Mike Lingenfelter: Building & Maintaining a Culture of Speed

with Mike Lingenfelter,
Munciana Samurai Head Coach and Co-Director Asics Munciana Volleyball Club;
2023 18 Open National Champions;
8x 18 Open National Championships including 3 in a row (2021-2023);
His Munciana Samurai teams have have placed in the top 3 (JVA/AAU/USA) in the nation every year of its existence (2004);
one of two coaches to ever reach an 18 Open Championship Match in all three of the major volleyball organizations (JVA, AAU and USA);
3x Indiana State Volleyball Championship titles - Wapahani High School (IN);
back-to-back Indiana 2A state titles in 2011 and 2012;
3x Indiana State Coach of the Year

Learn from one of the best teachers in the sport of volleyball.  Coach Lingenfelter will guide you through the process of creating a culture of speed in your practices.

Coach Lingenfelter opens with reviewing the specific reasons for building a culture of speed in your gym, what you as a coach need to embrace, and how to explain those reasons to your players.

Lingenfelter describes the 5 keys to SPEED:

• Stamina
• Precision
• Execution
• Efficiency
• Determination
  and how focusing on quality SPEED translates to improvement and progress!

Coach Lingenfelter breaks down the 4 gears that are needed to implement a training program to create greater speed.  These include critical principles of teaching volleyball, cognitive training, blending the physical and mental, and teaching an effective mindset. 

For each of the gears, he provides a conceptual framework for how they fit into the overall goal of generating speed on the court, along with practical tips. 

Lingenfelter describes how to develop players through a progression of simple to more complex reaction drills that build on fundamental skills to ultimately lead to faster offense and defense. Examples include a progression of drills that range from individualized training of middle attackers to quickly transition, chase the ball rather than the setter, and always being up and ready to hit, to competitive team drills that emphasize lower, faster passes combined with a rapid attack.

Throughout the video, Coach Lingenfelter shares many additional insights, inspirations and pearls of coaching wisdom to help you become a more effective coach, in general, and in the context of creating a positive culture of speed!

Here are some of the key points you will learn in this video:

• Understand why you want to practice with speed.  Incorporating speed into your practices will create maximum reps which will enhance learning by increasing the volume of QUALITY reps.
• Make everything as game-like as possible.
• Fun is the “F” word that needs to be in every one of your practice plans!
• The first 10 minutes of each practice are the rudder for that practice.  Set the tone early and demand your players practice at a high level.
• Speed is the great equalizer in the sport of volleyball and it is the only way to negate size or balance the playing field.  When you are able to dictate the middle of the court, you create a first-mover’s advantage.  Pace and speed are critical elements to this culture.  
• Make sure you create momentum in your practice to amp up the environment and optimize the usage of your players. Energy is a multiplier where speed plus precision will create success.
• Speed = Acceleration = Agility = Engagement; your good players will take care of themselves and the great players will take care of others.
• The keys to speed include stamina and being ready to GO!

Understand the gears of speed

• The first gear for speed is the principle of volleyball. The setter needs the mentality to be able to understand how to achieve success on the court.
• Middle hitter mentality requires that they are always relentless, and open ready to attack.
• Cognitive training is the 2nd gear for speed. By understanding the 5 phases of the reactionary process, you will gain a better understanding of the amount of time it takes muscles to be stimulated by the command to produce movement.
• The faster you can perceive, process and act, the faster your speed of play will become.
• Simple reaction drills can be used where there is little to no decision-making required and will focus on fundamental movements. In contrast, complex reaction drills allow for exposure to game-specific situations where there is chaos and a variety of decisions are required.
• To improve cognitive training, you will want to introduce some simple reactionary drills early on. Cultivating game habits will raise player awareness with scanning and communication.
• The 3rd gear blends the physical and mental aspects of the game. The last segment of this video will guide you with examples of simple and complex reaction drills that will blend the physical and mental aspects of the game.
• And finally, the 4th gear will push you to become a better teacher of the game itself. A relentless educator will maintain the courage to move the unwilling. You are either coaching in practice or allowing things to happen in front of you.

Simple and Complex Reaction Drills

• Competitive drills do in fact keep score, which is why they are great at fostering accountability and a sense of urgency in your players at practice.  Practice these skills in the gym before we demand it in a game.
• The Zero Tempo Drill contains 5 parts where your middle hitter is required to let the ball pull them to the target in various sequences; dropping off the net, setting to themselves, receiving a bump set, and finally a hand set for a quick ball.
• Team Drill “32” will force your players to think about attacking the ball with every play.  We need to understand that a free ball is way too easy for the opposing team to score points.
• The Random Board drills create game-like situations where the pass to the setter can come in all forms but the setter must find a way to set the middle hitter.
• The Combo Plus drill adds more complexity to the random drill so that our middle hitter comes in with a hitch and quickly transitions for a 3-1 attack.
• The Repeat Recovery drill is a coverage drill that ends with a middle hitter attack.
• Pin to Pin drill uses pool noodles to force outside hitters to become comfortable hitting line shots with rapid retaliation from the defense.
• The Least Favorite Game in the Gym is one that gradually increases the number of runs required over a longer duration. This is accomplished between playing short games and is an excellent way to determine who can raise their game during intense physical demands.
• Low Ball is a game that will help your team create speed and retaliation rate. If your team is small in size, this drill is for you! Speed is of the essence for smaller teams. Every rally requires the ball to be kept below the height of the antennas. Think fast and move fast in this competitive drill where everything is pin-high or lower.
• The Flow drill can be used at any age level and forces players to catch and throw the ball after their teammates move to touch them on the court

Coach Lingenfelter does a tremendous job laying the groundwork for incorporating speed into your practice plans. This video provides breakthrough learning opportunities that you will thank yourself later for getting!!

110 minutes. 2023.