First, recognize that in order to overcome shyness, you have to
"stretch" by growing and expanding your world. There are no shortcuts.
Typically shyness is an emotional and confidence issue. It is easy for
us stick to doing what is easy and normal for us. Going to camp is
something new and something different, so you can expect to feel a bit
challenged and a bit shy... Everyone has felt this at one time or
another.
My
daughter started going to volleyball camps in seventh grade and she was
athletic, but she wasn't very good at volleyball because she didn't
have any volleyball skills. In fact, at the time, they asked her what
position she played - she didn't even know the names of the various
volleyball positions.
As you can see, this was a stretch for her. Learning how to overcome shyness starts with doing the opposite: gradually getting more out of the house, exposing yourself more to social situations and interacting more with people. Since this may feel uncomfortable at first, it's a form of emotional stretching.
Second, recognize that others are going to camp to get better, and, quite frankly, they don't care about you. Quit thinking that everyone is thinking about you - they are not. They are experiencing their own stretching and are trying to become a better volleyball player.
Third, do a realistic assessment of your self, and of others. Frequently, shy people may have some form of an inferiority complex. Again, recognize that the other players are at volleyball camp, because they need to get better. Everyone there is attending to improve their volleyball skills. In short, everyone is in the same boat, trying to get better.
Fourth, learn how to give a compliment. It costs you nothing to say something nice. Start with simple, on-court comments like, "Nice hit, or "Great hustle," or "Good dig!" Don't over compliment, but do compliment on those plays that are worthy.
And then also learn how to accept a compliment. Simply acknowledge the compliment and reply with something like, "That is kind of you to say that. Thank you."
Fifth, quit mind reading and speculating. It isn't worth it to figure out what someone may or may not think about you. You have one job at volleyball camp and this is to improve. It is that simple. Focus on YOUR game, YOUR skills, YOUR knowledge. Maybe you can't pass or hit or set as well as others, but that really doesn't matter. Your single goal is to leave camp with better skills than when you arrived.
Overcoming Shyness Tips:
Get the other person to talk about themselves. This is the number one tip for overcoming shyness. When you approach someone, don't worry about what you are going to say. You accomplish this by asking the other person questions so that they are doing the talking. (Do you have any pets? Where are you from? When did you start playing volleyball? What do you want to get out of the volleyball camp?) As the other person is talking, you will soon find a few areas of commonality where you can say, "Oh, I have a dog too," or, "I want to learn how to be a better setter as well."
Seek out and learn from good conversationalists. Watch people who you think that are not shy. Watch how they act, what they say and then work on acting like they do, using their skill set as your own.
Reward effort not outcome! This is important. The only thing you have control over is yourself. You can't control what other people think, so get over it. Quite simply, be true to yourself. Do the right thing, and be pleased with the effort you make to overcome shyness.
Now go out and find a volleyball camp and make yourself a better vball player.
As you can see, this was a stretch for her. Learning how to overcome shyness starts with doing the opposite: gradually getting more out of the house, exposing yourself more to social situations and interacting more with people. Since this may feel uncomfortable at first, it's a form of emotional stretching.
Second, recognize that others are going to camp to get better, and, quite frankly, they don't care about you. Quit thinking that everyone is thinking about you - they are not. They are experiencing their own stretching and are trying to become a better volleyball player.
Third, do a realistic assessment of your self, and of others. Frequently, shy people may have some form of an inferiority complex. Again, recognize that the other players are at volleyball camp, because they need to get better. Everyone there is attending to improve their volleyball skills. In short, everyone is in the same boat, trying to get better.
Fourth, learn how to give a compliment. It costs you nothing to say something nice. Start with simple, on-court comments like, "Nice hit, or "Great hustle," or "Good dig!" Don't over compliment, but do compliment on those plays that are worthy.
And then also learn how to accept a compliment. Simply acknowledge the compliment and reply with something like, "That is kind of you to say that. Thank you."
Fifth, quit mind reading and speculating. It isn't worth it to figure out what someone may or may not think about you. You have one job at volleyball camp and this is to improve. It is that simple. Focus on YOUR game, YOUR skills, YOUR knowledge. Maybe you can't pass or hit or set as well as others, but that really doesn't matter. Your single goal is to leave camp with better skills than when you arrived.
Overcoming Shyness Tips:
Get the other person to talk about themselves. This is the number one tip for overcoming shyness. When you approach someone, don't worry about what you are going to say. You accomplish this by asking the other person questions so that they are doing the talking. (Do you have any pets? Where are you from? When did you start playing volleyball? What do you want to get out of the volleyball camp?) As the other person is talking, you will soon find a few areas of commonality where you can say, "Oh, I have a dog too," or, "I want to learn how to be a better setter as well."
Seek out and learn from good conversationalists. Watch people who you think that are not shy. Watch how they act, what they say and then work on acting like they do, using their skill set as your own.
Reward effort not outcome! This is important. The only thing you have control over is yourself. You can't control what other people think, so get over it. Quite simply, be true to yourself. Do the right thing, and be pleased with the effort you make to overcome shyness.
Now go out and find a volleyball camp and make yourself a better vball player.
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