A Question for Dave:

What’s the best way to teach someone how to vary their shot without revealing what the shot is to the opponent?

Dave’s Answer:

The benefit of being able to hit off-speed shots to open areas of the floor is very valuable to any team, as it leads to less hitting errors on attack attempts that are mis-timed, or when the set is not where it should be.

I have never understood the coach that says, “I just want them to swing hard”. (First of all, you want them to focus on “swinging fast”, not “hard”). But sure, if the set is there, and so is the timing, you definitely want them to swing away-unless there is an open spot to tip the ball to for an obvious kill. However, if the set is off the mark, or the timing between the hitter and the setter is off, I have always felt it is better to hit an off-speed shot to a hole in the coverage, or towards the opponents weakest defender, or to their setter. Note I said, “toward” the weak defender or setter, not “to” them.

Making a weak defender or setter move to play a ball greatly decreases their chance of making a good pass to target-which greatly increases your chances of getting an easy ball back-which in turn increases your chances of getting a good swing on the next possession.

I’ve also always liked the idea of taking the opponents setter out of the play and forcing their right side to set the second ball. Unless you are playing someone with an excellent right side, they are usually always going to set the ball high to the same hitter.

Think about it: What do you tell your right sides to do when they have to take the second ball? Exactly-put it up high to your middle or outside-and usually they will go to the middle- because it’s an easier set. (Unless you are playing an opponent who limits their middles to only hitting ones.)

My philosophy has always been that, it is smarter to make the defense work to defend an off-speed shot in these situations, than it is to swing fast and come up with a hitting error.

Notice also that I haven’t been using the word “aggressive” to describe “swinging fast”.

Why? It’s simple:

Off-speed shots should also be executed aggressively. The hitter should always go for one of the spots I mentioned above and make sure they follow through and snap their wrist. (Many hitting errors on these types of shots are a result of the hitting being “too careful”, and thus not following through and snapping their wrist to get the necessary top spin on the ball to bring it down in the opponent’s court.)

My rule on when to hit an off-speed attack is also very simple:

If they can take a step toward the net and gather themselves and jump, then hit the off-speed. If the timing is so messed up that they have to backup or move sideways to hit a downball or shoot it over, then just send it short middle or deep corner. (If you opponent is playing a 6-up (Red) defense, then they will take the setter out of the play by going short middle-or you could tell them to go short sideline in this situation.)

Adding this concept to your offensive scheme puts a lot more pressure on your opponents defense, while cutting down on your own hitting errors. It will also lead to more kills and easily defended return attacks.

In the long run, you will find your team will win more long rallies over the course of a match-and we all know those rallies are also the “momentum swingers”.

And that’s always good!

Ok, here’s how you teach this concept:

First, to hit an off-speed shot, I teach using the same arm swing and wrist snap, just slowing the arm down. It is very hard for the defense to pick up the arm speed difference, if the motion is the same, quickly enough to react to the ball.

For a tip, I teach the “cobra tip” (picture a cobra snake coiling up and striking). The key is to keep the hand high and back with the elbow up as long as possible, and then move the hand forward through the ball like a
“cobra” striking. This is very effective and almost impossible for the defense to detect in time.

As for cut shots, if it’s done correctly, there is no need to disguise it further, as the thumb moves up or down right before contact with the ball.

The best method I have found to teach these concepts is a combination of two drills called “H.E.B.” for “Hand-Eye-Ball”, and “Hitter Against the World”.

Combining these two drills give the girls the chance to work on the off-speed shots in a game-like situation immediately after working on them in a controlled atmosphere.

Do this drill first:

-H.E.B (Pronounced “Heeb”)

“Hand-Eye-Ball”

Purpose:
To teach players to use a variety of off-speed shots to find holes in the opponents defense.

Personnel:
Your entire team (or at least all your hitters)

Equipment:
At least one ball per player and 12 court markers (i.e. cones)

Setup:
Place the cones in the following positions about two feet in from each sideline and right down the middle of the court:

• 1. 3 feet from net
• 2. 12 feet from net
• 3. 20 feet from net
• 4. 28 feet from net

Line your players up (each with a ball) in hitting line formation, with each in the position they usually hit from.
(If including back row players, have them hit from left back.)

Description:
Players begin by hitting downballs to each marker from 5-6 feet off net. All balls should be cut to the position aimed for. When a player has hit within a foot of a target five times, they move on to the next target in the same row (progressing deeper into the court), when a row has been completed they move on the the closest target to the net in the next row. When all targets have been completed with downballs, the player starts again at the first target, while giving themselves a self-toss they can approach and jump at 3-5 feet off the net. Focus must be on landing with the shoulders square to the net while cutting the ball to the target aimed at.

Rationale:
This a great drill for teaching off-speed shots to take advantage of open areas in the opponent’s defense. It is also very effective in teaching players they have many options available on a set where their timing is off and they can’t go up and swing hard.

Time Needed:
Depending on the number of players involved and the number of balls required to each target, between 15-30 mins. (A 12 player team required to go to each target five times will take about 30 mins.)

Coaching Tips:

-The H.E.B. drill calls for alot of reps, and can take up to 30 mins. If you are like me, that’s alot of time to work on something of this nature in one practice. I cut it down to three “good ones” to each target, from the five suggested in the drill.

-Depending on the talent and experience level of your players, you may have to adjust it a little more-just make sure they get enough reps to get the idea.

Then follow it immediately with this drill:

Drill:
Hitter Against the World

Purpose:
To Train Hitters to learn how to put the ball down, and teaching the defense to be ready for anything.

Personnel:
Your entire team.

Equipment:
A cart of balls.

Description:
Put a full team in their defensive positions on the court. The remaining players will be on the other side of the court. You designate one or two hitters (depending on the team size) to hit from ONE spot (left, middle, or right) and the goal is to get the ball down ANYWAY they can. The hitter has 7 balls to score as many points as she can (7 because that’s about how many she can hit repeatedly without losing her jump) The defense has to get the ball up…any playable ball stops the hitter. If the defense shanks the attack, or blocks out of bounds, or if the ball hits the floor, the hitter gets a point. ANYTHING GOES! The hitter can dump, tip or whatever to get the point.

Rationale:
This drill helps the hitters find ways to get the ball down, and even work on being deceptive (angle hits, cuts, and slices). Since the defense KNOWS where the hit is coming from, it helps them focus on the attack from
that part of the court, and helps them develop their reading capability for that as well.

Coaching Tips:

-You can toss the ball to a setter who sets the hitter, or toss to a passer to pass to the setter, or if you are short players, you can toss directly to the hitter.

-Go all the way through with EACH player (Setters too) and keep score. The player with the most points wins the game.

-When you are running the “Hitter Against the World” drill, challenge your defense also. “Hey, you know who’s getting the ball every time, and where they will get it, you better make it real tough on them to get it to the floor.”

-You can also challenge your hitters to look at the defense and figure out where the holes are quickly. If a hitter tried a certain shot a couple of times unsuccessfully, I would say to them, “Ok, that’s not there, what’s open?”, and then give them another ball within a few seconds. Learning to think quickly and adjust appropriately is a very important skill for hitters to develop.

Summary:

Use this drill combination once every week or two, and the keep reminding them of what they can do whenever you see a “missed opportunity” during play. Also, make sure to make a “big deal” of it any time a player does a off-speed shot to a hole in the defense, even if the defense somehow gets it up.

Your players will picked up quickly on using off-speed shots in matches. For example, my second middle put the ball down on game point in a crucial match one time, after we had done this drill combination a few times in practice, with a great off-speed cut to 15 feet off the net in the middle of the court on a ball she was a little early on, that was also set about a foot too far to her left.

Articles provided by:

Dave Cross National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball

The “Meaning” of Brett Favre

Over the past couple of weeks, something has really been getting under my skin. And, as Popeye used to say, “That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more!”

I have heard more than enough from the “Brett Favre Haters” of the world.

It seems, (and I bet you’ve heard this yourself), that many simply can’t accept that the man has had a hard time the last couple of seasons deciding if he was going to return for another NFL season.

He’s retiring, he’s coming back, no – he’s retiring, no – wait, he’s coming back. I’m sure you are familiar with all this.
And, because of this, many have decided they need to hate and root against him and his team.

This is a classic case of, “The only meaning any situation has is the meaning you give it.” Here we have one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. A man that holds 10 NFL Career Passing Records. (Ok, one is for most interceptions-but that still leaves nine more!)

This year, he broke the record for most consecutive starts by a player at ANY position.

But more than anything else, Brett Favre has played football with the heart and passion of a little boy for a long, long time, (This was his 19th NFL season).

Heart…Passion…Guts: That is the “meaning” of Brett Favre’s career.

Just stop and think for a minute: What would the world of sports be like if even one-third of athletes competed with the desire and vigor he does?

Forget about the pros for a second. How many athletes in your career can you remember that could have accomplished so much more than they did – if they would have only had more heart, more desire, more love
for their game?

“MORE”…

Maybe that’s the word to give “meaning” to here…
How could he have done any MORE?

Isn’t that the very concept we try to instill in athletes at a very young age? The idea that the most important thing they can do is ALWAYS DO THEIR BEST?

To never walk away from a season knowing they could have done MORE to have their best season possible?
The same holds true for us, as coaches….

Aren’t those the seasons you cherish the memory of most?
The ones you walked away from knowing you had given everything you could to help your team succeed?

Each season….

Each opportunity…

Comes but once…

Then it’s gone…

Forever…

When Brett Favre finally walks away for good, when he finally decides his body just simply can’t take the pounding anymore, (that’s why it’s taken him so long to decide if he was playing again the last two years-and the dag-gone media just couldn’t wait until he decided to report on it), he will walk away knowing he GAVE HIS ALL.

That he did HIS BEST…

That he could NEVER HAVE DONE ANY MORE…

And that is the MEANING his story gives us.
What meaning will you, and your players, give this coming season when it is over?

And when they hang up the knee pads for good…

And you, your clipboard….

Think about it.

Articles provided by:

Dave Cross National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball

POST-SEASON AWARDS: HOW TO AVOID THE “PITFALLS”!

Our high school seasons are wrapping up across the nation. With this, comes a time that many coaches seem to dread: Giving out Post-Season Awards. Why? Countless times I’ve been told horror stories concerning the negative reactions that follow this positive, congratulatory event. Players and parents become upset with the coach’s decisions and many times angrily react-leaving everyone involved with a bad taste in their mouths.

I, myself, have had to deal with this numerous times over the years-and quite frankly, it’s something I put right up there with toothaches and speeding tickets on my list of things to “avoid at all costs.”

Although it simply is not feasible for coaches to expect to find some “magic formula” to make this unpleasant time disappear forever, I do feel it is possible to significantly limit the times we must endure this ugliness. Coaches, give the following philosophy some serious thought-it just may help you avoid some unpleasantness in the days ahead:

-Give a lot of awards: Hey, your players have worked hard-they feel they deserve recognition. I give 7-8 awards each season-and if I have a deserving player that doesn’t fit any of the established categories, I invent one that does.

I’m sure some of you are thinking, “but doesn’t that take away from the significance of getting a special award? If everybody gets one….” First of all, we all usually carry between 10-15 players on our varsity. And I’ve found that the more players I carry, the more have made a significant contribution to the team in some manner. If you carry 10 players, then maybe you give 5-6 awards-or maybe even more.

The key point to remember here is that a player (and her parents) only care about one thing: The award that player gets-sure they will sit there and pay attention and clap as the other awards are given out-but internally, they are focused on one thing: their own recognition. Everyone wants to feel appreciated-especially when they have put their heart and soul into something-and we all know that receiving recognition for our efforts gives us that very feeling we all secretly desire.

And three-five-ten years down the road they will remember only one thing: the award they did (or didn’t receive), and the feelings they have attached to that event in their minds.

Reward as many of your players as you can logically explain-they deserve it, and will appreciate it. And for many, it will help their self-esteem grow!! What’s more important, risking that some may feel their award is less significant because many were given, or aiding one of your players in feeling better about themselves and their efforts? Seems like an easy choice to me. Rewarding an underclassman also presents another bonus: “Coach saw how hard I worked-it feels good to be appreciated like that”. Sounds like someone that is going to be motivated to work even harder next season!

-Give everyone something: Now I’m not talking about every player getting a special award-unless that’s what you want to do. But I do believe in giving everyone a gift of some sort as a reward for their time and hard work.
A season highlight video or team sweatshirt are a couple of ideas I’ve used in the past. In doing this you insure that everyone walks away with something they feel they earned-after all, the only people in the whole school to receive this gift are your players-and that has significance, and again, it shows your players (and their parents) you appreciate them.

Articles provided by:

Dave Cross National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball

The Club Season: Let’s Do It Right!

Ok, it’s soap box time! Club season is gearing up across the nation, and with it, are the yearly occurrences of some things that, in my book, just aren’t as they should be.

First of all, my philosophy of the club season is simply that it should be used to prepare for the more-important next high school season. So, if you feel differently on this, which many do, you may not agree with some (or maybe all) of what I have to say here. All I ask is that you read the following with an open mind-and possibly give my ideas a thought:

1.Coaches: Quit bad-mouthing other clubs in your area in an attempt to recruit a player to your club. If a player has played for another club, and is now considering coming to yours-they already know why they don’t want to return to the prior situation. Instead, how about pointing out the positives that your organization brings to the table? And if a player tells you they are thinking about going back to their old club-let it go. Don’t lower yourself and start telling them why that is a bad decision and why they should come to your club instead. What happens then, if the player and her parents buy into your negative “sales-job”, and for some reason, your club doesn’t deliver? How have you then effected that player’s future? What do you say to them then?

Here’s a good one for you: I actually had AN OFFICIAL at one of our tournament matches a few years ago get my attention during the pre-game player announcements to tell me he was going to “steal my big freshman for his club”! Hello? What was this guy thinking? And why was he thinking it at that time? Well, one thing was for sure, he had to buy a ticket to get into my gym after that!

Take the players that come to you because you offer a good learning experience for them. Sure, I think it’s alright to inquire into a player’s plans for the upcoming club season. But, let’s not talk each other down-coach with class!

2.Coaches: Players need to play the postions that they need to improve on for their high school team. Please don’t put winning at the club level above improving for the school team. I suggest taking the players you have, play them where they want to play, (which usually will be where they need to play to improve for the next school season), and do the best you can with that lineup.

An example for you: One club season my #1 middle and setter were on the same team. The coach decided to play my middle outside, even though the other middles were not as strong-because she thought this was the best way to win for this club team. The team did alright. But, my point is, they would have still done alright with my middle playing her position. My middle ending up being Honorable Mention All-State that fall. And my question is: How would she have done if she had played her position, working with her setter, all that club season?

Every year, I will also hear of teams running a 5-1 with the strongest setter, while the team’s second setter plays libero. Or girls that need to improve their back row skill only playing front row. At least do this: Pick out the weaker teams you will play against at a tournament and give these girls time in their school positions against them.

3.Players: Give the same commitment to your club team that you give to your school team. Be at practice and attend all your tournaments. Never miss for reasons that wouldn’t be accepted at your school. Your teammates and coach are counting on you-and just how are you going to improve if you don’t show up consistently? Now, if you are playing a school sport at the same time, that’s a different story. I feel very strongly that your school sport should come first when you have a scheduling conflict and you are supposed to be in two different places at the same time. And when picking a club to play for, I strongly suggest you make sure this is their philosophy also before signing on to play for them.

Every year I hear stories of players that miss club practices and tournaments for reasons that just aren’t acceptable. When this happens, it hurts everyone involved-including the player in question. Whether you are
playing to improve for your school, or simply playing for fun-you have to be there to accomplish either! Even if
you feel your teammates aren’t as committed as they should be, take the “high-road” and do what you truly know is right-instead of lowering yourself to a level you know in your heart is not.

Here’s one for you: A setter missing a tournament because she had a hair appointment. Aye-yi-yi-enough said on that one.

And another thing, be ready to play on tournament day. Take care of yourself-get your rest the night before. There is nothing more frustrating than watching a player scuffle through the day because she had a date the night before-or a sleep-over. You know way in advance when your tournaments are-so plan your social life accordingly. Your teammates and coach are counting on you-and even if, again, you have teammates that aren’t doing as they should in this area- that is no excuse to let yourself slack off.

4.Parents: Please conduct yourself as you would during the school season. Just because there aren’t any “school administrators” around doesn’t mean you should change your behavior. Support the girls and let the coach do their job. If you have a concern, please go through your clubs established channels to address it. Getting negative or loudly voicing your concerns at a tournament site will undoubtedly embarass your daughter and put a sour-taste in the coach’s mouth. And honestly, what good will this do in the long run? The vast majority of club coaches earn even less than they do during the school season-they are coaching simply because they love the game. Take away that love, and more times than not, you’ll also take away their desire to do the best job they can for your daughter’s team.

And of course, I have an example: A player gets disrespectful with her coach and the coach sits her down. So, the parent decides to loudly try to persuade all the team’s parents to take their daughters and go home-right in the middle of the tournament, (and right in the middle of a match, too).

Ok, there you have it, I feel better now! Look, the club experience is a very valuable one in the growth of player. If you will think closely about what I am saying here, my main point is this: Let’s make sure our main focus is on the quality of this experience for all involved-and nothing less.

Articles provided by:

Dave Cross National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball

New Form to Play : Sand Volleyball

By Bruce Bentley

Most people have been to an indoor or regular SIX on SIX Volleyball game at some point in their lives. Volleyball hasn’t been a sport that has had much popularity in United Stated but that’s all about to change. Beach Volleyball or regular called Volleyball Outdoor is now becoming more popular.

And was one of the most viewed events at the Olympics. Starting in 2010 there will be collegiate sand volleyball teams. Take a look in my other site about this great News: Approved Sand Volleyball at Universities

Why will Sand Volleyball bring in more viewers than indoor?

Indoor volleyball just doesn’t have the excitement factor that fans are looking for. When you go to the sand there are only 2 people on each team and the intensity sky rockets. Every dig is amazing because they are diving in the sand to chase the ball.

“… was only approved for girls by the NCAA as of right now …”

Why is the sport going to be known as sand volleyball instead of beach volleyball?

Most of the universities adopting the new sport are not located near beaches so the sport will be called sand volleyball to include them.

So… How will many people will be on each team?

The sport in this way is only played Two on Two( if you want but for hobby or amateurs not have limit of member players, just have fun!! ) but each university will multiple teams much like tennis doubles. This way more games will be played and more women will be able to play.

This sport was only approved for girls by the NCAA as of right now. But, when there is a surge of fans and money starts coming in they will be looking to get men’s teams as well. The NCAA doesn’t believe that sand volleyball will make much money for the universities by Sponsors ADs and many indoor players and coaches are complaining that it will take away from their programs. In reality I see indoor volleyball riding on outdoor volleyballs coat tails in the near future.

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