I have been playing volleyball for 12 years now, and for 9 of those years, I was always an outside hitter. When I came to the US to play for a DIII team, my coach changed me to a right side hitter. This took time and effort to adjust, but in the end, it made me use my skills better. Being able to block the outside of the other team is important as they are one of the top scoring positions. As it turns out, I was a better blocker than a hitter, which allowed me to make more points blocking than hitting.
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Changes aren't a rare occurrence
Changes happen all the time, and sometimes we may not like them, but they happen for a reason. A common change for college athletes can be about your position on the court. You may be hesitant or stressed if your coach mentions putting you in a “new position” that you are not used to or haven't played in a while.
As an athlete that has just gotten into college, it is hard to leave the position you've always trained for and played on the court. You have gotten used to it, learned to love it, learned the tricks of it, and most importantly, you've worked on excelling at such a position on the court or field. But, you're new to the team and have to trust your coach. Fortunately, trying a new position is not the end of the world!
Have a good attitude
This change in position may only be temporary, but it might become permanent if you're good at it! The most important thing is to approach change with a positive attitude. According to Volleyball coach Addie Hauschild-Willis , “only 30% of the time is spent developing technical skills; the rest of the time I spend helping you realize you already know more than you think.”
Change your POV
Certain things won't change when your position changes: the height of the net, the strength of your arm swing, rules of the game, and you. Being able to stay objective and see the game from a new perspective will help you see things more clearly and approach the situation better. Regardless of the position you're in, you're still playing the game you love.
Your college coach might be changing your position because he or she believes you will excel better with the given change. They might be able to see something your high school coach may have not seen: where your best fit is. Your best fit on the team and court might not always be the one you've been in for the past months or years; it might be totally different. Always be open and flexible to a change in roles, because if you're good at one, you might be even better at another.
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Never be afraid of change
Change is good, and it is always better to see it as a glass half full than half empty. Moreover, you will always give your best to something you truly love, so don't give up so easily. Take the change as a new challenge for yourself. Show that you are able to step up and adapt.
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* Originally published on March 11, 2022, by Lilia Farach
