by Larry Bock and Mark Pavlik
In almost every career, we're asked at some point to be substitutes, reserves, backups, specialists, benchwarmers, pine riders, shock troops, the Posse. Whatever it's called, being named second or third-team outside hitter is not quite the same experience as when you are told to "get out on the floor" as a starter.
The nature of the game dictates that many people on volleyball teams have roles other than what they ultimately desire. There are several ways to respond to the challenge of coming off the bench; some good and some bad. Here are a few keys to make your position as a substitute a positive and meaningful one for you and your team.
YOUR ROLE IN PRACTICE
If you don't know what or how you are supposed to be contributing to the team, pin down the coach. Most of these people actually have a reason in mind for your athletic existence and will jump at the chance to share it with you. Think in the short term and recognize what the coach perceives as the most realistic objectives for you.
For example, extensive visualization of yourself blocking match point for the gold medal at the Olympics, then riding the shoulders of your teammates to the medal podium, would not be nearly productive for a scholastic back row specialist as picking up a ball and practicing consistent, tough serves. Know your role on the team and then practice what you will be asked to do.
Recognize that in a match situation, each ball contact you make as a sub will have MAJOR impact. When you practice, maintain this same mentality. Make each of your serves, attacks, digs, passes and blocks with great confidence. You will likely be appearing in some matches when things are going poorly and the team needs something done to change momentum, so you must do a little better than the person you have replaced. Also recognize that you will be pushed in, then pulled out of matches. Prepare in practice to make an immediate, positive impact on the court at the coach's beck-and-call (not your own.) In practice, work a little harder and concentrate a little better than everyone else on making a maximum contribution in a minimum amount of time.
YOUR ROLE IN MATCHES
When the coach finally sees the light and inserts you into a match, be aware of the mood on your side of the court. If confusion is observable, your role is to calm things down by appearing confident and remaining calm even though you may feel like your stomach has relocated to your throat.
On the other hand, if you are entering the athletic equivalent of the morgue, start some good, positive, court talk. Also, make concerted efforts to move without the ball (position switches, attack coverages, base-to-read movements) in a way that gets everyone on the court instinctively doing the little things with you.
Remember that as a sub, you don't have the luxury of quietly settling into the match over a long period of time. Your job is to immediately eliminate mistakes. The importance and quality of your first few contacts will be intensely magnified. It is vital that you be ready to play at all times while waiting on the bench. Backcourt specialists must be prepared to immediately make a tough serve, pass a hard serve or dig a tough spike. Front court players should see themselves making that great block or killing the ball on the attack on the first play that they are on the court. Setters should plan to set smart and good upon entry.
YOUR MENTAL APPROACH
There is no question that staying in the game mentally is tougher for players on the bench than for players on the court. There are ways to keep yourself involved which will ultimately benefit you and the team.
First, use your vantage point to get to know your opponents. Recognize tendencies and then share these with your teammates and the coaches. If you are a hitter-blocker try to observe the opposing setter's tendencies in each rotation.
Secondly, know your own team. Scout your team in a match the same way you are seeing the opposition. Especially if you are the backup setter, watch your own team's tendencies. Talk with the starting setters and let them know if they are becoming predictable and where the optimal first sideout attempts are in each rotation.
Everyone on the bench should be supportive in their talk and actions. Positive "bench talk" is as important as "court talk" for setting the mood of the team.
As a substitute, you have a real challenge to block out the negative feelings. Maybe your biggest challenge as a sub will be to alter some of your personal short-term goals to fit into the team's goals. Also recognize that even after a few bad ball contacts, a player has to immediately block out the past and be positive. Like a pinch hitter, be thinking that you want your next ball contact to decide the outcome of the match.
YOUR PHYSICAL APPROACH
To be physically ready when the coach asks you to play is one part of your role as a specialist or backup. Anticipate the situations when you will most likely be called upon. If the person in front of you on the depth chart is obviously tired, is suddenly attacking the ball at unusual trajectories, or has gotten caught up with the official's call, you might expect the coach to call upon your services.
Recognize and anticipate those situations where the coach has required your presence on the court in the past. Are you a person who gets your team jacked up? Or are you a player with the ability to calm people down?
Above all:
In a team sport every player has to find a way to individually get the job done while still maintaining a team concept. For subs, this role is more difficult than for starters. It becomes necessary for you, and maybe only you, to know when you have completed your specific assignment. For instance, backcourt specialists, might establish a personal goal not to be scored on while they are playing. Or they may always strive to out-point the opponent during the segment of a match (or practice) when they are on the court. By all means have plenty of positive conversations with yourself.
Become the best player on your team at the things you can control:
Make practice your turf. Try to win at everything, including any running. If the starters go 25 steps, you go 26. If they go fast, you go faster. If they get dirty, you get dirtier. If everyone else works for 90 minutes, you bust for 91 minutes. Prove in practice that you know what it takes to compete and strive to be the toughest, smartest, coolest player on the court at all times. Make the team realize your appearance into a game will carry with it an all out effort, supreme confidence and unyielding competitiveness that you show in practice.
In matches, know the game plan and your opponent. Give the starters your heart and soul when you are on the bench and know with every ounce of your conviction that you are the person the team wants on the court at 13-13. Have total and absolute faith in yourself, forget your mistakes, and never, give up.
HOT TIPS for being a good substitute: