Approach at an Angle
One of the easiest keys to correct for any hitter is the angle of their approach. Often times you'll see players approaching directly at the net when hitting, regardless of if it's a match situation or merely a drill. It's a common mistake for under-trained players, and one that is easily corrected. Once corrected, the hitter will find themselves having an easier time hitting, an easier time adjusting, and with the ability to diversify the angles of their shots.
If taught correctly, a player will transition or slide off the court when preparing to approach and hit. This gives them the ability to approach at an angle, regardless of quality of the set.
Basic Blocking Technique
There is a general misconception in the beginner volleyball community that the most important part of blocking is reaching high. The fact of the matter is, the most important aspect of blocking is how far your penetrate into the opponent's territory.
For this post, I am going to discuss (as simply as possible) the basics of form, technique, and positioning for "heads-up" blocking, where you are already positioned to jump straight up. "Heads-up" blocking implies 1-on-1 blocking, attacking the ball.
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.
Offspeed Attacks
Learning to vary your attacks is key to becoming a successful offensive player. Changing direction, speed, and type of attack is largely dependent upon the game situation set in front of you. For more on this theory, see my previous post on Power vs Finesse.
As previously discussed, less experienced players will learn to spike the ball at a consistent speed and power, mostly at body-line. This is the most common line for an attack and the easiest to defend. As an attacker, it is your job to move your attacks around the block and to hit the ball away from or past the defense. Changing the type of attack is vital to your success. In this post we will discuss the most common types of off-speed attacks that you can utilize to further expand your offensive repertoire.
The Jump Serve
The Jump Serve is one of the most overly glorified skills a player can learn. Used effectively, it can throw the receiving team off balance and cause them to run their first offensive posession out of system. This gives the serving team an obvious advantage in the rally, as a team out of system has less options offensively and thus is easier to defend.
I am approached by high school level players quite often, asking for advice on how to improve their jump serves, or to teach them from scratch. My response to this question is always, "Learn to float effectively and accurately to spots on the court first." However, once this skill is learned, the next question is whether or not the player uses proper attack footwork. This is essential to a consistent and effective Jump Serve.
Basic Setting Technique
Setting, sometimes referred to as an "overhead pass" is an essential technique. This is one skill that shortcuts cannot be taken in footwork, and errors are more often called by the referees. In this post we will discuss the basics of setting technique for your hands, feet, and body positioning, as well as the different in-game uses of setting.
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.
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".
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.