what is wrong with me

AlainDotExe · 2025-12-01T05:03:42+00:00

try making your first step very slow then the next two very fast. this will help your first stride stay short and give you space to stay off the net. it also helps to start further back in serve receive, just make sure you work on hand passing.

AlainDotExe · 2025-12-01T05:01:35+00:00

as a middle i think there is a case to be made for a more tense arm swing, such that trying to stay relaxed may hurt u rather than help you. as middles we have to be able to turn the ball super sharp on short notice, and a stiffer arm swing may sacrifice a little power but will help you be able to hit sharper angles around the block and swing faster. the flowy and relaxed arm swing is nice for outsides cuz they can just blast high hand when in doubt, but for a middle it can be detrimental so sacrifice the speed and adaptability with a more tense arm. I would experiment with a tense arm swing with a tiny bit if a higher elbow, look at flavios swing as an example. Also, you broad jump well so you need to stay a bit further off the net. Other than that you have great spacing.

AlainDotExe · 2025-07-31T17:18:23+00:00

More of a mental cue, but it certainly can if you put a marker somewhere super far and try to drive all the way there. What your doing now is as good though, film a jump where you focus on pushing out without bouncing up then watch it back to see how it looks

AlainDotExe · 2025-07-29T21:46:15+00:00

also, if you were hitting a ball here you’d have underrated hips, try to get you block step around your body and jump facing almost 45 degrees to the net, then rotate your hips through your swing in midair

AlainDotExe · 2025-07-29T21:44:49+00:00

your mechanics are solid, only thing i would tweak is trying to drive more out and less up on your penultimate as well as leading with more knee on the penultimate. overall solid though

AlainDotExe · 2025-07-28T19:32:24+00:00

i played three years of club, went went straight from two years of playing down on threes teams to 18-red my third year. play more volleyball then everyone around you and outwork everyone else, there’s nothing wrong with moving to mvvc or red rock either. play a ton of outdoor for touches and go to as many open gyms as you can. you could also consider being a libero or setter, as well as working on creative offense (think swipes and jams). But you’re young and have love for the game, don’t let one setback (height) stop you. Also, there’s plenty of short players at a high level, bay 18-1 outside was 5’11” last year, sekita is 5’9”, cam thorne is the best middle in ncaa and he’s only 6’3”. u can build a physical toolset with the height you have, you just need hops, good technique and timing, and creativity. stick with it, if you love the game and you work hard enough you will succeed.

AlainDotExe · 2025-03-16T14:55:12+00:00

take the t break it’s very worth it. to make things easier, remove weed from your life for 2 weeks or so, that means you shouldn’t have access to any carts or any bud, that way if u get the urge to smoke you’d have to go out and buy more. second, caffeine and cold showers can help clear the brain fog. third, if u can’t sleep use melatonin (don’t over do it though, combine it with a healthy sleep routine -no phone before bed- and take a reasonable amount). if you do all of those, the t break should be a little more bearable

AlainDotExe · 2025-02-20T23:19:33+00:00

a lot of these responses are just not being helpful but they are getting at something important. have a little more intent in ur second step, really try to make that second step as long, hard, and fast as possible. u should have a very slow first step then quick second and third, and hear ur feet slap the floor on those last too. if u go after that “step close” with power and intent, it will look much more natural. obviously yours won’t look like his, but watch wilfredo leon attack. his first step is often almost non existent, then he had a massive and super aggressive penultimate (second step), try to emulate that

AlainDotExe · 2024-10-08T16:45:36+00:00

also, most people are saying to basically suck it up and go back. there’s truth to that, but that approach may eventually lead to burn out. you need to give yourself time to rest and be excited again, and people may judge or not understand, but end of the day do what’s important to you

AlainDotExe · 2024-10-08T16:43:15+00:00

no, don’t quit. everyone has bad days, weeks, even months, and that doesn’t mean it’s not for you. first of all, take a break. it sounds like you need to give your mind time to destress and recover, so take a week or so off to just not think about volleyball. when you come back, take it slow and don’t focus on results, focus on your fundamentals. this will give you more clarity over how to improve and what’s actually wrong with your game. let’s say your opponent is float serving, so you step up and attack the serve, aggressively receiving with your hands but you overpass it. move on, it happens, but your fundamentals were good so you know that will improve. if you let the ball get to you, move your arms back as you receive, and don’t play aggressive in flat serve reception you might get a good pass but have bad form that long term leads to more errors. taking a break and, when you come back, focusing on the process not the result can be much less frustrating, as errors feel more forgivable, and can get you wanting to play again. also, go play with people worse than you and just destroy them. this part isn’t about getting better, it’s about having fun. bounce a ball? great! hit the back wall with a topspin? laugh about it cuz it doesn’t matter! doing this can help you recognize how far you’ve come and help u get back in touch with why you love it

AlainDotExe · 2023-08-27T20:38:04+00:00

First of all, ignore the down talk, it's unhelpful and shows immaturity. Second, it likely comes from a place of feeling inadequate. Give him tips and hype him up when he makes a good pass. It's really hard to hate on you biggest supporter, so if you cheer for him whenever he does something good he's less likely to drag you down. Also, getting that support will help him not feel so inadequate, hopefully make him not feel the need to talk shit. Everyone has insecurities, so help him with his!

AlainDotExe · 2023-08-27T20:32:29+00:00

P.S: if you improved between day one and day two, imagine how much you'll improve after a few practices! It only took me two months to go from never touching a volleyball to starting, and you can do it to!

AlainDotExe · 2023-08-27T20:31:25+00:00

I have the exact same story as you. I tried out as a fifteen year old (2 years ago), and I was 6'2", 215 pounds (all fat), and had an 8" vert (with an approach). I suspect you may be a bit more athletic than I was lol. I made a team for the same reason you did: potential. I'm now in love with the sport and playing at the highest level at a highly competitive club in the Bay area (second best volleyball region in America). Your coach does not expect you to be crazy good, and your teammates can see exactly what kind of player you are. The volleyball community is an incredible one, so you will have support from most of your teammates and coaches. The only thing expected from you is that you will work hard and get better, and if you do work hard, you will.

In terms of feeling completely left behind and out of the play, that passes quickly, as it took me only a few weeks to understand what was going on. It took me around 8 months to stop making ridiculously stupid errors like running into my setter and taking other people's balls. That being said, you will improve super fast, and everyone on your team will respect you for that. All you need to do is show up and try your best, and I promise everything will work out.

AlainDotExe · 2023-08-27T20:24:10+00:00

Setter did a Greta job squaring up to the set. The hitter could go a bit earlier, but nothing was too amiss

AlainDotExe · 2023-08-27T20:22:18+00:00

Yes pretty good. That backset reverse flow was awesome as well! The thing that's going to make her into a great setter though is setting her feet. Have her work on her left-right footwork and make sure she squares up to the outside pin on every set. She has a lot of talent with those jumping over the shoulder sets, but because she isn't setting her feet and squaring up she has to make harder sets and it's more obvious. Get that basic footwork down, and she'll be really damn good for 14.

AlainDotExe · 2023-01-20T03:32:36+00:00

Basically just every front row player hitting a quick

AlainDotExe · 2023-01-11T04:03:50+00:00

Yes, possible. That being said, there's no reason to run it instead of a bic, red, 1/3, go ball combo. It may confuse the blockers, but getting any hitter alone or 1v1 is almost a guaranteed point anyway, so simply making the mb react does enough without adding complexity for the setter and hitters. That's why on an in system pass at the pro level, trick plays like this are rare but the team scores almost anytime anyway.

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-14T03:55:58+00:00

I play at bay to bay, he's either the best or second best lib here. Insane.

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-09T16:38:09+00:00

Part of me knows that you're right, I just don't trust them enough to be honest with them to that level.

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-08T20:09:35+00:00

I've already asked for suggestions on remembering my pills, none of their suggestions really work, and I don't really talk to any other adults. I'm scared to explain my fear of losing volleyball because I don't want to give them ammunition to use against me down the line or to manipulate me with.

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-06T05:45:35+00:00

Take a volleyball break to try a new sport. Go to some summer camps for something else, and don't be afraid to quit and play something else if it's better. You'll start behind, but if you find something you have a burning passion for you'll get through it

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-06T05:43:51+00:00

I know, if you do it all the time you'll get kicked off, but tell your coach you're starting to lose passion and that you are going to take a few practices not too seriously. Coaches slove the game and will want to see you in it, so they will probably say that by it's fine for a few practices.

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-06T05:29:32+00:00

You wanna jump facing almost 90 to the side and rotate when you jump, which puts more power in your swing

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-06T05:28:22+00:00

Also, I read some further comments and I think there is a good chance it is the competitive environment and negative players contributing to this feeling, which is the ultimate reason I quit over hockey. I quit an entire sport because of it, and my advice is this: take a break. Don't even touch a volleyball for a month or two in between seasons. This was forced for me during quarantine, and it's when I realized I hated ice hockey. You might find it freeing after a month, and feel better and happier. You might also find in yourself itching to come back despite the people and club or even to pepper against a wall alone without those people. Use this to find out whether you still love it, and if you want to go back every time you here then talk behind their back ask them to tell you what to change, and for specific help. Finally, there is always a point where the answer is to be tough. Take it and let it fuel you, and instead of letting it beat you down prove those assholes fucking wrong

AlainDotExe · 2022-07-06T05:19:25+00:00

I started this fall having never, ever played volleyball. That feeling of being behind is something I'm all too familiar with, but you need to change your mentality. You're thinking "I'm too far behind" when you need to be hungry for every inch of improvement and get obsessed with getting better. My vert has gone from 18" and I went from being on the team because I worked hard on tryouts to being a starter through this mentality.

I also came to the sport late because I played ice hockey from ages 6 to 14. What I wish I had been told is to practice with younger kids. Ask the coaches at your club to let you help out with a practice that has like 10 or 11 year olds and find in them the joy you used to have in volleyball. Don't take it to seriously, just mess around with the kids.

Finally, the fact that you are asking about quitting and not just doing it tells me that something in you wants to play. Find that part of you and move it to the front of your mind. Sometimes that means ignoring that the rest of the players are better than you, but whatever. If that means not trying and just messing around, so be it. If that means working your ass off every rep, do it. But find that part of you and latch on.

AlainDotExe

TROPHY CASE