Confessions of a VolleyNut Musings, observations and opinionations on the sport of volleyball

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.

1. While the Gold Medal Squared methodology emphasizes use of the arms to pass and steer the ball with an underarm pass, the European coaches I've worked with emphasized a solid arm platform, and passing with your legs.
   - As a player and a coach, I use/teach a blend of these two theories. It is true that your arms/hands are better with fine muscle control than your legs so I prefer using arms to steer the ball (or more accurately the shoulders and arms). However, I hold a firm belief in using your legs as much as possible to take the ball at the lowest point, giving you additional time to adjust. This is especially true on short serves and tips that you must control and keep on your side of the net.
2. On serve receive, the Gold Medal Squared methodology emphasizes shuffling behind the ball, mid-lining it on your body, low arm angles, and a solid passing platform with very little arm movement. The European coaches I have worked with emphasized shuffling around the side of the ball, taking off of one foot, and absorbing the impact of the serve. This goes for both float serves and topspin/jumps. It seems illogical, but watching some of the Scottish junior national team players do it...it seems to work perfectly for them. And I've taken it into my passing repertoire as well (though only used on occasion).
   - I have used both forms of serve receive technique. It all depends on the type of serve and the placement. As a player initially trained on the Gold Medal Squared methodology I put a lot of effort into getting my body in good position to take the ball on the center-line of my body and to use as little arm-movement as possible. However, some situations arise where a serve may come too fast, or the serve may have some movement, that requires adjustments. It is not inappropriate to take serves outside your body line if it is the only way to pass the ball.
3. To get ready to play defense, Gold Medal Squared says to split-step as you see the opponent is getting ready to hit/serve the ball. The German coaches I have worked with say to split just as they are about to contact the ball.
   - On serve receive, as a player, I seemingly split step twice. Once when the server tosses the ball to get my hands off my knees and get on the balls of my feet with my weight forward. The second split step is more of a weight bounce on my feet to allow myself the ability to move in any direction immediately.
4. Your ready position on defense with the HS coaches I have worked with is to have your arms straight out, ready to dig with your arms. Your defensive ready position with the German coaches I've worked with is to have your arms out to your sides, ready to dig both high and low. Both emphasize being on your toes with your weight going forward.
   - Either method works, as they require the player to react quickly to a ball coming up high. As a player, I vary my arm ready position depending on where I am on the floor for defense. In the middle back my ready position is with my arms out front. When I am in the 2x2 position (back left or back right) my arms are out front on a cross court attack, but my hands are up on a line or middle attack because I play a short defense. This is more of a comfort thing for me as a player, as I play rather short defensively in order to be able to cover tips as well. This will vary depending on the player, I don't believe in one method being superior to the other.
5. Blocking is taught largely the same, with reaching high and into enemy territory (penetration), but the German coaches put a larger emphasis on "wrapping" the ball (pushing it downwards on contact with the hit). Also with the German coaches there is a larger emphasis on blocking in general in order to win matches, whereas my high-school coaches see blocking as secondary and largely existing to just provide a block shadow.
   - This will depend on the level of play. At lower levels against teams without strong hitters, the block at the net is more to help the back-row defense with their court positioning. Against higher level attackers, blocking will play a larger role in the match. Blocking form remains the same, arms straight with fingers spread wide. Arms not more than a ball's width apart penetrating across the net into opponent's territory. Turn the ball back into the court on contact. Reach up and into your penetration rather than swinging your arms down towards the net to avoid net fouls.
6. Hitting from middles (running quick sets) is taught on different timing as well. With my high school coaches you're always taught to jump, pause, swing. With the German coaches, its JUMPSWING. Almost instantaneous, and that's what keeps the quick set effective - by being quick. If you have to jump and pause you lose some explosive power.
   - This again is largely dependent on the level of play. This is where I often differentiate what I call a high-school-one versus a true quick-set. Generally the higher level of play allows for more physical players who are more explosive in their jumps. This allows for the attackers to leave the ground sooner and truly speed up play. Depending on the players involve they may or may not require the MB to hang in the air forming a window for the setter to place the ball. Setters will need to learn the pace of their hitters in order to properly adjust their height and speed of sets.

Quite obviously this isn't everything involved - but rather a short and off-the-top-of-my-head list. I will go in more detail on specific form and technique in other posts.