How to Set Realistic Goals as Volleyball Parents? A Detailed Guide
Run from being good. Chase being great.
Chip Kelly
Source: Improve your volley.
Wonder of Volleyball is reader supported. Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links. If you click and purchase through those links, we’ll get a commission at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclaimer here.
Thanks in advance for supporting our work!
Do you want to know how to set realistic goals as volleyball parents?
Are you in search of the steps involved in setting realistic goals for your child as volleyball parents?
If you answer yes to any or all of the questions above, then this is the post for you!
We’ll be taking a look at how to set realistic goals as volleyball parents, the steps involved in doing it successfully, some FAQs on goal setting related to volleyball and much more.
So without wasting any time, let’s get started!
Did you know? The longest volleyball match was recorded in Kingston, North Carolina. The total duration was 75 hours and 30 minutes.
How to Set Realistic Goals as Volleyball Parents
Understanding the Importance of Setting Realistic Goals
Before we look into how to set realistic goals as volleyball parents and the steps involved in the process, you need to be pretty clear on certain key points such as understanding the importance of setting goals and various frameworks followed to do it successfully. Why?
For one, it’ll aid you to move in the right direction when setting goals and two, you’ll be able to understand how things work in volleyball.
Having said that, every parent want their child to succeed in the sport they pursue. And volleyball is no exception. In fact, it is such an emotions-oriented sport and therefore, setting realistic goals is pretty important.
Here are a few critical facts that illustrate the importance of setting realistic goals as volleyball parents.
- Setting proper goals provide a psychological edge to your child over others towards succeeding in the sport.
- Effective goal setting enhances the overall performance of your child.
- Realistic goal setting helps your child to focus with attention in order to achieve what they want from playing volleyball.
- The long term and the short term goals help your child to remain focused on the bigger picture.
- Goal setting aids your child in increasing the overall motivation level to achieve success in their pursued sport.
I believe that the above list will be helpful not only for volleyball parents but for the entire sports parents community in understanding the Importance of setting realistic goals.
Understanding the Various Frameworks Followed for Setting Goals
The next thing that we are going to talk about is the various frameworks followed when setting goals. If you have this knowledge as volleyball parents, it becomes that much easier to do it successfully and encourage your child to achieve them.
No, I am not going to write a 1000 word description on each goal setting framework. Rather, I’ll give you the different frameworks, their abbreviation and one critical point you need to keep in mind when adopting any one from the list.
Although there are 7 different frameworks followed to set goals, only 3 are logically effective for the sport of volleyball. Here are they.
- SMART: specific, measurable, action-oriented, relevant and time-bound. Discuss with your child about their aspirations in volleyball, what they want to achieve in this sport and then go about adopting this framework. The information that your child provides will be of utmost helpful to you in determining the goals.
- SCRAM: Specific, challenging, realistic, attainable and measurable. This framework is perfect to adopt if your child crossed the absolute beginner stage in volleyball. Before you go about setting goals using this framework, assess your child’s performance from a neutral perspective, note down the positive and not so positive things and then start setting goals.
- RRR: Review, reevaluate and rewrite: If your child is established in a volleyball team, then this framework will be really helpful for you. Having a detailed discussion with your child and everybody involved in setting the goals would be the effective way of using this method.
These are just my observations and you can absolutely adopt the framework that suit both you and your child.
Setting Goals with Your Child’s Team Players and their Coach
Sometimes, it is best to set goals for your child with their team players and the coach. How is it so?
First, it gives a chance for every one of you to meet and discuss various things related to volleyball and set goals that help your child. Secondly, the coach will be able to provide their input and help you set the right ones.
Now that you know the benefits of including your child’s team players and the coach when setting goals for your volleyball rockstar, here are some pointers to keep in mind.
- Determine your own expectations before starting the actual process.
- Clearly understand the position of your child in volleyball.
- Create the goals and finalize them with your child.
- Once you set out the goals, assess the progress.
Help Your Child Setting the Right Goals as a Volleyball Player
Some children are independent and they’ll set goals, go after them and if only need help, reach out to their parents. It’s perfectly fine by all means.
But if your child needs your help in setting the right goals, then there is nothing wrong in providing assistance. Show them the way to setting the right goals that can propel them forward in achieving whatever they want from playing volleyball.
Here are some points to consider when helping out your child.
- Don’t let your child focus too much on outcome-based goals.
- Ask them to focus on the goals that are measurable and they have a greater control towards and the ones that are sure to contribute positively for the team.
- Don’t encourage your child to set Mount Everest type of goals in the beginning such as making the varsity/get to the national team.
- Instead, allow them to create SMART goals that’ll aid them get to the desired destination.
- Never allow your child to set unrealistic goals such as workout 3 hours every single day.
- Encourage your child to set step-by-step goals to achieve their big dreams in volleyball. Let them know that they have to clear each step before moving on to the next one.
Manage Your Expectations the Right Way
As parents, you have high hopes for your child. There is nothing wrong in that. But sometimes, the emotions and the attachment towards the sport grows significantly and you build up your expectations pretty high for your child.
What happens with high expectations is that it creates an unnecessary pressure on your child. Your child knows that you are working extra hard to meet their sports aspirations and this forces them to try harder than usual or give up volleyball entirely and move on to other things.
You never want that to happen to your child. Right?
Here are some points that’ll help you manage your expectations the right way.
- Clearly understand what it takes to achieve something in volleyball or the favorite sport of your child.
- Learn the requirements of the sport and prepare your child to meet them.
- Create a healthy relationship with the coach of your child’s volleyball team and discuss often about the overall progress and improvement areas.
- Have regular communication with your child about the sport and reset your expectations whenever needed.
- Have a good relationship with the team members of your child and communicate often. Ask them specific questions about their goals, gather information and then move on to setting your expectations.
- Never let your emotions get in the way of setting expectations for your child.
Steps Involved in Setting Realistic Goals as Volleyball Parents
Here are the steps to follow when setting realistic goals for your child as volleyball parents.
- Write down your expectations and ask yourself honestly, is this a smart and achievable item? Ask this question for each one on the list.
- Clearly understand the resources you can provide for your child to achieve their dreams in volleyball.
- List out the circumstances that can aid your child to grow in volleyball.
- List out an approximate time duration required for your child to achieve each goal. Discuss with your child when you create this list.
- Follow any of the frameworks that I’ve listed above at the time of setting realistic goals.
- Make sure that each goal is measurable and achievable.
Once you are done with setting goals, share the list and get your child’s opinion. After that, make changes if necessary and repeat the process until the goals are finalized.
FAQs on Setting Goals as Volleyball Parents
Why You Need to Set Some Non-sport Goals for Your Child as Volleyball Parents?
As I’ve mentioned, setting goals related to volleyball helps your child focus on them and achieving great heights in the sport. But too much emphasis on the goals/sport isn’t a good thing at all.
First, it’ll create undue pressure on your child to achieve the goals and second, it’ll lead to burnout pretty quickly.
Setting non-sport goals help to restore balance in their life. Also, it allows them to switch off from the sport and focus on some other things. Setting non-sport related goals aid your child to easily and effectively deal with the bad times in volleyball. It also helps to keep your child’s emotional wellness intact.
What are the Types of Goals You can Set for Your Child as Volleyball Parents?
Here are the types of goals you can set for your child as volleyball parents.
- Process-oriented goals.
- Measurable and controllable goals.
- Skill-improvement related goals.
- Some non-sport goals.
- Discussion-based goals.
How to Motivate Your Child as Volleyball Parents?
To be honest, I can write a whole post about it. But for now, here are some pointers to motivate your child as volleyball parents.
- Encouraging your child and acknowledge their talent and passion in volleyball.
- Giving your child a pat on the back when necessary.
- Recognize whenever your child makes a good play and acknowledge them in front of others.
- Listening to your child’s thoughts and acting accordingly.
- Allowing your child to make mistakes and learn from them.
- Rewarding your child if they had a good match/game.
- Not punishing for the bad times they go through in volleyball.
- Being in the moment and supporting your child when they experience bad times in the sport.
Conclusion
Setting goals is pretty important to achieve significant things in volleyball or in any other sport. But setting realistic goals will keep everybody on the same page.
I hope that you’ve learned something out of how to set realistic goals as volleyball parents post.
Make sure to set measurable goals and follow through on them.
Share your thoughts about this post in the comments section below!
Related Posts
An Introduction to being Volleyball Parents
8 Important Metrics You Need to Track as a Volleyball Parent
7 Things You should Know as Volleyball Parents
LET’S BE SOCIAL!
Informative post. Although my kids are in a different sport, being parents to athletes still needs some ideas of what to expect and do.
Hi Lani, thanks for your comment. Very happy to know that your kids are athleats. The aim of this post is to provide direction on what to do to be successful volleyball parents and I am thrilled to know that the tips also apply to other sports as well.
Kudos to Wonder of Volleyball for this insightful post! 🏐 The upfront disclosure about affiliate links is appreciated, showing transparency and honesty. As a volleyball parent, the guide on setting realistic goals is exactly what I needed. The step-by-step approach is clear and actionable. Plus, the FAQs addressed some of my burning questions. Thanks for providing valuable content that’s both informative and user-friendly. Excited to implement these tips in supporting my child’s volleyball journey!
Hi Sue-Tanya Mchorgh, thank you so very much for your kind words. Glad that you found the tips in this post helpful and actionable. Very happy to know that you are a volleyball parent and your child plays volleyball. Convey my best wishes!
My son plays rugby at club level and everything you’ve said applies with us and him too. Managing expectation is key.
Hi Tracey Kifford, thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post relatable. So happy to know that your son plays rugby. Convey my best wishes to him!
As always, great information in this article! We, as parents of volleyball players, need to understand our role in supporting our players.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for your kind words. I totally agree that parents play a critical role throughout a volleyball player’s playing journey.
Great coaching tips!
Hi Claudia, thank you!
So important to have realistic expectations as far as being parents of kids who play sports! Love reading your point of view on the topic!
These are really some amazing tips for setting realistic goals with volleyball.
Hi Khush, thank you so much! Glad you found the tips to set realistic goals helpful.
As a parent, I always want the best for my child – so it’s great to have a reference for what is realistic for us to have as goals.
Hi Jupiter Hadley, thank you so much for your comment. Glad you found the tips in this post for setting realistic goals helpful.
It’s important to set achievable goals. My girls play netball so this can be applied there too.
Hi Melanie E, thanks for your comment. Glad you found the tips on setting realistic goals helpful. Very happy that your daughters play netball. Convey my best wishes to them!
It’s always tough as parents to be supportive and encourage without putting too much stress and pressure on the kids. Afterall, it’s also meant to be a fun and enjoyable experience. Thanks for sharing these great tips!
Hi Tammy, thanks for your comment. I totally agree that it might be challenging to support your kids without putting pressure on them to succeed in the sport that they play. In my experience, the main reason for this is putting too much emphasis on the results/outcome rather than focusing on developing their overall skills. If you could take out the results/expectations out of the equation, the journey can be fun for everybody involved.
Thank you for as always sharing very insightful posts. It is always welcome to know how it is best to set realistic goals as parents.
Hi Yeah Lifestyle, thanks for your encouraging comment. Glad you’ve found the tips in this post helpful.
Great information! I have a child who has thought about doing volleyball so this was a very helpful post to read. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Luna S, thanks for your comment. Glad you found the information in the post helpful. Very happy to know that your child is interested in playing volleyball. Convey my best wishes to your child!
It must be so hard as a parent to find the balance between encouraging your kids to do their best, but also not pushing them too much and letting them be kids. Some great ways to set realistic goals x
Hi Rhian Scammell, thanks for your comment. Glad you found the information in the post helpful. I totally agree that it might be challenging to support your kids without putting pressure on them to succeed in the sport that they play. In my experience, the main reason for this is putting too much emphasis on the results/outcome rather than focusing on developing their overall skills. If you could take out the results/expectations out of the equation, the journey can be fun for everybody involved.
The breakdown of different frameworks like SMART and SCRAM is super helpful—it’s like a roadmap for us parents trying to guide our little athletes.
This is awesome actually! Thank you so much for the tips. I find these very helpful as a parent.
Hi Karen, thanks for your encouraging comment. Glad you find the tips in the post helpful as a parent.
I had never thought of the parents roll when kids learn volleyball. You have made it a lot easier of where parents can help and be supportive
Hi Samantha Donnelly, thanks for your comment. Glad you find the tips in the post helpful as a parent. Parents play a critical role in supporting their kids learn and play volleyball.
I think the best goal a parent can set for their child in anything is simply to do their best. That’s it. Anything else is just too much pressure.
Hi Beth, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I totally agree that the best goal a parent can set for their child is doing their best in the sport they like.
I’ve always wanted to try volleyball out, but have been nervous. Thank you for these tips!
Hi Stephani, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post valuable. Very happy to know that you’ve been wanting to try out for volleyball. It is natural to feel nervous when you are trying something new in life but if you can get over that, things will be pretty good. All the very best!
This is a great support for laying out what a volleyball parent’s role is! I’m still in shock that someone can play volleyball for 75 1/2 hours straight!
Hi Susan, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post helpful. It was truly astounding for me as well when I found out about the longest volleyball match ever played and later I figured out that the match took place when the sport itself is in its infant stage. Therefore, the rules aren’t fully laid out and with the current rules, it is impossible to take a match that long. The only rule at that time was to not allow the ball to hit the floor and volley it from your team to your opponent team and vice versa.
Some excellent information for volleyball parents – or parents whose children are involved in any sport!
Hi Steph G, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post helpful.
Great post. I think it’s very important for parents to manage their own expectations and then set realistic goals for their children. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Maryanne, thanks for your thoughtful comment. Glad you enjoyed the post. It is critical for parents to manage their expectations before setting goals for their children.
This is so interesting! This year I have two students who play volleyball. It’s the first time I’ve had students who play the sport. I am joining the mailing list so I can learn more. Thank you!
Hi Valerie, thanks for your comment. Very glad to know that your students are playing volleyball this year. Volleyball is an exciting team sport and all the very best to your students. Convey this on behalf of me. Thank you so very much for joining the mailing list! Can’t wait to send my next email!
Excellent goal-setting advice. I always try to use the SMART method.
Hi Brandi, Thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post helpful.
Great tips for setting realistic goals with volleyball and sports in general. It’s important to keep everybody on the same page.
Hi Debbie, thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post helpful. Can’t agree more with you that keeping everybody on the same page is very important to achieving sporting goals.
Parents also need to have interest on volleyball so that kids can develop and have talent on it.
Hi Lydiah, thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post helpful. Can’t agree more that parents also need to have interest in volleyball so that kids can follow them.
Expectations versus reality. This is good for children to manage expectations but also it applies to parents as well. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Maryanne, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve enjoyed the post. Can’t agree with you more that expectation management is pretty important for both children and parents alike.
It’s excellent that adults are there to support children in developing goals.
Hi Mr Malik, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve enjoyed the post.
This is great, It is so important for children to learn a team sport. it’s good to be there for kids to help them with their goal setting process.
Hi Tyler james, thanks for your comment. I totally agree with your points. If you are there during the goal setting process for your kid, It’ll lead to greater understanding and bond between you and your child.
I like “setting” goals. I like the section about the coach since the team’s part is integral. It is so important for children to learn a team sport.
Hi Melissa, thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post useful. I am very happy to know that you like setting goals. I totally agree that children need to learn at least one team sport. All the very best in your blogging journey!
This is great, it’s good to be there for kids to help them with their goal setting process.
Hi Fransic, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post helpful. I totally agree that it is important for parents to be present when setting goals for their child.