I don't know if everyone knows this, but the Bundesliga is going to sleep for about a month starting this weekend. The break is because of the world championships in Japan in November and since Germany is competing several teams in the league will be missing players for the month.
What does that mean for the common man you ask? What will the average volleyball player be doing during this time?
Well, it means that we have a month without any league matches. It does not, however, mean we have no practice. Nope, we get one week off and then it's back to the grind. Circle/Circuit training will rear its ugly head, weight lifting will intensify and training will probably be a little bit more technical. Basically, we'll be doing all the same stuff we did during the pre-season in an effort to keep everyone's bodies from falling apart down the road.
We've been particularly affected by injuries so far this year losing a back up outside hitter for two months, one of our opposites until the end of November and Mads was just out for a little while. All of that besides the small injuries that everyone deals with day to day. But generally it has to be said that we're in pretty good shape at this point in the season. Sitting in third place after a good chunk of the first half of the schedule has been played. Admittedly, we've played our share of "weaker" teams, but none of those teams are easy teams to beat. From what everyone is saying, even though we aren't sitting in first place like last year, the team is playing better at this point in the season. So, hopefully things will continue to go the right way.
Over the weekend we played Rottenburg, a team that didn't play in the Bundesliga last year, and ended up winning 3-1. Again, I got a good chance to play in this match, coming in after the second set and helping our team win the last two. Things have gone well lately when I've been on the court and I've been pretty happy with the way I've developed. It's also fun to see the difference in our team when we switch setters. Gergei sets a lot more balls to the outside and pipe while I focus a lot on the middles and I think it throws other teams off to have to adjust to our very different playing styles. Of course, our own team has to adjust as well, but I don't think I've ever seen such a difference in style from one setter to the other.
We're going into the break optimistic after having accomplished a fair amount here in the beginning of the season. Good luck to everyone else who is actually playing during that time, I'm also looking forward to seeing Marienlyst come down here at the end of November, that should be fun as well. Also, good luck to those ripper Volleyroos, bloody oath!
4 comments:
hey cobber, farking oath go those volleyroos! (although we never want to be called the volleyroos ever again) Should be good fun here in Oz playing some of the matches, we play some pretty tidy teams. Hope you didnt get lost getting back from the airport, those bloody roads in Germany are confusing! Well have fun with your circuit training! see ya soon mate
Has the Australian team for the World Championship been drafted? I can't find it anywhere.
Are you going, Nathan? And how about some of the aussies playing in Denmark now?
Hej Kasper, The Australian team has not yet made an official announcement of the team, however I can tell you that I made the team. None of the guys playing in Denmark were picked, but one of the middles hurt his shoulder so i think Nigel from Aarhus will be his replacement. Hope this answers your questions.
I was just curious if the WC would affect the Danish league, so your answer was pretty much what I was looking for.
Thanks and good luck. Looks like a tough group for Australia.
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