University of Tennessee Athletics
Handshakes have Greater Meanings for Tennessee Volleyball
September 26, 2018 | Volleyball
New post-practice ritual brings new level of respect between the players and coaches for Lady Vols
By Rhiannon Potkey, Special to UTsports.com
A handshake and a thank you.
They are simple gestures with a much deeper meaning for the Tennessee women's volleyball team.Â
They represent gratitude, respect and accountability. They help build meaningful relationships and develop a stronger culture.
The Lady Vols end every practice by shaking hands and saying thank you to every single member of the coaching staff. They do the same with every strength and conditioning coach after training sessions in the weight room.
Good day or bad day, frustrated or happy - the players don't leave the gym until they have extended their hands, looked coaches in the eye and expressed their appreciation.
The interaction could be as quick as three seconds or last as long as 10 minutes.Â
"It gives everybody a chance after practice to make some sort of connection with the coaches," Tennessee first-year head coach Eve Rackham said. "During practice, you will coach some kids more and coach some kids less. There may be days when you don't interact with a particular kid for whatever reason, so at least this gives you some chance to connect to say good job or good to see you."
Rackham brought the post-practice ritual with her from the University of North Carolina, where she spent the previous nine years as an assistant coach. The UNC men's soccer team started the tradition, and the Tar Heel volleyball team incorporated it into its practices.
The Lady Vols began the handshakes during their first workouts with Rackham last spring. They are informal encounters. There is no line or designated order.
Once the team breaks from its final huddle, the players walk around to find every coach.Â
Some say just 'thank you' while others say 'thank you for being hard on me' or 'thank you for the feedback today.'
"I love that we brought it in to our program. It's something unique and different," junior outside hitter Tessa Grubbs said. "I think it's a good way to end practice for us, just to get that one-on-one time and make eye contact and say thank you for this practice, thank you for this opportunity. It's not every day you get one-on-one time with every coach during practice, so it's a great way to connect."
In an age when social interaction often takes place more on screens, the face-to-face communication provides a refreshing lesson in civility for the Lady Vols.
"It's harder and harder to connect with kids because everyone is on phones, so just even a verbal exchange that is brief is a nice way to end practice," Rackham said. "There is eye contact when you shake somebody's hand as well. You should look them in the eye, so think it is a little bit of a life skill they can have."
Beyond just expressing gratitude, the handshake allows players and coaches to wipe the slate clean if anything happened in the previous few hours that inflamed emotions.Â
"There are definitely times when you will get on a kid in practice and it forces them to come over and kind of forces you to address it. They can't just leave angry," Rackham said. "There are times I am sure they don't want to come over, but at least it gives you a chance to give them a pat on the back and say 'Alright, we are good, it's over with, let it go. Practice is over now and we can start again fresh tomorrow.' It doesn't have to linger."
Senior outside hitter Stephanie Spencer appreciates having a way to clear the air quickly and not hold anything inside.
"If I had a bad day at practice, I can go shake her hand and talk to her for a second and it relieves everything," Spencer said. "I can go home and come to practice the next day and shake it off. I really like that one-on-one moment we have, even if it's just for a second."
Rackham never knows what may be in store once the handshakes begin. Each player is dealing with a range of emotions every day, and not just from volleyball. They may have issues in school or with family that are causing distress.
"Sometimes I give them a hug, sometimes it's just a pat on the shoulder and sometimes it's more. I may hold their hand a little bit longer just to say, 'Tough day. I know. You are going to be alright.' Sometimes they cry," Rackham said. "There are all sorts of interactions that happen in that very brief moment."
Spencer is hoping the handshake ritual lasts long after she graduates, and future Lady Vols can experience the power of a simple gesture of gratitude.Â
"I think it's brought a new level of respect between the players and coaches," Spencer said. "I like how it has helped with our culture. I am really glad we are doing it."
A handshake and a thank you.
They are simple gestures with a much deeper meaning for the Tennessee women's volleyball team.Â
They represent gratitude, respect and accountability. They help build meaningful relationships and develop a stronger culture.
The Lady Vols end every practice by shaking hands and saying thank you to every single member of the coaching staff. They do the same with every strength and conditioning coach after training sessions in the weight room.
Good day or bad day, frustrated or happy - the players don't leave the gym until they have extended their hands, looked coaches in the eye and expressed their appreciation.
The interaction could be as quick as three seconds or last as long as 10 minutes.Â
"It gives everybody a chance after practice to make some sort of connection with the coaches," Tennessee first-year head coach Eve Rackham said. "During practice, you will coach some kids more and coach some kids less. There may be days when you don't interact with a particular kid for whatever reason, so at least this gives you some chance to connect to say good job or good to see you."
Rackham brought the post-practice ritual with her from the University of North Carolina, where she spent the previous nine years as an assistant coach. The UNC men's soccer team started the tradition, and the Tar Heel volleyball team incorporated it into its practices.
The Lady Vols began the handshakes during their first workouts with Rackham last spring. They are informal encounters. There is no line or designated order.
Once the team breaks from its final huddle, the players walk around to find every coach.Â
Some say just 'thank you' while others say 'thank you for being hard on me' or 'thank you for the feedback today.'
"I love that we brought it in to our program. It's something unique and different," junior outside hitter Tessa Grubbs said. "I think it's a good way to end practice for us, just to get that one-on-one time and make eye contact and say thank you for this practice, thank you for this opportunity. It's not every day you get one-on-one time with every coach during practice, so it's a great way to connect."
In an age when social interaction often takes place more on screens, the face-to-face communication provides a refreshing lesson in civility for the Lady Vols.
"It's harder and harder to connect with kids because everyone is on phones, so just even a verbal exchange that is brief is a nice way to end practice," Rackham said. "There is eye contact when you shake somebody's hand as well. You should look them in the eye, so think it is a little bit of a life skill they can have."
Beyond just expressing gratitude, the handshake allows players and coaches to wipe the slate clean if anything happened in the previous few hours that inflamed emotions.Â
"There are definitely times when you will get on a kid in practice and it forces them to come over and kind of forces you to address it. They can't just leave angry," Rackham said. "There are times I am sure they don't want to come over, but at least it gives you a chance to give them a pat on the back and say 'Alright, we are good, it's over with, let it go. Practice is over now and we can start again fresh tomorrow.' It doesn't have to linger."
Senior outside hitter Stephanie Spencer appreciates having a way to clear the air quickly and not hold anything inside.
"If I had a bad day at practice, I can go shake her hand and talk to her for a second and it relieves everything," Spencer said. "I can go home and come to practice the next day and shake it off. I really like that one-on-one moment we have, even if it's just for a second."
Rackham never knows what may be in store once the handshakes begin. Each player is dealing with a range of emotions every day, and not just from volleyball. They may have issues in school or with family that are causing distress.
"Sometimes I give them a hug, sometimes it's just a pat on the shoulder and sometimes it's more. I may hold their hand a little bit longer just to say, 'Tough day. I know. You are going to be alright.' Sometimes they cry," Rackham said. "There are all sorts of interactions that happen in that very brief moment."
Spencer is hoping the handshake ritual lasts long after she graduates, and future Lady Vols can experience the power of a simple gesture of gratitude.Â
"I think it's brought a new level of respect between the players and coaches," Spencer said. "I like how it has helped with our culture. I am really glad we are doing it."
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
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