'Rookie coach Kim Yeon-koung' volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung and coach Kim Yeon-koung were still reaching legendary status.
On the 19th, MBC's Sunday entertainment show Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung aired, and the Wonder Dogs led by rookie coach Kim Yeon-koung, which began on Sept. 28, played their third match. This match was a Korea-Japan match. The opponent was Shujitsu High School, a top high school volleyball team.
The Wonder Dogs were playing a match under conditions. If they lost four or more times, they could no longer maintain the team. Many volleyball fans were saddened when Pyo Seung-ju, who was called a legend alongside Kim Yeon-koung, retired, and the announcement of Pyo Seung-ju's return drew much attention even before the program aired. There were also players such as Gu Sol and Lee Jin who were still striving to achieve their dream of volleyball.
However, the Wonder Dogs lost to a pro team in last week's match. Kim Yeon-koung attributed the loss to the setters' attacking power. Kim Yeon-koung said, "I think our setters showed poor performance. They weren't bad during practice, so I wanted to know why they played like that in matches," and asked the setters to speak for themselves. Pyo Seung-ju said, "I try to do better during matches, but it didn't go as the coach said," and Lee Jin said, "If I make one mistake, I keep making mistakes and my confidence drops."
But this was not the starting point for solving the causes of defeat for Kim Yeon-koung. Kim Yeon-koung said, "That is pie-in-the-sky talk. It's not constructive. Nervousness, trembling, lack of confidence — these become countless excuses. This isn't the first time you've felt these emotions. Is this the first match in which you've felt no confidence? You need to be prepared. Ultimately it's a lack of preparation," pinpointing the issue, and even said, "Even when you play, think about volleyball while you play!"
There are many images associated with the three syllables Kim Yeon-koung, but being a national team member, a player always called a legend and someone who leads in enhancing national prestige while showing uninhibited performances on variety shows are all undeniable titles of hers. But after becoming a coach, with her cool, quick judgment and game tactics that show traces of extensive study, Kim Yeon-koung was genuinely taking on a new title. A 2.2% rating had climbed to 4%. This episode in particular was a Korea-Japan match.
Kim Yeon-koung went as far as Japan's national high school athletic meet equivalent, Inter-High, to analyze the opponent Shujitsu. Meanwhile, with many Japanese fans, Kim Yeon-koung took photos with numerous high school students and jokingly said, "I have to pay," making light of the situation.
Before the match, Kim Yeon-koung mentioned central attacks by focusing on the player with the strongest attacking power. The Wonder Dogs, who took the first set in a come-from-behind win, seized the second set as well, prompting cheers from everyone.
Naturally the Japanese team was not in a good mood. Kim Yeon-koung said, "They played very well. Mix offense and defense," and worried, "Our kids are serving well. Their concentration is good, but it needs to be maintained." Entering the third set, Shujitsu started scoring as if determined. There was even a judgment error from the Korean side's perspective.
Kim Yeon-koung calmly responded, "It was during the match. It's part of the game. People work, so it can happen anytime." She rather quickly substituted the libero, and at that moment Inkushi scored exactly as Kim Yeon-koung had hoped. Afterwards, a Shujitsu error occurred, narrowing the score to a one-point difference, and attention turned to whether they could carry the third set to a Korean victory.
[Photo credit] MBC's Sunday entertainment show Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung
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