Archive for March 2010
Transitioning from Indoor to Beach Volleyball
March 31, 2010 by jameslucas.
By Todd Hicks
Are you someone who is enthusiastic about volleyball? Do you play the sport? If so, are you interested in playing on the beach? This requires a higher level of skill than playing indoors. By reading this article, you will learn how you can make a smooth transition from playing indoors to playing on the beach.
Things that are needed in beach play that may not be apparent in indoor play include physical strength, speed, good reaction time and the ability to jump high. It is especially important to have these qualities to play on the beach because this type of game only has two players on a team as opposed to the regular existence of six people on a team. You have to cover a lot more ground on the beach.
It is vital to have a lot of upper body strength in order to overpower the other team with hard serves and strokes. You must have plenty of lower body strength to jump high to catch the ball over the net and smash it. Because there is so much ground to cover, you have to run fast and react quickly to an incoming shot. You also have to be able to dive for shots that are low and away from you and your partner.
When you only have one teammate instead of five, you have to be very prepared and do a lot of thinking. It is essential for you and your partner to create a good game plan and work out strategies.
It is necessary to have the most talented players for beach volleyball. You can spot great players based on the skills they display and the results they achieve.
Preparation is important for making an adjustment from indoor to beach play. You can practice for beach volleyball by playing on a surface that is made of sand, carpet or grass with three other people while making dives and doing other special drills.
You have learned what it takes to play volleyball on the beach. Use the information you have learned to make a smooth transition from playing indoors!
Todd Hicks owns Skill Development Institute, an enterprise that provides a keyboard typing lesson and academic study guide. To become a great typist or student, visit Skill Development Institute.
Article Source: Todd Hicks
Transitioning from Indoor to Beach Volleyball
Repetition: The Secret to Volleyball Success
March 30, 2010 by jameslucas.
By Darrin Tebbe
Volleyball is a downright fun sport, whether played indoors, outdoors, or at the beach. It’s a great game for both friends and families to enjoy together. However, the secret to volleyball success in competition play is in the repetition. Properly controlling and placing the ball is what really makes the game fun and exciting and repetition is the key in achieving this kind of winning skill.
Practicing the same movements over and over is what sets the mind and body in sync and delivers desired results. There is no substitution for repetitive practice when it comes to first place performance. This is true of volleyball, or any sport for that matter. During a game, there’s no time to think of what to do. The instantaneous movement must be automatic and precise. This is only achieved through repetitive practice. Proper form, foot movement and ball placement are all achieved through doing the same motion and visualizing the same winning result again and again.
A great serve comes by repeatedly firing shots to specific targets on the opponent’s court. The best procedure is to have someone feed you balls as you are ready for each serve so that you don’t have to break concentration by reaching for or retrieving balls yourself. You receive a ball, focus on the desired target and shoot for it time and again until you can place the ball at any specific point on the opposite court.
The same feeding process is also best used when it comes to passing the ball. Accurate passing is an important element in the game as it helps to not only set up a good score position but also to confuse the other team. Getting your opponent to commit to a certain direction by a well placed pass and then striking a shot in the opposite direction while they are off balance is the strategy one strives for in passing.
Repetitive practice should also be applied to digging. Have someone on the opposite side of the net fire shots at you while you practice recovering them into a playable position. Blocking is worked the same way, only with you at the net repeatedly trying to stop the shot. Because you need at least two people to practice most of these routines, it works well for your partner too. They will need to practice digging and blocking and you have the chance at this point to practice hitting, always trying to get the ball past your partner while they are trying to stop it.
Even though you are working in a confined space, the exercise you receive while repetitively practicing is quite beneficial. For added psychological strength, wear a pedometer during practice so you can see just how many steps you completed during your work out. Seeing the physical benefits of the practice will help the mind in dealing with the repetitive boredom which can occur during such routine practices.
Eventually, all these skills with become second nature and the improvement will shine through with winning results when it’s game time.
Darrin Tebbe of Bodytronics stocks a wide selection of personal fitness electronics, items like pedometer watches, at the Bodytronics.com website. Enjoy solid customer service, check out our online site or calling us today.
Article Source: Darrin Tebbe
Repetition: The Secret to Volleyball Success
Two Quick Tips for Better Blocking Today
March 29, 2010 by jameslucas.
By Andrea Fryrear
A volleyball block may not seem like a very difficult skill — after all it’s just jumping up in the air with your hands up, right? But in fact it’s one of the more difficult parts of playing volleyball, even if you’re tall. Timing, explosive jumps and effective arm movement all have to come together. In this article I’ll give you two quick tips that will improve your blocking right away!
Tip #1: Keep your hands at shoulder height.
Our instinct is to try and propel ourselves upward using our arms, which will involve lowering our hands well below our waist. There are two big problems with this technique, however. Firstly it makes it much more likely that you’ll contact the net illegally (awarding the other team a point). Secondly it slows down your jump by several seconds, making it much more difficult to time the block. Instead keep your hands just in front of your shoulders, so you can extend your arms up and your hands over the net at a moment’s notice. You should be able to see your hands through your peripheral vision at all times.
Tip #2: Hands should penetrate over the net - no swinging!
Imagine that the net is electrified and that you don’t want to touch it at any cost. You need to extend your arms directly up from the shoulders. Then as your hands make it up over the top of the net you can break your wrists slightly. This forms a “roof” that can push an attacked volleyball directly back onto your opponent’s court.
If you’re a little on the short side or lack jumping skills you can still be an effective blocker. Instead of “roofing” concentrate on what’s called “soft blocking.” Simply bend your wrists backward so that if the ball contacts your hands it will ricochet upwards, making it easier for your teammates to pass.
Tip #3: Up and down, not side to side.
Always remember to plant your feet before you take off. This helps you jump straight up and down when blocking so that you don’t collide with other members of your team who are also blocking. The same rule applies to your hands: they should extend up and down in a single plane.
Keep an eye on your elbows too; they should stay close to your body and not flail around like chicken wings. This will keep your fellow blockers safe (nobody wants an elbow in the eye). It also helps you by keeping your hands closer together so the ball doesn’t fly through them.
Also check out our tips on improving your vertical leap to help your blocking skills.
For more information on volleyball skills, visit Volleyball-Life.com’s Skills Section
Andrea Fryrear
Managing Editor, Volleyball-Life.com
Andrea Fryrear is the Managing Editor of Volleyball-Life.com and a 17-year volleyball veteran. She’s played high school, Junior Olympic, NCAA and international volleyball and loves to share her knowledge and experience with other players.
Article Source: Andrea Fryrear
Two Quick Tips for Better Blocking Today
How to Get a Sick Vertical Jump for Volleyball!
March 26, 2010 by jameslucas.
By Brandon Richey
If you are a volleyball player looking to literally take your vertical jumping ability to new heights then you have stumbled into the right place! As a strength and conditioning professional I can tell you that in order to increase your vertical jumping ability you have got to increase your core strength and explosive muscular power. I have included a single exercise here to help you to accomplish both of these needs.
Dual Kettlebell Jerks For Volleyball Vertical Explosiveness!
If you are looking to increase your vertical for the game of volleyball then you have got to train your core to be strong and explosive at the same time. One great lift that will help you to do this in an effective manner is the dual kettlebell jerk. This exercise is an Olympic style lift that trains your body in the consistent act of movement that is related to jumping.
In order to pull this off you will need the availability of a pair of kettlebells of moderate to heavy intensity depending on your level and ability. For obvious reasons you may want to start practicing with a lighter set until you get your technique down. Begin the lift by placing the bells on the ground between your feet with your stance slightly wider than shoulder width and your feet outside the bells. Properly perform the clean lift to get the bells racked at your chest. This is necessary to get you into position before performing the jerks.
Once the bells are at your chest you are then going to perform a “hip pop” or “jerk” by flexing and then extending very quickly to generate additional vertical momentum to press and lock the bells out overhead. As you do this “jerk” related movement try to consciously push your heels through the ground when you extend your body. This will create a sort of “momentum wave” that travels up from your feet, through your knees, your hips, and into your upper body. You will feel the momentum lift the bells on it’s own! This is much more powerful than just trying to statically press the bells with no assisted momentum.
If you were looking for a great lift to help you with your volleyball vertical leaping ability then you just found it. If you haven’t already started to implement the use of dual kettlebell jerks and other great kettlebell lifts into your strength and conditioning workouts then you are missing out. Take the time to learn more by accessing the rest of my articles on this subject for free. Remember that most any athlete can train hard, but only the champions train smart!
To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at: http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I’m Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!
Article Source: Brandon_Richey
How to Get a Sick Vertical Jump for Volleyball!
How to Set a Volleyball
March 25, 2010 by jameslucas.
By Brian Boyce
Learning how to set is a very important key to being a great volleyball player. To begin, let’s start with your hands. Take your hands and make a diamond then bring it up to your forehead. From there more your hands about six inches in front of your forehead (hands still in shaped like a diamond. Then you are going separate your hands about two inches away from each other. When the ball gets into your hands you are going to move your thumbs and push them out shooting the ball out of your hands. Remember to always keep your elbows bent because gives you the option of shooting the ball. Shooting is a quick set to your outside hitter. When setting a shoot the ball only go about a foot above the net and it should be pushed out there really fast. If you set the ball with your arms straight up it will only allow you to set the ball with a loft. This means that you can not set the ball as quickly as if you were to set the ball with your elbows bent. Also, remember to keep your hands close because nothing is more humiliating then letting the ball slip through your hand and hit you in the face. When setting the ball backwards it is a little bit different then trying to set the ball in front of you. In order to set the ball backwards you will go about it the same way as you would by setting the ball in front of you. The only difference is that you will want to bring your elbows further back so that your shoulder blades are kind of touching. Also, you will want to arch you back a little bit in order to set the ball backwards. This is what to do with your hands when learning how to set.
When setting the ball your foot work in an important key it is more important than you probably think. You want to keep your right foot in front and have your knees some what bent. Then when you set the ball you want you use your legs to push up to give more push on the ball. I would recommend to not to jump set until you have had enough practice. When jump setting its not about trying to jump as high as possible its more about using your jump to give you more height when your setting. When jump setting there are a few things to remember. First, always remember to keep your hips facing your target this way you will not lose control of your set. Also, remember to keep your balance and jump strait up because if not you could end up jumping into the net were you will give the other team a point for a net violation and if you do not jump strait up you can jump into your middle hitter. These are some tip when learning how to set and jump set.
Setting is a great tool for defense. Part of the time you have to use your hands to dig balls that are hit. When doing this you will want to keep you strong and keep your thumbs back. You will not want to actually try to set the ball you really just want to get the ball up in the air high enough so that your setter can get the ball. Also, having to pass a serve with your hands is very important. It is important because it is easier to set a float serve because then you can attack the ball and not let the float move on you. Another reason for using your hands is so you will not have to turn your back to the court. One recommendation is that you should not jump when you are going to use your hands to pass a serve or a hit. It is best if you take a step back and use your legs to give you that extra push. The best way to practice using your hand to dig volleyballs is to pepper with a teammate and only use your hands to pass. This is how setting is can help your defensive play.
The setter is the most important player on the court in my opinion. The setter is has to control the team, he has to make the decision on how the team is run. First, the setter has to signal the hitters on what he wants to run. This means the setter needs to see what the opposition’s weak spots are so he or she can know were to set. Once he knows who to set then he signals his hitters what kind of set to expect whether it be a quick set like a shoot or a “k” ball or if it will be a high and slow set like a hut or a 4 ball. Then setter has to move around a lot. By having to run into position after the serve is received. If the ball is not passed to the right spot then the setter has to run to were ever the ball is going. Also, the setter has to be the smartest player on the court. The setter needs to know how to make the proper adjustments when something goes wrong. For example, if a ball is passed really low then the setter needs to know what to do in order to make the ball still playable for the hitters to make an attack on the ball. The setter needs to know who to set and when by properly distributing the ball to each hitter. He needs to spread the ball out otherwise the blockers are just going to sit on one specific hitter. This means that the blockers will just stay on the side of just one of the team’s hitters because they know already where the ball is going to go.
This is how to set and how the setter is the key to any successful volleyball team.
http://quickattckvolleyball.webs.com/
Article Source: Brian Boyce
How to Set a Volleyball
