Why & How we Prioritize our Training & Systems TRENT UNIVERSITY POSSESSION VOLLEYBALL

Possession Philosophy 1.Bulk of our points scored with possession of the ball 2.Opponents cannot affect execution of our possession 3.Our ability to improve possession quality determines our success 4.Simply: win the points we have control over & apply pressure to our opponent’s possessions

Possession Philosophy Win the points we have control over & apply pressure to our opponent’s possessions… 1.Gain Possession with Quality 2.Maintain Quality of Possession 3.Aim of Turnover of Possession 4.Serve & Block to re-Gain Possession

P O S S E S S I O N 4 Support Systems to re-Gain Possession - Serving – low opponent Gain quality = low % of scoring - Blocking – force low % attacks to weaker players 1 Gain Possession with Quality - 1st Touch quality determines outcome of rally - Quality improvement in a possession is limited 3 Maintain Quality of Possession - 2nd Touch maintains / improves the scoring opportunity How To: 2 Aim of Turnover of Possession -Attacker Decision Sequence -Force opponent to transition without high % attacks

How Are Points Scored? One Team scores 76% The other loses 24% Data from 2 W and 2 M University Teams pts 19pts

Skill Prioritization One Team scores 76% The other loses 24% Data from 2 W and 2 M University Teams pts 19pts Controlled Skill: Attack = 14.3 pts or 57.2% of total pts Aces = 1.9 pts or 7.6% of total pts By controlling our Attacking Quality we control 85% of needed points (16.2 of 19) Un-Controlled Skill: Opp Errors = 6 pts or 24% of total pts Reaction Skill: Blocking = 2.8 pts or 11% of total pts Opp will give us 24% of needed points (6 of 19)

Skill Types Attack / Setting / Serving Controlled Contested Serve Receive / Defense Reaction Blocking The better the controlled skills…the better the other skills!

PERIODIZATION OF SKILLS 4 Support Systems to re-Gain Possession -Serving / Blocking / Feet Movement / Reading -Point of Intersection (hands) 1 Gain SKILLS (1 st touch) -Digging -Serve Receive – Jump Serve -Serve Receive – Jump Float - Free Ball 2 Maintain SKILLS (2 nd touch) -High Ball Setting -Outside “Go” Sets -Quick Sets (1st Tempo) -BIC balls (2nd Tempo) Train What ? 2 Aim SKILLS (3 rd Touch) -Jump Serving -High Ball Attacks -Outside “Go” Attacks -Tempo Sets (Quick/BIC)

System Training Priority 1.Offense -in system offense -non system offense 2. Serve Receive 3. Serve 4. Block 5. Defense …an integrated system is like a fist! POW

Best chance of scoring: 70-80% Patterns Overload = 2 hitters vs 1 blocker Spread = isolation for 1 on 1 attacking Gap Control 3 blockers create 4 gaps 4 attackers each with a gap to occupy Set Distribution Sequencing Blocker moves feet = widened gap Set attacker into extended gap Tempos 1st Tempo Sets (middle quick) = 50% 2nd Tempo Sets (slide / bic) = 40% 3rd Tempo Sets (“Go” Outside) = 30% 4th Tempo Sets (High Ball) = 20%

Contested Points Separate Good Teams from Champions Attacker Decision Sequence -Kill Shot – quality set, block instability = high % of scoring -Recycle – replay off block keep possession -Setter Take Out – 50/50 chance of regaining possession -Pattern Take Out – eliminate one third of court -Put ball in play – put opponent out of system High Ball Set Quality All players able to deliver quality high ball Block Stability Identification -1v1 = beat defender cross court -Edge blocker late = wipe line -Middle blocker late = wipe cross court -Block Stable = Attacker Decision Sequence

Reception System increases Gain Quality Court Coverage -Seam communication -Short serve coverage by Middle & Opposite -Tape serve coverage by Middle & Setter Offensive Option Protection -Bic attacker -Front Row Outside Hitter -Middle pinched to sideline Gain Quality increases Scoring % 4 GQ = 4 option offense = 80% chance of scoring 3 GQ = 3 option offense = 70% chance of scoring 2 GQ = 2 option offense = 50% chance of scoring 1 GQ = High Ball Offense = 30% chance of scoring 0 GQ = Management Offense = 20% chance of scoring

Serve is to allow us to Gain a Possession with Quality Serve Risk Sequence 1st Serve = 80% intensity = 2 Gain Quality 2nd Serve = “Best Serve” – both intensity & % 3rd Serve = Tactical Serve = eliminate offensive option 4th Serve = “In” = opponent offense predictable = increased block % Scoring on serve is a luxury Reward vs Risk -take as much risk on serve as needed to generate a 2 GQ reception Opponent Offensive Efficiency Serve Risk = Opponent Offensive Efficiency

Block System designed to aid in Gaining Possession Block Do’s -take away high % attacks -make weakest hitter score -align on attackers hard shot Block Do Not’s -get wiped on edge -guess  read late don’t guess wrong -give up when beat What do you see & how do you move? Key Elements 1. Alignment 2. Protect the Edge 3. Stability 4. 3 as 1 “Do or Do Not, there is no Try”

Defense is to Gain Possession not to stop opponent from scoring. Poor Balance = no digs Defensive Balance -on ball = primary hard driven defender -off ball = tip coverage & long court wipe defense -half off = secondary shot defense Every Shot has a Predictable Outcome High % Digs = High Percentage Attacks -tips, slow downs, roll shots Low % Digs = Possession -hard driven & scramble

Don’t Rely on Old Statistic Structures -Kill Efficiency -Blocks -Aces -Digs Evaluate EVERY touch on how it Improves Possession +/- vs Give Away/Take Away

Scoring Happens when we have Possession -65% of points from Kills/Aces Training Focus on Skills that Lead to Improved Possessions -controlled skills vs contested/reaction Systems Integrated to Gain Possession & Apply Pressure -be the better team with Possession -apply pressure when don’t Evaluate Skills/Systems from Possession Perspective -non scoring skills are a part of the Possession too

This presentation is adapted from an AVCA seminar by: Ben Josephson, Head Coach, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C. Possession Volleyball: How & Why to prioritize your training & systems Presented at the: AVCA Annual Convention Dec. 18 – 22, 2013 Seattle, Washington

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