Playing volleyball in the off season is very helpful for maintaining my technique for next year, as well as my fitness. Despite volleyball not being a particularly physically demanding sport, vertical jump height and arm strength are very important, both of which fade over time. So far off-season volleyball has given me the opportunity to maintain these.

I also find its good for team chemistry. Spending more time with my team-mates in the off season means that we will be all the more connected and know each other much better come next year. I find it particularly useful as an activity for getting to know my team mates as there isn’t the pressure of having to perform on us during an official game, and the relaxed air of our games provides the perfect environment to foster connections in.

The same positive environment for making connections applies to my coach too, as without the need to win a game, I have the space to understand what she wants me to do and how to act in certain situations. I think that this will prove very useful next year as I can now understand my coach better from our out of season sessions and I will be able to apply the skills I learn now to the games next year.