This video features Andor Gyulai using “Guided Discover,” “Open Probe Questions,” and “The Conscious Competence Learning Matrix,” to help teach a youth player volleyball. In this video the player is moving though stage 1 to stage 2 and stage 3 of the learning curve. In this video Andor Gyulai demonstrates how as a coach he uses good questions to direct the player thinking and reinforce new coaching ideas.
Notice the Socratic Method being used asking open probe questions of: “Who, What, Why, Where, O, So, Meaning, And, Tell Me.” By using these words and open probe questions the player is more engaged in the learning process and forced to talk and come up with the answers vs. Andor just telling her the answers.
This method is also known as guided discovery and has be proven over and over again as a more effective method of teaching.
“As a volleyball coach I feel it is critical to help players become conscious of what they don’t know so that it is easier to self evaluate when things go wrong. Also by helping players take ownership of their personal growth and development as a volleyball player they are often more committed and focused through the process of learning.” – Andor Gyulai
When working with players age 12 and older, Andor will even print out the diagrams above and give it to players early in season so that they can better understand how they learn and develop motor skill playing volleyball. The goal is to constantly have them be aware of where they are with each skill relative to the 4 areas. This also helps build the relations between the player and coach as you are not constantly harping on them about things they already know.
For advanced players it is important to understand that stage 4, “Unconscious Competence” is primarily associated with vision. As a result our focus should relate more to the OODA Loop, meaning what the player sees and how they react to what they see. Stage four is where advanced players should also be taught tools on how to make the ball go slower for themselves.
Coaching Notes:
It is important in my opinion to teach players differently in stage 3, Conscious Competence vs Stage 4 Unconscious Competence. In stage 3 the player is consciously performing the volleyball skill. This means they are likely in their “feeling sense” as they are consciously trying to perform the skill. It is important to be aware of internal vs external feedback during this stage. Once the player understands what they need to do and have done it, it is important to move them to stage 4 and change the focus to external feedback specifically their “vision sense,” the “OODA Loop” and how they can make the “ball go slower.”
Obviously these are very different verbal cues and feedback. As a result how we teach stage 3 and 4 should be very different in my opinion. This is the case for all volleyball skills.
