Libero converting to setter needs mental toughness!!

Question
hey coach,

i am currently training to be a setter for my club team next year for a mens club team.  You see an opporunity has risen for me to be able to set (i played libero last year) and I know Im a great setter, I can set quicks, 4's, C's all the basics sets but I know theres one thing that will hold me back and its my mental toughness.

My mental toughness held me back last year because i didnt feel confident in playing libero, but on all the websites i've seen the setter has to play a "leadership" role.  I dont think I can be a leader with my mental toughness issues, so my question is what can i do to improve my mental toughness and fill in that leadership role for my team?

Answer
Hey Felix:

Welcome to www.allexperts.com!  It's great to hear from you!  

I sorry to say that I am not a sport psychologist.  I could tell you what I believe and what I think; but, that's all it would be.  

Is there not a sport psychologist expert here at www.allexperts.com?  If so, I'd send your thoughts to that expert.  Sure, they may not know much about volleyball, but tell the person something like your a "wide receiver trying to turn into a quarterback".

Regardless, I have sent your question to a friend of mine, Dave Cross.  He specializes the mental part of volleyball.  And he can give you thoughts that would be very useful to you! When he shares his thoughts with me, I'll post them here.  

If you'd like to visit Dave, his website is www.yesicanvolleyball.com

If I can help you with anything else, please let me know.  

And please visit me sometime at www.coachhouser.com!  I think you'll love the smiling faces!

Coach Houser

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Felix:

Here is Dave's answer!  YOU GO DAVE!!!

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Felix:

The key statement in your question is this:  "I know I'm a great setter."

Mental toughness comes from self-confidence.

Being a leader calls for self-confidence.

Focus on running the offense efficiently by studying how great setters do this:

-Getting the dominant hitters the ball where they want it.

-Taking advantage of mis-matches where a hitter has an advantage over the blockers.

-Going away from a struggling hitter for a few rallies.

-Attacking yourself when the defense gives you the opportunity to score.

-Taking responsibility for hitting errors-whether it's really your fault or not-(you must keep your hitters confidence high)

-Settling everyone down and demanding a good pass to stop an opponents run.

-Remembering you must play solid, aggressive defense yourself.

-Being positive and encouraging with your teammates at all times, keeping them focused on the next play.

In order to do these things, you must train yourself to keep your thoughts on your job during the next rally.  You must learn to let your frustration and negative self-talk go.  This can be trained, just as setting the various sets can be:

-Begin visualizing yourself performing your duties perfectly, rally after rally. Make sure to make these visualizations colorful and include the sounds and the feel of the situation.

-Teach yourself to "clear" your mind of negative thoughts by training yourself to see a  white surface in your mind.  As you see this surface, say the word "clear" to yourself.

-Whenever you begin to feel frustrated or have negative thoughts, "clear" them out by picturing the white surface in your mind and then quickly visualizing yourself putting up the next set perfectly for a kill.

(Yes, you can train yourself to do this between rallies)

-Finally, come up with a brief "self-affirmation" that you repeat to yourself constantly-whatever you hear in your mind, your mind believes.  An example of this would be,
"I can set on a dime", or "I'm an awesome setter", or "I set nails".  You get the idea, I'm sure.

The more you practice the visualizations, clearing and self-affirmations, the better you will become at using them efficiently when needed.

Good luck!

-Dave Cross
National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball
www.yesicanvolleyball.com