Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get better at volleyball, and part of that is watching myself play. Sounds kinda weird, I know, but seeing your mistakes is way easier than feeling them, you know? So, I decided to start recording my games. Here’s how I went about it, and it’s been working pretty well so far.
Figuring Out the Gear
First things first, I needed a way to actually record. My phone’s camera is okay, but it’s not ideal. I wanted something that wouldn’t eat up all my phone’s storage, and that I could set up and forget about.
- Camera: I ended up grabbing a cheap action camera. Nothing fancy, just something that could record in decent quality.
- Tripod: Gotta keep that camera steady! I got a basic, extendable tripod. The taller, the better, really, for getting a good view of the court.
- Memory Card: Make sure you have enough storage! Volleyball games can take up a surprising amount of space. I got a big one so I wouldn’t have to worry about running out of room mid-game.
Setting Up
The actual recording process is not hard at all.
The first few times, I messed around with the camera placement. It’s all about getting the right angle.
You want to see the whole court, or at least most of it. So you can find the best angle to record the game.
- I tried putting it behind the baseline, up high. That worked pretty well, gave a good overview.
- I also tried setting it up near the net, but a bit off to the side. This was good for seeing specific plays closer, but I missed some of the action on the other side of the court.
Eventually, I settled on that high, behind-the-baseline position. Seemed to be the best compromise between seeing everything and getting a decent view.
The Recording Process
Actually pressing that record button is the easy part.
Before the game, I make sure the camera’s charged, the memory card is in, and the tripod is set up securely. I do a quick test recording to make sure everything’s working and the angle is right.
Then, when the game starts, I hit record and… well, that’s it. I just let it run. I try to remember to stop it during timeouts or breaks, just to save on storage space and battery, but sometimes I forget.
After the Game
Once the game’s over, and I’m done recording, I try to watch that record to see how I play.
- Reviewing the Footage: This is where the real learning happens. I watch the recordings back, looking for things I did well, things I did poorly, and patterns in my play.
- Taking Notes: I’ll sometimes jot down notes, like “Work on your approach” or “Remember to call for the ball.” Just little reminders for myself.
It’s been surprisingly helpful. I’ve noticed things I never would have realized otherwise, like how I tend to drop my shoulder on my serves, or how I’m often late reacting to tips. It’s kinda painful to watch sometimes, haha, but it’s definitely making me a better player.
So if you really wanna be better, I suggest you try it, too.
