1. SERVING TIPS: MENS GAME VS. WOMENS GAME

2. MOTIVATING YOUR TEAM PRE-MATCH

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1. SERVING STRATEGY: MENS GAME VS. WOMENS GAME

As a coach, should you signal zones to the server?

In general, with guys it’s all about "feeling" and so signaling may not be the best strategy.

Girls need signals because it's more about "taking the team out of system". Also, signaling can take the pressure off and give them a focus of what to do.

With girls, if you have a dynamic server, it's likely best to not signal them and just let them serve.

In general, in the men's game, it's all about “confidence”. With the girls, it's all about "system".

One of the best ways to take a team "out of system" is by serving short.

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2. MOTIVATING YOUR TEAM PRE-MATCH

Deciding what to say to your team is usually most difficult when you're about to play a team you have already easily beaten. A coach can use this time as an opportunity to work on running offenses. Also, make a scoring goal (for example, you must win by at least 10 points).

If your team is playing someone they have previously lost to, revenge is usually a motivation. In practice leading up to the game, the coach can drill the team on what they did poorly the first time they met. If a team feels prepared and knows what to expect, they will be more confident. Confidence enhances self motivation.

Here are some more pre-match coaching tips...

1. Ask your players, “What's the other team’s strategy?” You want your team to feel prepared and have a planned strategy for what they are going to do. If they can't come up with a good answer, tell your team what the other teams coach told them to do. If you don't know, just make up a strategy. The point is to give your team a solution which then gives them confidence and something to focus on.

2. Tell your team the other team’s tendencies. If your team thinks they know better and is ready to play, then they will be more confident.

3. Get your team to focus on executing a simple strategy. During pre-match, don’t talk about what your team has done wrong in the past.

During pre-match, you want the focus to be on, “what to do”. If your team has a strategy, they will be more motivated.

Visit the following page for more tips on motivating players.