All Nations 2011 – Team Asia Training Session (7th May 2011)

The coaching plan was:

1. Standard match warm up drills (pepper, hit through 4, hit through 2, serve) – the easiest way to observe a player’s skill level.

2. Simple service reception drill (3-4 serves in each of the 6 service reception rotation and play out the point) – this was important so players could get used to each other.Also, it had the unforeseen benefit of players who did not know the system to have a crash course in learning it.

3. Match – the easiest way to observe a player’s match skills. You can see some of a player’s decision making, anticipation and tactical skills. I would also videotape the match and perhaps perform some statistical analysis.  An edited version of the match is below:

1. You cannot assume a player will know everything that you know.  I assumed players would know the 5-1 system but not everybody did.So I was lucky I did the simple service reception drill because I would have had a hard time explaining it during competition.

2. Not everybody will buy into the performance analysis and it was my job to sell it properly!