It's A Net, Not A Wall One of my favorite coaching phrases is, "It's a net, not a wall. You can SEE through it, use it to your advantage." Sounds simple, but far too many players wait until the ball has crossed the plane on the net before beginning to react. If you look through the net and watch the play develop, you'll have far more time to react. Dive The most important thing you'll need to learn to be a great center back is to become absolutely fearless. You'll have to sacrifice your body in a hundred different ways, trying with everything you have to save anything you have the remotest chance of saving. Remember the adage: make the play first, then decide if it was impossible. Go After Everything Above the Net Whenever there's a ball on top of the net, I want at least one of our players there to pound at it. Taking charge of the net is similar to taking charge of the backboard in basketball. You control the net, you control the game, and you do that through sheer, constant aggression. The Feet Are Critical Ironically, moving the feet is the most important part of the art of passing. You have to move to the exact place where you can take the ball between your knees, about zipper height in order to make a good pass. Bend your knees slightly, keeping your eyes on the ball until it actually contacts your arms. Point one foot toward your target, and follow through by lifting up with your knees. The feet and legs are vitally important to making you a great passer. Move your feet, then worry about the rest of your routine! When You're In Trouble If you're passing in an emergency situation, remember this adage: the more trouble you're in, the higher the ball needs to go into the air. Putting the ball high allows the next player time to help you by getting into position to get the ball back under control.
So pop it high when you're in trouble! The Phantom Hand When a ball has gone by you, the worst thing you can do is to reach back and try to retrieve it. We call that move "the phantom hand." A teammate has a bead on the ball and is just getting ready to pass it, when this phantom hand reaches in from nowhere, and the ball disappears, generally at some strange angle. So trust your teammates to be in position to back you up... and don't reach back. Don't let the phantom hand haunt YOUR team. Help Each Other Out Help Each Other Out You're still teammates, even when things go wrong: When someone makes an on-count mistake the natural tendency is to shun and isolate them. This just makes them an easier target - its better to take a step toward them and help them out. Always remember: if they get beat, you get beat. Waiting To Kill On outside attacks, don't go half speed and meet the ball at the net. Wait a second longer and then EXPLODE to the ball. The consequence is more energy which means a higher jump and harder hit. Be the Air Traffic Controller In center back, you have the best view of what's going on, so you owe it to your teammates to become the air traffic controller. You can see the plays develop, you can see if balls are in or out, you can see touches, you've got the best view in the house. So share all that information with your teammates, and everyone will benefit. Snap Your Wrist Remember: the snap of the wrist at the end of your spike is the most important part of the hitting motion. Snapping your wrist will make it much less likely for your hit to sail out the back, because it puts a downward spin on the ball, causing it to curve toward the floor.
Stay Back! If your team plays a center back defense, it's important for you to condition yourself to stay back. It's so easy to keep creeping forward as the volley progresses, but you have to force yourself to play back, guarding against the long tip and ready to pick up a carrom off a block. You can't do that if you're 10' from the back line, so stay back, and when you look around and notice you've shifted forward, hustle back quickly and stay alert. Dump to #1 Dump to #1 Setters and hitters can learn something from our tip on tipping: When dumping the ball into your opponents court, consider dumping deep into position #1 (right back). It will cause the opposing setter problems, since they'll they have to turn to see their teammate's pass. A Mind Set A way to train your mind to help you stay back is to begin thinking of yourself as the team's center fielder. You're the farthest one from the action, but you have the best view, and if things go wrong, you're the last line of defense to avert a disaster. Be ready, talk alot, become fearless, stay back and play center field. The 3 R's of Digging Whenever you're playing defense, it's wise to remember these 3 "R's:" Ready, Read, and React. Get down, be ready for anything. Read the set, the hitter's body language, approach and armswing. Then react, based on what you've learned from the information you've gathered. Ready, Read, and React. Practice your "3 R's" and become a great defensive player. Work the Angles Since you know that 90% of players (except at the higher levels of play) will hit angle, you can use that to your advantage. Get to the angle, and start there. If you have to make a move one way or another, the move won't be as great if you're already in the general vicinity.
When NOT to Dive It's not always a good idea to dive after balls. Here's why: Don't dive after a ball that has already hit the floor. Some players do this for "show," but all it "shows" is a) you were too slow to get to the ball, and b) you're too slow to realize it. Play Defense First Setters need to remember: you're a defensive player first, a setter second. It's so easy to keep cheating up toward the setting area and to forget to get into position to play defense. That leaves a hole, and forces your teammates to find ways to fill it. That leaves holes where THEY'RE supposed to be. So stay home, play defense and THEN set. Freeze Even if you're out of position, freeze at the moment of your opposing hitter's impact of the ball. You'll make far more mistakes by being caught in transition than you ever will if you are set and ready to react. So freeze first, react second. Don't get caught moving. Know Where You're At One of the most important things to remember in center back is where you're at... at all times. It becomes even more important when the ball is going to be close at the end line. If you're in the proper position, it will eventually become instinctual, but it takes time. Condition yourself to always know where the endline is, and you'll become a more effective center back. Save the Arm Save the Arm This tip is for hitters who want to be in the game for the long haul: The best hitters in the world have told me you don't pound everything - you get the same points for a tip or wipe, and it saves your arm for those times "when you gotta swing away." Keep Your Eyes Open One of the biggest mistakes blockers make is to close their eyes at the moment of contact. It's hard not to do, but important to avoid. You need to have your eyes on the ball at all times in order to stuff it, touch it on a tip, or whatever happens. So keep your eyes open. Call All Balls
Since you can see everything, it's important for you to call all balls for your teammates, who are often busy with the heat of the action. So even if it's going to be "in" by several feet, go ahead and call it. Making a call on every ball lets your teammates know they can count on you. Heels Up Heels Up Since many diggers tend to get rocked back on their heels as a heavy hitter goes up to pound, we offer this good advice: A huge power wastage on the volleyball court is putting your heels to the floor. But to be a great digger, you need to stay on the balls of your feet as much as possible to allow for quick change of direction and adaptability to the ball and situation. Just Say No! Just Say No! Anyone can hit hard, but taking away a hard hit is something special: Blocking should be thought of as a more satisfying than hitting. This is because you have not only asserted your will on your opponent but denied them their objective. Back Row Spiking It's exciting to see a player go up and smash the ball from the back row, and many players can't wait to try it themselves. But remember, it's important that the ball go over! Hitting from the back row does no good if you powder the ball into the net. So, at least when you begin, consider getting under the ball, squaring your shoulders, arching your back and hitting the ball without leaving the floor. You can still put a surprising amount of heat on your hit, and there's less chance of hitting it into the net. Once you're more proficient, you can take on the task of adding a killer leap to your spiking routine. When It's OK to Swing Away Coaches will preach at you not to swing during your pass, and I agree completely... except on the 3rd hit. If you're in a position where your only option is to put the ball over with a bump, turn sideways and hit it, similar to a baseball player, swinging at a pitch. This allows you to put at least some heat on your bump, rather than handing your opponent a nice little free ball to ram back down your throat.
One-Arm Digs One-Arm Dig When you can't get two hands on the ball, hyo-sen offers this tip: In recovering a badly-passed ball too low for a proper pass, use a "biceps curl" action and contact the call with your fist for maximum lift and control. Helping Each Other With Lines Line Calls Players are teammates, and they should help each other, including calling lines: During serve receive, the person not playing the ball follows it and tells the passer if it's in or out according to the angle. The person passing has enough to worry about without having to peek down at the line.even the pros forget this sometimes, to their dismay! Pace Pace Here's some good serving advice: Remember serving is the only time you really control the pace. Especially if you're behind, take your time to give your team a chance to catch its breath. Read the Label Read the Label Here's a good serving tip: When serving, hold the ball with the label facing you so you can "read" it. This gives you a focal point to strike and reduces distractions. Calling Touch on The Other Team One of the most frustrating things for hitters is to go up, blast away, have the hit go off opponent's fingers and out of bounds, only to discover no one saw the touch. Here's a way to get a few calls you might not get otherwise:
Simply call "touch" the instant you see them at the net. Oftentimes, the down official or linesperson will hear that and instantly signal a touch. If the ball is close to the net, it's sometimes hard to know who actually called the touch, especially in a noisy gym. Headless Chicken Headless Chicken Here's an interesting take on staying calm in emergencies: When a "scramble play" occurs, the setter must take control, via set selection and demeanor, to keep the situation from degrading into a "headless chicken" scenario. Advice for a rolling defensive move Rolling, Rolling... Advice for a rolling defensive move: If you do end up doing a stride slide (or other floor crashing technique), use a log roll to come out of it rather than a shoulder roll which necessitates you losing sight of the section needlessly exposing yourself. Hit Line First We teach our blockers to take away line first, until your opponent hits 2 line shots. So as a hitter, we know the opponent will probably do the same against us. So we teach players to hit the very first shot down the line, for 2 reasons: first, it shows you can do it, and forces opponents to begin playing you more honest, and second, that first line shot will be a "freebie," since they're giving it to you. A free putaway for your stats... how nice. Easy Does It Here's sage advice for saving balls: When bringing a "wild" touched ball back to your court, don't get fancy. A nice high underhand pass or overhead set is the easiest ball for your setter to work with. Using Hand Signals Visible Signals We offer this tip for players in the heat of the game: When signaling plays use hand signals that are easy to pick up (fist, open palm, pistol, etc.)
rather than number of fingers. Who has time to count fingers from the other side of the court? A Setter's Goals Here's some tips for becoming a great setter, from Al Scates, longtime coach at UCLA. 1- First, become a good setter. Put up the best hittable set under each circumstance, giving your hitter as many options as possible. 2- Once you're "good," become a smart setter. Learn and exploit your opponent's weaknesses, know who your hot hitters are at the moment, learn where they like the ball and set it there, and listen to your coach's suggestions. 3- Once you're "smart," become a deceptive setter. Try not to give clues as to which way you'll be setting, mix it up, make every set hittable and don't become predictable. Pop/Pow Pop/Pow This is a way for hitters to condition their minds: During quick attacks, hitters should think "pop." On power hits, they should think "pow." Hearing that sound in your mind will help you bring them about in your attacks. Call Touches As center fielder and air traffic controller, you'll want to call touches when you see them, too. And call them LOUD, so everyone can hear you, especially if your crowd noise is deafening. It's all part of using your view to help your team win. Outlets Outlets There are times when somebody besides the setter needs to set, so we offer this advice: Following a bad pass, if the second hit is taken by a non setter, set a high ball to outside hitter as your outlet, this should be practiced so all players can do it proficiently and easily. Stopping Hitter's Drift If you have a tendency to drift forward after your hit, putting you into the net far too often, here's an idea: Make your spiking motion against a wall.
Like a field goal kicker getting their steps down in football, turn and make an approach away from the wall. This will give you the proper distance from the wall when you turn back around and make your approach toward the wall again. A few spectacular crashes into the wall will go a long way toward curing your forward drift, and teach you to go up straight! Air Spikes Right from the beginning, making a proper approach is the key to becoming a great spiker. So think about making your beginning players, and those players who can't seem to get it together later on, do air spikes everyday as part of their warm up routine. Have them get back to the 10' line, make their 2 or 3 step approach, depending upon which approach style you prefer, and go through the entire motion, including a high reach and follow through. Every day, their bodies will begin to develop a muscle memory of the proper execution of the approach, and players will begin to experience more success. Defensive Hand position Once you learn where to position yourself on the court and the correct defensive stance, don't forget about hand position. When a split second can make the difference between a dig and kill, good hand position can make all the difference. You should have your palms facing up when the hitter contacts the ball. When that ball rockets through the block, your hands will be ready to slide under the ball and pop it up. This seems like a trivial gesture, but really does make a difference. When to Dink The dink can be an effective scoring tool, but it has to be set up. Think of it in terms of football. A team generally tries a few running plays before opening up their passing game. The run sets up the pass. It's similar in hitting. You score a couple heat shots, preferably to several different areas, which rocks defenders back on their heels, which in turn opens up your tipping game. Hit first, tip next. Isolating the Arm Swing We use a box, about 2' tall, 3'x 3' width and length, to allow our players' arms to be above the net on their arm swing. This allows us to isolate just the arm and hand motions. Then, with a player on the box, we toss balls up quickly, making comments on every hit, offering suggestions and reinforcing proper execution.
This allows many contacts and a great deal of opportunity for instruction without tiring the players out. We've noticed a great improvement in our team's hitting skills. In fact, one player broke our school record for putaways (kills) by over 100 this season. Try it, it works. Using Blocks This tip is for hitters who find a wall developing in front of them: By watching the blockers, a hitter can "use" the block for wipes or can hit a soft "rebound" shot into the block that their own block coverage can easily pop backup and replay. Disguising An Accidental Back Row Attack If you know you've accidentally put the ball away with a back row attack from in front of the 10' line, instantly call all your teammates together for a huddle. Have everyone mill around, rather aimlessly, so that the officials won't be able to immediately tell who is supposed to be in the back row at that given time. Stay in your jumbled formation as long as possible. If someone needs to sub out, send them to the sideline, but don't stop milling around. Once the officials turn their attention to the sub or some other piece of business, it that means they're ready to move on with play, and it's generally safe to return to your correct position. However, it should be pointed out that a sharp official will take the time to study your line-up until they have satisfied themselves the hit was legal or illegal, then make the call. Quick Pops Middle attackers should practice a short quick "pop" arm swing to maximize the effectiveness of the quick middle speed sets (51's, 61's). A Fish on A Cutting Board Here's an interesting way to think about defense: "Defense should be played like a live fish on a cutting board." In other words, never give up on the ball. Even if you don't get that one particular ball, your effort and intensity will let your opponents you are a force to be reckoned with. When the Roof is Up
The bigger your block up front, the more you'll need to be on the lookout for tips. So don't get rocked back on your heels. You can't go backward and forward at the same time. Be ready to pick up soft tips over the block, and turn them into free ball opportunities. Wrist Wraps Quick Wrist Wraps This is a formula for quick hitters to remember: During quick attacks, the hitter's hand snaps and wraps under the wrist. Think of it this way: a quickersnap = a quicker shot. See The Wall As It See the Wall as it Forms This is for players with a tendency to move in too fast for their approach: On outside hitter attacks, the hitter should delay as long as you can to see the block and defense develop. Touch Tips Touch Tips Advice for middle hitters: When hitting in the middle, practice "touch tips" which get by the blockers hands and fall within 18 inches of the net - not only does it score a pointbut it's a real stake in the heart of your opponents, it forces them to cover the whole court in front of as well as behind the attack line. Just Play It! Play It! We offer advice on serve receiving, but it's good advice for ANY time the ball is in play: On serve receive, play everything until the ball bounces twice: that may not have been a whistle you heard. Speed Kills Here's something to think about:
In volleyball, though power scares, speed kills. In other words, a faster attack can overcome a power game by getting the ball to the floor before blockers and defense can stop it. Hitting Outside Hitting is a very important job! This is what usually stops the rally and scores the points! It takes a good set too! When hitting in the outside position stand outside the court and take a three step approach make sure the last step and quick and angled. Make sure to get a big arm swing that way you have more room and momentum! This will help you go for the kill!