Technical Specs for Evaluating a VB Program’s Progress

The key technique points and cues used by are based upon a solid philosophical foundation which includes: 1.  Repeatability – Consistency of actions 2.  Reduce Variance – Consistency of results by decreasing the range of error 3.  Manage Risk – Reduce errors by making good decisions.  Don’t try to go from bad to great – just go from bad to good. 

Consistency, of actions and results, is best achieved through mechanically sound and efficient technique.   All unnecessary movements should be eliminated.  “Less is more, simple is best.”  Learning to make good decisions (managing risk) should be incorporated into the teaching process. 

We’re not good enough.  None of us, athletes and coaches alike.  Yet.  YET! We must dedicate ourselves to learning, improving, and honing every detail of our game—every day, every drill, every contact.  If we are to risk the status we have today, we WILL improve for tomorrow. 

We know we will inevitably face challenges in competition – we must prepare ourselves relentlessly for those hurdles.  It means paying attention and discipline in everything, small and large.   This will make us a better program now, next year, and four years from now.   It means we can play confident and free, because we’ve done the work and earned that right. 

Resilience in the face of trouble/adversity is a requirement for great accomplishment.  No great victory, no State appearance happens without fighting adversity – these are the situations when weaker teams think, “Why today?  Why is this happening to us?” There is so much we can’t control, but there’s one thing we can ALWAYS control: our reaction to what happens around us.  We want to revel and enjoy the adversity and the thrill of overcoming it.   We want to all say “Bring us more!”

Here’s a scary thought: We can do everything right and still lose. 

But with that noted, our work ethic will let us control the odds – we can maximize our chances of winning the next play.  If we do that over and over, we are competing, and good things come from competing.   The tougher we battle in our own gym, the harder we compete when we are training, the tougher we will battle against opponents.  United, our power comes not from talent—it comes from playing FOR each other, in being responsible for one another, in trusting one another –especially when the going gets tough.  We can’t be tough alone, we’re only tough together.  Players who elevate the play of those around them, who make the team perform better when they step on the court, are essential for our team. 

SETTING/HITTING

TERMINOLOGY

In terms of timing sets, you will see the timing is measured in steps.  The step is how many steps into a four-step approach the hitter should be when the setter begins setting the ball.  (The step for a three-step approach will be put in parentheses for clarity!)

                        SET NAME: SET DESCRIPTION

LEFT SIDE             GO:     2^nd step (1^st with 3-step), set height should be top of the antenna, should be kept 3 feet off the net.

            HUT:   1^st step (after ball has left setter’s hand w/3-step approach), used if setter is near/beyond the 10-foot line.  Setter should keep the ball 5-feet off the net.

            HIGH: As high as possible without a ball-handling error, should be 5-10 feet off the net.  Hitter will take whatever approach they can in order to take a swing or hit a downball.

For all sets, the hitter should be able to jump, take a full armswing, andnot hit the net.  It is ALWAYS better to set the ball too far off the net than too tight.

MIDDLE

GAP:  Last step (Last with 3-step).  The set always goes to the midpoint between the base position of the opposing right-side and middle blockers.

1:         Last step (Last with 3-step).  Ideally, the hitter will jump BEFORE the ball is set if possible.  This ball is set directly in front of the setter’s location when the ball is set, no higher than 18” above the net.  Ball will be set 2-3 feet off the net.

 BOY:   Last step (Last with 3-step). This ball is set directly behind the setter’s location when the ball is set, no higher than 19” above the net.  Ball will be set 2-3 feet off the net.

SLIDE: 2^nd step (1^st with 3-step).  Ball is backset 3-5 feet off the net, just short of the right-side antenna regardless of where the setter is standing when setting.  Ball should not fly much higher than the top of the antenna.

For all sets, the hitter should jump where she can take a full armswingwithout hitting the net.  It is ALWAYS better to set the ball too far off the net than too tight

LEFT OR MIDDLE

    RIP:     2^nd step (1^st with 3-step).  This is usually called a “31.”  Ball should not be set more than 18” higher than the net.  Setter should not slow the ball for the hitter—it is the hitter’s responsibility to go at the proper speed.  Set should be kept 2-3 feet off the net.

The RIP can be hit by either the outside hitter or the middle.  The setter must make it clear who is hitting the RIP before the official blows the whistle.

RIGHT SIDE

  BOY:   Last step (Last with 3-step). This ball is set directly behind the setter’s location when the ball is set, no higher than 19” above the net.  Ball will be set 2-3 feet off the net.

 RED:   2^nd step (1^st with 3-step).  Ball is backset 3-5 feet off the net, just short of the right-side antenna regardless of where the setter is standing when setting.  Ball should not fly much higher than the top of the antenna.

TWO:  2^nd step (1^st with 3-step).  In front of the setter to the middle of the court, set to the height of the antenna.  Also referred to as a ‘cross’ if hit by the right-side                                   T

The RED is the exact same set as the SLIDE, but it is (obviously) hit from a different angle.

BACKROW A:   2^nd step (1^st with 3-step).  Ball should be set 15-ft high (height of a basketball backboard).  Ball should be set just in front of the 10-ft line.  Hitter should jump 1-2 feet behind the line (it is okay to land in front of it) B:  2^nd step (1^st with 3-step).  Ball should be set 15-ft high (height of a basketball backboard).  Ball should be set just in front of the 10-ft line.  Hitter should jump 1-2 feet behind the line (it is okay to land in front of it) C:  2^nd step (1^st with 3-step).  Ball should be set 15-ft high (height of a basketball backboard).  Ball should be set just in front of the 10-ft line.  Hitter should jump 1-2 feet behind the line (it is okay to land in front of it)

Back row attacks are never a primary option.  They should be used only if the setter is worried she is unable to get the ball to a front-row hitter.  The“B” is the one which should be set most often of these three.

OFFENSIVE PRINCIPLES:

• OODA – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act.

• For success, the team must be able to score when receiving serve. Ideally this will be via First-Ball Side Out

  • Even without a FBSO, our offense can be successful if we keep the opponent with only one option available for their setter.

• Speed is our friend. A faster tempo makes it harder for the opponent to consistently block.

• It is better to hit a decent ball in-bounds than try a perfect shot and hit it out of bounds.

• Hitters will be successful if we create opportunities

  • Spread out hitters so that it is difficult for the MH to make a successful double-block.

  • Cram one zone on the court with hitters, so that the blockers cannot possibly guess which hitter is getting the ball

OUT OF SYSTEM OFFENSE PRINCIPLES:

• Communication leads to effectiveness. Don’t force the setter to guess who is available to hit.

• If you can’t get a good, aggressive swing, find the setter and make the setter play the first ball/take the opponent out-of-system immediately.

  • Know where the primary passer is for the opponent. Avoid that person if hitting it at the setter is impossible.

• Be loud/take an approach…try and freeze a blocker with you to take them out of the defense

• Make sure to cover the hitter quickly.

OFFENSE IN TRANSITION:

• Hitters must get off net quickly to take full approaches

• Hitters must communicate immediately what they are hitting

  • Freeball plays should be set up in advance

• Transition offense lets us dictate events. We get to act rather than react.

SKILL CUES:

Serve-Receive General Principles:

• Keep the ball off the net–the net is not your friend

• Don’t move to a ball until you’re sure where it is going

• Communicate who is covering each seam before the serve takes place

• Have a pre-serve routine for your passing, the same as if you were a server

Serve-Receive Forearm Passing:

• Ready Position Before the Serve

  • Arms down, elbows straight/relaxed

  • Face the server, not straight ahead

• Serve-Receive

  • Shuffle to the ball, balanced on contact

  • Use your arms–they can get where your body can’t

  • Arms straight throughout

  • Track the ball, read it–short, deep, speed?

  • Angle the platform to the target

  • Hold the platform after the pass

  • If it is deep, face where it is going/pass outside your body.

Overhead Serve-Receive:

• Ready position before the serve

  • Arms down, elbows straight/relaxed

  • Face the server

• Serve-Receive

  • Read/track the ball–commit to playing it overhand ASAP

  • Strong hands, stiff fingers

  • Chest further forward than knees

  • Body/hands need to extend to target, not just upwards as set is completed

Setting:

• Before the Pass

  • Communicate before the play

  • Make sure hitters know they must communicate with you during transition

  • Read where the pass is going quickly–this will determine how effective the offense can be.

  • Beat the ball to the spot; do not settle for getting there simultaneously and settling for keeping it in play.

• After the Pass

  • Pushing off from the ground provides power

  • Make sure you are squared up, have the ball in line with your midline

  • Finish moving with left-right steps

  • Finish the set using proper posture–hold it if necessary to make sure of this

  • Power should not come from the wrists; this leads to inconsistent sets

  • If forced to set from one foot, use the other leg to maintain balance while setting

Attacking:

• Applicable to all attacks

  • Approach gets faster, steps get bigger–whether 3 or 4 step approach

  • Arms relaxed, use like a whip

  • If there’s a hole/no block, hammer it. Otherwise, use high hands, tool the block.

  • Coil as preparing, uncoil when hitting

  • Use your hips to generate torque–face the setter to hit, land facing opponent

• Middle Quick Attacks

  • See the serve, evaluate the pass, find the setter

    • Coming off the net, turn in the direction the ball went

  • Be ready/available on EVERYTHING POSSIBLE

  • Be able to attack with 1, 2, 3, and 4 step approaches

  • Call what you are hitting at least three times (whether it is the set type or just that you are there)

  • (as per Jim Stone) Priority is to get off the net to 10ft line, then get to middle of the court.

• OH and RS Transition Footwork

  • See the pass and know where it is going–and how far you are from where the set will be made

  • Be fast with transition–either from foot speed or reading the play as it develops

General Serving Principles:

• Make sure the opponent’s offensive options are limited. Aces are nice but not necessary if they lead to careless errors.

• Focus on the serve–not what happened on the last point, not on your next responsibility…only the serve.

• Be ‘game-aware’. If the opponent is struggling, don’t make a needless error. Have a feel for which passers are struggling. Know which zones you are hitting well and which you are not.

• Servers should be able to serve each third of the court aggressively at all times.

Serving:

• Before the Serve

  • Relax!! You have eight seconds. Use them if you need to.

  • Say to yourself “I’m in control. I’ve got this.” YOU control the ball and only you.

  • Have a repeatable pre-serve routine.

• FLOAT SERVES

  • Stiff hand

  • Follow through fully–after ball is struck, either your index finger or middle finger should be facing the intended target.

• TOP SPIN SERVES

  • Consider your hitting cues

  • Extended arm on the toss

    • Preferred toss with hitting hand, so ball is more likely to line up with hitting approach/armswing direction

BLOCKING PRINCIPLES:

• You jump with the intent of scoring/ending the play.

• The type of blocking footwork is irrevelant. Do what is necessary to be up at the right place, right time.

• More blockers are more likely to score blocks. We want to avoid single blocks.

• Communicate the anticipated attack, whether we are blocking line or cross.

• The outsides set the location. The middle’s job is to get to the outside blocker.

• Read the play–don’t guess.

BLOCKING TECHNIQUE:

• Coiled before jumping

• Hands must be across the net AS THE HITTER CONTACTS THE BALL

• “Push to 6”–don’t turn hands to face the outside hitter–easier to tool you out of bounds for a cheap kill

• USE YOUR EYES

  • See the pass (evaluate it).

    • If an overpass–switch to transition

  • If not an overpass, find the setter

    • See the hand? Is the ball going to be dumped or set?

  • As the ball is set, find the hitter.

    • Take away the shot most likely to be hit hard.

• MOVEMENT

  • Use whatever movement (shuffle, crossover, run) gets you to the point of attack the quickest.

  • When jumping, have your hands at a height where you will be able to have them over the net at the proper moment.

• HANDS

  • Do not swat at the ball. This leads to net violations

  • Try and have your hands facing Zone 6

    • Harder to tool for points

    • Directs ball away from hitter and/or setter–forces the rest of that team to be fully committed to communicating and in position to cover.

DEFENSE

• DIGGING CUES

  • Stay balanced.

    • Shoulders in front of knees; knees in front of toes.

    • Both feet should be on the floor when hitter contacts ball

      • EXCEPTION: If the defender has read the hitter (correctly) and is moving to intercept an attack

  • Square your feet to the ball’s location.

    • If the setter is playing the ball, toes should be facing the setter

    • Once the ball is set, feet should adjust to face the point where the ball will be contacted.

  • Palms up–so that your platform surface is ready

  • Arms outside your body–so that on a deflect ball/one hit exceptionally hard, there’s the opportunity for a one-hand dig

  • Stay on your feet

    • According to Mike Hebert, only 1 in 100 plays requires going to the floor/diving.

      • Karch Kiraly corollary: ‘Belly before butt’. If you have to dive, you are moving forward–finishing your move, your belly should hit the floor before your rear.

• READING CUES

  • Try not to move your head–makes perception more difficult. Use eye movement.

  • Quick OODA (Observe, orient, decide, act)

  • Don’t watch the previous contact–as soon as ball is contacted, look to the next contact

  • Back Row needs to be able to tell where the block will line up/is there a hole?

• BLOCKING CUES

  • Always start coiled/balanced

  • Timing–be above the net at the time of the hitter contacting the ball

  • Keep your hands inside your shoulders–don’t reach outside your torso

  • 
    

WHAT STATE TAKES The standards here are where we want to be, not necessarily where we are now.  They are meant for varsity players to achieve—and they are the goal for improvement for athletes on the JV and Fresh-Soph squads.  SETTERS

*Offense

1. We want a KEFF% of .400 on S/R passes that are ‘2’ or ‘3’ quality.

2. We want a KEFF% .200 on S/R passes that are ‘1’ quality.

3. In transition, we want to hit .250.

*Defense

1. Setters must be able to dig 50% of balls hit to their area. 2. Setters should be able to dig 75% of tips to their area.

*Blocking

1. Front row setters should generate digs from their block or score points with their block more often than the hitter scores by tooling their block.

MIDDLES

 *Offense

1. On a perfect S/R pass, we want kills on 66% of attempts. 2. In transition, we want a KEFF% of .300.

*Blocking

1. Middles should get 5 good touches on balls for every 3 times they are tooled/the opponent scores off of their block.

 *Defense

1. Middles should be able to pass 33% of balls hit to them as 2 or 3 quality passes.

2. Middles should be able to pass 50% of balls in their area well enough to make a successful second contact.

*Setting

1. Middles must be able to set a hittable ball 80% of the time.

2. Middles setting should have no more than 1 BHE per 10 sets.

3. 
   

OUTSIDE HITTERS (left or right side)

 *Serve-Receive

1. Be able to pass 66% of balls to the setter as ‘2’ or ‘3’ quality passes.

2. Make sure 90% (9 of 10) of passes are kept in play. [Remember, #s are geared for HS players]

*Offense

1. On a 2- or 3-quality pass, we want kills at least 40% of the time.

2. On a 1-quality pass, we want kills 20% of the time.

3. Back row attacks should be kept in play 80% of the time.

*Defense

1. Be able to dig 50% of balls hit to their area.

2. Be able to dig 75% of tips hit to their area.

*Blocking

1. Outside hitters should generate digs from their block or score pointwith their block more often than the hitter scores by tooling the block.

*Setting

1. Left-side hitters must be able to set a hittable ball 80% of the time.

2. Left-sides setting should have no more than 1 BHE per 10 setting attempts

3. Right-side hitters must be able to set a hittable ball 90% of the time.

4. Right-sides setting should have no more than 1 BHE per 15 setting attempts

LIBEROS

*Serve-Receive

1. Be able to pass 75% of balls to the setter as ‘2’ or ‘3’ quality passes.

2. Make sure 95% (19 of 20) passes is kept in play.

*Defense

1. Be able to dig 60% of balls hit to their area.

2. Be able to play 80% of tips hit to their area.

*Setting

1. Liberos must be able to set a hittable ball 90% of the time.

2. Liberos should have no more than 1 BHE per 15 setting attempts.

SERVING (all positions)

1. Our serves must put pressure on our opponent 55% of the time.

   • This means they are out of system at least 5 of every 9 serves.

2. We want 3 aces for every 2 service errors

   • This stat requires context and depends on the quality of opponents being played.

DEVELOPMENTAL BENCHMARKS BY GRADE/AGE LEVEL

7th Grade (12-13u)

• Understand proper volleyball etiquette and sportsmanship.

• Fundamentals of teamwork—and cooperation with people who are and are NOT social friends.

• Knowledge of each position’s name and responsibility.

• Knowledge of certain technical terms for using skills (forearm pass, etc) and systems (4-2, 6-2, rotation, middle-middle, etc)

• Ability to explain and demonstrate how the skills/systems work.

• Develop fundamental skills of the sport

• Making each skill repetition look the same as the previous one

• Pass: Thumbs together, angled to the target, pass in a specific direction

• Set: Superman, left-right, able to use on freeballs and high sets to hitters

• Hit: Downballs, serves, hitting approach

• Block: Hand position, lateral movement, single and two-person blocks

• Movement: Shuffle, crossover, run-thru, hitting transition

• Learn on-court communication (what to say, when to say it)

• Basic understanding of respecting the body—proper conditioning, eating, and sleep to enhance athletic (and academic performance)

• Establish the tradition of excellence and expectation individually and as a team in academics, sportsmanship, and team relationships

• Gain the knowledge that mistakes are okay—part of the learning process

8th Grade (13-14u)

• Continue to build on all fundamental foundations established up to this point

• Knowledge of more advanced terms such as ‘quick-set’ and the offensive numbering system used at the HS level.

• Fundamental development

• Pass: Passing outside the body’s core, controlling a ball with one-hand

• Set: Consistent back sets, quick sets, overhand digging of attacks

• Hit: Quick sets, back-row attacks, Zone 1/hitting to specific spots

• Block: Reading tip or hit, adjusting block depending on court position, introduction of 3-man block

• Movement: Performing skills while moving, improving balance

• Mastery of understanding 4-2, 6-2, 5-1 and demonstrate how each works.

• Understanding rotation, perimeter, and middle-middle defenses.

• Reinforce the idea mistakes lead to eventual success.

• Improved independent action (coach feedback is not always required when performing skills)

Fresh-Soph (14-16u)

• Continue to build on all fundamental foundations established up to this point

• Develop the concept of ‘self-initiative’ for improvement rather than relying on external feedback.

• Advanced skill refinement and introduction (quick outside/back sets, jump serving)

• Develop aggressiveness even when making mistakes.

• Learn why Zone 6 should be avoided for serving/hitting

• Begin learning to read opposing hitters

• (Freshmen only) Gain confidence working through the transition from Jr High to High School

JV (14-17u)

• Continue to build on all fundamental foundations established up to this point

• Driving personal ambition to improve and become an asset to the Varsity team

• Mastery of the understanding of roles within a team—star, starter, role-player, deep bench.

• Work towards independent play without requiring coach prompting or feedback as play goes on.

• Understand when it is the point to be aggressive and when it is better to ‘play smart’

• Competence at covering hitters

Varsity (14-18u)

• Continue to build on all fundamental foundations established up to this point

• Hitters must be able to hit line and cross-court.

• Front row players must be able to transition quickly, know when to block or leave the net.

• Servers must have an aggressive serve AND a conservative one.

• Setters must be able to set quick front/middle/back.  All players must be able to set to the outside.

• The back row must be able to move/read whether it is a hit or tip.

• Understand game strategy

• Identify opponent actions before they happen

  • Where are they setting?

  • Who is their best performer?

  • Are they hitting, tipping, giving a freeball?