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.

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Serving More Aces, Part 6

Another way to score more aces is to be on the look out for a player who looks overly frustrated, upset, tired or injured. Any of those signs should be a flag for your serve. That player isn´t in the game as much as they should, so hit them and see if they can pull it together.

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Essentials of Passing

Take pride in your passing. It´s very important, and absolutely critical for a successful offense.

If you don´t think it´s true, think about these ideas:

How well could a baseball team play if the pitcher was forced to pitch from second base?

How successful would a football team be if the quarterback had to start every play by standing back an extra 20 yards?

Both of those situations are comparable to what bad passing does to a setter´s chances of running an efficient offense. So do your best on every single pass, and you´ll see your team´s success rate increase.

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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!

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Middle Blockers, Smother The Ball

To be an effective CF (Center Front), you must love to work hard and be involved in every play. You´re like the shot blocker in basketball. You have to dominate the net, and make it your own, make opposing hitters think about what they´re doing, change their shots, throw off their game.

Here´s a tip to become a tough CF:

Try to smother the ball. Get your hands completely around the ball, and push it down. Make it impossible for the ball to go anywhere but straight back down.

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Effective Blocking, Part 4

If at all possible, you´ll want to watch your opponents hit during warm ups.

For instance, if a player never hits line in warm ups, chances are, they´re not going to try it in the game. You can then concentrate on taking away the angle shot, since that´s the one they´ll use most.

Watch what they do when the ball is close to the net. Do they tip every time, or do they hit away or try to wipe?

Do they ever use off-speed or tips, or are they just bangers, hitting angle and damn the consequences?

Every hitter has a favorite shot. Learn it, and then take it away from them. Only then will you be able to see what that player is really made of.

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Serving the Floater, Part 2

In an era when jump serving is all the rage, why would anyone bother to serve the floater anymore?

Here´s a 2nd reason:

The floater is a beautifully effective short serve. The jump server usually is happy just to get the ball in the court somewhere, but if you serve the floater, you can just barely put it over the net, in front of the 10-foot line. That´s the most difficult pass to make, and you´ll often be serving front-row people who aren´t accustomed to passing very often.

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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!

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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.

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Float Serving Basics, Part 2

The floater, though not glamorous, is an effective serving weapon, since it can dip, rise, and move in every direction as it crosses the net.

The key is not to follow through with your hand. Contact the serve and immediately draw your hand back, so the ball moves into the air without spin.

It´ll take practice, but the floater is definitely worth having in your arsenal of serves.

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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.

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Waiting To Kill

Waiting to Kill

Hyo-sen offers this formula for outside hitters:

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.

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The Jump Serve, Part 1

The jump serve can be a devastating weapon, but it must be executed properly.

Step One in learning the jump serve involves where you stand to begin. You have to give yourself enough room to make what boils down to a spiking approach, which generally means you´ll need to start far enough back to allow you to take two fairly large steps.

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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.

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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.

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Float Serving Basics, Part 3

When serving a floater, hit the ball with the heel of your hand, keeping your hand rigid, which will make the ball less likely to spin when it moves through the air.

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Serving More Aces, Part 4

Another player who should get a serve right away is a player who just enters the game. That player hasn´t had time to get into the flow of the game, isn´t quite warmed up, and is going to have the adreneline flowing and liable to be a little nervous and slightly uptight. Hit them while all that is in your favor. Even if they´re a good passer, they´ll often miss one or two at the very beginning of their rotation.

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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.

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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.

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Reading Hitters, Part 9

A ball set off the net, but high, will usually be hit cross court. On the left side, if the hitter´s shoulder is aligned so that the ball is nearer the sideline than the hitter´s shoulder, the ball will likely be hit straight or down the line.

A spiker making a late approach will generally hit angle. They´re just concerned with salvaging some kind of attack, not with doing anything fancy at that point.

If a spiker runs underneath the ball too far, that ball will usually be hit deep in a looping fashion or something off-speed.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Becoming a Better Passer, Part 3

Talking about moving the feet as the key to good passing, let´s talk about how to get to the ideal spot. First, you need to make your judgement early as to where you´ll need to be when the ball comes down. Get there in plenty of time.

And to get you there, take small, short steps, rather than big, lanky ones. It allows you more precision, and helps you get into position more smoothly.

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Don´t Block the Setter

Don´t block the setter. It sounds obvious, but how many times do you see a 5´ 3" setter at the net, getting ready to set, and the 6´2" blocker on the other side goes up to block?

You gain nothing, and lose at least a step in getting outside to help block if you go up with the setter. Stay down and concentrate on the blasters, instead.

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Middle Blockers, Reading Setters

Middle blockers rule the net. They need to be warriors, constantly in motion, relentlessly aggressive on offense and defense.

Here´s a tip for playing tough CF:

When blocking the quick set, look where the setter is. Is she too far back to set it effectively? If so, wait, and expect a regular set, or something outside.

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The Jump Serve, Part 4

Part Four of the jump serve involves your approach. Once you´ve mastered the toss, which isn´t easy, and takes a great deal of practice, you´ll need to work on your approach.

If you´ve not a strong spiker, you probably don´t have a great approach, and you´ll need to work on that, because the approach is the same, only the location is different.

Work on your approach, normally two steps, a strong landing, big lift-off and powerful swing, before you begin your jump serving attempt.

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Spin Serve

Spin Serve

A tip for making your serve spin:

By striking the ball slightly off center you can cause it to spin in that direction.

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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.

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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.

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Effective Blocking, Part 2

After watching the pass, turn your attention to the setter, trying to pick up clues to where the set is likely to go.

If the ball is far in from of the setter, the set will usually go forward. If they try to move to a place where they can get the ball closer to the center of the head, it will likely be a back set.

Some setters have a tendency to use a jump set when setting middle.

Watch the setter throughout the game, and you´ll find you can often pick up valuable clues as to where the ball is going, even before the set is made.

Setters are human, and get into rhythms and certain body positions when they´re setting. Watch and learn your opponent´s body language. You can use that knowledge to your advantage.

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When NOT to Dive

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.

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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.

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Reading Hitters, Part 8

If the ball is set close to the net, it will usually be hit at a sharp angle and downward closer to the net than a standard set.

You´ll need to take a step or two forward, covering your blockers, because if they can´t stuff the close shot, it will come down close to the 10´ line.

There are two other reasons to move up. If your blockers can get hands on it and don´t stuff it back, the ball will be coming off at some odd angle, and you´ll need to help pop up up. Or the hitter will realize they´re going to likely be stuffed and tip just over the block, in which case you´ll need to be there to bump it back up softly.

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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.

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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.

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Reading Hitters, Part 7

Once you´ve made all your mental calculations about the flight of the ball, you´ll need to shift your attention to the hitter. Watch the hitter´s approach, where they begin, and the way they move toward the ball.

If a set is high outside, and the hitter must come at the ball from outside the sideline, the ball MUST be hit angle, since that´s the only way the ball can legally cross the net between the antennas. The farther out the hitter must go, the sharper the angle of the hit must be.

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Effective Blocking, Part 3

After the set is in the air, you must turn your attention to the hitter´s body language. Here´s four ideas on reading your attacker:

If the ball is inside the hitter´s shoulder, they will usually hit an angle shot.

If the ball passes the midline of the attacker´s body, they´re usually preparing for a line shot.

If the set is tight to the net, you´ll have to release more quickly to get your hands on the ball. The hitter will have to reach closer to the net to hit, and you´ll be able to surround the ball if you get there in time.

A set that´s off the net will likely be hit cross court, because it´s a higher percentage shot for the attacker. Remember to delay your jump a split second longer, though, when the ball is back farther, since it will take a little longer to reach the net.

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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.

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Advanced Blocking Tips

Here´s a few tips for becoming a superior blocker:

1- A shorter hitter will often have developed a wider variety of hits, including line shots.

2- The farther back a ball is set from the net, the more likely an outside hitter is to hit angle.

3- Sometimes, if you pay attention, you can "steal" signals from the opposing setter and hitter if you watch.

4- If a player has run too far underneath a ball, it´s likely to be an off-speed shot or tip.

5- Every hitter has a favorite spot. If they get lazy, they will hit that spot. Learn their favorite, and take it away from them.

6- If a CF begins edging slightly forward as the play develops, they may be getting ready for a quick set. Their body language can give them away.

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CAR Blocking

To become a great blocker, think "CAR" blocking.

Confidence, Aggressiveness, Relentlessness.

You first have to believe you can do it. Then you have to be aggressive. If you don´t go all out, many balls will dribble down in front of you. Finally, you must be relentless. You can never take a play "off." Great blockers will give everything they have to try to get a hand on every ball in their vicinity.

"CAR" blocking can make you a blocking superstar.

Reading Hitters, Part 11

As the ball is contacted by the hitter, it´s time to focus your entire energy and attention on the ball itself. The first thing you´ll need to do is FREEZE for an instant, wherever you find yourself. The moment of contact is not the time you want to be trying to get into position.

Stop wherever you find yourself and get ready to make a play. Don´t get caught in transition. Now is the time to get aggressive, and make your play, according to the flight of the ball.

Remember, if the ball is close, MAKE A PLAY FIRST, then decide if it was impossible!

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Reading Hitters, Part 3

As you see the pass go into the air, you should now turn your attention to the setter as they move to the ball. Do they have a long way to go? Is the set far off the net, will they have to back set, how many options do they have?

All these factors will have an effect on what the setter will do next.

You can also pick up clues from the setter´s body language. If they move their shoulders back, chances are, a back set will follow, for instance.

Any body clues you can pick up as the game goes on will help you gain the advantage when it comes to reading where a set will go.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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Reading Hitters, Part 2

Reading hitters is critical to becoming a great back row player. Once you´ve learned as much as you can about your opponent´s style and hitting tastes, you´re ready to watch the play unfold, always looking for clues.

First, you watch the pass, to see where it´s going. Is the ball going straight up from where the passer contacted the ball? Is it headed for center front, where the setter will have more options?

Watch the flight of the ball, and adjust accordingly.

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Humming the Ball In

A tip that will help you concentrate while passing: Try "humming the ball in." (Do this silently during game situations, otherwise folks will think you´re out of your mind. But you can practice it aloud until it becomes a habit.)

Since it´s important to watch the ball until it actually comes into contact with your arms, try humming until that contact occurs, and then, at the moment of impact, give a little grunt, "Huuh!"

It sounds crazy, and that´s why we don´t recommend you do it aloud in public, but it´s a very effective way of making sure your concentration is total when getting ready to pass.

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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.

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Serving More Aces, Part 3

If a player has just shanked a serve, they should automatically get the next serve, too ... and the next, and the next, if they don´t get one up. There´s no room for sympathy here. Make them pass; that´s what they´re in there for. And if they can´t do it, make the opposing coach sub them out. In the meantime, rack up the points for your team.

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Middle Blockers, Blocking Back Row Attacks

Middle blockers rule the net. They need to be warriors, constantly in motion, relentlessly aggressive on offense and defense.

Here´s an idea for playing tough CF:

Wait an extra 1/2 second when blocking a back row attack. And make certain you have a good chance to get it, because your block may obscure the vision of your teammates, getting ready to dig in the back row.

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Float Serving Basics, Part 5

Make sure to contact your floater dead center. If you hit it more toward the top of the ball, it will travel in a predictable arc, making it easy to pass. Hitting it too far underneath may cause it to sail out of bounds. So concentrate on the point of contact, and you´ll find your floater is more effective.

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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.

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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.

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Serving the Floater, Part 4

In an era when jump serving is all the rage, why would anyone bother to serve the floater anymore?

Here´s a 4th reason:
Once you´ve mastered the basic technique, you can experiment with different speeds, which will make your floater even more difficult to receive.

Passers get into a groove as you serve to them more and more, so you constantly need to give them a different type of serve, just like a pitcher tries different pitches to each batter.

Try to mix it up. You´ll be more effective.

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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.

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Becoming a Better Passer, Part 1

Whenever you are called upon to pass, you must first get into position, which means getting the ball between your knees, and contacting it at about zipper level.

Then, you must bend your knees. Don´t bend at the waist. Bending at the knees allows you to keep your eyes up, so you can see what´s going on.

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Middle Blocking, Part 2

Middle blockers rule the net. They need to be warriors, constantly in motion, relentlessly aggressive on offense and defense.

To be an effective CF (Center Front), you must love to work hard and be involved in every play. You´re like the shot blocker in basketball. You have to dominate the net, and make it your own, make opposing hitters think about what they´re doing, change their shots, throw off their game.

Here´s tip two for playing tough CF:

When blocking the quick set, look where the setter is. Is she too far back to set it effectively? If so, wait, and expect a regular set, or something outside.

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Middle Blocking, Part 4

Middle blockers rule the net. They need to be warriors, constantly in motion, relentlessly aggressive on offense and defense.

To be an effective CF (Center Front), you must love to work hard and be involved in every play. You´re like the shot blocker in basketball. You have to dominate the net, and make it your own, make opposing hitters think about what they´re doing, change their shots, throw off their game.

Here´s tip 4 for playing tough CF:

Wait an extra 1/2 second when blocking a back row attack. And make certain you have a good chance to get it, because your block may obscure the vision of your teammates, getting ready to dig in the back row.

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Jump Serve and a Golf Swing

Very few coaches teach players technique when it comes to a jump serve.

A jump serve is like a golf swing in that regardless of which club you use you want to use the same swing every time. Unlike a spike where there are many variables to consider before and durring the attack a good jump serve limits your variables.

It is common for a beginning player to practice variables which is O.K. but only for the initial learning phase(less than 100 swings). You should explore which approach, toss, armswing, etc feels comfortable to you before you settle on a routein.

Once you have the general feel for the skill your approach, toss, jump, armswing, tempo and contact should be the same every time. Perhaps the most important variable is the point of contact. Regardless of what else is happening if you have the same contact point every time you will have success.

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Float Serving Basics, Part 1

A simple float serving technique that can score you some aces is hitting the ball on the stem. Simply toss the ball so that your hand contacts the serve directly on the stem.

Although you won´t be able to have complete control over its action, contacting the stem makes the ball behave erratically in the air. That erratic motion makes it harder for your opponent to pass, thus scoring you more aces.

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Blocker Hand Turn

Blocker Hand Turn

How to keep blockers from getting used:

The outside blocking hand is always turned in toward the court to reduce wipe offs and force the ball back into the opponent´s count.

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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!

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Reading Hitters - Part 5

As you watch the flight of the ball for location, height and speed, you´ll pick up valuable tips on where the ball is likely to be hit.

We´ve talked about location in relation to the net. The next variable is height. If the ball is below the height of the net, it will likely be hit offspeed or tipped. Adjust accordingly. A high set gives the hitter many more options, and you´ll need to pick up more clues, body language, etc.

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Setting the Back Row, Part 2

The second thing to remember when setting your back row hitters is to do your utmost to set the ball slightlty in front of them whenever possible. This allows them to make an approach and be able to put their entire body into their hit. That will put more heat on their spike, making it harder for the opponents to play.

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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.

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Serving More Aces, Part 2

Regardless of whether you´ve seen a team or not, you can maximize your ace totals by looking for the switch on the serve receive and serving to that area. The area where the setter and another player are standing close to each other is congested, and putting your serve into that place will cause even more confusion.

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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.

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Serving More Aces, Part 1

Once you´ve become proficient at getting your serve over, and you´re able to drop your serve into a particular area, you´re ready to begin serving smart. Here´s some tips on scoring more aces with your serves:

First, if you haven´t had a chance to scout a team ahead of time, look for the biggest kid on the team and serve them. It may sound cruel, and it´s a generalization, but the fact remains that the biggest player is often the poorest passer on the team. Try them first, and see if they can get the job done. If not, keep serving them. It´ll up your ace total.

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Serving the Floater, Part 3

In an era when jump serving is all the rage, why would anyone bother to serve the floater anymore?

Here´s a 3rd reason:
Since the floater moves so slowly in the air, it´s often difficult for opponents to decide who has the ball. They have more time to think, and therefore, more time to make mistakes.

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Effective Blocking, Part 5

Here´s an effective strategy for neutralizing your opposing hitter:

Since 95% of all hitters hit mostly angle, assume that your opposing hitter will hit line ... until they prove differently. Set up your block to take away the angle and stay there until they hit a line shot.

If they finally do hit line, DON´T automatically change your blocking stance. Instead, assume that line shot was an accident, caused by a poorly contacted ball. Only if they hit line a 2nd time in a fairly short time period will you adjust your block to begin guarding the line.

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Middle Blockers, Mirror Your Opponent

To be an effective CF (Center Front), you must love to work hard and be involved in every play. You´re like the shot blocker in basketball. You have to dominate the net, and make it your own, make opposing hitters think about what they´re doing, change their shots, throw off their game.

Here´s a pointer on playing tough CF:

Play one-on-one with the opposing CF. It´s like man-to-man in basketball. If she goes up, you must up. If she moves to hit a slide, you have to go with her. Unless you know for certain she´ll be out of the play, you have to "mirror" the opposing CF.

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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.

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Middle Blocking, Part 1

Middle blockers rule the net. They need to be warriors, constantly in motion, relentlessly aggressive on offense and defense.

To be an effective CF (Center Front), you must love to work hard and be involved in every play. You´re like the shot blocker in basketball. You have to dominate the net, and make it your own, make opposing hitters think about what they´re doing, change their shots, throw off their game.

Here´s the first tip for playing tough CF:

1-Block head-to-head, but remember, the angle shot is easiest to hit, so at the lower levels of play, especially, you´ll see 90% angle hits. Shut down the angle, and then see what else your opponent can do. Many times, there´s nothing they can do, and will stop hiting. Then you own them! They´re no longer a factor.

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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.

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Passing Basics

If a ball is either too high for you to pass or off to the side when you´re in the front row and you make the decision to allow it to go past (for passing by your backrow teammate), let them know!

Talk first, then OPEN UP, which means turning to the side, rather than ducking. I´ve seen many backrow players take balls squarely in the face when their front row teammate suddenly ducks.

So if you´re going to let it go, tell your teammates, and then open up, and do both in plenty of time for them to react.

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Floater Basics

How do you serve a "floater?"

The main characteristic of a floater serve is lack of spin on the ball. You accomplish this by keeping your hand flat as you contact the serve. Don´t follow through with your wrist as you would normally do.

This will allow the ball to travel through the air with an absolute minimum of spin, making its flight hard to judge.

Remember though, you´ll need to hit the ball slightly harder, since you won´t be getting that "slingshot" effect you´d normally produce with your wrist follow through.

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Float Serving Basics, Part 4

The best spot for your float serve is deep middle, but a serve to area one can be effective, as well. Those two areas give the ball more time to make its movement, making it harder to pass.

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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.

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