The 2-Sigma Problem - Part 2

More on tutoring

I’m planning this as a multi-part series, but I don’t have the whole series written out yet. I think it’s worth sharing parts of it periodically as I explore these pieces. When I finish this series (could be in 2 months, could be in 2 years, let’s see) I’ll put it all together in an organized compendium. For now, check the Previous Posts to see what I’ve already written on the subject.

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Previous Posts
Part 1

Let’s jump right into where we left off in the previous post.

If you want to make your setting tutors into actual Tutors, then I think 3 elements need to be in place:

(1) The player needs to be ready to perform, physically and mentally.

(2) You need to have a clear curriculum. What are they actually getting better at.

(3) You need to have a way to measure success, or lack thereof.

Let’s take each of those factors and see how we can build a tutor out of them.

In Part 1, we sidetracked into serving tutors, which are easier to see the elements because of the discrete nature of setting. Now, let’s look at how to build out setting tutors that are actually tutors and not just warmups.

Ready To Perform

When it comes to practical application, here’s where setting tutors tend to get derailed. Because you do need to warmup. And the best warmup to set is… to set! So what happens is that a lot of setting tutors start out as warmups and then never fully transition into Tutorial Instruction, to use Bloom’s term. Here’s a two suggestions to avoid this:

Warmup Separately
This is more practical for NCAA coaches, who have more room, resources, and court time. You’re also more likely to have multiple coaches. If you want your setter tutor to be more productive, don’t have them warmup in the setter tutor. Have them warmup separately. Perhaps they do something like a dynamic warmup with the trainer, but I also like the setters just getting into your warmup-with-a-ball stuff like tennis, 2-touch, over-the-net pepper, etc. Their bodies are moving and they are getting the chance to set some balls. Now, when they come over to do setter tutor, there will be a more clear sense of, “okay, I’m already warmed up, now it’s time to get better at setting.”

Use A Video Transition
To be clear: I’m not against warming up to set by setting! And I’ve been in situations where the setters come early, so there’s only 2 players in the gym, so they can’t hop in a 3v3 to warmup, or whatever. Okay, so great, warmup to set by setting. I’m all for it. In this case, try having them warmup by repping out some sets off the toss, or off an easy pass, etc. And then, after 5-8 minutes, stop and take 2 minutes to watch some video. Have the video show what you want to work on in the day’s tutor. Then, when you start up again, it will be more clear that you’re not just getting reps but now it’s time to get better, which necessarily involves change.

This is also a good transition to the next topic…