Jumping in Sand

[nmsvbteam]

Originally Posted by wmavbplyr14

I am just putting in my 2 cent about the previous post. It is not good to stand off the net right before you block because one ur momentum is going forward to block and two if the opposing team decides to quicken up the sets your going to struggle to try and position urself correctly with good block. I would suggest really focusing on reading the sets and the hitters so that you can make a concious effort early to play defense or block.

I completely agree. It is bad form to start off the net then come up to block. You could probably get away with it at lower levels, but moving up the ladder will result in serious burns. I would suggest not blocking at all, rather than developing a habit like that. The best way is to start at the net, judge the pass and the set. If you are dropping, open yourself up and sprint back, while remaining open to the court and watching the ball. The trick is you want to have your momentum completely stopped by the time the hitter contacts the ball, and be balanced enough to dig a hard driven ball or move in any direction to pick one up. I know I'd lick my chops and make a low pass and get a quick set if a blocker started off the net like that. It also will mess up your partner's ability to position themselves on defense.

One more tip on jumping in the sand: on approach, make sure your feet are closer to parallel when taking off. This will create more upward momentum, whereas indoor you want one foot slightly forward to get more forward momentum.

On a side note, we had a good weekend making the finals of a big tourney and got written up in a local paper (we got second and I was the guy that got served): Vail Daily News for Vail and Beaver Creek Colorado - Sports

[wmavbplyr14]

Thank You Sir

[BHitterDPasser]

Sounds like both you guys disagree with Omni?

[set10]

if you are looking for sheer volume of opinions, I disagree as well. Taking short cuts to better your game at a lower level is wrong. It creates terrible habits and will soon enough put you on a plateau. Get better at blocking (penetrate the net more so roll shots have to travel further and stay in the air longer) and get better at reading the game. Also as your partner gets better they will be able to pick up most roll shots

[BHitterDPasser]

Originally Posted by set10

if you are looking for sheer volume of opinions, I disagree as well. Taking short cuts to better your game at a lower level is wrong. It creates terrible habits and will soon enough put you on a plateau. Get better at blocking (penetrate the net more so roll shots have to travel further and stay in the air longer) and get better at reading the game. Also as your partner gets better they will be able to pick up most roll shots

I'm not looking for volume but rather logic and reasoning and ways to get better.

From what I've read, it sounds like as a blocker, you should:

• Position yourself at the net and be ready to block what you told your partner you would
• Plant both feet close together when jumping to achieve maximum vertical
• Read the set. If it is off, pull back as fast as possible so you can dig where you told your partner you would block/cover.

Is this a relatively fair assessment?

[OmniSpiker]

Anyone can play ball anyway they want to. Opiniona are opinions. Ask yourself the pros and cons about what each things are. Ask yourself if you can perform certain things. For someone who can run down a roll shot from standing position up next to the net, that's fine. How about the rest of the people who can't? For someone who can jump 40 inches in sand up next to the net with little effort, that's fine. How about the rest of the people who can't? Please by all means, play up next to the net, it's an easy read.

People talk about high level volleyball, low level volleyball -- geez that's an opinion. If we talk sheer opinions, keep playing your way - I'll burn one team contact off the blocker and take their defense out of sync. Just remember in beach doubles a block count as a team contact. Unless you don't play by that rule.

Advantages for playing 3-6 feet off the net.

• better approach for block
• higher jump on block for better penetration
• better position to run down a roll shot
• better position to bait and switch

Disavantages for playing 3-6 feet off the net.

• need to step into block

Wait a minute don't you need to do that anyway, going sideways?

Originally Posted by nmsvbteam

I know I'd lick my chops and make a low pass and get a quick set if a blocker started off the net like that. It also will mess up your partner's ability to position themselves on defense.

bait and switch, gotcha...your opponents will be reading your position and approach too, not just your pass. You not going to start roll shotting us to death are you? By the way congrats on your second place finish.

Advantages for playing up next to net

• better position for block

Disadvantages for playing up next to net

• less vertical on jump
• longer distance to chase down roll shot
• easier to read blocker pulling off the net

Sometimes you only need one more step to get to the ball and that's usually chasing down the roll shot. Blocking one+ step off the net? geez that's pretty close already is it not? What do you want to leverage? It's all about positioning.

[nmsvbteam]

Originally Posted by BHitterDPasser

I'm not looking for volume but rather logic and reasoning and ways to get better.

From what I've read, it sounds like as a blocker, you should:

• Position yourself at the net and be ready to block what you told your partner you would
• Plant both feet close together when jumping to achieve maximum vertical
• Read the set. If it is off, pull back as fast as possible so you can dig where you told your partner you would block/cover.

Is this a relatively fair assessment?

I'd say that is pretty good, with a couple of caveats:
1) of course you want to get your feet into good position depending on where the set is. Not like indoor where you sit in a zone cause you know the set is going out to the antenna. If you are blocking line, for example, on a left side right handed hitter line up your left hand with their right and penetrate over. Simply put - your point of reference is the hitter, not a spot along the net. Still, you need to set the block so you can cover the area you told your partner you would.
2) Also, know who you are playing against. If it is a team that is only burying one in 5 spikes into the sand, no matter how hard it may be, you might be better off not blocking at all. In the sand, it really takes a good skill level before you go up against teams that consistently require a solid block to be put up to affect their offense. But, good technique is good practice for when you hit that level of competition, if not there already.

[nmsvbteam]

bait and switch, gotcha...your opponents will be reading your position and approach too, not just your pass. You not going to start roll shotting us to death are you? By the way congrats on your second place finish.

Advantages for playing up next to net

• better position for block

Disadvantages for playing up next to net

• less vertical on jump
• longer distance to chase down roll shot
• easier to read blocker pulling off the net

Sometimes you only need one more step to get to the ball and that's usually chasing down the roll shot. Blocking one+ step off the net? geez that's pretty close already is it not? What do you want to leverage? It's all about positioning.[/quote]
Well, I'd actually be licking the chops to swing because my experience is that running up to block rarely works effectively, other than occasionally getting lucky. Sets are rarely in a consistent place along the net, timing can change and the ability of someone to run up, set their feet on an unstable surface, jump straight up and penetrate over the net...not too good. Maybe in grass. If you want a lead back into the defensive position, you can have one foot open back to the court so a big crossover, couple steps and stop you are in position. With the smaller court, it is easier to get into position than in the old days. Also, most players are more concerned about getting a good contact on the ball than they are looking at what you are doing on the other side of the court. Guys that dance and fake a lot in the back usually just wind up faking themselves out. You can always look at how it is done at the highest levels for the ideal on execution. Of course, try both ways out and see which actually works for your team.

[OmniSpiker]

Originally Posted by nmsvbteam

Well, I'd actually be licking the chops to swing because my experience is that running up to block rarely works effectively, other than occasionally getting lucky. Sets are rarely in a consistent place along the net, timing can change and the ability of someone to run up, set their feet on an unstable surface, jump straight up and penetrate over the net...not too good. Maybe in grass. If you want a lead back into the defensive position, you can have one foot open back to the court so a big crossover, couple steps and stop you are in position. With the smaller court, it is easier to get into position than in the old days. Also, most players are more concerned about getting a good contact on the ball than they are looking at what you are doing on the other side of the court. Guys that dance and fake a lot in the back usually just wind up faking themselves out. You can always look at how it is done at the highest levels for the ideal on execution. Of course, try both ways out and see which actually works for your team.

Aren't we talking about different symantecs?

"running up to block rarely works effectively"...is not different in moving and reacting to the set that is away from blocker. If you have to run up to block you're late and that has no bearing on being one step away from the net. I'd swing away too. Block can be attributed to being lucky or that the hitting was erroneous, it depends on what a person thinks of their skills. I thought it was established that you need that little hop to pact the sand down and preload your jump to block/hit. Therefore running up to hit suffers the same effects too as stated that, "Sets are rarely in a consistent place along the net, timing can change and the ability of someone to run up, set their feet on an unstable surface, jump straight up and penetrate over the net...not too good."

Plus no where are we talking about dancing in the back, that'll kill you becuase good hitter are looking at good ball contact, placement, and power. LOL's that's when you hit it right to where they're at and they've already ran to some open court spot. If a person is busy moving on the hit, that's disaster in the making.

I can see that you're speaking from your experience and observations and taken cues from the highest level. I'm curious as to why there's so much of a disconnet to playing a few feet off the net? If you can't make that move from one position to another to react to the hitter, then standing up next to the net or standing a few feet off wouldn't make a difference.

Good caveats, both 1 and 2:
plus, good reading shouldn't be just based off the set, it needs to begin from the pass, especially that tricky low pass...you have to watch hitter committment to quick or swing approach.

[wmavbplyr14]

Vertical should not be affected by standing next to the net. The height of your vertical depends on technique and power and starting your block off the net is bad technique. Tell me if Dalhauser (sp?) ever starts his block 6' off the net. Also when playing defense outdoors if your opponent has enough touch to roll a ball over your block and to a spot where your partner can't make a read and pick it up well then that is a good shot, but good players block on the net and let their partner pick up anything else. If there is a bad set then you drop and split the court. If anyone were to start their block 6 feet off net against me or anyone i am playing with then we are going to have a good match