Adversity Points
Attitude
Legend
- player
- partner / opponent
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Use a modified scoring system to reward positive attitude responses to adversity during competitive play.
What you need
- volleyball
- net
- scoreboard or whiteboard
Your focus
Standard competition rewards only outcomes, which can reinforce poor attitude when results are bad. Adversity Points shift the reward to the attitude response , a team earns bonus points when they respond positively to a tough situation, such as three consecutive errors or a disputed call. This reframes competition to include character as a performance metric.
Set up a 3v3 or 4v4 scrimmage to 15 points.
Introduce Adversity Points: if a team earns three consecutive errors and responds with visible encouragement (no blame, no frustration displays), they earn +1 bonus point.
Coach and one designated observer watch for attitude responses after errors and contested plays.
At end of each game, review which teams earned Adversity Points and why.
Discuss as a group: did positive attitude change how the team played after errors?
Goal
It's clicking when you bounce back from a tough call or error and your next play is strong, your attitude is a choice you're making each point.
Helpful cues
- Errors are opportunities to earn attitude points
- Watch your teammates' body language, lift them up
- The team that resets fastest usually wins the next point
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Award Adversity Points for any positive verbal response after an error.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Double the point value of the next rally after an Adversity Point is earned, raising the stakes for follow-through.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.