1
Kyle Academy
Higher Physical Education
4 Factors Impacting Performance
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Social
2
Contents Page
Page 2
Contents
Page 3
Table of Factors
Page 4
Mental and Physical Factors intro page
Page 5
Higher Order thinking skills
Page 6
The game of badminton
Page 8
Physical Factor – Skill Repertoire
Page 9-11
Physical Factor – Agility
Page 12-13
Physical Factor – Speed Endurance
Page 14-15
Physical Factor – Power
Page 17-19
Mental Factor – Level of Arousal
Page 20
Mental Factor – Concentration
Page 21-22
Mental Factor – Decision Making
Page 23
Social and emotional Factors intro page
Page 24
Blooms Taxonomy – higher order thinking
Page 25-27
The game of Volleyball
Page 29-32
Social Factor – Team Dynamics
Page 33-34
Social Factor – Communication
Page 35
Social Factor – Roles and Responsibilities
Page 36
Social Factor – Co-operating
Page 38
Command Words
Page 39- 41
Emotional Factor – Fear
Page 42 -44
Emotional Factor – Self Control
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Factors (Sub Factors) Impacting Performance
FITNESS
PHYSICAL
SKILLS
TACTICS
Physical Fitness
Skill Repertoire
Performance
Cooperating/Competing
Consideration
Contributing to a team/group
CRE
SOCIAL
Muscular Endurance
Technical Qualities
Personal S + W
Working in isolation
Speed (Speed
Timing
Role Demands
Relationships
endurance)
Rhythm
Team S+ W
Role/responsibility for
Flexibility
Consistency
Opposition
performance
Previous History
Team Dynamic
Special Qualities
Environment
Etiquette
Imagination
Conditions
Respect for self and others
Strength
Power
Inclusion
Creativity
Skill Related Fitness
Flair
Coordination
Adjustment
Agility
Principles of Play
Fair play
Width
Ethics
Depth
Codes of conduct
Reaction time
Quality of Performance
Delay
Conduct of self, players, crowd and
Balance
Control
Penetration
officials
Core Stability
Fluency
Support
Social Responsibility
Communication
Citizenship
Tempo
Extrinsic/intrinsic motivation
Effort
Accuracy
Touch
MENTAL
Environmental issues.
EMOTIONAL
Happiness/sadness
Level of Arousal
(affecting confidence, self-belief, own ability, resilience)
Anxiety
Anger
Concentration/ Focus
(affecting decision making, self-control, controlling or channelling
aggression, hostility, frustration)
Motivation
Fear
Decision making
(Affecting decision making, confidence, realising potential, panic,
Problem solving
Attention span
Mental toughness
Processing information
Anticipation
confusion, stress, anxiety, nervousness)
Trust
(Affecting self-respect, mutual respect, personal responsibility, team
responsibility, adaptability)
Surprise
(Affecting decision making, confidence, resilience, determination)
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Factors impacting Performance
Mental and Physical Factors
Overview
Sub Factors Covered
Skill Repertoire
Level of Arousal
Agility
Mental and
Physical
Decision
Sub Factors
Speed
Endurance
Making
Concentration
Power
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Higher Order thinking Skills
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The Game of Badminton
What does it involve?
REMEMBER
Key Elements/phases
•
The more skillful you are, the better your performance is likely to be. Being aware of the type of
skill you are working on, will determine the way you practice and develop the skill.
•
A skilled performance is about your ability to be in the correct place at the correct time and be able
to select the correct technique, making it look as effortless as possible to meet the performance
demands.
•
Skills are learned as a result of effective practice and can be performed consistently, it is not a fluke
or beginners luck.
Selecting the correct options!
•
•
•
•
Select Skills that are successful in outcome
Select skills which create scoring options
Select skills that allow recovery
Select skills which force errors
Techniques
Building
Serving



High
Low
Flick






Clears
Drop Shots
Net Shots
Lifts
Smash
Push
Attacking




Smash
Drop Shot
Drive
Kill
Defending






Clears
Drop shots
Net Shots
Drives
Blocks
Lifts
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Physical Factors
impacting
performance
Skill
Repertoire
Agility
Speed
Endurance
Power
KNOWLEDGE
8
Physical Sub Factor
Skill Repertoire
“All strokes have a purpose. As a performer you must understand
what you can do with strokes you have in your repertoire”.
Skill is the body’s ability to master movement and co-ordinate the
senses, brain and muscles efficiently and swiftly.
Skill Repertoire is the range of skills that you have at your disposal during a badminton match which can be
best utilised in a variety of performance situations. Your ability to perform skills and techniques within an
activity will impact on your performance significantly. Your ability to both develop your skill level
progressively and perform a range of skills within the activity will impact on your whole performance.
How does the ability to perform a range of skills and techniques Impact Positively?
In badminton the wider your shot repertoire the more able you will be to apply the right shot at the right time in
the match. From any one point on the court you will have the potential to select a number of shots to send your
opponent a problem. This will enable you to vary the height, angle and speed of your shots to expose space in the
corners of the court and dictate and control the game. Also, the more varied your repertoire the faster your
decision-making abilities as you have retained a bank of knowledge on the sport and have this experience of
techniques and success to allow for a faster response and confident performance. Shots can be used to place the
shuttle in the corners and build strong attacks. The quality of preparation for each shot allows for economic and
graceful movements.
For example, in badminton, if you are able to perform an overhead clear to the back tramlines and accurately to the
corners, this will impact on your performance positively as you can force the opponent back to create space at the
front. You can prevent the main attacking shot the smash and can give yourself time to recover and build a strong
attack when under pressure from a strong opponent.
How does a lack of skill repertoire impact negatively on performance?
If you are limited in your shot selection your play becomes very predictable and your creativity, tactical and decision
making potential is massively reduced. Limited options prevent you from creating space on the court and lack of
timing, accuracy and technique reduces the movement required by the opposition. Ultimately many points will be
lost as you spend your time constantly defending and chasing the shuttle down. You will be limited in the way you
can change the tempo of the game and limitation in the skills will impact your concentration, motivation and ability
to cope under pressure.
For example, a badminton player who is unable to block the shuttle low over the net to the sides of the court will be
forced to lift setting their opponent up for a possible smash.
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Physical Sub Factor
Agility
“Agility is the ability to turn or adjust position quickly whilst
maintain control and is a combination of speed, flexibility and
balance”
Agility is not just about the speed with which an individual can
change direction. But it's also defined by the grace and fluidity of
movement.
Agility is required for almost every performer in every activity. The ability to explosively start, decelerate, change
direction and accelerate again quickly is particularly important in racket sports. The shuttle moves much faster than
a ball in invasion games and demands that a performer can move fluently and with control across all planes of
movement to conserve energy and combine maximum effort with efficiency.
How does agility Impact Positively on performance?
There is no doubt that improved agility impacts timing, rhythm and movement efficiency. A badminton player with
good agility can turn and adjust position to cope with tempo changes sent over the net by the opposition and can
get into position early to play a controlled return with equal “bite” which can wrong foot the opponent. Opposition
will frequently change their racket head angle to alter the direction of the shuttle at the last minute but agility will
allow you to recover and adjust. Agility allows a badminton player to respond and anticipate early which gives
more time for decision making on the court. The more agile the more economic and efficient movement is which
means that front and back court movement is seamless and that all 4 corners of the court can be covered
effectively.
For example an opponent will often suddenly flick serve, drop or smash into the body. Agility allows for adjustments
and footwork to be altered quickly to respond to these challenges and counter attack. This makes it extremely
difficult for the opponent to outmaneuver you and forces then to take more risks in terms of placement
How does lack of agility impact negatively on performance?
Lack of agility makes you an easy target on a badminton court with so much space to exploit. An inability to change
direction quickly gives lack of preparation time for shots. Players cannot get behind the shuttle in both touch and
power shots to gain balance, accuracy and placement. Technique is therefore rushed reducing the success of shots
Players are often over stretching resulting in injury as they cannot keep up with the pace of the game. Lack of
agility allows the opposition to control the game and results in a player constantly playing defensively.
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Physical Sub Factor
Agility
”This is the ability to move with speed, co-ordination and balance,
and being able to adjust position or change direction quickly whilst
maintaining control”
Agility is a very important aspect of skill related fitness that is needed for successful performance in basketball.
Agility combines speed, co-ordination and balance which is essential to turn quickly or adjust position to
outmanoeuvre opposition to cut to the basket. Quick changes of direction are often fundamental, to create space or
receive a pass. In a 1v1 situation I will often fake a shot but then drive past the opposition using agility and pace to
move in for a high percentage shot. As a forward, I frequently need my agility to collect a rebound or chase a loose
ball, to then counter attack. Having agility I can mix set, jump and layup shots in the game to add an element of
surprise. Being able to adjust position quickly means it is very difficult for opposition to man mark me to restrict my
time and space on the ball. On the occasion that opposition intercept and break up the court, I am able to turn back
quickly to pressurise opponent to defend the key.
Why is agility important in basketball?
To get away from a marker to
create space and gain time on
the ball
To fake and drive to the basket
for a high % shot.
To turn quickly and track back
and defend a fast break to
prevent an overload
To adjust position to collect a
rebound off the ring
To reach for a loose ball and
turn and counter attack
Being agile allows a forward to
mix their shots and add an
element of surprise.
To adjust position and intercept
a pass and tightly mark in a 1v1
situation.
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Positive impact of agility on basketball performance
Agility is vital in basketball as it allows a player to stay on their toes and produce sharp, fast movements when driving
to the basket or attempting to lose their opponent. Basketball demands the ability to move quickly and efficiently up
and down the court. Agility requires both speed and flexibility to enable a player to cover the court efficiently. For
example, “if my opponent is closing in on me near the basket, my agility would help me to fake a pass one way and
quickly drive past my opponent in the opposite direction. If I anticipate the movements of my opponent wrongly, then
this could result in my opponent stealing the ball off me and points being lost.” A player with good agility will be light
on their feet and constantly be close to their opponent in defence, putting them under pressure. While attacking they
will be zig-zagging past their opponent, looking for passes and creating vital space on the court. They will be tiring
their opponents out so they will have more time to make decisions and passes under pressure, if their opponent fails
to keep up with the pace. Good agility is essential in basketball as it adds variety and maintains an element of
surprise if you can catch your opponent off guard. With effective agile movements a higher standard of performance
is sustained far longer.
Negative impact of Agility on Basketball Performance
A basketball player who has poor agility will struggle in a game. Even with a high level of accuracy in shooting,
passing etc they will not be able to use them to an advantage with a lack of agility. Poor agility and the inability to
change direction quickly will result in an untidy performance. A player who lacks agility in offence will not be able to
move quickly into a space away from their opponent to receive a pass, nor will they be able to change direction
quickly after a change of possession. For example, “when my team lost the ball, I was unable to change direction
quickly to run back in to defence and support my team, this resulted in the other team having numerical superiority in
attack and scoring an easy basket”. Agility is also useful when rebounding in basketball, if a player lacks agility, they
will be unable to react to an unpredictable bounce off the backboard or the rim of the basket to collect the rebound,
this will result in the other team gaining possession or even having another chance to attack. In defence, agility is
vital for any player on the court. Without agility, a player will not be able to stay with their player for any time in the
game. Being unable to match a quick fast dodge, would result in the opposing player’s having time and space to
create an opportunity for a high percentage shot, close to the basket.
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Physical Sub Factor
Speed Endurance
”This is the ability to repeat short sharp bursts of speed over a long
period of time”
Anaerobic (speed) endurance means working without a steady supply of oxygen.
This is where you work in short, sharp bursts, e.g. to sprint to get a pass in basketball. You will have experienced a
situation where you have been required to perform a few of these movements in quick succession and you found
you could not maintain the effort. This is lactic acid building up in your muscles. As you perform these quick
movements your muscles cannot take in the required oxygen to maintain effort resulting in oxygen dept. You need a
rest before being ready to carry on with this type of activity, e.g. you cannot keep making fast breaks to support
forwards without taking a breath to let your muscles recover.
In basketball you need to move your whole body up the court in a fast break situation, to keep up with team mates
in support. Short bursts are necessary to get into space to receive a pass or drive at the basket. Off the ball, speed is
essential to get to the ball before opposition and also to lose a marking player. This is also the case when an
opponent tries to lose you. Speed is an asset; a quick change of pace when dribbling can get you past opposition and
set up a numerical superiority in offence (overload) giving you more scoring opportunities.
Many dynamic actions in basketball also require a high level of anaerobic endurance. A good level of fitness here is
essential so that you can jump to catch a ball, shoot the ball, rebound, perform jump balls or shuffle at speed in
defence.
Examples of Speed Endurance in Basketball:
Offence
Defence
On the ball
Off the ball
Maintain a range
of shooting
options
Maintain sharp
passes
Dribble or drive
into space
Give and go (cut
into a space)
Sprint up the
court to receive a
pass.
Cut and drive to
the basket.
Chase a loose ball
Lose opponent &
create space
Explode into the
key to receive a
pass
Prevent opponent from cutting / driving into
space
Deny space in a zone defence
Intercept passes
Tight man mark
Chase a loose ball
Maintain “basketside” position
Sprint back and defend
Prevent opponent fast break
Prevent unopposed fast breaks
Defend counter attacks
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Positive Impact of Speed Endurance in Basketball
As a basketball game lasts 40 minutes you will have to use bursts of speed throughout therefore speed endurance is
important. Good speed endurance essentially gives you the same benefits as speed with the exception of it is usually
well into or towards the end of the game. If you are up against someone of a similar speed you may struggle to get
away from them in the early stages of the game, however, if you have superior speed endurance, you will be able to
get away from them more easily as the game progresses. Some examples of actions you will be able to carry out in a
game are shown in the table below. Having a high level of speed endurance would help you to carry out these actions
efficiently, particularly towards the end of the game.
1.
Guard
Offence
Defence
Dribble the
Pressurise the
ball up the
opponents
middle of
guard
the court
Force
(ahead of
opponent to
the defence)
make errors
Create fast
Deny space at
break
the top of the
scoring
key
opportunitie
s
Forward
Offence
Defence
Fill the
Deny
lanes in a
opponent
fast break
space and
Drive to
time
the basket
Prevent
for layups
opponent
Beat
driving into
opponent
the key
up the
Sprint in for
court for
rebounds
an easier
shot
Centre
Offence
Get
position
close to the
basket to
post up
Sprint for
rebounds
Gain space
in the key
Defence
Deny
space in
the key
Gain
position
for
rebounds
(box out)
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Negative Impact of Speed Endurance in Basketball
Example answer:
In the first two quarters of the game I was reasonably satisfied with my performance. In the 3rd and 4th quarters,
particularly the 4th, my lack of fitness showed in several ways.
As a forward, I was unable to sprint up the court to receive a pass for a fast break in offence or support the breaking
player by filling the lanes. This meant that the fast break was a man short and often faced a 5v5 set offence situation
instead of a 3v2 or 3v1 overload, thus decreasing our scoring rate significantly. As a forward I am responsible for
driving towards the basket, rebounding and receiving cuts into the key to create scoring opportunities. However, in
the later stages of the game, I had lost my sharpness so was unable to lose my opponent with a change of pace,
hindering my ability to cut and drive to the basket when the opportunity arose. In defence I was unable to move
quickly back to my own half to defend a fast break or attack giving my opposition numerical superiority. I was
gasping for a breath and jogging when a faster pace was essential, limiting my contribution to the game. This
recovery time was necessary to provide the working muscles, which had been starved of oxygen with a much needed
supply and my decision making and concentration was negatively affected.
Physical Sub Factor
Power
“This is strength applied at speed and is sometimes referred
to as explosive strength.”
Power is vital when rebounding, making jump shots and lay ups to gain height to overcome opposition.
Power is useful in basketball, in order to:
Jump high to grab a
rebound
Explode into the key
Jump to block in
defence
Shoot in a variety of
ways
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Positive impact of Power on basketball performance
Power is required in basketball throughout performance, no matter what position you play. When rebounding, good
leg power allows you to jump higher and catch the ball at it’s highest point giving you a better chance of securing the
rebound. In a defensive situation this gives you an excellent platform to fast break from and when attacking this gives
you another chance to score. Good rebounding = more possession! Good leg power is also vital to contest shots being
made, e.g. blocking. If you are able to jump high enough in front of your opponent, you will have the chance to block
their shot and prevent it from going towards the basket. Good leg power is also useful when shooting as it can help
you to jump higher than a potential blocker, allowing you to get more power into your release. Arm power is also
important when shooting or passing in basketball. Good arm power will allow you to shoot from greater distances
(e.g. a 3 pointer), whilst allowing you to focus more on your technique. Arm power also helps you to pass over greater
distances and also helps to make passes faster and sharper which will prevent them from being intercepted.
Positive impact of Power on basketball performance
The following is an example of a writing framework for an evaluation of the positive impact of power in
basketball.
Knowledge point 1:
As a centre in basketball, power is needed in my legs to jump high to catch a rebound.
Understanding point 1:
In offence, this allows me to jump higher than my opponent and gain possession of the ball.
Justify point 1:
This gives my team the chance to attack again which could result in winning more points for my team.
Knowledge point 2:
In basketball, having good arm power allows me to shoot accurately from a greater distance
Understanding point 2:
This allows me to score more frequently from the 3 point line.
Justify point 2:
This means that I can mix up my attacking options by being able to shoot from inside and outside the 3 point line,
keeping my defender on their toes at all times.
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Mental Factors
impacting
performance
Level of Arousal
Concentration
Decision Making
KNOWLEDGE
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“It is the person with the mental and emotional toughness who succeeds most often in long run. You’re
more than just a body. Your mind and emotions also play an important part in your performances. If
you’re just training your body, you’re training ½ of yourself”
Mental Sub Factor
Level of Arousal
“Arousal is defined as being an energised mental state of alertness and
preparedness for an activity”.
Arousal is the key factor in determining success in sport. Getting to, and
then keeping, the right level of arousal is hard to achieve and is often the
downfall of sports people. This is because both too little (Under arousal)
and too much (Over arousal) can have catastrophic effects on
performance.
Level of Arousal is impacted by







Criticism
Recovery from injury
MistakesCrowd Pressure
Anxiety
Excitement
Dips in form
Intimidation by opponents
The key is to get “in the zone” and create a “performance Bubble” as a positive mind = 100% success
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Optimum level of arousal
The level of arousal required for different sports significantly varies along with how athletes get themselves to this
mental state. Think of Usain Bolt as he embraces the crowd and jokes about on the start line and the New Zealand
rugby team as they perform the Hakka. If you took this high level of arousal to another sport such as the gymnastics
beam or rifle shooting you can see the problems that this will cause to the performer where calm a calm mind,
relaxed muscles and steady breathing are required.
Think of the catastrophic effect of over arousal.
German diver ,London Olympics
England football team and penalties
Dropping the baton (Game over)
Optimum Arousal
Where the performer operates at his/her best. Emotional, Physical and Mental arousal are at
their peak. Sufficient adrenalin to create excitement but maintain composure. Cognitive
processes at their most productive.
Under Aroused
May be over relaxed and not hyped up enough for an event. Often caused by over
confidence. Causes lapses in concentration resulting in errors. Training can suffer when a
person is in this mental state as motivation is poor and they are not hypes up enough.
Over Aroused
Nervousness and a surge of adrenalin can negatively impact performance resulting in
unpredictable behaviour. Fear and anxiety can consume an individual resulting in a lose of
timing, balance , fluency and skill success. Over stimulated results in a performer missing
important cues/stimuli in a game which impacts information processing system and impairs
judgements and decisons. A perfomer may get angry or distarcted.
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RED ALERT
Watch the Cracks appear!!!!!


Errors due to nerves getting the better of you.
 Lack of drive to succeed
 Blame culture rather than reflect on self
 Dwell on the past and errors rather than the future
 Anger (Focus on mistakes)
 Impossible to goal set
Anxiety dominates play (observed in mannerisms and body language)
 Concentration deteriorates
 Fatigue (Negative thoughts)
 Psychological barriers (Roger Bannister Example)
When a catastrophe does occur and optimum level of arousal is
lost a variety of mental fitness techniques can be applied which
we will discuss later in the book. However the objective is to;
1. Re Group (Relax)
2. Rebuild arousal level
How does being able to control your level of arousal impact positively on your
performance?
In badminton being able to control your level of arousal and get it to the right level gets you prepared to do your
best. The performer can shut out distractions and make the right decisions throughout the match on shot selection
and movement. They have confidence in their performance and are less likely to choke under pressure. They can
control the match and react to the cues of the opposition to prepare early and counter attack. They use their
experience to shake off any issues in their performance to regroup very quickly. For example if a player serves twice
out of the court they quickly focus on past performances and maintain concentration and correct the issue
immediately and never dwell on the fault.
20
Mental Sub Factor
Concentration
“The ability to exert deliberate mental effort in a given situation staying on
track and focussing for a period of time”.
Uses the body’s senses to pick up information.
Concentration is a vital requirement in badminton which is an activity which requires sustained
focus. However, players must be able to switch focus on and off to avoid fatigue. The level of
concentration a player possesses is dependent on their skill level and experience of the activity.
The priority is to focus on performance goals rather than the end outcome to settle nerves and keep on
task.
For example a rugby kicker focuses on picking a spot either a few feet in front of them or behind the post
to aim for in a conversion kick.
Concentration has a broad and narrow dimension. A broad dimension is where the player is ware of
everything around them but not focussing on any one part of the performance e.g taking in playing
environment and crowd. However narrow concentration to vital to direct focus on only one or two cues in
the game or during training to prevent brain overload and miss directing attention.
How does maintaining concentration impact positively on performance?
A badminton player who can maintain concentration throughout a match will develop more consistency in
their play and will respond faster to cues in the game resulting in faster decision making and motor
responses. They are able to disregard “noise” and focus on what is important such as; Where is the
opponent on the court? What is the speed and angle of the shuttle coming over the net? What is the best
response to this shot which will cause my opponent more of an issue? Where is the space to attack?
Being selective with their attention and staying in the zone enables them to cope with pressure and make
fewer careless mistakes.
Impact does a lack of concentration impact negatively on performance?
A badminton player with a lack of concentration will allow the pressure to get to them and will forget their
game plan. They will make frequent errors through not being selective with what they focus on resulting in
brain overload.




Might not be watching where the opponent is or the space to hit the shuttle (Reducing effectiveness of
shots)
Not watching the flight of the shuttle (Preparation time delayed and technique effected)
Incorrect execution of specific techniques.
Wrong, rash decisions (adaptiveness reduced.
21
Mental Sub Factor
Decision Making
“Decision making is an action or process of choosing a preferred option or
course of action from a set of alternatives. It forms the basis of all
deliberate and voluntary behaviour”.
Quality decision making is a critical skill in sports. The quality of your decisions has a massive impact on you
results. Experience plays a significant part in the decision making process such as your skill repertoire as do many
other sub factors.
For example
Concentration
Level of Arousal
Decision making capabilities
The more developed a performer’s information processing system the better adept they are at responding to cues,
sorting information, and drawing on past experiences which results in instant decisions. Anticipation is linked to the
decision making process and players must learn to “read” a situation early to establish what things are unimportant,
less important and very important. This helps an athlete to predict what might happen next and think one step
ahead of their opponent and the game. This means they can plan ahead.
For Effective decisions we make use of
SENSES
PAST EXPERIENCE
OUR ABILITY TO “READ” WHAT NEXT
Triple Decision making process
1. Decisions on FOCUS (Attention selective)
2. Decisions about what the information means
3. Decisions about to do now
How does good decision making impact positively on performance?
Good strategic play (Decisions) is rooted in a solid skill and fitness base. Effective badminton players have good
perception, good decision making skills and the ability to produce the required shot at the precise moment it is need.
Fast decision making allows a varied stroke repertoire to be applied to manoeuvre and outmanoeuvre opponents. It
allows a player to mix power and touch shots to get the opponent on the run giving them less time to react and
think. Badminton is a problem solving game and the objective is to send difficulties over the net. Swift decisions
results in a higher success rate, good timing, and fluidity in movements. (Right place, right time) It reduces errors in
play as players respond effectively to cues in the game to make the correct judgements and they can ignore possible
distractions. Decisions are more spontaneous without conscious thought as a player has strong belief in their ability.
22
How does poor decision making impact negatively on performance?
Recall of past
experiences limited
impacting decisons
and judgments in a
"live performance"
Confusion from
brain overload.
Decsion not
instinctive, delayed
as it take longer to
process info.
Poor attention
selection (Focusing
on what is not
important)
Impact
Negative
Inability to read the
game and solve
problems
Frequent, repetitive
mistakes
Miss vital cues in
the game which
would direct
attention impacting
antiicpation.
BE ABLE TO EVAULATE THE IMPACT OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FACTORS ON PERFORMANCE. (Mental and Physical)
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Factors impacting Performance
Emotional and Social Factors
Overview
Sub Factors Covered
Communication
Self Control
(Anger)
Roles and
Responsibilities
Social and
Emotional
Sub Factors
Fear
Team Dynamics
Co-operating
and competing
24
Higher Order thinking Skills
25
The Game of Volleyball
What does it involve?
Key Elements/phases
REMEMBER
Volleyball is a team game and is usually played 6v6 although you may play 4v4 at school level. It is a complex game
of simple skills. The ball is spiked from up to 60 cm above the height of a basketball hoop (about 3.65 metres) and
takes fractions of a second to travel from the spiker to the receiver. That means the receiver must assess incoming
angle, decide where to pass the ball and then control their pass in the blink of an eye. A purely rebound sport (you
can't hold the ball), volleyball is a game of constant motion and anticipation.
The game involves a lot of the core skills such as running, sprinting, jumping turning and sidestepping. The main
technical skills required are serving, volleying, digging, spiking, tipping, and blocking- all of which must be carried out
within the rules.
Volleyball basic rules
The Serve






Server must serve from behind the end line until after
contact
Ball may be served underhand or overhand
Ball must be clearly visible to opponents before serve
Served ball may graze the net and drop to theother
side for point
First game serve is determined by a volley, each
subsequent game shall be served by the previous
game loser
Serve must be returned by a bump only. no setting or
attacking a serve
Scoring






Rally scoring will be used.
There will be a point scored on every score of the
ball.
Offense will score on a defense miss or out of bounds
hit.
Defense will score on an offensive miss, out of
bounds hit, or serve into the net.
Game will be played to 25 pts.
Must win by 2 points.
26
Rotation



Playing The Game
Team will rotate each time they win the serve
Players shall rotate in a clockwise manner
There shall be 4-6 players on each side.








Maximum of three hits per side
Player may not hit the ball twice in succession (A
block is not considered a hit)
Ball may be played off the net during a volley and on
serve
A ball touching a boundary line is good
A legal hit is contact with the ball by a player body
above and including the waist which does not allow
the ball to visibly come to a rest
If two or more players contact the ball
simultaneously, it is considered one play and the
players involved may not participate in the next play
A player must not block or attack a serve
Switching positions will be allowed only between
front line players. ( After the serve only )
Basic Rule Violations








Stepping on or over the line on a serve
Failure to serve the ball over the net successfully
Hitting the ball illegally (Carrying, Palming, Throwing, etc. )
Touches of the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play. If the ball is driven into the net with such
force that it causes the net to contact an opposing player, no foul will be called, and the ball shall continue to be
in play
Reaching over the net, except under these conditions a) When executing a follow-through b) When blocking a
ball which is in the opponents court but is being returned ( the blocker must not contact the ball until after the
opponent who is attempting to return the ball makes contact). Except to block the third play
Reaches under the net ( if it interferes with the ball or opposing player )
Failure to serve in the correct order
Blocks or spikes from a position which is clearly not behind the 10-foot line while in a back row position
27
SKILL RELATED, TACTICAL & PHYSICAL DEMANDS RELATED TO PLAYING ROLES
SKILL RELATED
TACTICAL
PHYSICAL
Good timing, control and dynamic
balance when power serving.
Know when to contact ball.
Variety of techniques

Power

Float

Underarm
Be aware of opposition strengths
and
weaknesses
based
on
structure.
Where are the weak receivers?
Which player is less agile and
reacts slower?
Where is the space on the court?
(lines)
How can I bend the structure?
Once l serve what must I do next?
Tall powerful player to drive
body
weight
behind
and
downwards over the ball.
Strength and speed to create
unstoppable serve.
Speed to move onto court
quickly to field defend.
Good
timing, control
and
dynamic balance when volleying
the ball.
Be able to gauge the flight
path of the ball.
High accurate volleyer of the ball both
forwards and reverse.
Can vary the height and pace of the
set to change tempo of attack.
Setter dictates the pace of the
game (Play makers)
Control who, where and when
attack takes place.
Where is the strongest hitter?
Where is the weakest blocker?
Where is less agile or shortest
blocker?
Where is the space of the court?
Is a 2nd touch attack an
option?
Speed for quick movements
into set position and then to
defend.
SERVICE
RECEPTION
UNIT
Must be competent volleyers and
diggers of the ball playing the 1st
touch high and accurate to the
setter.
Co-ordination and good timing to
anticipate the flight of the ball and
move under the ball.
Good communication to link up.
Making quick effective
decisions about passing
option choice.
Agile and flexible to get
underneath the ball and react
quickly to the ball coming fast
over the net.
ATTACKING UNIT
Swing hitters must have good timing,
control and dynamic balance to
contact the ball at the correct point
without a net fault.
Must be competent in both
spiking and tipping the ball over the
net into space on the court
consistently to change tempo.
Run up requires timing as unit
move into the net.
Where a r e the weak receivers
and space on the court?
Where is the blocker lining up?
How many blockers are there?
Should I tip or spike?
What shot would cause the field
defence most problem?
If they set up an attack who is
likely to attack?
Who to block?
Tall powerful players in both
arms and legs to generate
height in jump and power
behind the ball.
Agile to recover good defensive
play and set up and new
attack.
Defence at the net y o u need to be
competent blockers of the ball with
straight arms and close unit to
reduce angle and cast a shadow
over the court.
Timing is essential to block a spike
effectively.
Confident i n d i v i d u a ls .
Field defence must be good at
Digging the ball accurately and
recovering play from opposition
spike (Absorb pace of the ball and
pick ups)
Read a b-ball situation and move
off the net quickly.
Where is the strongest hitters?
If block is successful which players
are less agile to reach the ball?
What space do we need to cover?
How many blockers do we
need?
What is the angle of approach of
the hitter?
Who will cover straight and
cross court hit and tip?
Height is essential to get above
the ball and opposition hitter
to reduce angle of attack.
SERVER
Vary angle and speed at touch
SETTER
DEFENSIVE UNIT
Mobility- agile to respond to
many positions on court and
tum quickly.
Endurance - repeat setting
and defensive action time and
time again.
Endurance to sustain play.
Power to get height in jump.
Speed in field defence to reach
fast
attacking
shots
of
opposition.
28
Social Factors
impacting
performance
Communication
Roles and
Responsibilities
Team
Dynamics
Co-operation
KNOWLEDGE
29
Social Sub Factor
Team Dynamics
”Is the interaction of performers within a team or group. It is mainly
to do with making the team more effective than the sum of its
parts”.
“Sporting environments are dynamic and their challenges constantly changing. Evolving with and adapting
to this environment will ensure longevity in terms of team cohesion and prevent group fragmentation and
lack of unity in the dressing room, during training and on the court”
DEFINE EFFECTIVE TEAM DYNAMICS
Trust and belief
in each other
Shared goals
(Creates greater
unity and focus)
Co-operation
and support
amongst players
Clear
communication
(Feeling valued
and respected
develops
cooperation)
Defined roles
(clarity, greater
awareness)
Motivation and
self belief in
players
Consider this Example: “Guardiola’s first act as manager of Barcelona back in 2008 was to get rid of playboy
Ronaldinho as he had a bad influence in his team. He united a group of good players into a unit who went on to win
14 major trophies in the next 4 seasons.”
The dynamics of a team are impacted by TEAM COHESION which is where players are drawn to a common goal.
Coaches often talk about teams needing time to “gel” in order to perform at their maximum potential. It has been
evidenced time and time again that skill and ability will only get you so far, groups of players must have an intangible
bond. This develops naturally as a result of coaching and day to day interactions.
Team Dynamics are
created by;



Personalities
Relationships
Roles
30
To build TEAM DYNAMICS, understanding the 4 stages in the group development process is essential. All groups must pass through these stages in order to
emerge as a cohesive unit.
PERFORMING
Results of a new cohesive team
should be evident.
NORMING
Team unity is forming where players
understand each other’s roles and
responsibilities, cooperating and
showing solidarity and not an
individual agenda.
STORMING
Getting to know each other’s
responsibilities and develop
communication. Conflict, hostility
and instability start to develop as
players fight for position.
FORMING
New players coming together for a
common goal. Getting to know each
other. Assessing strengths and
weaknesses of others.
31
Team Productivity depends on
Individual skills and ability
Resources available
Motivation
Group Size (Remember the bigger the group the harder it is to co-ordinate as players can hide etc.
Also sub groups can emerge which can damage cohesion. Consider in rugby the forward and back
divide where cliques can form.
In all groups SOCIAL LOAFING can occur where players are not putting 100% in to a group.
SOCIAL LOAFING
Others
working
harder than
others
Lack of
reinforcement
Lack of
confidence and
fear of failure
and anxious
Ability
Loss of
motivation.
Contribution
not identified.
Others
covering you
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32
How does good team dynamics Impact positively on performance?
In volleyball, unity within the team has a positive impact on performance. Players have a clear understanding of
each other’s roles and responsibilities and have a mutual respect for each other which allows them to work
collaboratively i.e in a three touch attack or when defending a spike. This increased clarity and awareness enables
them to execute strategies such as the specialised setter and make decisions faster during the game. There is
camaraderie between the players as they are all on the “same page” and have a shared goal, resulting in high
motivation levels. They will therefore not have to deal with the impact of social loafing on performance. Because all
units work cohesively they can rely on each other to break down their opponents attack and successfully mount
their own with fluidity in a constantly changing environment. For example, cohesion in the blocking unit will ensure
that space is denied and that a shadow is cast over the court. Field defenders will support the blockers to defend the
remainder of the court and prevent easy points being lost.
How do poor team dynamics negatively impact performance?
In volleyball, poor team dynamics can have a significant effect on the team’s performance. If all players cannot
sustain their unit for the duration of a match even the most carefully rehearsed strategies will fail due to potential
errors or ill-timed moves. A break down in cohesion therefore results in a lack of co-ordination in both attacking
and defensive play. If several players in the team are less motivated it will impact how units function cohesively
and impact the dynamics of the team. Frustration will occur and players will blame each other for a poor
performance. Social Loafing will occur and 100% effort will not be applied to matches and training. Lack of cohesion
will also reduce the communication of the units and result in slower decisions. Space will be exposed to attack and
creativity and fluidity will be lost in the play.
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33
“NOTHING POSITIVE HAPPENS IN VOLLEYBALL WITHOUT AN ASSIST FROM A TEAMMATE.”
Social Sub Factor
Communication
“Communication is the ability to convey information to team
mates/coach through the exchange of verbal speech, signals or action
during practice and performance”
It is the art of sharing meaningful information to finalise roles, discuss
tactics, call set plays or refine technique. For example, a setter will
communicate throughout a match through a combination of hand signals
and verbal cues to call plays with the attacking unit and direct the passage of
play to bend and break the opposition structure.
Communication can be used to give






Tactical Advice
Encouragement
Feedback
Information on shots played
Information on the direction of play
Opposition positions
Communication Blocks







The player’s perception of something is different to yours.
The player may jump to a conclusion instead of working through the process of hearing, understanding and
accepting.
The performer may lack the knowledge needed to understand what you are trying to communicate as a
coach, captain etc
The player may also lack the motivation to listen to you or to convert the information into action. (Social
loafing etc)
The communicator may have difficulty in expressing what she/he wishes to say.
Emotions and mental factors may interfere in the communication process.
There might be a clash of personality between team mates (Team cohesion issues)
33
34
How does communication Impact positively on performance?
Communication is vital for successful performance in volleyball both in practice and competition. In practice, quality
feedback enables our team to highlight issues in our performance and address these quickly. Through constant
reflection and interaction it has a positive impact on the ethos and dynamics of the team and is a more positive
working environment. Players are so familiar with each other they can anticipate their team mates next moving
gaining an advantage. For less able performers it is a main source of feedback which informs the information system
to increase skill repertoire and tactical awareness. Communication is used to decide our starting shape based on
the opposition strengths and weaknesses and structure to ensure maximum performance gains. When applying the
3 touch attack strategy a setter will regularly communicate with the hitting unit verbally and through hand signals to
indicate the direction and pace of sets to confuse opposition and give them less time to set up. Furthermore, players
will frequently shout to team mates in service reception when they play the 1st touch to free up other players and
prevent a collision or double hit. Through communicating players are all “on help” to cover space on the court and
pick up stray balls when necessary. Through communication made during the match quicker decisions can be made
to allow for movement adaptations under pressure. They are made aware of any external factors outwith their
own performance which could impact the quality of the attack which allows for more fluent play and more
seamless execute of fundamental skills. In defence by being alerted early of a change to the attacking play you can
position yourself early as you are more aware of situations around you i.e a b-ball situation. The mutual respect
between players gives them a competitive edge as they implement their strategies.
How does lack of communication impact negatively on performance?
A lack of communication in volleyball can be very costly as players take cues from each other to initiate plays and
any delays will limit the attacking options available and allow the opposition more time to set up a stronger front
line of defence. Lack of communication between the hitters results in timing issues as they move towards the net
independently instead of as part of a unit which will make the direction of play more predictable or result in
players being unprepared for fast sets etc resulting in net faults and poor preparation time and selection of attacking
shot. As soon as there is little or no communication player’s start scrabbling for passes and there is confusion of
roles and responsibilities on the court. Decisions are rash and players can begin to feel isolated and frustrated
resulting in friction within the team.
34
35
Social Sub Factor
Roles
and
Responsibilities
“When playing as part of a group or team, it is essential to understand
what your roles are and how your role relates to the roles of your
your team mates.
The individual role you adopt in a group or team activity will be dependent on many factors. These may include your
physical attributes and your ability as a skilled performer, including your decision making qualities etc. When each
individual’s attributes and qualities are considered, then a relevant structure or strategy can be planned.
How do roles and responsibilities impact positively on performance?






All players who understand their roles can carry them out more successfully. The rest of the team are relying on them
and there is a sense of expectation that all players must contribute and pull their weight.
We know that players take timing from each other and respond to their cues in the game. This allows more autonomy
in their movement and quicker anticipation and reactions. This results in faster decisions, more variety and clearer
patterns in attacking play.
Volleyball players who understand the role of others in the team will have a greater appreciation of the demands and
better communication will allow for smoother application of strategies. Therefore there will be no confusion of who
should play each touch. Understanding roles builds confidence and trust within the team.
In volleyball players may be asked to switch positions on the court during implementation of strategies and they will
need to carry this out instinctively. An example of this being when the setter penetrates from the back of the court in a
4v4 game in a b-ball situation. This will involve positional changes for several players and will increase attacking
potential and the opposition will have less influence on the game.
If players know their roles they will have better lines of communication and always be “on help” to support other team
mates.
Occasionally we have to adapt roles i.e inaccurate 1st touch forces another player to take on the role of setter.
Understanding the roles on court allows a team to regroup and keep the attack going. Remember that team success
depends on success of units and individuals to fulfil roles.
How does a lack of application and understanding of roles and responsibilities
impact performance negatively?
When players fall short when carrying out their role it has a massive impact on team dynamics and relationships as
players get frustrated and angry which can impact the quality of training and result in a lack of motivation in the
team. In volleyball, players have more than one responsibility on court. For example a setter’s primary responsibility is
to set the ball up but they must immediately switch to the defensive and form the first line of defense at the net. Often
as players rotated through this position they set the ball and forget their secondary responsibility and fail to cover the
counter attack. This meant that on set rotations we could not create a unit block and this gave opposition more space
to hit into and put more pressure on the field defence. At set points in play not all players should be involved.
However, if one player is erratic and does not carry out their role effectively all other players are on edge and
constantly worried as they have to constantly try and pick up the pieces. There are fewer strong attacks and more
careless errors impacting the success of the team.
35
36
Social Sub Factor
Co-operating
“Co-operation is where you work together with others to achieve a common goal”
Co-operation is at the heart of volleyball as the sport relies so heavily on units to
achieve a common goal. Whether you are in the attacking, defensive or service
reception unit you must work together to cover space and build stronger attacks.
How does co-operation impact positively on performance?
Co-operation
during practice
enables players
to learn new
skills and
strategies
Apply more
pressure and
give
opposition
less time to
prepare
Co-operation
Limits
space for
oppsition
to attack
Players can
support each
other and be on
help at all times
Build 3 touch
attack for a spike
and effective
passage of play
How does lack of co-operation impact negatively on performance?
During skill
development if
players do not cooperate practices
break down and
skill development
will plateau.
In competition lack of
cooperation means that units
do not function effectivly in
both attack and defense and
patterns of play are
uncoordinated and limited
due to lack of communication.
Relationships
and team
dynamics are
comprimised
and friction and
frustrations
occur.
Key strategies and creative
plays such as your three
touch attack and tempo
changes breakdown and are
ineffective through poor
lines of communication and
link up.
REMEMBER THAT UNDER PRESSURE PERFORMERS CAN ACT IRRATIONALLY RESULTING IN AGGRESSION TOWARDS
EACH OTHER. Players may become selfish in team games if there is a lack of co-operation. This can lead to
ineffective decisions as players choose to ignore team mates. Their play can become reckless and dangerous
resulting in potential injury
36
37
Emotional Factors
impacting
performance
Fear
Anger
(Affecting decision making,
(affecting decision making, self-
confidence, realising potential, panic,
control, controlling or channelling
confusion, stress, anxiety,
aggression, hostility, frustration)
nervousness)
ear
37
KNOWLEDGE
38
Command Words – Read and consider before you put pen to paper
38
39
EMOTIONAL FACTOR
Emotions seem to rule our daily lives. Our decision making ability is dependent on our mental state. This is how you
are currently experiencing the world emotionally; anger, sadness, boredom, jealousy, happiness, determination and
excitement. As an athlete it is vital you are able to identify your emotional state before/during/after performance as
well as developing approaches to deal with these emotions. By doing this you will become an emotionally fit
performer.
Emotional Requirements

Resilience (Manage Set backs)
 Strength (Fighting Spirit)
 Responsiveness ( Engaged)
“A positive mind will provide a more balanced approach to competition and therefore provides an improved
chance of success”
Emotional Sub Factor
Fear (Anxiety)
“Anxiety is a state consisting of psychological and physical
symptoms brought about by a sense of apprehension of perceived
threat. It is an unpleasant state of inner turmoil accompanied by
nervous behaviour, restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems
and muscular tension. It causes a performer to run away/avoid a
situation (CHOKE) or they feel that they cannot move (FREEZE)”
ANXIETY LEVELS DIFFER ACCORDING TO
SITUATION/
ENVIRONMENT
State anxiety
INDIVIDUAL
Trait anxiety
Anxiety can impact upon your performance psychologically (cognitive) and physiologically (Somatic).

Psychologically means our thinking or cognitive processes are affected

Physiologically means our body or somatic processes are affected.

Behavioural – By patterns of behaviour.
39
40
Symptoms of Anxiety
Cognitive
Somatic
Behavioural
Indecision
Sense of confusion
Feeling heavy
Negative thoughts
Poor concentration
Irritability
Fear
Forgetfulness
Loss of confidence
Images of failure
Defeatist self-talk
Feeling rushed
Feeling weak
Constant dissatisfaction
Unable to take instructions
Thoughts of avoidance
Increased blood pressure
Pounding heart
Increased respiration rate
Sweating
Clammy hands and feet
Butterflies in the stomach
Adrenaline surge
Dry mouth
Need to urinate
Muscular tension
Tightness in neck and shoulders
Trembling
Incessant talking
Blushing
Pacing up and down
Distorted vision
Twitching
Yawning
Voice distortion
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Loss of appetite
Sleeplessness
Loss of libido
Biting fingernails
Lethargic movements
Inhibited posture
Playing safe
Going through the motions
Introversion
Uncharacteristic displays of extroversion
Fidgeting
Avoidance of eye contact
Covering face with hand
Performers suffering from anxiety tend to respond reactively instead of proactively and the fear of failure
prevents performers stepping out of their comfort zone which is often required in challenging contexts to tackle
a threat head on. Instead of taking positive risks, which empower the athlete to influence the contest, they allow
the opposition to take control and dictate the direction of play. Players in this mental state are crippled and
consumed by emotions and self doubt and have no sense of adventure at match winning moments and will do
the bare minimum as the fear of failure is so great.
SUMMARY OF STRESS
Stressors
Conflict
Competition
Climate
Frustration
Crowd
Fatigue
Stress Response
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaust
Increased Heart Rate/Sweat
Adrenalin
40
Stress Experience
Positive or Negative
Depends on Perception
Can you meet the threat?
41
Anger and
frustration
(Unreasonable
response) due to
disappointment
in self and team.
Low confidence
levels as self
doubt and talk
block decision
making and
performance.
Avoidance
Behaviour – Pass
rather than shoot
due to panic and
anxiety.
Irrational
thinking. Making
a stupid foul at a
crucial moment.
Poor listening
skills –
instructions and
plays missed so
not fulfilling role.
Negative
impact of
Fear
(Anxiety)
Dip in
concentration
and reactions to
respond to cues.
Results in ball
watching as you
freeze.
Poor execution of
core skills and
caught out of
position. Level of
arousal
impacted.
41
Running about
like a headless
chicken as your
mind goes blank
and tactics
forgotten.
42
Emotional Sub Factor
Self Control
(Anger)
“An emotion whereby the individual has normally been offended,
denied, wronged and a tendency to react through retaliation.
It is a strongly uncomfortable emotion after been provoked.
It could be said that self control is a necessary requirement in all activities. If you are in control of your emotions
then you will not get angry at yourself or others around you. This makes self-control a positive influence on your
performance. If you are in control of your emotions, you can deal well with the demands of a performance.
Self control can be stretched and can hinder performance. This is often the case when you;







Deal with the emotions experienced when you suffer what you feel is a bad decision from an official.
Deal with emotions linked to competing against an aggressive opponent.
Deal with being on the receiving end of a foul.
Deal with disappointment associated with losing.
Deal with happiness/excitement associated with winning.
Dealing with emotions linked to criticism on your performance.
Dealing with emotions linked to being substituted or start on the bench.
Anger and aggression in sport can be very useful in the right situation. This gives a performer a certain degree of
determination and ensures they commit fully. However, it is all about controlled aggression and this needs to be
channelled effectively. For example in rugby, a player will move aggressively to cover a play, tackle a player and bring
them down to the ground. More often than not it is about how a player controls their aggression that makes the
difference to their performance. Opponents look to ways of irritating each other in the hope it puts them off a game
plan or affects their performance. Consider the next time you watch an NBA basketball match. Look closely as a
player takes their free throws. “Trash talk” is a verbal attack quietly into an opponent’s ears to distract them and
put them off and hopefully affect their state of mind (EMOTIONS) causing uncharacteristic actions.
Remember that Thoughts
affect emotions which then
affect actions.
42
43
Aggression/Anger
Un
Controlled
Controlled
Intent to
harm
No Intent to
Harm
Within the
rules
Outside the
rules
Motivated
and
Considered.
Reactive
Causes of Aggression
Type of sport
Importance of Event
Contact
Social Learning
Environment
Over Arousal
Unfair
Decisions
AGGRESSION IN SPORT
Stress
Personality
Traits
Frustrations
Losing
Intimidation
Expectations
43
Blow to self Esteem
44
Negative impact of Anger on Performance.
Too much aggression in basketball has a significant effect on performance. This can lead to injury if thought is not
applied to your actions on court. Also, increased tension in the muscles impacts negatively on the fluency of play.
Over arousal impacts a player’s ability to respond to situations and make appropriate decisions on court resulting in
a decline in form. It can be as simple as a player shouting at themselves after a bad shot, physically lashing out or
even exerting themselves in a skill, such as too much power off the back board. Uncontrolled aggression leads to
frustrations and results in a player acting irrationally and this increases a players self -doubt. A player can be drawn
into making silly fouls against him and eventually anger and lack of self control built up too many fouls until a player
is benched or fouled out in the game. Players with a lack of self control will lash out verbally at their team mates and
blame others for their own failings. This seriously impacts the cohesion of the team when players have to deal with
an unpredictable, volatile personality. A bad attitude will impact concentration and can lead to a team losing by a
bigger margin as this player can become less involved in the game due to lack of motivation. They cannot “Park “a
situation and move on. This could take the form of arguing with the referee and being sent off for bad sportsmanlike
conduct.
Positive Impact of Controlled Aggression/self control on Performance
No hesitation when
passing driving to the
basket.
More aggressive
offensive mentality.
More assertive so will
carry out duties with
confidence and
commitment
Clean discipline record
with few fouls allowing
a positive contribution
to the game.
Faster decsion making
under extreme
pressure.
Can assess own errors
and move on without
frustrations.
44