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EP 05 · VBallStars Mental Training

Breathing
Between Sets

Your two to three minute secret weapon between sets.

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The Problem

The Between-Set
Challenge

After a set of high-intensity volleyball, your body is in overdrive.
Heart rate elevated. Muscles tense. If you go straight into the next set, you start fatigued.

Sports performance
The Science

Heart Rate
Recovery

Breathing at six breaths per minute shifts your body from stressed to settled.

RC

Recovery

After a hard set, two minutes of breathing speeds up physical recovery. Lower heart rate, reduced tension, clearer thinking.

Physical reset
EC

Emotional Control

Breathing gives your thinking brain a chance to come back online. Better decisions, clearer court vision.

Mental clarity
6

Six Breaths

Five seconds in, five seconds out. The fastest known method to shift from overdrive to recovery.

6 breaths/min
The Techniques

Two Breathing
Techniques

Box breathing for quick resets. Resonance frequency breathing for deeper recovery.

Box Breathing

4 counts in, hold, out, hold. One-minute reset.

Resonance Breathing

5 seconds in, 5 seconds out. Two-minute deep recovery.

Six Breaths Per Minute

The sweet spot for maximum benefit.

Practice Daily

Between every set in practice for 7 days.

ROUTINE
~15 seconds
pre-whistle routine
Match Situations

After Winning
or Losing

Box breathing after winning keeps you grounded.
Resonance breathing after losing clears the frustration.

0
Recovery Gain
Win
Box breathing for 1 minute. Keep confidence, lose emotional volatility.
Loss
Resonance breathing for 2 minutes. Reset stress, clear the frustration.
Swing
Body first, mind second. Two minutes breathing, then tactics.
Team
Your reset elevates the whole team. Leadership without words.
The Protocol

Between-Set
Protocol

One minute of breathing before any tactical discussion. Body first, mind second.

01

Box Breathing

4 counts in, hold, 4 out, hold. One-minute quick reset.

Quick Reset
02

Resonance Breathing

5 seconds in, 5 seconds out. Two-minute deep recovery.

Deep Recovery
03

Body First

Address the body before strategy. Breathing then tactics.

Sequence
04

Track It

Log recovery quality after each set break. Make it automatic.

Habit
How It Fits

Two Techniques,
One Protocol

Box breathing for quick resets. Resonance frequency breathing for deeper recovery.
Six breaths per minute is the sweet spot.

VP
EF
RC
AC
PP

Box Breathing

4 counts in, hold, out, hold. One-minute reset between sets.

Resonance Breathing

5 seconds in, 5 seconds out. Two-minute deep recovery.

Body First

Address the body before strategy. Breathing then tactics.

Recap

Key Takeaways
& Challenge

Box Breathing

4 counts in, hold, out, hold. One-minute quick reset.

Resonance Breathing

5 seconds in, 5 seconds out. Two-minute deep recovery.

Six Breaths/Min

The sweet spot for maximum benefit.

Body First

Address the body before strategy.

After Winning

Box breathing keeps you grounded.

After Losing

Resonance breathing clears frustration.

What's Next

Next Episode:
Tournament Endurance

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Last updated: Jul 26, 2026 | VBallStars Mental Training Series

TL;DR

6 breaths per minute is the fastest method to shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance

Key techniques: Box breathing, resonance frequency breathing

Provider: VBallStars | Author: Mustafa Lalli | Level: Volleyball Mental Training