14 Mizuno Wahines Peninsula Juniors Volleyball Club

14 Mizuno Wahines Base Defense The front row players are at the net, preparing to block. Back row players are relatively shallow in the court, in case the opponent bumps the ball back over on their first hit or "dumps" the second hit over the net. As soon as the the opponent sets the ball to one of their hitters, everyone will have to move these "base" positions to an assigned defensive responsibility.

14 Mizuno Wahines Blocking Coverage A common strategy (but by no means the only strategy) for defending attacked balls include these general rules: 1. The blockers should position themselves so that no balls can be driven into the center of your court. Double block the outsides and single block the middle. 2. The offside blocker (meaning, the front-row player not involved in the block) will pick up all tips. 3. The outside back-row players must dig around the outside of the block. 4. Middle back positions him/herself in the "seam" of the block, usually a step or two cross-court. This will be our strategy

14 Mizuno Wahines Free Ball A freeball is any ball that the opponent will bump or set into your court. As soon as it is clear that your opponent cannot attack the ball at all, everyone yells, "Freeball." The setter releases from her/his defensive position, usually in right back, as soon as s/he realizes the opponent cannot attack the ball and sprints to her/his offensive position near middle front (the setter should never, ever pass a freeball). The remaining back-row players split the back court while all the blockers drop to the 3m line and prepare to hit. These transitions create a W formation, not including the setter.

14 Mizuno Wahines Downball A downball is any set that your opponents can swing at but which they cannot attack with authority. If the blocker closest to the attacker recognizes that the hitter is not going to able to take a good swing at the ball, s/he yells, "Downball!" Both blockers stay down (hence, the term "downball") and back off one step to pick up tips or balls that carom off the net. The other four players (the offside blocker and three back- row defenders) position themselves in a slight umbrella shape, with the line digger staying relatively deep and the cross-court digger staying relatively shallow.

14 Mizuno Wahines Keys to defensive success 1. Blockers must realize their job is not to stuff every hit; their job is to keep balls from being driven into certain areas of the court -- that is, they are blocking a zone, not the ball. 2. Whoever has tips -- whether it's a back row player or the offside blocker -- must stay low and run after every tipped ball. This frees the backrow players to worry only about driven balls. 3. Cross-court diggers must position themselves so that they can clearly see the ball and the attacker around the outside of the block. If they position themselves behind the block, where no balls can be driven at them, they become useless players. 4. Middle back players must first defend against hits through the seam of the block, but they must also be prepared to run after soft shots to the center of the court and balls that ricochet off the block. 5. Do not think of defense in terms of "tape-on-the-floor." Just get to your assigned position quickly and then react to every ball. 6. Call downballs and freeballs loudly and early. Move to the appropriate position quickly. Don't relax on freeballs. 7. In a freeball situation, make sure the setter never passes the ball. 8. Lastly, and most importantly, everyone must do the basic individual skills correctly: blockers must get their hands and forearms in the opponents' court, and diggers must be low and moving forward before the hitter contacts the ball.

14 Mizuno Wahines Hitting Coverage

14 Mizuno Wahines 6-2 Serve Receive

14 Mizuno Wahines Setting Codes Our Main sets will be 15 (outside), 52 and 51 (middle), and 95 (back) (Ignore the 1-6 serving locations)

14 Mizuno Wahines Random How do we sub? – this is so the ref and score keepers can see both numbers. If you have long hair, move it so your number is not covered. Serving Locations