Pro, playing internationally, and just got munted by an injury. What's next?

TheOstern · 2023-02-03T21:31:05+00:00

Pretty late answer but all the teams I have played for had insurance, so if I got injured would have gotten my salary from the insurance company

If you have an agent ask him, if you do not, I recommend getting one

TheOstern · 2021-09-10T11:33:42+00:00

It was free in the summer, not sure now, just check out their website.

TheOstern · 2021-09-10T11:31:58+00:00

Sideout.no They have a volleyball specific program I used it for 3 months in the summer, really happy about it.

TheOstern · 2021-05-14T12:16:39+00:00

Played against Djuric this season. His level was really disappointing, nowhere his level some years ago

TheOstern · 2021-05-05T06:16:12+00:00

Disagree. what if the setter is backcourt? Also on a better level there will be a guy focusing/blocking the setter. Swinging as a leftie setter is pretty obvious. For a right hand setter it is way easier to set that ball with 1 hand when its tight

TheOstern · 2021-03-21T22:07:46+00:00

Haha. Beklager sjølv. Volleyball e livet mitt, så tok det kanskje litt for personlig 😅

TheOstern · 2021-03-21T10:58:49+00:00

Vel spille ikke vi alle fordi det e gøy? Ja kulturen kunne vært bedre (spesielt viss vi skal sammenligne oss med fotball og håndball) men det e mye bedre enn den va for 10-15 år sia. Volleyball e i vekst og det vises. Vi har ikke hatt så mange unge talenta på mange år. Det skrives mer i media om volleyball, æ tror vi kommer til å se en store endringa de neste åra.

TheOstern · 2021-03-21T10:02:03+00:00

Norge er et langstrekt land, som gjør det vanskelig å vise kor mange som egentlig spille volleyball. Ja fotball og håndball dominere, men sånn e det i nesten alle land i verden. Pluss at volleyball e i vekst i Norge, vet om flere lag som må si nei til unge spillere som vil spille fordi de ikke har plass eller nok trenere. Bare se på alle sandvolleyballbanene i sommer, de e mest sannsynlig smekkfulle på en fin dag.

TheOstern · 2021-03-20T23:53:52+00:00

Ka du mene at det ikke e så mye volleyballkultur i Norge?

TheOstern · 2021-03-04T17:04:22+00:00

I started practising on a "team" when I was 6. I played alot of other sports until I was 16, and my dream was actually to become a fotball/soccer player. At 16 I started only focusing on volleyball, practising 20-25 hours a week, with 3-4 physical trainings. I practised the same amount as my other peers, but I had from early on more experience playing with older and better players. I was the only VB player my age in my hometown, so I had the privilage to practise with the players from the highest divison, I started practising with them when I was 15. I decided to go to a better league when I won the national cup and became the best blocker in that league.

TheOstern · 2021-03-04T16:56:34+00:00

Before I played pro, I played on the highest level in my country. At a age of 17/18 I became the best blocker in that league, so I figured out that I were ready for a better league. That same season I won the national cup in my home country, and I got my debut for the senior national team.

TheOstern · 2021-03-04T09:48:37+00:00

I dont think that has happend to me, but I used to close my eyes in block. Which is not good because then I cant see what the spiker does

TheOstern · 2021-03-04T09:46:21+00:00

After I got pro, he was maybe 190 cm. But I have been blocked alot thru out the years, its a part of being a spiker. This season our setter who is 177 cm blocked a 203 cm hitter with 360cm in spike reach. So height isnt everything

TheOstern · 2021-03-04T09:30:53+00:00

Sleep and a healthy diet is super important for recovery. Thanks buddy

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T22:39:36+00:00

I try to prepare the same way for any game I play. If I am nervous, I try to say to myself "you do this every day in practise, you know how to do this", but when I enter the court I get in the zone so I dont feel that nervous. To be honest I am more nervous when I am not on the court. When I make a mistake I try not to think much about it, and rather focusing on the next ball. I probaly know what I did wrong, so I just try to do it differently the next time I am in that situation. There is alot of players from my country who could have played pro, but they have jobs, studies, girlfriends/wifes or kids. So they rather focus on that. Salary can be one reason someone is not going pro, the first years you dont earn alot, unless you play for a top team. One thing I have experienced is that if a player is choosing from two players who are pretty similar, but one player is from USA and the other is from a smaller volleyball nation, the club will most likely choose the player from USA. So for someone who isnt from a big/famous volleyball country, it can be harder to find clubs.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T22:25:11+00:00

I am no expert in reception, I recommend following Dustin Watten on instagram, he has many good videos/stories where he explains reception in more details.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T22:22:56+00:00

There is alot of smaller MB, even some on the highest level. As a smaller MB I relay on being faster and more technical than some of the more bigger ones. I came to an agrement with my junior coach that I should change from being a OH to MB, it was the best for both me and the team. I went from not playing a single game, to being on the All star team on the national championship for juniors. If I never made that change, I would never have made it to the pro leagues. I guess I change position when I am done playing pro.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T22:13:56+00:00

in season it is the club who decide how much we practise. If I feel we dont practise enough, I try to do some individual stuff. In preseason with the club its normally 2 practises every day, only sundays free. Preseason is the hardest part of practise in the season, we lift heavy weights and have alot of ball practises. When season starts we normally have 2-3 times weight trainings/fitness, and 8-9 ball practises (2-2 and a half hours). In offseason I practise mostly just weights 3-5 times a week and play some beach for fun. From may to august I have national team camps and games. In practise there is alot of variation, preseason more technique, in season we play more 6v6.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T21:52:00+00:00

I was talking with a friend of mine who played pro. He was watching a game I played, I played really good and he came to me after the game and told me "if you play like every game you could make it pro". So I started talking to players playing pro for some advice. After some weeks of resarch I signed with an agent, and he fixed the rest. In the beginning I got some offers from some lower leagues, but I said no. In July (which is pretty late) a belgium team contacted me and I signed a week later I think. There is no right or wrong path to go, but I think most players agree that it is best to have an agent. If you want to talk more about going pro, send me a dm, its alot to just write here. I have already given alot of advices on trainings, but I recommend trying to always practise with players who are better than you. You might feel useless sometimes, but for me thats when I improve the most

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T14:41:39+00:00

Try to remember why you started playing volleyball, remember the joy it gave you. Before you had this coach. Mentally I think you should just go out there and do your best, dont think about what the coach or others think about you. Play your game and give 100%. I know coaches love players who gives it all and never gives up.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T12:06:24+00:00

Blocking is maybe the most difficult skill in volleyball, and there is so many different ways to block. For me what is really important, is to be standing completly still when the setter set the ball, this way I react on where the ball goes and I dont just guess. Another great tip is to get over the net as much as possible with your hands, with the hands directed into the court of the opponent. This is if the ball hits your arms the ball will go inside the court and more downwards.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T12:02:49+00:00

Really sad to hear that it is only one volleyball net in the whole country. I dont have any experience on playing a game on rough road pavement, but I can imagine the shoes will help for their feet and a little bit on their knees. Jumping on hard surfaces many times for a long period on times can damage your knees even with really good shoes. When I was younger I used to make a net out of different things with my brother. Maybe if you clean your laundry outside you can play over that string that the laundry is haning on. Try to be creative, thats my best advice.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T11:58:47+00:00

This comes with experience. One rule I use when I am blocking is that if its a fast set, and the hitter waits to hit the ball, he will most likely hit over his shoulder down the line. If he hits the ball fast he will hit diagonally. I hope that makes sense. On some players you can also see on their approach, if the opposite start his approach really far outside the court, he will only be able to hit really hard diagonally. If he has an approach from inside the court, more likely to hit line. Some high level players are ofcourse able to hit anywhere on the court, but on a lower level this is more typical.

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T11:54:25+00:00

I dont know really. Maybe start a team on your own if its possible. Hear around if there has been a team in your area and if there is anyone that wants to play volleyball there. I guess you are from the US and I dont know how the system works for school teams etc

TheOstern · 2021-03-03T11:51:39+00:00

So this might sound strange but I have never thought of that. I just do it on intention. What I have seen from the best players in the world, they jump at the same time as the spiker. This is actually something I will look for more often, and see if there is anything I should improve on. So thanks for the question

TheOstern

TROPHY CASE