Trends appear in all sports. One person or team discovers something new or underused that helps them be successful and suddenly everyone wants in on it. They call the NFL a ‘copycat league’ because as soon as one team comes out with something that works, the very next week all the teams will be incorporating it. It is a smart philosophy: if it will work for others why not me? With this in mind, I found myself noticing several trends as I was watching some of the better teams at this past week’s Volleyball Junior Olympics. Below are four trends I found in all of the top teams…
1) Fortune Telling Serve Receive: Every coach will tell you how important serve receive is, but it really is noticeable when you see top volleyball teams making perfect pass after perfect pass. They seemed effortless as the players rarely had to even move to make the play and I found myself wondering why the servers were always serving right to the defense. Of course, I quickly realized that it wasn’t the servers making the mistake, but rather the receivers who were doing all the work, even without moving. On every play, even before the serve was made, the defense knew where the ball was going. They would read the serve before contact, during contact, and as the ball traveled towards the net, lining up with the server and the flight of the ball long before it got anywhere near them. Every play resulting in a pass that would make any other setter jealous. Unnoticed to most watching the exciting shoots, slides, and back row attacks is that none of that would be possible without the sight and foresight being used to make such perfect passes.
2) Show Starting Setters: As I stated previously, these trends became clearer the more teams I watched and I don’t believe I saw one outstanding team in the two days I attended the JOs that didn’t have an outstanding setter running the show. I constantly say that setter is the hardest position in volleyball to play. They touch the ball more than anyone else on the team, have to chase down balls no matter if they are at the net or in the bleachers, and regardless of how hard or perfect a set they pull off the hitter will almost always get the credit. That is their job. Make the team better and make them shine. But just like a quarterback in football and a point guard in basketball; the setter is the leader and focal point of the team and they will only be as cohesive, complex, and productive as she can be. Great setter, great team. Bad setter, and “Thanks for coming. See you next tournament.”
3) On the Ground & Everywhere Else Defense: I am an offensive minded coach. I like the powerful hits like everyone else, but even more I like the speed and tactics involved in offense. Still, I have to say the thing that impressed me the most this past week were the digs. I saw hands in front of faces digs, missed the arms so used the shoulder digs, too low for standing so I knelt digs, running into the crowd digs, superwoman dives, and superwoman dove but wasn’t enough so supergirl had to dive also digs. The concept of ‘every point is important’ was obvious. These girls who are simply playing a game, not earning their living, did everything they could every point and that was truly the difference. It is hard to make someone understand how important a single point is without them experiencing it’s results. But these players who are so talented you would think they could get back a single point at any time gave up nothing. Every point was played as hard as they possibly could and if they lost it wasn’t for lack of trying, even for a single point.
4) What’s a Freeball: As top players will do just about anything to keep a spike from hitting the ground, they are just as ready to attack anything in the air, seemingly in constant flight. I remember watching the Women’s College National Championships last year and hearing that every hitter on eventual champion Penn State’s team could touch the top of the antennae. Antennae, not net! We are talking in the ten-foot range! They, like these Junior Olympians know that volleyball, now more than ever, is an above the net game. With points so difficult to get that players are falling over like bowling pins just to pick up a ball, anything not traveling downward at high velocity is a gift. So, all of these players from middle blocker to libero were in constant readiness and position waiting for the ball to come their way that they may give it their best possible swing with all the vert and power they could generate to gain the point. Because, like all great teams they know championships are so rarely won with your second best.
All teams are different. Each has its own qualities that make them who they are. Not every team can be a Junior Olympic team or do the things they do, but if your goal is to try I suggest you get out to the next big volleyball event in your area and check out the trends. Maybe, one day someone will watch you and steal a few ideas.
Special Thanks to Coach West for his observations and generously sharing his time with all of us in the South Florida Volleyball Community.
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