Volleyball League Practice Catch-all

[bluecastleace]

Who: primarily those who signed up to participate in the Void’s new volleyball league, but anyone and everyone is welcome!
What: volleyball practice for the new Void volleyball league
Where: the underground gymnasium
When: early December
Content Warnings: none yet, but will update if necessary!


((ooc: this log is gonna be used for a few practice sessions, as well as a practice game and other such things! Iwaizumi will be sharing his knowledge with everyone and acting as a coach of sorts until the practice game, so feel free to use the TLs to interact with him, or make your own TLs under the sections to start your own threads with your teammates or others participating! also, if you are not a player but want to be in the audience or are playing another role, feel free to make TLs reflecting that! everyone is welcome (walk/ins included!) If you have questions or want to plot, feel free to add me on Plurk at pantheraliam))

Comments

General Practicing

[bluecastleace]

[All sorts of practicing will be taking place during this first meet-up of the new Void Volleyball League. Iwaizumi demonstrates how to bump, set, and serve properly, and offers continuous drills of these important skills. Of course, whenever you’re dealing with the ball, there’s the possibility it might go flying in the wrong direction. Then again, you may just find yourself doing something right and getting a congratulatory slap on the back from your makeshift coach.

[When you’re not practicing actual volleyball moves, Coach Iwaizumi will be (strongly, if not somewhat forcefully) encouraging you to run suicides or practice “flying laps” where you practice running and diving to the ground so you can slide across it - important for practicing digs, you know! It really can be kind of fun. Then again, it can also be kind of exhausting, especially when there’s someone hollering at motivating you to keep going.

[Of course, any and all athletic training is valuable when you are getting ready for that big practice game, so you may find Iwaizumi or your teammates encouraging you to try some of the new workout equipment - treadmills, bikes, free weights, even the punching bag.

[Feel free to utilize any of these measures to practice toward your best playing, either with each other, or Iwaizumi as he directs.]

[bluecastleace]

[Whether you’re practicing moves, doing flying laps or suicides, or building up your strength and stamina in the work out area, you might catch Coach Iwaizumi behind you with some encouraging words (or mild harassment).]

Alright, now go in for another one! You’re doing great, but you’ve got a long way to go. You want to win that practice game, don’t you? Don’t give in now!

[begetblue]

[ Hmmm. Is that how coaches were supposed to act? Turing had never attended a sports game before, and broadcast versions definitely weren't under the umbrella of educational television that Hayden had let them watch. Well, when in Rome! Though they were probably nowhere near Rome, but...oh, never mind. ]

Do your best!

[ Was a li'l robot's cheers enough of a motivating factor? Hopefully it was! ]

[bluecastleace]

There you go, Turing. You’re a natural, see? [He smiles at his little robot buddy.] How you enjoying the game, huh?

Well, the practices at least. It’s pretty cool, right?

[begetblue]

[ Turing giggled at being praised. Sure, they weren't exactly lacking in self-esteem, but who didn't like being praised? ]

Yes! Seeing everyone try so hard is inspiring.

[ Then they saw someone's flying lap not go so well, and they winced. Ouch. ]

...Though it looks painful sometimes.

[bluecastleace]

[Iwaizumi winces as well - he knows the pain of a botched flying lap all too intimately.]

Well, you know what they say. [Or maybe he doesn’t. Iwaizumi laughs a little.] No pain, no gain, right? It all leads to better playing.

[begetblue]

No pain, no gain...? [ A question mark blinked on Turing's face. ]

[ Was that why Add didn't seem to mind getting hurt? Was it his way of improving himself? (Turing, no.) ]

If I fell like that, I think my screen would just crack.

[bluecastleace]

[A pained look comes over Iwaizumi’s face as he imagines his poor buddy Turing getting cracked. He would 100% hate to see that.]

Not that that can’t happen to humans too, but...maybe it’s better you’re not on the court.

All “no pain, no gain” means though is that you’ll improve if you put the work in. Practicing and building up your strength isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it in the end once you build up a tolerance. You’ll play better and better every time.

[bazooker]

[Meanwhile, here Haru was, having no idea how to play volleyball. As she tried to hit the ball, all she could do was give a sigh of frustration. She was struggling to get the ball over the net and it made her wonder just how of practice she was.

It was different compared to fighting in the Metaverse but it didn't stop her from feeling disappointed.]

This...was not what I was expecting. [She said to herself before giving yet another sigh]

[bluecastleace]

[Iwaizumi’s shouts of encouragement were general, meant for the players as a whole, but from across the court he can tell that Haru is feeling discouraged, so he jogs up to her with a reassuring smile.]

Hey Haru, you’re doing great. [She’s brand new and trying, and that’s really all he can ask for.] It’s not easy at first. Do you need some help?

[bazooker]

[Living as a rich heiress did have its setbacks and this was one of them. She wasn't the most athletically gifted person and she knew it.

Shaking her hand, she could already see the red marks on the side of her thumb.]

I think I'll be okay, I'm not use to playing this sport. All I need is practice despite the difficulty! [Even if she kept on failing at it!]

[bluecastleace]

You’re not wrong, but I did say I’d teach you what I know, right?

[His smile endures - looks like he won’t be taking no for an answer.]

It’s gonna help you a lot to bend your knees. It’s a work out at first, but that way you can jump to meet the ball wherever it’s coming from. Like this. [He demonstrates, bending his knees until he’s low to the ground, and shuffling a bit with his arms in the up and readied.] With your arms like this, you can shift into a bump or a set depending on what you need.

Just give the position a try.

[bazooker]

[Such is the life where she was so sheltered, she didn't know how to play any sports. However, as she looked to him, she followed his lead in bending her knees before moving her arms similar to his]

You mean like this? This position isn't one I am use to but I will have to learn to get use to it.

[She said before shifting her weight from side to side] So that's how volleyball players are able to hit despite this stance...

[obsessiveness]

[ yeaaaaah, izumi's going to steer clear of those workout equipment; the last thing he needs is building muscle. he'd like to remain a pretty twink, thank you very much.

so he'll practice serving by himself, smacking the ball against the wall. thanks to his experience with tennis despite being in the club for one year, he's got a pretty good rhythm going... until he has to stop and examine his reddened forearms. ]

Shit... Why'd they have to hurt this much, huh?

[bluecastleace]

It definitely takes some getting used to.

[Says Iwaizumi as he repeatedly sets a ball to himself, bouncing it off his fingertips again and again - he looks pretty focused despite the rather casual tone he’s speaking in.]

Give it a week or two, you’ll build up a tolerance.

[obsessiveness]

Yeah well, time literally doesn't exist in this world so who knows when that'll be. And besides, I don't want to build up muscle? I only played tennis for an entire year, for crying out loud.

[ he watches iwaizumi set the ball, trying to get a good eyeful on the right form and stuff like that. ]

Here, pass it to me. But not too hard, or I'll kill you.

[bluecastleace]

[Is this guy always so grumpy? Not that Iwa’s one too talk. He simply nods, taking a few steps back and tossing Izumi a generously gentle set. He’s no star setter or anything, but he thinks it should be pretty easy to hit?]

I said tolerance, not muscle. [He says as he watches the ball sail in his direction.] You know, as in pain tolerance?

[obsessiveness]

[ izumi's able to receive the ball, at least. he's going to take it easy for now as he hits the ball back to iwa. ]

Yeah, yeah. I'll figure it out. But this is exactly why rackets are invented, you know?

[ it's not the same, though?? ]

[bluecastleace]

[Iwaizumi snorts a little, and it’s not...without some irritation, but it’s mild at least.]

You know, a lot of people like to compare tennis with volleyball, but it’s really not the same. [He bumps the ball back easily.] The similarities stop at the net if you ask me.

[realway]

[ ahsoka is here and ready to learn. she absorbs a lot of information given to her by the makeshift coach, takes the drills, and does well with getting the basics down quickly. her previous athletic training pays off here!

except... one problem... ]

Spike!

[ she screams with abandon as she races for the net, jumps in the air, and slams the volleyball down as it comes over to her side.

the good news is she is coordinated enough to not smack anyone in the face, though any other unfortunate bounces that injure are fair game.

the bad news is she keeps doing this multiple times, smiling proudly.

as the old sith saying goes: volleyball is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural. ]

[bluecastleace]

[Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but...]

You know, that’s not actually a spike you’re doing when you say that.

Not a proper one anyway. You’re really just blocking.

[He is the makeshift coach. He’d be remiss not to say something, right? However...]

I could show you how to do a real one though. [He grins, and it’s not not a mischievous look.] That is kind of my thing.

[realway]

[ oh? well, that's a little disappointing. but his offer easily perks her up. ]

If I'm not doing it proper, then show me how it's done - coach.

[bluecastleace]

[Being called a coach is something Iwaizumi still isn’t used to (he’s been hearing that a lot today), but it’s not a bad feeling. His grin endures, and he grabs a ball from off the ground, takes a few steps back from Ashoka.]

Will do.

For a proper spike, you need a setter. That’s the control tower of the team.

Typically the ball will come over the net if it’s not blocked, go to someone to receive, then go to the setter to set the wing spiker up for a spike to score a point. [Coach indeed. He seems to love explaining.]

I’m no setter myself, but go stand by the net over there. I’ll do my best to send you a good one, then all you’ve gotta do is send it over like you have been.

[realway]

[ she nods, understanding. he bounces it to her and she delivers the finishing blow. it's certainly a team oriented game with that in mind. ahsoka turns and walks to the spot he pointed her to, rolling back her shoulders to get herself ready. ]

Ok, send it over.

[bluecastleace]

[Iwaizumi walks a few steps down from her, taking position in the middle of the front row where the setter would technically be. It certainly won’t be a perfect set without anyone to throw the initial ball, but he tosses it up in the air himself to try and simulate the experience. When it comes back down he sets it with his finger tips and sends it in her direction. He’s definitely no Oikawa when it comes to setting, but it’s a decent enough set he thinks, and it’ll certainly set her up for a proper spike if she’s paying attention.]

Alright, Ahsoka! Send it over the net! Cream ‘em!

[There’s not actually anyone on the other side of the net, but details. It’s always best to imagine where the ball will be going.]