While attending a scrimmage between two NCAA Division I college teams I overhead one head coach jokingly talking about keeping track of a new statistic. He referred to it as DAP.

What does DAP stand for, you might wonder.

Dumb Ass Play. 😀

You could also call them bonehead mistakes.

Think of the stupid things players do sometimes in the heat of the action.

Blocking a back row setter is definitely a DAP.

Sending a 3rd contact free ball straight out of bounds is often a DAP.

Going to the wrong defensive position? Definitely a DAP.

Leaving the other team’s best hitter unblocked because you forgot they were over there. Huge DAP!

The list goes on. I’m sure you could come up with several without even straining yourself. Once, when I coached the Exeter University guys, they seemed to make every one of them in the book one set.

I think even Mark Lebedew would be OK with the suggestion that minimizing these types of errors is a good idea. 🙂

6 Steps to Better Practices - Free Guide

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter today and get this free guide to making your practices the best, along with loads more coaching tips and information.

No spam ever. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

John Forman
John Forman

John is currently the Talent Strategy Manager (oversees the national teams) and Indoor Performance Director for Volleyball England, as well as Global Director for Volleyball for Nation Academy. His volleyball coaching experience includes all three NCAA divisions, plus Junior College, in the US; university and club teams in the UK; professional coaching in Sweden; and both coaching and club management at the Juniors level. He's also been a visiting coach at national team, professional club, and juniors programs in several countries. Learn more on his bio page.

Please share your own ideas and opinions.