Deanna Chen: Adjusting to New Coaches
Photo taken by Lukas Kristyan Caces
Senior Deanna Chen, a member of both the varsity volleyball and track and field teams, began her journey with volleyball in 7th grade. Captivated by the sport’s comradery and competition, she continued her pursuit of the sport throughout her high school career, spanning 4 years under the guidance of 2 different coaches. Noting the significance coaches have on a team, expanding past just performance; we discussed her journey as she adjusted to a new, but integral part of her team.
How long were you with your old and new volleyball coach?
She trained under her old volleyball coach for 3 years, including during COVID-19, and trained under her new volleyball coach during her last year on the team.
Have you noted any major distinctions in coaching styles between your old and new coach?
Chen comments that the two coaches shared two distinctly different coaching styles, with her old coach preaching the line “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” compared to her new coach, who prioritized the raw talents within the team. She expressed that as long as the former coach saw team members’ constant improvement, dedication, and contributions, the opportunity to play in a game was more well-rounded across the team. He would constantly apply different tactics and employ a variety of line-ups to strengthen their performances. On the other hand, the new coach preferred to stick with a consistent line-up, challenging the strengths and weaknesses of such regulars. This meant that when it came to games, certain members played far more than others, and unfortunately, Chen fell in the latter half. When comparing these distinctions, however, it is important to keep in mind that neither method is inherently better than the other, especially given the circumstances. Different coaching styles simply meld better with some than others.
What was it like trying to adapt to your new coach and how was your relationship affected?
With a new coach comes a fresh start; a strong foundation of trust has yet to be established, hence making this transition for Chen, a senior member of the team, a lot more difficult. It once again brought pressure for her to prove her value and skillset, understanding that she had to fight preconceived expectations placed on her– from her appearance, which leans taller and skinner, to her seniority. She prided herself on the positive attitude she brought to the team, an aspect not nearly as valued by her new coach as it was with the former. Chen describes her constant effort to develop a close bond with her coach by approaching him with questions of improvement and demonstrating her assets, but ultimately, differences in expectations before and during the season limited their relationship. This shift was especially drastic when compared to her old coach, which Chen admitted did show, to some extent, favoritism towards her. Yet despite this, respect always remained a priority. Chen sought to approach these struggles with grace, understanding that just like her, her new coach was also adjusting to the change of coaching a female sports team.
How did it affect you mentally and performance-wise?
Throughout her final season, Chen reflects on the mental struggles that came with these changes, transitioning from a regular on the line-up to one whose game time was extremely limited. To Chen, this translated as a failure in her and her performance. She devoted additional time and effort towards her improvement, yet remained stagnant in her position, only furthering her frustration. It was only when she realized the effects politics and the coach’s personal biases had on the structure of the team that she strove to continue to put forth her best effort, but not consistently beat herself down in the process. Of course, it was hard at times for her to stay motivated and foster a love for her sport, knowing she was placed in a system that she couldn’t beat, but she persevered until the end, emphasizing the thing that led her to volleyball in the first place– the friendships and memories made along the way. As a final note, Deanna reminds us that "confidence is something really important for an athlete too, its half mental and half skill,” don’t let it be taken away.