Watching a fundamentally strong volleyball team move and transition from offense to defense and defense to offense is probably the most rewarding experience you can receive as a coach. This “ballet” of movement doesn’t happen in a game, but suddenly, at some point in the season, you’ll be sitting on the bench watching your team play and, for reasons unknown, find yourself relaxed with a big smile on your face. . . “Eureka,” you silently yell, “they get it!” The countless hours in practice have paid off. So how do you get to this point with a group of young players who may have never played a game of volleyball in their lives?
The process is cumulative, each piece you explain and map out for your players will build on the previous piece. You can teach this in steps and then carry each step into a final total exercise. Here is how to divide the pieces learning.
1. The transition from the offense to the “base” defense. (The offensive lineup will not be covered in this article. The focus is on the defensive lineup on the front and back rows.)
2. Going from “base” defense to preparing to dig the opponents attack.
3. Positioning and reading of the opponent’s attack
The first step in teaching young players defensive positions is getting them to understand where they need to position themselves on the court to start playing defense. Use the word “transition” as you guide your players through their moves from attack to defense. Have your team of 6 execute an offensive attack: stop, set, finish. As this play is completed, the players should be gathered close to the batter, preparing to dig a blocked shot. As soon as the ball has gone over the net, the 6 players must rush (RUN!) to their “basic” defensive positions.
The basic defensive position is as follows: Front row players line up facing the net, arms raised to shoulder height. The center forward player is in the middle of the court at the net. The players on the right and left sides are about 10 feet from the middle player on each side. The three front row players must be ready to block the opponent’s attack. Front row players should be between a foot and a foot and a half outside the net. A good rule of thumb is for players to stand close to the net with their arms at their sides. Now, raise your arms, bending at the elbow to form a 90 degree angle at the elbow. Players’ fingertips must not touch the bottom of the net when lifting it. For young players, some of them may not be tall enough to block; however, just facing the attacking player and jumping can be distracting. This also prepares your players, as they mature and grow, to position themselves appropriately. As the front row players line up at the net, the back row players rush (RUN!) to take up their positions. Middle back players are 5 feet from the baseline in the middle of the court, right and left back players are positioned 3 to 4 feet from the sidelines and 2 to 3 feet behind the line of attack (10 foot line). Back row players form a triangle and should be in their “ready stances” (knees bent over toes, upper body bent so shoulders are over knees, arms hanging freely) facing towards the net and watching what the opponents do. They are ready to move and respond.
To practice this transition with the team, have 6 players perform a hit, snap, and spike sequence. As soon as the spike goes over the net, the players must rush into their basic defensive positions. If it is an inexperienced team, put the players in their offensive positions, then the coach hits the ball over the net, simulating the side attack with the players. As soon as the coach’s ball goes over the net, the players rush to their basic defensive positions. Run this drill many times, make sure ALL players on the team have a chance to transition. The more times you work on this, the more automatic and remembered the positions become. You must rotate players into each of the 6 positions on the court. This ensures that all players know where to go wherever they are on the pitch.
The second step is to have your players adjust from their “basic” defensive positions and react from where opponents will attack the ball. It’s called reading the opponent’s attack. Based on which of the opponent’s hitters will attack the ball, your defensive players get into position to be ready to dig the attack. The defensive front row players move to block (one outside and center player) and the other front row player comes down from the net near the attacking line to pick up dinks and roll shots aimed at the corner. The outside back who is directly behind the attack shuffles a couple of steps back and toward the sideline. This player’s job is to protect the “line” attack and pick up any hits on blockers. The center back moves to the diagonal corner to perform the cross attack. The other outside back player (diagonal to the attacker) moves into position directly in line with their blocker’s inside shoulder, about 20 feet from the net (10 feet from the line of attack). All the players on the back line get very low to drive the spike.
This defensive move can be most easily learned through repetition. In practice, have the team transition from offense to “base” defense, and then dig up attacks from different areas. Tell them where the attack is coming from and make sure they all move and get to your position. As the players learn their positions, you can start hitting balls and simulate attacking.
Good luck and great digging!!