Coaching Tip: Ball Control

Taras Liskevych, Oregon State Head Women's Volleyball Coach and former USA Women's National Team Coach

Ball control is always a cornerstone for a team's success at all levels of the game. Very simply, the teams that have the best ball control and mastery of the six volleyball skills (serving, serve receiving, setting, attacking, blocking, digging) will be a contender at their respective levels. With the advent of rally scoring, the premium at the lower levels should be, more than ever, an emphasis on ball control! Every error results in a point. At the higher levels - top collegiate and international - attacking (particularly in transition), locking and serving factor heavily into determining the winner of the match.

Courtesy of "The Volleyball Coaching Bible," edited by Don Shondell and Cecile Reynaud.

Drill for Success: Incoming

University of Washington head coach Jim McLaughlin

Purpose: To teach hitters to watch an incoming ball and determine whether to use a pass and hit fast or no pass and hit fast response.

Setup: Set up two lines of three hitters on one side of the net with a setter in proper setting position. A coach positions on the opposite side of the net.

Execution: The coach bowls the ball over the net to the first player in either line. The first person in line 2 uses the appropriate footwork pattern to hit the ball. If the coach tosses to line 1, the hitter in line 2 shuffles and hits (no pass and hit fast). If the coach tosses to line 2, the hitter in line 2 passes and goes into the approach (pass and hit fast). In either case, the first player in the line 1 rotates to the end of the hitting line (figure 4.18).

Coaching Points: The ability to make split-second decisions is what separates the truly great hitters from the mediocre ones.

Variations
1. This drill can also be done on the right side.
2. Blockers can be added.

Rules Trivia

By Marcia Alterman, NCAA Women's Rules Interpreter

FACT or FICTION? A player cannot play a ball that is over the courtside bleachers unless she has both feet in contact with the playable surface when she makes contact with the ball.

FACT! NCAA Rule 4.1.2 states: ?Players may play the ball over a non-playing area if they have a body part in contact with the playing area at the time the ball is contacted, and may enter the non-playing area after playing the ball?. So this play is legal as long as at least one foot (or other body part) is in contact with the playable surface when the ball is contacted. This ruling would be the same for NFHS rules.

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