Bunch vs Spread Blocking
Much like there are two distinct styles of blocking footwork, there are two distinct styles of blocking formation. The Bunch Block and the Spread Block. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, and they can be altered slightly depending on game-time situations. I will try to go through the basics of each, their advantages and disadvantages, and the changes you can make depending on your game situation.
Power vs Finesse
Men's volleyball. A power game. Thundering spikes hitting the ground at lightning speed. High jumpers, strong blockers, quick attackers. This is what people first notice about the men's game as compared to the women's game.
Speak to any high school or lower level male volleyball player. They have the most fun hitting, and always swing as hard as they can trying to hit the ball straight down. There's nothing more impressive to the uneducated eye than a completely undiggable ball hit straight down.
But ask any experienced player - power is a necessity in the men's game for sure, but if it is all you know how to do you become predictable. Defenses can shift their blocking and back row players to adjust to your hitting style. This is where changing it up with the finesse game comes into play.
Inspiring a Passion
Stop by any team practice at the high school/juniors level. You will inevitably see a variety of personalities on the team from the super outgoing individuals to those who keep more to themselves and tend to be a bit more tentative. These personality differences can be a predictor of the type of player you may end up with. However, rather than the social tendencies of your players, look at the work ethic and focus on the court, and the desire they have to be playing. That passion for the game is what keeps them coming back for more.
The big question remains: How do we inspire this passion in our players?
The Middle Finger Rule
One of the most common specific skills I am asked about is how to change the direction of your hit. There are many ways to do this, and when you've approached a certain level of play you will know which to use in what situation.
As a former Middle Blocker, I had to learn how to hit both angles left and right. If I continued to hit my body-line, I would have been blocked on every attack. Changing the direction of your hits should be a priority no matter what position you attack from, but is especially important from the middle position.
Some players' natural arm swing comes across their body, so their hitting line goes cross court. Others (like myself) have a natural arm swing that finishes "wrist away" or inside-out. But no matter what your arm swing is, there are ways to change the direction of your shot. The easiest way to do this is what I call the "middle finger rule".
Natural Flow of Practice
Regardless of whether you are a coach, player or fan, you have to agree that there is a distinct flow to the game of volleyball. There is a rhythm to the game as each team transitions from offense to defense, and vice versa. There is fluidity in the players' movements on the court as they get in proper court position for what is coming next.
There is a rhythm and flow to the game, and as such, there should be a rhythm and flow to the practices you run as a coach. I am going to discuss two different kinds of practices: team practices and individual skills sessions. It doesn't matter which kind of practice you are running, as there should be a natural progression from start to finish of basic techniques to combined movements and in-game reactions. During my tenure as both a coach and a player I have taken part in many practices which run the gamut between good and bad. Hopefully this discussion will help you along your way to running a more efficient and effective practice session.
Differences in Basic Technique
Over the years I have been blessed to be able to work with a variety of coaches from both the US, Europe, and Asia. There are such varying differences between coaching philosophies, not only on technique, but the theory behind play, as well. Whether this is just a difference between coaches, or differences in coaching based on geography, I cannot say. Of course things change, when you move from different levels of play (high school freshman, compared to collegiate athletes), but there are certain things you would expect to remain the same.
The ideas behind some of the basic techniques of the game are taught differently.
Champs vs Chumps
I've always believed that the quality of a coach comes from a combination of things such as:
- Experience (coaching and playing)
- Exposure to quality coaches
- Self-study
- Ability to relate to players
- Ability to adapt
But I personally believe that the most important aspect of a coach is belief. The belief that, in time, they can improve any player.
I've recently been exposed to a coach that I will refer to as "he who cannot be named". He might end up being a recurring theme on this blog as an example of what not to do as a coach of high school players. Within a private conversation with him after a high school practice, he muttered a comment to me that he found particularly humorous, and I found to be particularly heinous.
Disagreements in Philosophy
I've been both playing and coaching the sport of volleyball for a number of years at a variety of different levels. For any of you who may have played for or worked with different coaches throughout your careers you can all agree that there are always different philosophies behind coaching. From the technical aspects of the game, to defensive and offensive theory, coaches all have different methods of conveying their knowledge and teaching their players.
And so we start from the beginning - that is the beginning of learning this great sport we call volleyball - and this is where I tend to disagree with some coaches.