The popularity of volleyball as a sport is reaching new heights. The quick action, nimble movements, and in-game twists make each game an entertainment package for the audience.
Volleyball is not only about agility. It demands intense skill sets and the peak of fitness. So each player goes through a major skills and core training regime. It doesn’t end there. The strategic depth at which the team plans each move is also intriguing!
Why is there an increased focus on volleyball as a growing sport?
Firstly, the game is played at all recreational, collegiate, and professional levels. Besides, volleyball has something for all kinds of spectators. If you are an ardent sports fan, the in-game flexes will amaze you. Even casual fans will enjoy the momentum when they watch the game closely.
The rules are simple. Simultaneously, there are sheer opportunities to display skills, during the game! So, let’s explore why volleyball is unique and take a sneak peek at the skill and core training regime of the players.
Volleyball Skills Training is Hard and Intense.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of why volleyball training takes the better of you:
1. Acquiring Skills
You need a variable skill set to be a good volleyball player. There are players tailored to each position. For example, each team has an expert smasher, passer, server, spiker, etc.
However, based on the motion of the game, each player has to assume versatile roles within the game. That’s why the skills training is so intense.
2. Hardcore team game
Volleyball is a crucial team game. The players must learn top-notch communication techniques and coordinate within the game.
Most importantly, your teammates’ actions determine how you will play out the next ball. When the blocker misses a shot, you need to take the next dive at blocking the ball. Irrespective of whether you are a specialist smasher or not.
3. Physically Demanding!
The game demands you to be at the helm of your playing abilities. You need the best reflexes to make quick movements and all the explosive actions. In all, the game is quite physically demanding!
A Peek at Thaisa Daher’s Skill and Core Training Journey
To closely study how volleyball players plan their training here’s a fitting example. Thaisa Daher, the celebrated comeback icon from the women’s national team volleyball squad, played out real hard to set herself at the top.
She had the Brazilian head coach Jose Guimarez to help her at every beck and call. The 66-year old Jose is a three-time Olympic champion from the Brazilian battalion. Training and discipline flow in his veins.
His exclusive guidance helped the 35+ middle blocker to spearhead her team’s performance during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics as well. Back in 2016, she signed a contract with the top volleyball side Turkey Eczacibasi VitrA.
However, her career took a major turn there. She suffered a devastating ankle injury while playing a match.
However, she took to the rehab to gain her fitness back. Her nimble approach allowed her to make a speedy comeback to the professional elite division of the Brazil team.
Why The Injury Left a Scar in Her Career?
Thaisa Daher is not only known for her excellent spiking abilities. When she won the 2010 FIVB World Club Championship “Best Spiker” or the 2011 Best Blocker and Server, her training was the only thing that immensely backed him.
Elaboration of Her Training Regime from Later 2000s
Daher’s training journey since 2005 is nothing short of a benchmark. She stressed daily workouts, more than anything else. She started her day with an hour of physical activity.
With strength training the regimen included HIT too. Ensuring she was always in her top condition and mainly “match fit.”
But that’s not the most interesting part of her training schedule. Under the observation of Jose, she was a regular in CrossFit Integration training. CrossFit, as she says, is a core strategy to rebuild lost strength, endurance, and overall momentum.
Daher says you can lose your spiking momentum for miscellaneous reasons. It may be poor scheduling, excess match days, lack of discipline, or frequent training breaks.
Often long off seasons also force you to go out of shape. That’s why it is crucial to maintain the schedule of CrossFit training under the coach’s guidance.
Coach Guimarez also planned a unique regime for her to stay adrift. However, following the schedule was not certainly child’s play:
Unwavering Focus
During the 2012 and 2013 seasons, she was at the peak of her form. Her definitive training was behind this success. Especially the Focus training that she did, under coach Jose. When asked how her Focus training played out, she said- “It’s nothing out of the box.”
She just stuck to volleyball. On the days-off, she flexed when everyone else took off from training. However, she paid special attention to match videos. Daher says she took 1 hour every day during the post-match days to check where her reflexes lagged.
For example, she wasn’t in good shape during the Turkey VVSL Vestel Venus Women’s League. She snapped- “I had 0 Focus Training sessions. The loose match planning occupied the best of me.”
The Return To Roots Training
Coach Jose never left Thaisa’s side. Be it the 2021 season or the off-color 2017-18 session. However, it was his championing second training plan that helped Daher to stand out.
She returned to the Minas Tenis Clube to help her connect with her identity. She grinded like nothing else there. All she needed was the perfect ambiance to train without shame. Homecoming to the Clube was all she needed to regain focus.
Daher’s Take on Her Journey
Thaisa says- “I’ve Had Three Knee Surgeries.” She also mentioned that her knees were no better than that of an 80-year-old. But she heavily relies on her training, regimen, and discipline. She takes session by session.
Her motto is breaking a sweat. In 2024, her motto was going back to basics, so far as training is concerned. So the bottom line for volleyball aspirants is launching a reiterative training journey, as a constant throughout their career!
