Inspiring a Passion
Stop by any team practice at the high school/juniors level. You will inevitably see a variety of personalities on the team from the super outgoing individuals to those who keep more to themselves and tend to be a bit more tentative. These personality differences can be a predictor of the type of player you may end up with. However, rather than the social tendencies of your players, look at the work ethic and focus on the court, and the desire they have to be playing. That passion for the game is what keeps them coming back for more.
The big question remains: How do we inspire this passion in our players?
There's really no easy answer to this question. Some players just love the sport from the day they first pick up a ball. Others need to grow into it. But all of these players need some a nudge in the right direction to keeping that passion alive.
I'll admit it - there are times when I just feel burnt out and don't want to play, or don't want to be there coaching. Most of this comes out of frustration stemming from a lack of focus on my part or my players' part. In fact, just last night I was involved in a game of volleyball with some players of an obvious lower quality, and immediately my mental focus and body language screamed frustration and disapproval. This is viral and can spread through your team and drag the overall quality down with you.
So what can be done to prevent this?
As a player, when I catch myself getting in this mood I have to remind myself to focus on what I need to do and keep within my technique. Keeping my own play clean can help pick up a sloppy team.
As a coach, you have to try and keep your attitude positive and keep things fun for your players. As your players begin to feel frustrated or demoralized, the overall quality of their play will diminish and perhaps they will even give up.
In the short term you can handle it. But to inspire a long term passion for the game is much more complicated. As a high school coach you have to keep your players excited to come to practice and excited to play a match. They've got to have fun playing the sport or else they may decide it isn't for them. The fun they have early on in their careers will foster the growth of a passion for the game, and eventually they may even decide that volleyball is a life-long passion.
Your players will take the cue from you. If you are having fun coaching, they will have fun playing for you.
Passion for a game, no matter what game, starts out as a single fun moment. Increase the amount of the fun your players (or you) have playing, the more you will want to return.