Playing Volleyball: Benefits in Terms of Motor Learning Skills

Over the past term our class has been investigating the idea of Motor Learning and how to apply our theoretical knowledge into our volleyball gameplay. Volleyball gives different benefits and some of them I will analyse in the essay. To begin with, motor learning is a change, resulting from practice or a novel experience, in the capability for responding. In other words, motor learning is when complex processes in the brain occur in response to practice or experience of a certain skill resulting in changes in the central nervous system that allow for production of a new motor skill. This relates to volleyball as many of the skills used in this sport can be broken down and each step can be improved. 

Exploring Volleyball Motor Learning Benefits 

Here are five main benefits of playing volleyball for motor learning which I will share for this essay. Firstly, volleyball promotes hand-eye coordination. The sport requires players to constantly track the movement of the ball and anticipate its trajectory, enabling them to position themselves effectively and execute accurate hits, passes, and blocks. The repeated practice of coordinating hand movements with visual cues enhances motor control and synchronization, leading to improved hand-eye coordination that can extend to various activities in daily life.

Secondly, playing volleyball cultivates agility and balance. The fast-paced nature of the game necessitates quick changes in direction, explosive movements, and precise footwork. Players must efficiently shift their weight, adjust their body position, and maintain balance while executing various skills such as spiking, setting, and digging. These dynamic movements and rapid changes in direction enhance agility, proprioception, and overall body control.

Furthermore, volleyball enhances spatial awareness and anticipation. Players must constantly assess the position of the ball, the movements of teammates and opponents, and the positioning of the court boundaries. This requires spatial perception and the ability to anticipate the trajectory of the ball and the actions of other players. Over time, these cognitive skills develop and improve, enabling players to react quickly and make informed decisions in high-pressure situations.

Additionally, volleyball fosters timing and rhythm. Players must synchronize their movements with the timing of the ball's trajectory to execute well-timed hits, blocks, and defensive maneuvers. The repetitive nature of practicing timing and rhythm during training enhances motor learning and neuromuscular coordination, leading to improved overall timing skills that can be applied in various athletic endeavors.

Moreover, volleyball promotes teamwork and communication. Effective teamwork requires coordination and synchronization of movements, as players must work together to execute successful plays and strategies. Communication plays a crucial role in coordinating actions, signaling intentions, and maintaining team cohesion. The collaborative nature of volleyball enhances interpersonal skills, fostering effective communication, cooperation, and leadership abilities.

Volleyball Experience: Personal Thoughts and Reflection

At the start of the term it was clear to see my skill level was at the cognitive stage; the cognitive stage is characterised by frequent errors and is the stage when the learner has to think a lot about the skill and how to execute it. I was making a conscious effort to place feet in the correct areas and make sure my technique can be as proper as it can be. This is makes up one of three stages known as skill acquisition. The other stages include the associative stage; this is described as the longest and largest stage this is when the athlete has changed from thinking about what they are doing to thinking about how they do the skill. This means they are no longer thinking about body position, but where they are passing the ball, or hitting the ball for example. The last stage known as the autonomous stage is peak performance, movements are efficient and do not have to be consciously thought about. At the back end of the term this past weakness changed gradually from the cognitive stage to definitely the associative stage.

The weakness I focused on throughout my volleyball experience was the overhand volleyball serve, this is one of the more advanced serves in volleyball, others being the underhand serve and the jumping overhand serve. The overhand serve has 4 main steps; starting position which includes the cocking back of the elbow and your dominant foot is at the front, the next step is the throw or toss for this step the ball must be completely vertical and above your head, the last step is the hit, one of the most important parts; you must stay balanced and your palm has to be open and you must hit the ball when it is above your head, with the overwhelming amount of steps and short amount of time this makes or breaks a good serve. My serve started off very novice with plenty of thought I was able to get my positioning quite good quickly, as well as the accuracy of my toss but the hit is where things became difficult, I was getting flustered very quickly and overwhelmed and as a result of that my serves were unpredictable, inaccurate and weak.

Conclusion

In conclusion to this essay about playing volleyball, this activity offers a myriad of motor learning benefits that contribute to physical coordination, agility, spatial awareness, timing, and teamwork. By engaging in this dynamic sport, individuals can develop and refine their motor skills, cognitive abilities, and social interactions. Whether played recreationally or competitively, volleyball provides a valuable platform for enhancing motor learning and overall physical and mental well-being.

Practice and drills are a necessity for improving any sport related skills. It speeds up the process of skill acquisition to get to the next stage quickly. My experience in playing volleyball, as written in the essay, showed that it is effective to repetitively repeating your serves with a supervisor who can successfully demonstrate. I found this very effective with my supervisor being Mr. Leeming, I managed to improve drastically within a couple of weeks. I believe this drill would help as I believe this skill requires a lot of repetition with the right technique.

Throughout this term I found my weakness to be the overhand serve. With our knowledge and skills gained about motor learning it is clear to see that practice and drills will always improve gameplay as well as knowing the theoretical side to whatever sport you are performing, knowing the subroutines and motor programs will improve gameplay.