Becoming a complete athlete is not as simple as physical skills and talent. It entails understanding the importance of hard work, goal setting, maintaining a superior mindset, and becoming a team player.

In volleyball, to determine a great athlete, coaches look at six physical skills which volleyball player’s posses. They are serving, passing, setting, hitting, defense, and blocking. Coaches are looking for a “six-tool player” who is adept in each area. After evaluating an athlete’s physical skill coaches consider another set of skills- the intangibles. These skills undoubtedly separate candidates who are close in physical skill. A player’s effort to communicate, her ability to foresee the play and adjust, her response to coaching, and her ability to perform well in pressured situations are the intangibles that will separate the good from the great.

The physical and intangible skills that make up the external skill set are sufficient to an extent, but it is the internal skill set that completes the athlete. This skill set has to do with your individual character. Who you are and what kind of player you are is the hardest of all skills get a good grip on, but once you have it, you have it. Having a strong passion for the game, and a desire to be a part of everything the game brings with it, will strengthen your character as an athlete and will help you become the complete athlete that coaches seek.

Ultimately a complete athlete is well-rounded mentally and, of course, is versatile on the court.