As coaches we are not always fortunate enough to the same type of player each and every season. Often times we must adjust our system to the players that we have available to us. One adjustment, based on the type of player that you have, would be your defensive system.

In the video clip below Nancy Dorsey, (St.James Academy (KS) Head Coach;2015 AVCA National High School Coach of the Year;2015 Kansas Class 5A state champions) shows you a defense that she call the Perimeter Defense. This is a defense that is effective for teams with small blockers and quick athletes. In the clip she shows how to release from base defense and get each player into proper position.

For more information about the DVD that this clip came from click the link High School Volleyball Systems: Perimeter Defense

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on. Please note that some schools block access to YouTube. If you have trouble viewing, please contact your network administrator

As coaches we must be able to select defenses that match with our players strength, while at the same time matching to the strength of our opponents attack. Generally speaking we select a few defensive schemes a then in game planning decide which will be best a particular opponent. However, the most successful coaches are also able to make in game adjustments to their base defense based on how the offense is attacking. There are times when the other coaches has game planned for your base defense and you have to make a quick adjustment.

In the video below, Anne Kordes, University of Louisville Head Coach;
2010 and 2011 USA Select National Team Lead Coach; shows one adjustment that she makes in games to her base defense. In the video she explains how she adjust to help cover tips to the middle.

For more info on the DVD that this clip came from click the link AAU Coaching Girls Volleyball Series: Winning Defensive Systems

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure your sound is turned on.

The 6-2 offensive system can be difficult to teach, but that shouldn’t necessarily prevent you from using this system if it is right for your players vs your opponents.

In the video below Nancy Dorsey, 2015 AVCA National High School Coach of the Year and seven-time state champion, uses her expertise as a high school coach to demonstrate and explain rotation 1 in serve receive in a 6-2 offense. She explains where players stand and how to avoid overlap and shows where each player should move to for their base defense.

She not only discusses where she positions her players in rotation 1, she also explains some adjustments that you might make based on your players.

For more information about how Coach Dorsey installs the 6-2 offense and its advantages click the link High School Volleyball Systems: 6-2 Offense

The clip is a YouTube video. Please make sure your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site

A skill that can take your setters from good to great is adding the ability to use a jump set on the court.

Bryan Bunn, former North Carolina State head women’s volleyball coach, shows you a drill that focuses on perfecting the hands, footwork, body angle and other techniques that a good jump set requires.

Adding a Jump Set to your setters toolbox can help hold blockers a really improve your attack.

In the video below Coach Bunn demonstrates the art of the Jump Set.

The video is just a part of a complete DVD on how to train your setter. For more info on the DVD lick the link Position Training Drills: Setter

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that the sound is turned on and that you have access to the site ( many school block access)

Slide hitting is a high efficiency attack. The outside blocker must move along with the slide hitter and try to determine where the attack will come from. The hitter has several options at the point of attack. They can go down the line and they have a lot of space cross court. Going cross court is advantageous because it is against the flow of the defense and you are often attacking the setter.

It will take some effort to develop an effective Slide Hit attack as there are challenges for both the setter and hitter. In the video below Bond Shymansky, University of Iowa Head Coach does a great job of showing the key teaching points of the Slide Hit.

For more info about the DVD this clip came from click the link Developing the Slide Hitter

The YouTube video has sound, so make sure your sound is on and that you have access to the site.

Coach Shymansky explains the key teaching points to develop your Slide Hitter. First the hitter must anticipate that they will be set. This means the must turn and position their hips parallel to the net (do not turn and face the pass or dig). Once the ball is passed to the setter, the hitter must be patient. The coaching point is to Wait and Chase.

You want the hitter to be able to see the ball out in front of them as they slide to the outside. This allows them to adjust the final two steps and explode to the ball. The biggest mistake is to arrive to early and have to wait on the ball. You don’t want the hitter to “run out of real estate”

Coach begins by having the Slide Hitter face the sideline and he tosses the ball out wide. He does this to simply help her develop the timing an rhythm necessary to explode to the ball. He reminds the hitter to hesitate and then chase the ball. In this drill he gives the hitter different balls (tempo and location)so that the hitter can practice adjusting their last two steps.

Coach then moves back and to the side. The hitter turns her hips and faces opposite of coach and parallel to the net. Coach then passes to the setter, who in turn sets the Slide Hitter out wide. Again the emphasis for the slide hitter is to get the hips turned and then hesitate and chase.