QuestionQUESTION: Hi Coach Houser,
I am a 13 year old volleyball player. I am 5'3, and I really want to be able to jump higher and become a better volleyball player for club tryouts in the fall. So this is kind of a two-part question: what should I do to train to jump higher and how do I make the club team? Thanks!
Also, I play mostly ds/libero but also outside.
ANSWER: Hello Bianca!
It's great to hear from you and welcome to allexperts.com!
Right now, I'm directing a camp in Martinsville Va from 9am to 4pm each day.... and it's an hour there, and an hour back. I will be able to answer your questions by around Saturday; but, I can't today. I have a few questions for you:
a) When are tryouts?
b) You say "club" tryouts? Do you mean your school team?
I'll be in touch soon! If you have a free moment, please visit me at www.coachhouser.com! And you'll see pics of the 6 camps we've done so far, and the 2 camps my staff and I are doing this week.
Coach Houser
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Sorry I wasn't clear. I am doing my school team as well as club. However, I have been guaranteed a spot on the school team as the rest of the girls do not have much volleyball experience, they are trying out because their friends want to. Club tryouts (real club team) are around late October to early November, so I have around 3 months before them.
Thank you so much!
AnswerGood afternoon!
Thank you for being patient with me. Eight camps are done. Only 1 left. :( The summer is so much fun, it goes by so quickly. We can't wait for summer 2012!!
Volleyball coaches answer the question "How do I jump higher?" more than any other question.
On the one hand, the answer to your question won't make you happy. B/c unless you go to a jumping professional, you won't see more than 2 or 3 inch increase in your jump, regardless of how much you work. But if you pay that professional thousands, you may only see 3 to 4. These people who say their vertical rose 6 inches? Either they're lying, they must have been in HORRIBLE shape and/or they must have lost 50 pounds! Yeah, that'll make you jump higher haha
On the other hand, you really don't need to come to an "expert" to give you ideas on how to jump better. The bottom line....... JUMP! Jump a lot. Jump everywhere. You can jump with weights, jump w/o weights, jump quick, jump maximum, jump on boxes, jump up steps, etc. But jump, jump, jump! Other exercises that, of course, will help: squats, lunges, anything that'll make your more explosive. You can sprint 60 or 40 yards, you can run up bleachers, or spring up some steep hills. Yes, lifting will help.
Now to tryouts.
First, a few obvious facts:
a) if you are very very good, you'll make the team regardless of your height or age;
b) if you are a very weak player, you won't make the team, regardless of what you do.
In either case, here's my advice:
1) In the days & weeks before tryouts, get as much time on the court as you can. This may even include some private lessons.
2) On the tryout days, arrive early, smile, help set up the nets, smile
3) During tryouts, encourage your teammates throughout all drills. Last December, a girl who we didn't know made my team over other girls we knew, not only b/c she was really good, but b/c my assistant noticed that she was always encouraging her teammates during drills.
4) Hustle, hustle, hustle. Coaches know that if you don't hustle during TRYOUTS, that you certainly won't hustle at normal practices.
Luckily, being able to jump higher isn't what makes a volleyball player. SKILL makes the vball player. Serving, setting, passing, digging, etc. The more mature you coach is, the more likely he/she will keep girls who are shorter, heavier, younger, etc. AS LONG AS THEY have the vball skills necessary to play the game.
I hope that you have time to visit www.coachhouser.com. I think you'll really like all the smiling faces!!
Chat later!
Coach Houser
p.s. After tryouts are over, please email me at
[email protected] and tell me how it went.
