How to Set Realistic Goals as a Beginner Volleyball Player? A Detailed Guide

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Set your goals high and don’t stop until you get there.

Bo Jackson

Setting goals is very important to achieve anything meaningful in life and playing volleyball isn’t exempted from this truth.

But, do you know how to set realistic goals as a beginner volleyball player?

Do you have any idea of what are the steps you need to follow when setting volleyball-related goals for yourself?

If you have no idea or if you’d like to do these things effectively, keep reading!

In this post, we’ll be diving deep into the steps involved for setting realistic goals as a volleyball player, what are the things you need to achieve them and much more.

So buckle up, and let’s go!

Did you know? The 3 touch volleyball rule was first introduced in 1920. It significantly increased the overall momentum of the game.

How to Set Realistic Goals as a Beginner Volleyball Player

Understanding Your Role in a Volleyball Team

The best and the most important thing you can do after getting selected in a volleyball team is to understand your role in it. Understanding your role gives clarity on what you need to do as a player to make the team successful.

It all sounds pretty and good.

But how do you understand your role in the team as a player?

This is a slightly complex question to answer, but I’ll try to do my best.

The simple way to understand your role in a volleyball team and the one method that helped me to do so is asking the right questions to myself.

So what are those questions? Well, here they are!

What are my strong skills in volleyball?
What are the skills that come to me naturally as a volleyball player?
How to get better, improve and perfect my strong skills in this sport?
What are my less favorable skills in volleyball and how can I improve on them?
How can I contribute with my strong skills to make the team successful?

Answer to these questions honestly and note them down in whatever way that feels comfortable to you. Based on your answers, decide a role that feels right for you in the team and talk with your coach. Go with an open mind when you enter into the conversation and after getting the coach’s input, make changes if needed.

Understand the Kind of Goals You Need to Set as a Volleyball Player

Before understanding how to set realistic goals as a beginner volleyball player, it is crucial that you have a thorough knowledge on the kind of goals you need to progress further in this sport. This actually sets clear boundaries on certain types of goals you got to avoid in order to not get into the trap of goal abandonment.

So firstly, let’s look at the kind of goals you need to avoid.

Singularly focused outcome based goals. Examples: Come out undefeated in every tournament. Not getting aced at all.
Too extreme goals in the initial stages. Examples: Quickly get into the main team of the school/club. Make my family proud through me playing volleyball.
Unrealistic goals. Examples: Do things extremely perfect in every role that’s given to you in your team. Practice 5 hours a day.
Harmful goals related to your opponent team. Examples: Try to spike a ball in an opponent’s face. Go after your opponents whenever your team scores a point.

Now, we’ll move into the kind of goals you can set as a beginner volleyball player.

Setting goals that are measurable and you have complete control over.
Goals that are smart, productive and contributes to the success of the team.
Short term goals to achieve your volleyball related long term ones.
Setting goals that are healthier for your overall well being.

Learn How to Set and Keep Your Goals as a Volleyball Player

Once you have a thorough understanding of the kind of goals you need to set as a volleyball player, it’s time to understand how to set and keep them in order to help you get to wherever you want to go in this sport.

There are a couple of critical things you need to consider when setting goals as a volleyball player. They are clarity and direction.

So what do I mean by this? good question!

When you set a goal, you have to clearly define what is the major outcome that you want to achieve and how are you going to achieve it. If you get this right for each one, then your goals are clear.

Direction is self-explanatory. The plan you have to achieve each goal.

One of the easiest ways to set goals as a volleyball player is to follow the smart framework.

Here’s a questionnaire that you can use whenever you set goals related to playing volleyball. I used the smart framework to build this one.

Are these goals small and sustainable?
Are they measurable and are you feel comfortable achieving them?
Are these goals attainable and realistic?
Are these goals relevant to playing volleyball?
Are these goals based on a particular time frame and how soon you think you can achieve them?

This questionnaire isn’t a definitive one. But the main aim for me to create this is to make it as a guide post for setting volleyball-related goals.

Figure Out the Right Methods to Achieve Your Volleyball Related Goals

Different methods work for different people. There isn’t a one size fits all approach when it comes to achieving your volleyball related goals. Finding out a method that works for you is critical to make things happen.

As I said in the introduction, achieving anything in life requires clarity and volleyball related goals aren’t exempted from that. This is by far the best method that’ll propel you forward.

Apart from that, consistently working towards improving yourself, internal motivation, having a clear understanding about why you have set these goals in the first place, how you are planning to approach your goals and accepting the outcomes of your efforts are some basic things you can consider when you are trying to figure out a solid method to achieve your volleyball related goals.

Have a Proper Plan in Place to Achieve Your Volleyball Goals

Planning is the centre piece from which your journey towards achieving your volleyball related goals start. In fact if you get the planning face right, you’ve done the one third of the job.

So to make it easy for you, I’ve put together a questionnaire that you can make use of when crafting a plan to achieve your volleyball goals.

What kind of a player you are?
What are your roles in the team?
What are your strong skills in playing volleyball and how will you relate them to achieve your goals?

These questions will help you think deep and allow you set out a proper plan to achieve your volleyball goals.

Kindly remember that in certain situations, goals will change. So to tackle them, whatever plan you create must be adaptive in nature. Having a flexible plan will enable you to enjoy the overall process of achieving your volleyball goals.

Some More Key Points to Consider

Here are some more key points to consider when you try to set realistic goals as a beginner volleyball player.

Think carefully about what you want to achieve in the short term and long term as a volleyball player and set goals accordingly.
Set goals based on your volleyball related skill set.
When setting a particular kind of goal, think about whether you are able to put in consistent effort towards achieving it before committing yourself.
Thoroughly understand your strengths and weaknesses, develop a consistent plan to work on them, and based on the plan, set realistic goals and achieve them.
Adjust your goals according to your wins and losses and continue to improve yourself as a volleyball player.

FAQs on How to Set Realistic Goals as a Beginner Volleyball Player

What are Some Achievable Goals for Volleyball Players?

Here are some realistic and achievable goals you can set as a volleyball player.

Developing a playing style based on your stronger skill sets and working towards getting it right and exactly the way you want.
Putting regular effort to improve your overall game.
Respecting the routines you set towards achieving your goals.
Developing effective skills to mold your game.
Being fit and healthy to give your best for the team.

This isn’t a definitive list. In fact, I wrote it to give you an idea of the kinds of realistic and achievable goals you can set as a volleyball player.

What are Some Smart Goals for a Volleyball Team?

Here are some smart goals for a volleyball team.

Increasing the overall understanding within the team.
Establishing a strong communication pattern within the team.
Having an overall playing style and strategy for the team.
Having a strong mental preparation method for the team.
Building a positive environment around the team and within its members.

What are the 3 P’s of Goal Setting?

Here are the 3 P’s of goal setting.

Conclusion

Goal setting plays a crucial role in achieving anything in life and for playing volleyball, it is pretty strongly applicable and recommended to take you further in this sport.

I hope you’ve got a thorough understanding on how to set realistic goals as a volleyball player through this post.

Now, it’s your turn!

Do you want to add your ideas and experiences of setting goals as a volleyball player?

What strategies you follow/followed when setting goals as a volleyball player?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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