Basic Attack Timing/Adjusting
For beginning volleyball players one of the hardest things to learn is proper attack timing (and adjusting their approach accordingly.)
Actually, let me rephrase that statement -- For beginning many volleyball players one of the hardest things to learn is proper attack timing.
And as such, I figure I might as well jot down a few quick tips that could help if you are having problems with hit timing and adjusting to sets.
One note: This advice is relying on the fact that you have learned a proper 4-step approach for an OH/Opposite, or 3-step approach as a Middle. I will be going through timing tips for a few different types of the most common sets.
Outside Set Timing
(The "hut", "4", "14", "red", "5", "9")
- Your first step (right foot as a righty, left foot as a lefty) should be on setter's contact with the ball. This will provide you with enough time to read the set's trajectory and accelerate to the ball in your approach.
(The "shoot" set)
- Your second step (left foot as a righty, right foot as a lefty) should be on setter contact, and you should accelerate and approach just inside of the antenna. Your responsibility is to be in the air, the setter's responsibility is to place the ball within your hitting zone.
Middle Set Timing
(The "2", "32", "stack set")
- Your first step (using a 3 step middle approach) should be on setter's contact. This would be equivalent to your second step for an outside approach (as in opposite foot to your dominant hand. Left foot as righty, right foot as lefty.)
(The "1", "quick", "a-quick", "31", "b-quick", "back one")
- Much like the "shoot" set, you should be in the air waiting for the setter to place the ball within your hitting zone. Your job is to follow the trajectory of the pass and beat the ball to the setter. Jump just before the setter's contact and right as the ball is within your hitting zone, swing.
General Tips:
- When transitioning off the net (as an OH/Opp), remember to get as far back and off the court as possible. This allows you to adjust your approach in order to continue accelerating forward to balls that may be set too far off the net or outside the antenna.
- When transitioning as a middle, you must be quick and get far enough beyond the 10-ft line so that your first step will be on the 10-ft line.
- Regardless of position, when you approach you should always be accelerating to the ball. If you have to decelerate or stop your approach it means your timing was way off. Your first step should be the slowest in order to read the trajectory of the set.
- Also regardless of your position, you want to keep your body behind the ball. Hitting the ball behind or too far above your head changes your contact point. Generally this will mean hitting the ball upwards or flat, rather than with a downward trajectory. (You might even just whiff on the set if you're too far in front, and your timing is off. Talk about embarrassing.)
Hopefully these tips help you. Quite frankly, these are things you should have been taught in your first season as a player, but not everybody is blessed with 1) good coaching, or 2) the opportunity to play under coaching.