After the period of experimentation, the faith lives: the lessons of the Yellow Tigers, who have to take care of the World Cup stunt

On every announcement of Belgium she shows off – with or without her sturdy services or smashes.

Because of her many years of experience at the top, the whole world links the Yellow Tigers directly to Britt Herbots. She is also logically top of mind with the Belgian public. In addition, the criticism is that the team is too dependent on the output sign on scoring plane.

National coach Kris Vansnick wanted to get rid of that after the European Championship.

“It was sometimes said that there was only one attacker who could finish a ball. But we have become collectively better at that,” says the national coach about the search for more weapons (then only herbots) for the Tigers.

That by throwing a lot of attackers for the lions against top countries in the Volley Nations League, just think of Tea Radovic or Nel Demeyer. “For me it was important that those players would take their responsibility.”

Not only on the corners, but also the middle compartment, the Tigers have tried to fine tune as much as possible. In addition, they learned that main attacker Pauline Martin is ready for the next step.

“For example, the danger can come from all sides and we are slightly less predictable,” Vannick nods, who sees that the trial-and-error pays off. “You can find those positive points at any position.”

“In the past, it was more a conscious choice to carefully fit young people. Now the bank-seaters have also emerged under pressure. Because if you want to win Paris-Roubaix, you first have to dare to flame the cobblestones.”

Because of that approach, the national coach believes in that attacking extra of his team: “There is more maturity in the team, which means that we can pull the sheet towards us in fiercing ends of sets.”

And herbots? “She will always be an important spearhead, but the fact that Pauline and the middle players are there will also make it easier for her.”

The danger can therefore come from anywhere. Striking: the national coach only selected 3 corner players. That leaves little margin for injuries or offdays.

“It is certainly true that at that position the rinse is the dunst,” Vannick realizes. “But with main attacker Liese Verhelst we have someone we want to develop in that role.”

Manon Stragier is a big absentee with the Tigers. The captain of Asterix AVO Beveren normally has a basic spot with the national team, but pressed the pause button after the accumulation of heavy seasons.

“I think that peace did her well. We had a good conversation about her break with the Tigers. You must always respect the choice of a player.”

“If she indicates that she does not feel the fire burning, then you know that it is just enough. It is not a strange choice, because with the national team you have to work hard every day and give up your social life,” agrees that the Stragier knows through and through.

So VanSnick mainly looks at younger players with a view to the future – La 2028 is always in mind.

“We can’t just make exceptions for players either. I want to go to a team that is still playing in Los Angeles. Then you can’t do puzzling and rebuilding every summer.”

No, the union has chosen to plan a type team that must be there at this World Cup and the Olympic Games. And there are always points for improvement.

“On service, for example”, VanSnick starts a list. “But the biggest step we can take is physically in Block. France, among others, has taught us that lesson in the Volley Nations League.”

Specifically: jumping higher and have a better net crossing. “That is why we worked hard on jumping power. Last week jump tests were taken and just about everyone improved. That is fairly unique during a loaded summer.”

Are record highs reached in Thailand?

So physically there is progress with the young team. Yet the national coach thinks that his 14 players have made the biggest leap mentally.

“We have had four sessions as a group with a sports psychologist. It said things that had to be said. That was not all positive, there was also criticism,” Vansnick shares.

“We learned a lot from that. Both from coach to group, the other way around and the players themselves. I think we have become much stronger in Money Time.”

Certainly in the must-wins such as the European Championship qualification matches, the national coach notices a difference. “Then Britt Herbots came to the group and she said completely dry that it had to be 3-0 twice. Those scores were always on the board.”

And so the T1 of the Yellow Tigers may decide with the most important lesson: that the players are ready to win – and therefore also stunting top countries.

“We became the team that learned best from defeats, now we also want to learn from victories.”