Building Blocks

Defensive Positions: Left Side Hitter Hitting

This post is a continuation of my defense explanation. It will cover defensive positions when an opponent's left side hitter is attacking.

The defense should shift into the position illustrated below as the play develops. All diggers should have their feet planted before the hit and their weight forward on their toes.

Figure 1: Defense: Left Side Hit

Figure 2: Defense: Left Side Dink

I'll explain by position number. The setter is in the 1 position. The most important piece of advice for diggers is to NOT stand behind the block (except deep 6). If you cannot see the ball, it *cannot* be driven hard at you.

1: As he sees the set going to the outside hitter, 1 runs from the base position straight back the line to about 18 feet off the net. He plants his right foot on the sideline and angles himself towards the target position (the spot where the setter wants to set from). It is important that he along with all defense players, stops moving and gets his feet set before the hitter contacts the ball. He should be on his toes with his weight forward watching the approach and hitting shoulder of the hitter. If he sees the hitter slowing down his hand, he needs to break forward and pick up the impending dink. If there is a hard driven line shot he will have to dig it. I will illustrate later what should happen if the blockers end up blocking the line shot (ie: the blockers are obscuring the ball from your view).

I will cover blocking more in depth in other posts, but one huge not is that good blocking does not mean you actually block the ball down. Good blocking is only touching balls you block straight down and the rest are funneled to your diggers. If you set up a weak block and deflect balls, your diggers will not have a chance at digging them.

2: The right side blocker sets up a solid block as fast as he can. This is so he can make it easy for his middle to close the block. It is essential to set the block correctly. You want to give just enought of a line shot that the hitter can not hit angle behind your block. He should only be able to hit line or angle inside of you. You want to concentrate on penetrating over the net and pushing your hands towards their deep 6 player to prevent tools. Giving enough line is key to not getting tooled off your hands.

3: The Middle blocker is going to attempt to close up directly against the outside blocker. It is important not to drift sideways when you jump, so you don't confuse your diggers and also so you don't break your teammates' ankles. Your first responsibility is to close up the seam, the spot right between you and your outside blocker and your second is to get as much penetration as possible while pushing towards their middle back player. The more penetration you get the more court you will be blocking.

4: The off side blocker, drops straight back to the ten foot line. It is very important to not reach over your right shoulder to dig. The digger behind you has everything to your right. You need to pick up hits right to you, dinks, and deflections off the block.

5: You are the main angle digger. If the blocker have done their jobs and the hitter is hitting angle you will have the ball funneled to you. Even for really hard driven hits you have at least 20 feet to react to the ball. Anything hard driven you should aim to dig to the 10 foot line. An overpass is almost a instant kill for the other team. Keep the dig on your side.

6: Hardest position to play correct. Unless there is a hole in the block you stay way deep and position yourself in line with the hitter's strongest hit. Usually this is directly in line with the angle at which they approached the ball. Or line up with their shoulder. You will be picking up any hits off the top of the block and any dinks to the corners. If the middle blocker is late and there is a hole in the block, you must quickly move into the court about 18 feet from the hitter in the hole so you can see the ball (as illustrated).

Figure 3: What do to if your middle blocker is late

Posted by darkarmani at January 19, 2007 02:12 AM