108 Coaching Youth Volleyball

Error Detection and Correction

for Transitioning to Attack
ERROR A ball dug by the setter does not get set.
CORRECTION The setter, after digging the attack, is not eligible to
make the second contact or set; in this situation, the player in the
right-front position assumes the setting role.

Opening Up
A common error in playing team defense is that players stand around
without communicating to one another when a ball comes between
them. Attacks or serves hit the floor, and the players blame one another
for not playing the ball. As we have suggested earlier, players should
practice calling, “Mine!” any time the ball is hit to them. Players can
also communicate with teammates through body language by opening
up (turning or pivoting as a ball is approaching) to signify to team-
mates that they are not playing the ball. Instead, they turn to watch a
teammate hit the ball.

Individual Skills
Volleyball requires skills of mobility, balance, and jumping. This sec-
tion will help you guide players in developing skills so that they can
enjoy playing at any level. We’ll emphasize these skills:
 Hitting
 Overhead passing
 Forearm passing
 Serving
 Serve-receiving
 Digging
 Blocking
 Pursuing and saving

Hitting
Pass, set, spike! Spiking a ball is one of the most thrilling plays at
all levels. Once your players have the skills to set up a teammate
 Tactics and Skills 109

for an attack, they will enjoy the excitement that great team play
generates.
The attack is a general term used to describe how the ball is played
over the net. The hit, or spike, is the primary skill used to attack the
ball. A team that develops a strong attack will have opportunities to
score points more readily.

Ready Position for Hitting

The ready position for an attack approach is slightly different from other
ready positions. The spiker must turn and run back several steps from
the net to have room for an approach to hit the ball explosively. The
attacker should be standing in a relaxed position with arms comfort-
ably at the sides. She should be at the side of the court, about 8 to 12 feet
back off the net, waiting for the set (see figure 8.29).

Figure 8.29 Ready position for the

attack (hit).
110 Coaching Youth Volleyball

The Approach
The most common attack approach is a four-step pattern. Left-handed
players start step one with the left foot; right-handers begin with the
right foot (see figure 8.30a). A player needs an explosive movement
from step two to step three to set up the quick foot plant into the jump
(see figures 8.30b and c).

b
a

c d
Figure 8.30 Proper technique for the attack approach.
 Tactics and Skills 111

The arms extend and swing straight back as high as possible on the
third step. As the fourth (closure) step begins, the arms drive forward
in a full sweeping motion to help drive the player off the ground to
attack the ball (see figure 8.30d).

Body Position and Contact

In contacting the ball, think of the arm as a whip and the hand as the tip
of that whip. The snap of the whip begins in the shoulder. The elbow of
the hitting hand should be drawn back high and away from the shoul-
der (see figure 8.31a).
As contact is made, the hand should be firm and open, hitting the top
half of the ball with the palm (see figure 8.31b).
Follow through quickly. In the follow-through, the arm should remain
on the same side of the body (not crossing over the body), finishing

a b
Figure 8.31 Proper technique for the attack contact.
112 Coaching Youth Volleyball

behind the hitting-side leg. Remind your players that they will get a
penalty for touching the net with any part of the body.

Various Types of Hits

The ball can be attacked in different ways. Each can be effective in scor-
ing points. Usually, the harder the ball is hit, the less time opponents
have to return the attack. However, teams can use other types of at-
tacks with great success to keep opponents off balance. The following
attacks are used in various game situations.
Hard-Driven Spike. This refers to a ball hit forcefully down into the
opponent’s court. The player contacts the ball with the heel of an open
hand cutting into the center back. At contact, she forcibly snaps her
wrist and drops her arm toward her waist. The wrist snap imparts top-
spin, causing the ball to drop quickly to the floor.
Off-Speed Spike. An off-speed spike is a controlled placement of the
ball to an open space. It’s performed with the palm of the hand with the
same motion as a hard-driven spike, but instead of following through,
the player slows or stops the arm and slows the wrist snap. The at-
tacker may take a full swing but then let up and hit the ball softly to an
open area.
Standing Spike. A standing spike, also called a down ball, is an attack
used from a standing position to place the ball into the opponent’s court.
A player who doesn’t have time for an approach or jump can hit a stand-
ing spike.
Open-Handed Tip. The open-handed tip is executed by gently directing
the ball with the upper two joints of the fingers of the hitting hand,
slightly in front of the hitting shoulder at full arm extension. The player
contacts the ball slightly below the center back, directing the ball to
barely clear the block and to drop quickly to the floor (see figure 8.32a-c).

Error Detection and Correction for Tipping

ERROR The ball goes into the net on a tip.
CORRECTION The player should contact the ball just in front of his
hitting shoulder; the greater the distance the ball is in front of
him, the lower it drops before contact and the greater the chance
of its being hit into the net.
 Tactics and Skills 113

c
Figure 8.32 Proper technique for the open-handed tip.

Error Detection and Correction for Attacking

ERROR A player repeatedly hits the ball out of bounds or into the
net. The player seems to lack body control.
CORRECTION The player must contact the ball at the peak of the
jump. Check the approach and timing of the jump. Walk through
the approach with your player. Remind him to watch the set to be
able to judge when to approach for the hit. Have each player
show you his arm swing from a standing position. Check that the
elbow is away from the body and the palm of the hand is making
good, solid contact on the ball. Emphasize speed over accuracy
in the player’s approach and arm swing. A player who both
approaches and swings quickly will feel confident in learning the
skill of attacking, even if the ball travels far out of the playing area.