Timing is one of the most important aspects in blocking; a fraction of a second could be the difference between stuffing an opponent’s attack and missing the ball completely. Being in the ready position will allow you to move more efficiently when attempting a block. Keeping your feet the proper distance apart will help with your footwork, another essential aspect of blocking. With your shoulders and hips square to the net you will be able to jump straight up more quickly. Keeping your knees bent is an essential part of the ready position. By keeping your knees bent you are ready to jump immediately rather than having to lower yourself and then jump up for the block.  Be careful not to get lazy and stand straight up while waiting to block. Keep your arms high with your elbows around shoulder height. This also reduces the time it takes to get your arms up for the block. If they begin by your sides then they have much farther to travel to get high in the air. This puts them at the correct angle for blocking and again reduces the time needed to get your hands in position, making you a faster blocker. If you touch the net while attempting to block you will get a violation. Allow sufficient space between your body and the net to ensure you do not accidentally touch it.

Summary: Be ready at all times. Stand with your feet shoulder-length apart square to the net. Keep your knees bent. Keep your arms high. Keep your palms facing the net. Stay a half arm’s length away from the net.


Typing is recommended for most letters of permission, such as a letter of consent to travel or a letter of medical authorization. Write the letter by hand only in informal situations, or for short notes that only need to be shown once. A clear, short title lets the reader know the letter topic immediately. For example, write "Medical Treatment Authorization" or "Letter of Consent for Traveling Minor." Type this in bold font. In American English, the subject goes at the top of the letter. In British English, the subject goes after the salutation. If the letter will be kept with the child and shown whenever necessary, open with "To Whom It May Concern:" or skip the salutation entirely. If you are sending the letter to a specific person, address them by their professional title and full name. Begin with a direct statement clearly stating the letter's purpose. Include the full names of yourself, your child, and the person you are granting permission to. If the child has another custodian or parent, write the letter together if possible. Here are a couple examples:   Medical authorization: "I, (full name), grant (full name of babysitter/teacher/etc.) the authority to obtain medical treatment for my child, (full name of child), as detailed below."  Consent to travel: "We, (full name of parents), are the legal guardians of (child's full name). (Child's full name) has our consent to travel with (names of people accompanying child), as detailed below." You may write this as a list, instead of paragraph form. Include all of the following information:  Your relation to the child (custodial parent, non-custodial parent, or legal guardian) Child's full legal name and birth date Child's current home address (Optional) Child's sex, place of birth, and nickname (if commonly used) If the people reading the letter would find additional information useful, add it here. Here are suggestions for the most common permission letters for minors:   Medical authorization: Child's allergies, medical conditions, and current medications; doctor's name, address, and phone number; health insurance plan and ID number  Consent to travel: Passport number and date of issue If the adults are close and trusted family members, you may grant permission for the adults to "(obtain and consent to medical treatment for the minor / travel with the minor) as they see fit." In other circumstances, list exactly what is and isn't allowed:   Example for medical authorization letter: "I authorize (adult's name) to give and consent to treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. In an emergency, (adult) should attempt to contact me. (He/she) may seek and consent to emergency transport, as well as treatment deemed advisable by and supervised by a licensed medical professional."  Example for consent to travel letter: "I authorize (adult's name) to take (child's name) to the Grand View Hotel in Oakville, South Dakota from January 12th through January 18th, and supervise (him/her) on excursions in the surrounding area." Note when the authorization expires, or state that it is valid until you revoke it in writing. Write "You may direct questions and concerns to me at:" followed by your full name, phone number(s), and home address. Ideally, have the document notarized, or find a lawyer or other official to act as witness. This makes people more likely to believe the letter. Otherwise, ask a neighbor, coworker, or other adult with no relation or close connection to anyone involved. Print and sign your name with the witness watching, then have the witness print and sign her name.  Clearly label the two signature lines "parent" (or other role) and "witness." For a simple letter authorizing field trip attendance or absence from school, you do not need a witness. Just close the letter with "Sincerely" or "Regards," followed by your printed name and signature.

Summary: Choose a format. Start with a subject line. Address the letter. State your purpose. Provide detailed information on your child. Add information relevant to the letter. Specify the exact scope of permission. Mention when the authorization is valid. Provide your contact information. Sign with a witness.


Try to avoid mulling over your mistakes or failures. It is important to be kind and compassionate to yourself. Although you may feel bad about how things have turned out in some area of your life, it is necessary to learn from them and move on with future projects and goals. If you find yourself ruminating on all of the mistakes you made in a failed romantic relationship, you may want to stop chewing over or repeating these mistakes in your mind. Repeating negative thoughts about yourself or a relationship can be a way to get stuck. If you find you are not getting any new insights into why the relationship failed or about yourself, you may be better off shifting your attention to your current life circumstances and future plans. Think about your life in the future such as two, five or ten years. Imagine your future life and the things you hope to have achieved in your work and relationships. From the perspective of your future self, consider whether the event or experience you are currently struggling with will still matter. Perhaps you are being too hard on yourself. For example, perhaps you missed an important meeting and lost a client to another company. Perhaps you will be able to find new clients in the coming year or two and this event will only look like a minor setback in a few years. It may help to talk to a friend about the things you are struggling with or being hard on yourself for. If you find it difficult to gain perspective on things, they may be able to help. You can lighten the burden by sharing your difficulties. Your friendship may even bring some laughter into your life, which also helps to lighten the load.  You could invite a friend for a coffee or drink. Tell them about your struggles and see if they can offer a different perspective. Perhaps they will be able to see the situation in a different light. You could go see some standup comedy or a film with a friend. Before or after the event, you could open up to your friend about your current situation. See if they can offer some perspective.
Summary: Avoid dwelling on your mistakes. Put failure in perspective. Talk to a friend.