commitment pay off, and we all enjoyed working as a team as well.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Volleyball Practice 1
The start of the volleyball practices has left me tired, but exhilarated. The team works well together, though we're still working out minor issues such as rotational problems. I'm currently working as an outside hitter, with possibilities of being a setter or a libero. My area of weakness that I need to work on is where I need to go when at the net as outside hitter, the transition from blocking to hitting, and then setting correctly when I'm in setter position. My areas of strength are spiking the ball over the net as outside hitter and getting the ball up from the ground as libero and outside back.
We've initiated a lot of activities as a team, including warm ups, which we modify to suit our own individual strengths, needs for our positions, and areas we can work on. From there we often team up with another player who will benefit from the warm up. As a team we also understand the importance of working together and enjoying each others company, so we have group warm ups as well, including our dynamic warm up and often we do a "butterfly drill;" this drill is basically a rotational exercise that involves spiking, blocking, and digging the ball to improve our overall skills as a team.
As a team we need to work on communication, which is calling the ball, and also verbal support of our team mates on court. This is a problem because when we don't speak, we often miss the ball as we wait for someone else to get it, or several people collide at once trying to get the ball. When this happens the team overall feels worse off, creating a tense atmosphere that isn't helpful to playing. You can see the difference when we communicate in both our ability to play and win and our overall team spirit.
Libero is a new challenge for me, one that I'm quickly getting new skills from (and lots of new bruises). The role of libero is to get the ball up from the floor and to support other players if they can't reach the ball. I've done a lot of what the team calls "pancaking," which is basically attacking and sliding along the floor on any part of your body in order to reach the ball before it hits the court. What I need to work on most is hitting the ball with two hands while I'm on the floor, because I have the bad habit of hitting it with one hand, which only works part of the time. I can work on this by actively thinking through the process, I also just need to practice my role of libero. A lot. While I am getting better at supporting other players on court as libero, which entails getting behind them when they hit the ball in case they miss or the ball spins off, I need to work on getting there faster.
Overall, I love volleyball practice, and am committed to continuing the sport.
We've initiated a lot of activities as a team, including warm ups, which we modify to suit our own individual strengths, needs for our positions, and areas we can work on. From there we often team up with another player who will benefit from the warm up. As a team we also understand the importance of working together and enjoying each others company, so we have group warm ups as well, including our dynamic warm up and often we do a "butterfly drill;" this drill is basically a rotational exercise that involves spiking, blocking, and digging the ball to improve our overall skills as a team.
As a team we need to work on communication, which is calling the ball, and also verbal support of our team mates on court. This is a problem because when we don't speak, we often miss the ball as we wait for someone else to get it, or several people collide at once trying to get the ball. When this happens the team overall feels worse off, creating a tense atmosphere that isn't helpful to playing. You can see the difference when we communicate in both our ability to play and win and our overall team spirit.
Libero is a new challenge for me, one that I'm quickly getting new skills from (and lots of new bruises). The role of libero is to get the ball up from the floor and to support other players if they can't reach the ball. I've done a lot of what the team calls "pancaking," which is basically attacking and sliding along the floor on any part of your body in order to reach the ball before it hits the court. What I need to work on most is hitting the ball with two hands while I'm on the floor, because I have the bad habit of hitting it with one hand, which only works part of the time. I can work on this by actively thinking through the process, I also just need to practice my role of libero. A lot. While I am getting better at supporting other players on court as libero, which entails getting behind them when they hit the ball in case they miss or the ball spins off, I need to work on getting there faster.
Overall, I love volleyball practice, and am committed to continuing the sport.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Volleyball Team
I made the volleyball team! I plan on using this opportunity to improve my individual skills and become a better team player. Currently I'm switching between setter and outside, though I need to start training for libero as well. I'm proud of being able to fill so many positions on the team, and I definitely need to train harder to be my best at all of these. After making the team I took a step back and looked at the skills I have and what I need to work on. I need to improve my aim and control the power behind my hits and sets so that I can better help the team with my skills, which include being able to get the ball up when it's close to the floor and setting high enough so that people can hit. I plan on improving my skills as a team player by completely investing myself in the team during practice and making sure that team works cohesively together.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Volleyball Tryouts
Over the past couple of weeks I have been going to volleyball tryouts. I really hope I make the team because volleyball means a lot to me and I've been on the team in previous schools so I feel very connected to the sport. We find out if we made the team today, and I'm really excited but really nervous.Our tryouts have been on Tuesday after school, Wednesday mornings (recently added), Friday after school and Saturday mornings, and I've been committed to showing every time. While we have been working as a team, I've been able to understand what skills I need to work on. In the past I've been an outside position, but recently was switched to a setter, which means I have a whole new area of skills I need to work on. This increases my awareness of strengths (outside and hitter) and areas of growth (being able to set the volleyball to different positions and players on the team). I've also developed new skills from this as a setter, which includes the rotational positions and completely different requirements for the team to succeed.
Being a volleyball player on a team requires working collaboratively with others and perseverance and commitment to the activity. I've gotten to know my team mates better and I understand that in order to succeed we need to show up on time to practice, be committed to the sport, and be at each practice.
I really hope I make the team today, because I love volleyball as a sport and hope to be able to continue it and develop even more new skills.
Being a volleyball player on a team requires working collaboratively with others and perseverance and commitment to the activity. I've gotten to know my team mates better and I understand that in order to succeed we need to show up on time to practice, be committed to the sport, and be at each practice.
I really hope I make the team today, because I love volleyball as a sport and hope to be able to continue it and develop even more new skills.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Reflection
On the weekend the 11th grade left for our trip I was ready to take on some new challenges, but was also a bit worried about whether I would be able to handle everything on so little sleep. Much to the amusement of my room mates, I got plenty of sleep.
I've done rock climbing and belaying before, but I don't enjoy putting my life in other's hands, which is an area I need to work on. The task was real and I enjoyed belaying more then climbing. The consequences were very real because my partner slipped several times and I caught her; I had to be constantly aware of where she was on the rock, where I was in relation to her and where other people were, I also worked on good communication and encouraging her to keep going, but not pushing to hard. I was disappointed I didn't reach the top though, I nearly made it, but simply didn't have the strength at the end; in a way I felt like I let myself down.
Later I worked collaboratively with my group to create the boat out of a box. I wanted to be the one to paddle it, so I was slightly disappointed when I didn't get the chance to, but I understood the reasoning our group had behind putting someone else on.
In the future I need to work on trusting other people, even with my life literally in their hands. If I start small with this and work my way up, it should help. I also hope to try new techniques and harder walls next time I climb.
I've done rock climbing and belaying before, but I don't enjoy putting my life in other's hands, which is an area I need to work on. The task was real and I enjoyed belaying more then climbing. The consequences were very real because my partner slipped several times and I caught her; I had to be constantly aware of where she was on the rock, where I was in relation to her and where other people were, I also worked on good communication and encouraging her to keep going, but not pushing to hard. I was disappointed I didn't reach the top though, I nearly made it, but simply didn't have the strength at the end; in a way I felt like I let myself down.
Later I worked collaboratively with my group to create the boat out of a box. I wanted to be the one to paddle it, so I was slightly disappointed when I didn't get the chance to, but I understood the reasoning our group had behind putting someone else on.
In the future I need to work on trusting other people, even with my life literally in their hands. If I start small with this and work my way up, it should help. I also hope to try new techniques and harder walls next time I climb.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Goals for the Year - CAS
This year I'm going to undertake new challenges and develop new skills throught the creation of this blog. The fact that I got it set up is a minor miracle. I have never used a blog before and I fully realize I'm pretty much the only person my age who hasn't. I'm not particularly good with technology, so this will be a good experience for me.
I plan on joining Habitat for Humanity later on in the year to engage in issues of global importance and improve others lives. I also will enjoy this activity because, along with the service work, there's the added element of action when we go out and build; I can also get creativity credit with this due to the thinking process of the activities and planning.
My participation in volleyball allows me to assess and work on my strengths and areas of growth, work collaboratively with others since it's such a team and spirit driven sport, and also have loads of fun, since I love volleyball as a sport. I hope to be able to handle the work load and still continue doing volleyball for two years, since I love it so much, and this shows my perseverance and commitment to the sport.
I am currently in the planning stages of working outside the school with a dog facility and will update more as the communication and planning continues.
I plan on joining Habitat for Humanity later on in the year to engage in issues of global importance and improve others lives. I also will enjoy this activity because, along with the service work, there's the added element of action when we go out and build; I can also get creativity credit with this due to the thinking process of the activities and planning.
My participation in volleyball allows me to assess and work on my strengths and areas of growth, work collaboratively with others since it's such a team and spirit driven sport, and also have loads of fun, since I love volleyball as a sport. I hope to be able to handle the work load and still continue doing volleyball for two years, since I love it so much, and this shows my perseverance and commitment to the sport.
I am currently in the planning stages of working outside the school with a dog facility and will update more as the communication and planning continues.
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