Thursday, January 29, 2015

Volleyball Highlight Video Commentary

I came across this video today on youtube. It is a top ten video of volleyball sets. I've seen a lot of these kinds of highlight videos over the years. Some are better than others. I've seen some of these particular clips before. They are some great plays, but there is something going on in all of these that younger players could learn from (and some older ones for that matter).

Before I mention what that lesson is, let's look at what happens in the clips:

10. Middle blocker sets the outside from the back row.

This is the middle's serving rotation, and he is assuming the on court responsibilities of the libero until the other team sides out. The video doesn't show the full rally, but the setter was likely the first touch, or the dig went to short in zone 5.

9. Setter with a one hand set to the opposite on a pass going over net.

Here a setter is jumping for the one hand set to prevent the ball going over the net on the pass. The blockers jump with the setter, leaving the opposite with an open net. The setter is back row, so the blockers should be jumping to attack, not block. They should be.

8. Set with the foot to save a ball going way out of bounds.

Playing with the foot is legal, but rarely a good idea, or necessary. In almost every case the player would be able to make a better play with his hands. This might be one of the few exceptions.

7. Middle setting the outside on an overpass.

I really like this one. The blockers on an overpass usually will jump and swing. It's just something you do when you're on the net. It should be automatic. Here we have a player taking advantage of that and setting the outside. The other side does a really good job getting to the net to try to block the swing, but that just opens up the net for the outside.

6. Libero setting the middle from short in zone 6 for a quick in zone 4.

This is just a nice play. Usually the libero is going to go to either the opposite, or one of the outsides. This is a tough set to hit effectively, and it works so well because the defense probably thinks it is going to anyone but the middle.

5. Set to zone 2 from the other side of the net.

Just a spectacular play. Any time you can salvage a rally keep the ball alive when the ball crosses the net out of bounds is a win. Getting a kill while doing it is even better.

4. Libero setting the middle from short in zone 6 for a quick in zone 4.

Almost an exact copy of number 6 above.

3. Set to opposite from past the end line in zone 1.

Similar to number 5 above, but it's the other end of the spectrum. Getting the ball over the net when the second touch is like this is a win.

2. A bump set over the head by the setter going out of bounds to a middle hitting a quick.

I have seen a great setter make a play like this in a drill with just setters and middles in practice, but the middle didn't make an approach. Seeing the middle not give up on the play and be ready is what we want to do as players, and what we want our athletes to do as coaches. I could almost say I love this video for this clip alone.

1. A bump set over the shoulder by an out of position setter to a middle hitting a quick.

Similar to number 2 above, but it's a little different. I like 2 better, but the same goes for this one. The middle didn't give up on the play and was ready. That's why this clip is here.

Of all those clips, only numbers 1, 2, and 9 are sets from the setter remotely close to being in position or within the team's offense. Numbers 3, 5, and 8 could be the setter, but they aren't plays I would say are even close to within the team's offense. Half of them are sets to hitters who don't have a lot of warning, and it wouldn't be unexpected to see them not ready to swing 4 of them to middles hitting quicks.

This video could be a good thing to show young players as a teaching tool. In each of these clips, and those ones to the middles in particular, the hitters are ready to make a play. They are expecting to hit, and that makes these highlights instead of hitting errors. At some point in practices, this should be on our minds and in our instruction: Make yourself available and be ready.

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