The Power of Observation

# The Power of Observation

One of the greatest coaching lessons I ever learned had nothing to do with volleyball.

It had everything to do with paying attention.

Young coaches usually watch the ball.

Experienced coaches watch everything else.

They notice who is communicating.

Who is leading.

Who is frustrated.

Who is losing confidence.

Who is encouraging teammates.

Who is afraid to make the next mistake.

Those observations often tell you far more than the scoreboard ever will.

The best coaches don't just see the game.

They see the people playing it.

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Don't Just Watch the Ball

The ball only tells part of the story.

If all you watch is where the ball goes, you'll spend your career correcting symptoms instead of solving problems.

Instead, train yourself to watch:

• Footwork before contact.
• Body position.
• Eye movement.
• Communication between teammates.
• Decision-making.
• Effort after mistakes.
• Reactions between points.
• Energy on the bench.
• Leadership during adversity.

The mistake is usually visible.

The reason behind it often isn't.

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Observe Before You Correct

One of the easiest coaching mistakes is correcting too quickly.

An athlete misses a serve.

Immediately we say,

*"Stay behind the ball."*

But was that really the problem?

Maybe they rushed.

Maybe they were distracted.

Maybe they were trying to serve harder because they had just missed one.

Maybe they were frustrated by something that happened two rallies earlier.

If we don't observe first...

We risk solving the wrong problem.

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Body Language Is Communication

Athletes are constantly communicating.

Not just with words.

With posture.

With facial expressions.

With effort.

With eye contact.

With movement.

Some athletes will never tell you they're struggling.

Their body language will.

A great coach learns to recognize the difference between:

• Frustration.
• Fear.
• Fatigue.
• Lack of confidence.
• Loss of focus.
• Emotional overload.

Observation allows you to coach proactively instead of reactively.

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Watch the Athlete Between the Plays

Some of the most important coaching moments happen when the ball isn't in the air.

Watch what happens after a mistake.

Does the athlete:

• Encourage a teammate?
• Drop their head?
• Blame someone else?
• Reset quickly?
• Stay engaged?
• Withdraw?

Those few seconds often reveal the habits that determine long-term success.

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Learn to Observe Without Judging

Observation should begin with curiosity.

Not assumptions.

Instead of thinking:

*"She doesn't care."*

Ask yourself:

*"What am I actually seeing?"*

Maybe she's overwhelmed.

Maybe she's processing information.

Maybe she's exhausted.

Maybe she's unsure of her role.

The more objective your observations become...

The more effective your coaching will be.

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Every Athlete Has a Pattern

Great coaches begin recognizing patterns.

One athlete loses confidence after one mistake.

Another becomes stronger under pressure.

One athlete needs a reminder before every match.

Another needs to be left alone.

Observation helps coaches stop treating every athlete the same.

Patterns allow coaches to coach individuals.

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Observation Creates Better Practices

Observation shouldn't stop during matches.

Practice is where coaches should gather the most information.

Ask yourself:

• Which skills continue breaking down?
• Which athletes are avoiding difficult reps?
• Who is asking thoughtful questions?
• Who is helping teammates?
• Which drills are creating real learning?
• Which drills are simply creating activity?

Good observation helps coaches improve practices just as much as it improves athletes.

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From the Sideline

One season I had an athlete whose confidence seemed to disappear overnight.

Technically...

Nothing had changed.

She still had the same skills.

The same work ethic.

The same talent.

Many coaches would have spent more time correcting technique.

Instead, I spent more time watching.

I noticed something.

Every time she made a mistake...

She looked toward the bench before she looked at her teammates.

She wasn't worried about the mistake.

She was worried about disappointing me.

That changed everything.

She didn't need another technical correction.

She needed reassurance that one mistake wasn't going to change how I believed in her.

Had I only watched the volleyball...

I would have completely missed the real problem.

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Observation Is a Skill

The ability to observe isn't something coaches are born with.

It's something they develop.

Challenge yourself during every practice.

Spend five minutes watching only one athlete.

Then another.

Don't speak.

Don't correct.

Simply observe.

You'll begin noticing things you've never seen before.

Those observations will make every correction more meaningful.

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Common Mistakes Coaches Make

• Watching only the ball.
• Correcting before observing.
• Assuming instead of asking questions.
• Ignoring body language.
• Treating every mistake as a technical problem.
• Missing patterns because they're focused only on results.

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Key Takeaways

• Observation is one of the most valuable coaching skills.
• Great coaches watch people, not just volleyball.
• Body language often reveals what words never will.
• Observe before correcting.
• Patterns help coaches individualize their teaching.
• Better observation leads to better coaching decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I become a better observer?

Slow yourself down.

Choose one athlete during practice and simply watch.

Pay attention to movement, communication, reactions, and habits instead of only the outcome of each play.

What should coaches observe first?

Start by watching what happens before and after contact.

Those moments often reveal more than the contact itself.

Can observation improve relationships?

Absolutely.

Athletes feel understood when coaches notice the little things.

Observation helps coaches respond to the athlete's actual needs instead of making assumptions.

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Continue Learning

• Knowing When to Push and When to Pull Back
• Coaching With Emotional Intelligence
• Reading Body Language
• Understanding Before Correcting
• Coaching the Person Before the Player

The ball tells you what happened.

Observation helps you understand why.

And understanding "why" is where great coaching begins.