Attacking

The Approach

Any attack starts with an approach towards the contact point of the ball. A good approach will help you to maximise your jump so that you can hit over the opposing team. Here are a few simple steps that you can practice anywhere (reverse left and right instructions if you are left-handed):

start in the ready position and take a small step forward with your left foot
take a bigger step with your right foot, digging your right heel into the floor. Make sure that your arms are back, behind your hips, ready to swing forwards and upwards. Digging your heel and swinging your arms will help you to translate your forward motion into upward motion.
as your left foot steps to meet your right, swing your arms into the air and jump as high as you can. Try to visualise yourself breaking a broomstick over the back of your knees with your arm swing.

The Arm Swing

With both arms in the air the next steps are:

draw the right hand back to the right ear. The thumb should be pointing downwards and the elbow should be high.
swing the left arm down to start the motion and rotation of the right shoulder
with a strong open hand, swing the right arm at the ball

For the best results, make sure that the right elbow is straight and the abdominal muscles are flexed at the point of contact. Remember to follow through to your target and snap your wrist to get lots of top spin.

ex-player, Steve Williams
is left-handed

Blocking

Start your block at the net with your knees bent. The hands should be up with the forearms parallel to the net and the fingers wide. When you jump, snake your arms over then net, making sure to minimise the space between your arms and the net at all times. This prevents the ball from coming down on your side. Be careful not to touch the net! As the ball is being struck by the attacker you want to make sure to:

flex your abdominals like you are being punched in the stomach
flex your shoulders
point your thumbs to the ceiling and keep your fingers stiff
keep your eyes open

These points will keep your block strong and allow you to see what the opposing player is doing (ie. look out for a tip). Remember that a penetrating block is more effective than a high one - it takes away more of the court from the attacker.

Passing / Digging

The most important part of any skill in volleyball is the positioning of the feet and lower body. A good body position will allow you to move quickly towards the ball and allow you to shift your weight to direct the ball where you want it to go. Most coaches call this the ready position:

place your feet just wider than hip width apart
bend your knees
lean forward
point your toes slightly inward (this helps you to move in any direction)

Now that we are in the ready position we can work on creating a platform to pass the ball from:

with palms facing up, place one hand on top of the other
bring thumbs together so that they are parallel
straighten elbows
shrug your shoulders towards your ears


images courtesy volleyballmag.com

The ball is meant to contact the forearms just above the wrists. To direct the ball where you want it to go, shift your weight in that direction. It often helps to step towards your target at the same time. Ideally, you want to keep the upper body as stationary as possible, maintaining your platform at all times. Passing a ball that is off to one side is a matter of dropping the nearest shoulder to change the angle of the platform.

Setting

The set is also known as the overhead pass. It is the most controlled method of putting the ball where you want it to go. To set the ball start in the ready position and do the following:

make the shape of the ball with your hands - this is done by creating a triangle between the thumb and index fingers of both hands. Keep your fingers wide.
place your hands above your forehead so that your thumbs point towards your eyes and keep your elbows wide
cradle the ball quickly yet softly as it approaches your hands
in one motion, straighten your legs and arms and flick your wrists to push the ball in the direction you want it to go

image courtesy volleyballmag.com

It is important to not let the ball sit too long in your hands or the referee will call you for a lift. You need to find the right balance between being too soft and too stiff. Don't worry! Getting the set right is difficult. Be patient and keep practicing.

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