The boys volleyball team welcomes new head coach Tess Kovala for this year. Previously, they have not performed as well as they desired. However, with a new coach to guide them, they plan to succeed and improve their strive for this volleyball season.
Science in Sport explained that sports are not always about competing but also focus on personal growth, character development and life skills that show one’s true success in their long term identity. People only pay attention to the game and outcome, but never about how a team got to where they are. They never know the struggles some players had to overcome, or how much they have grown from when they first started. Taking the new knowledge they have learned not only helps them out at games but also in the long run for future events.
“Success goes beyond wins and losses. For me, it means setting a strong standard for how hard we work toward our goals on and off the court. I want athletes to look back on the season and see how much they’ve grown as players, teammates and individuals,” head volleyball coach Tess Kovala said.
She has been coaching for 12 years, and is currently one of the assistants for the girls varsity volleyball team. With this prior experience, she encourages her upcoming team to not only focus on their bad moments, but also acknowledge what the future has in store for them.
Sports Psychology said that having commitment to shared objectives helps members come to agreements on the team’s accomplishments, goals and focus. If all thoughts are communicated, then everyone’s expectations can be better met and improved.
Kovala said that her “Goals for this season are to compete at a high level, work hard every day, and build a strong team culture where players support each other and continue improving throughout the season.” With such goals in mind, Kovala will do her best to bring future successes with her lively spirit and ambition to create a strong team.
Research from USA Volleyball showed that being well-rounded in a team can lead to further successes rather than only focusing on training for certain areas. This knowledge can be used not only for volleyball, but also for many other sports as well in order to achieve the best results.
Senior captain Ben Fredericks explained how last year they often went to practice without a plan in mind on what they should cover for improvement. The team primarily focused on only a few aspects rather than understanding what positions fit best and practicing a variety of skills. This led them to struggle in areas they did not have much experience with. Knowing that they have a new coach this season, they hope to grow as athletes and have well-thought out practices in the future.
The Journal of Sport for Development spoke of the importance resilience holds when going through tough times to be successful. In relation to volleyball, most people would lose confidence if they see their performance is not giving the results they hope to achieve. This differing level of confidence can cause accidental conflicts on court and even afterwards. So it is important to have a strong mindset in order to prevail.
Due to the many losses in the past seasons, games became tough. “Surrounding myself with my teammates, I think that’s the best way to stay more confident, more excited, and especially since it’s a team game,” junior Lleyton Kue said.
He highlighted the importance of staying a team when things get hard and to always support one another in order to attain their goals. With Kovala’s constructive mindset, athletes will be encouraged to be the best version of themselves and understand that team effort makes a difference.
According to the University of Chicago, scholars at the Harris School of Public Safety analyzed many games of all sports and estimated that coaches make up 20 to 30 percent of the variation in a team’s outcomes. Though ultimately one’s performance depends on themselves, coaches also have a great impact on a team as a whole.
“Coaches have a lot of impact on a team, because they’re usually the ones with the most experience. They bring the knowledge to the game. They teach the games to the students and the athletes,” senior Jacob Le-Xiong said.
This indicates the importance a position of a coach holds on a team. Most members look up to and learn new skills and techniques from their coaches who are there to help guide them to be the best version of themselves. The athletes hope for Kovala to teach them new skills and to have a great experience.
With new coaches and members this season, the boys volleyball team is expected to be more successful than their previous year. Tryouts begin on March 23, with their first appearance on March 31, against Rosemount High School.
