USABLE COACHING INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHING SPIKING

VOLLEYBALL RULES CHANGES FOR 2009 HIGH SCHOOL AND NCAA SEASON

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1. USABLE COACHING INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHING SPIKING

“If you really know and understand where you are going, it’s much easier to get there.”

In my opinion, the following is the best method for teaching new volleyball players how to approach and spike a volleyball.

First, you start out by teaching the END RESULT. The end result is essentially, "what you want to have happen." For example, when spiking a volleyball, the result you want is…

1) Contact the ball high,
2) Spike the ball with the right trajectory, and
3) Make the ball spin (topspin).

Remember, the end result of a spike is “what you want to have happen”. This is the first stage of learning to approach and spike a volleyball. It’s important to focus on the END RESULT first because the player needs to understand what they are trying to do.

The second stage is learning BODY POSITIONING.

Being in good position basically means you are in a good position to spike to get the end result you want. For example, a spikers sweet spot may be 4 inches in front of the hitting shoulder in a position with the arm fully extended. The better a player is at getting into this POSITION, the more likely they are going to be good at spiking.

The next stage is learning TECHNIQUE. The technique for spiking is basically the technique used to get the body in POSITION in order to obtain the END RESULT that’s desired. Learning TECHNIQUE for spiking is basically done by focusing on the footwork of moving to the ball, planting both feet and jumping to attack. This is called the "volleyball spike approach."

I believe this is the stage that most coaches spend too much time on or they start teaching too early. Players should spend adequate time learning END RESULT and POSITIONING first before learning TECHNIQUE.

The last stage is ANTICIPATION. Anticipation is simply the athletes recollection from earlier playing experiences that allow a good decision on what technique to use when making a play on the ball.

For example, when preparing to spike, the player often has to decide how many steps to take for the spike approach. You may prefer to take a 4 step approach, for example, but it’s likely not the best option for every situation.

This is where anticipation is so important. Being able to anticipate well allows you to make good decisions on the fly. Players that play in THE ZONE often have real good anticipation skills. These players are often less likely to get stuck in the perfectionist mindset.

These players understand that there isn’t a “right” and “wrong” way to play the game. Players that ANTICIPATE well often aren’t so concerned with TECHNIQUE for making the play. These players understand the dynamic nature of volleyball and the fact that often it's best to just make the play any way you can.

Can see how every stage affects every other stage?

For example, the better you are at getting in good POSITION, the easier it is to get the END RESULT that you want. The better TECHNIQUE you use, the easier it is to get in good POSITION. The better you are at ANTICIPATION, the easier it is to use the best TECHNIQUE for the particular situation.

It’s important to learn volleyball skills in this order.

1. END RESULT
2. POSITIONING
3. TECHNIQUE
4. ANTICIPATION

If the player learns in these stages, the player will more easily know what is expected to happen next. This is important because learning in this way makes the player more confident and comfortable when learning how to play volleyball. This helps alleviate the fear of the unknown that tends to be a major roadblock for young players.

Here are some specific drills on teaching spiking.

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VOLLEYBALL RULES CHANGES FOR 2009 HIGHSCHOOL AND NCAA SEASON

There are a few rule changes this year in high school and NCAA collegiate volleyball.

Go see the new volleyball rules for 2009.