More about Respect and Beach Volleyball

For all of you in the USA - Happy 4th! - for all of you who are not - have a great weekend anyway!

Respect – last week we talked about respect, respecting yourself and Michael and Farrah – and thanks to my lovely wife watching every possible TV show on Michael, I can’t get Michael Jackson songs out of my head! – (I think my favorite is ‘Man in the Mirror’ – truly great lyrics and words to live by!)

Today we’ll talk about respecting the game and your opponents –

Here’s a beach volleyball story about respect or lack thereof – I was fortunate enough to be holding court with Sinjin one afternoon at State Beach and next up was a young Kent Steffes –( he must have been a “lowly A or weak AA” player at the time).

As I watched both Kent and his partner warm up I knew right away that we were going to win – not because they didn’t have great athletic skills but because I could tell that they didn’t have a great feel for the beach game…yet!

I was only playing hard enough to stay ahead and win, hell, I was playing with Sinjin Smith and I was no slouch…also there was a small crowd watching and i certainly didn't want to look like i had to try very hard to beat them - it's all about how you look - ya know? ;>)

I remember about half way through the game Sinjin sternly telling me to get my sh*t together and play hard – I did and we beat them soundly. But the game took at least 15-20 minutes longer than it should have because of my immaturity and disrespect of the game, and therefore my opponents.

At that time I was too immature to truly respect the game of beach volleyball, I had a habit of only playing up to my opponents level – and as I result I could compete with the best as well as loose to the ‘not so good’!

If you truly respect the game of beach volleyball, and yourself, when you step on to the court to play, come ready to play - give 100% of what you have to give for that game.

I’m not saying to be a jerk, or to be a poor sport, or to flex your volleyball muscles – I am saying to play with focus and a will not to make any mistakes.

I’m not saying not to have fun, talk to the crowd and laugh at yourself and your partner – I’m saying during a play, play – DON”T screw around.

If you’re playing against a ‘weaker’ team in a ‘serious’ pick-up game– it doesn’t mean you don’t have to bomb jump serves at them or crush every set – but you can decide to serve, pass and set perfectly and to make skillful shots and hits – play a clean game and finish your opponent off quickly and with grace.

In a tournament, if you are up against a weaker team, play with laser focus and finish them off cleanly and quickly – and with grace.

If you do this you just might gain the respect of your opponents and inspire them to get better – rather than just ‘playing’ with them, getting “your big win”, having them lose… BUT THEY WILL think you are a complete butt-hole because you disrespected them and the game!

Create this habit and you will you will be well on your way to being your very best and you will ultimately give everyone a chance at winning - if you respect yourself and the game.

(And, if you're playing against beginners or at a picnic who haven't played volleyball since they were in gym class in high school - relax, fool around - no need to show off.)

FYI – Kent soon went on to become one of the greatest players to ever play, the partner he was playing with that day went on to play many years and earn a living on the AVP… and I soon became a chronically injured ex player – who knows how long you will get to play…enjoy it and respect it!

Dan


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