Maximizing Performance: Forget the Opponent, Focus on Your Team First

thatvolleyball_guy’s Interview

In October, I had the opportunity to sit down for an interview with Luke Wiltshire, aka thatvolleyball_guy, where we discussed a variety of topics related to volleyball performance. For those interested, you can listen to the full interview on Spotify on the below. One point I made, which might be controversial, is my belief that it’s better to focus on improving your own team rather than your opponents (go to 27m10s to around 33m40s in the interview). I just wanted to expand why I think this way.

The Dangers of Over-Focusing on Opponents

Too Much Information Can Overload Players

Coaches often overload players with extensive scouting information—typically videos on every serve by each starting player, every attack by each starting player, and first attack after reception organiesd by rotation. This may be accompanied by a 20+ page scouting report. Even I, with my in-depth knowledge of the opposing team (since I typically gather and analyze the data), find it hard to absorb all this information in a single session. And if I struggle to internalize it, it’s fair to question how much players are truly taking in. In fact, an overabundance of data can have a negative impact, as it distracts players from their own game. One example sticks in my mind with Team SideOut Polonia London, where we gave extensive scouting information on our rivals Team Northumbria. We ended playing poorly because they were too focused the opponents rather than playing their own game.

The Challenge of Executing Adjustments Under Pressure

The coach may determine what adjustments they want players to made based on the scout information. However, expecting players to execute those changes in a live match can be unrealistic, especially if those adjustments haven’t been thoroughly practiced in training. In the heat of the game, players may hesitate or get confused, which can ultimately hurt their performance. Those adjustments could also force players to do execute actions that is a weakness for them, further lowering your own team’s performance.

Endless Cycle of Scouting Preparation

Scouting opponents involves a significant investment of time and effort—collecting data, analyzing it, crafting a plan, and practicing adjustments in training. The downside is that this process resets every week with a new opponent, demanding the same level of preparation all over again. This cycle can be exhausting, leading teams to spend more energy on short-term adjustments rather than making sustained, long-term improvements to their own play.

Questioning the Payoff of Scouting Efforts

In my experience, the returns of this extensive scouting work are minimal. At best, you might secure a couple of extra blocks or a handful of digs by adjusting to opponents’ tendencies. At worst, your team’s performance suffers because the adjustments disrupt their ability to play their best, or the scouting plan proves too complex to execute effectively. Adding to the challenge, opponents often deviate from their usual patterns (they may have a game plan for you!), rendering your preparation irrelevant. There’s been plenty of times when the scout says a player’s tendency is to hit line and they hit cross in your match or the opponent coach changes their starting lineup, rendering carefully planned matchups redundant. In most cases, the difference in performance is negligible, raising the question of whether the scouting effort is truly worth it.

Why Focusing on Your Team is Better

Are We Playing Our Best?

Before you worry about the opposition, I would say worry about your own team first. Start by asking: Are we playing our best? This foundational question leads to several related considerations:

• Identifying Strengths: Have you reviewed stats and videos to identify your team’s top performers in areas like scoring, attacking, and passing? Are your line-ups designed to maximize these strengths?

• Optimising Systems and Strategies: Does your system of play make the most of your team’s strengths? For example, if your middles are highly effective attackers, are you creating opportunities for them to thrive? Should strategic sacrifices, like prioritizing better passers over stronger hitters, be made to support these systems?

• Addressing Weaknesses: Are recurring issues, like setting accuracy or defensive rotations, being actively worked on in training?

• Preparing Backup Plans: Have you prepared and practiced alternative strategies for when things don’t go as planned, such as switching to a four-player passing unit when struggling in serve receive?

• Providing Self-Analysis: Are you dedicating time to analyzing your team through reports and video sessions to refine performance?

• Developing Long-Term Goals: Are you working on developmental goals like faster-tempo setting or advanced attacking combinations that can elevate your team’s level over time?

• Maximizing Point-Scoring and Attacking: Are you optimizing your point-scoring and attacking efficiency with strategic choices like knowing best starting rotation, choose to serve or receive first, should you tip more often, and should you avoid back row attacks?

If the answers to these questions isn’t a yes then your focus be improving your team first. Building an optimal playing system and strategy is an ongoing process too, requiring adjustments as team dynamics and circumstances change. By prioritizing your own development, you set the foundation for long-term success that isn’t dependent on the specifics of the opponent.

Easier Gains Through Focusing on Your Team

I belive it’s much easier to achieve significant performance gains by improving your own team rather than trying to disrupt the opposition’s play. For example, simply starting your most effective players in the best point-scoring rotation should yield immediate results. Adding a game plan that emphasizes setting to your strongest attackers more frequently amplifies those gains. Incorporating a few additional tactics to enhance point-scoring and attacking effectiveness can compound these improvements quickly.

Building Long-Term Success

By focusing on your own team, you create an environment for consistent, long-term development. This allows you to make steady performance gains that build on each other week after week. In contrast, by focusing on the opposition, you hit a constant rest button where game plans and strategies change every week. This not only prevents long-term development but also risks muddling the team’s focus and messaging, making it harder to build a clear and effective identity over time.

In Practice

Once your team is playing optimally and no glaring issues need addressing, then it’s reasonable to consider focusing on the opposition. In this case, it’s fine for coaches and staff to review the full scouting report and come prepared for the match. If something from the report arises during the game, they can provide feedback to players in real time.

However, when it comes to sharing information with players before the match, I recommend boiling it down to three or fewer key points. This is so you don’t overload players with information. These should be high-impact that can help you win the match. Minor tendencies or less impactful data can be left out to avoid distractions. It should also be adjustments to your current playing systems that your players can execute effectively (which should also be practiced in training). Drastic changes can pull players away from what they are used to and excel at, leaving them more focused on executing unfamiliar tactics than on playing to their strengths.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, I firmly believe that focusing on improving your own team should always come first ahead of focusing on your opponents. There is always something you can do to make your team better, and by honing your team’s strengths, you’ll see bigger and more consistent gains week to week. I also like the mindset of Don’t adjust to the opposition; the opposition should adjust to you.

This is in contrast to focusing on your opponents where the players may not be able to internalise and execute any scouting adjustments in the match, you have to repeat the process week by week, and the gains are minimal anyway. I would say focus on your team first before you worry about your opponents.