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How to Become a Volleyball Expert

The Secret to Success is a Proactive Defense

When you're playing defense, many players think that how they handle the hard drives and how they pass are the most important things. Yes, those are critical skills, but more important is to make sure you are in the right place at the right time. A lot of players are so concerned with their form, they end up just standing there with "stone feet" and not moving anywhere. You don't need to worry about passing the ball if you are not getting there in the first place!

 Follow these tips to make sure you are playing defense at the highest level possible. 

1. Get in proper defensive stance - You will find it hard to move to the right place if you are standing incorrectly. You should have your knees bent, on your toes, keeping your arms relaxed and in front of you. There is nothing that drives a coach more crazy than to see a player playing defense standing straight up with their knees locked. The bottom line - you cannot get to the ball if you are not ready. 

2. Read the opposing offense - Whether you are on the front row or the back row, you need to read the offense. Is the setter on the front row or back row? Do you need to be prepared for the setter to dump the ball? Where is the best hitter at in the rotation? If you take time while your team is serving to identify these things, it is easier to anticipate where you need to be at to play the ball. 

3. If you are on the front row, get to the right spot to block - As you are blocking, you should use this tip to get to the right defensive spot: ball, setter, ball, hitter. As the ball goes over, watch where the ball is at and how it is passed. Then watch the setter. If the pass is bad, the setter will have limited options on where to set the ball and you can adjust your block accordingly. Then watch how the ball is set. Is it tight to the net or off the net. Is the set long or short? Then, watch the hitter. Most hitters (unless they tip the ball) are going to swing in line with their shoulder. Line up your block with the hitter's shoulder. 

4. On the back row, line up with the hitter's shoulder, or a seam in the block - When the ball is set, the back row's first priority is to take the line where the hitter's shoulder is. If the blockers have taken this angle, then your job on the back row is to take a seam (a gap) in the block where the ball could come through. You still are on your toes right? So, take the shoulder angle first and then take a seam. 

5. Finally, watch the hitter's swing - This is how you prepare for the tip. Too many defensive players get stuck on their heels waiting for the big blast. This means that they are not ready for the tip. As you are seeing the hitter slow down their swing, get ready for the tip. 

These tips will help you play proper defense and make sure that you are in the right place to make the play on the ball. These five tips are the basics of playing fundamentally strong defense. 

Kevin

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Kevin has playing and/or teaching volleyball for over 20 years.  His newest book, "Volleyball Drills for Increased Performance," teaches volleyball teams the exact drills they need to know to keep progressing and reach their full potential.
http://www.volleyball-training-ground.com/evolleyballdrills
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