BUILDING AN OFFENSE
Consider what is involved
Passing/Defense: Ball control off
serve receive, defense, free balls
Setting - In system: serve receive,
transition, free ball
Setting - Out of system: front
court, back court, closest hitter, 5' X 5' set
Attacking: Serve receive, transition,
free ball
Consider team strength and weaknesses
Ball Control
Serve
Reception Passing: 3, 2, 1, 0 hitters (Average)
Defensive
Passing: 3, 2, 1, 0 hitters (Average)
Free ball
passing: use hands or forearms, tempo passing
Setter strengths and weaknesses
Foot
speed: Fast or slow (How well does she track down balls off the net, left
or right)
Footwork
patterns: technically sound or inconsistent (perfect pass, off the net,
behind or forward of the target area)
Position of
hands: consistent technical precision or inconsistent
Body
Position: Front sets, back sets, tempo sets, jump sets
Physical
strength: stronger in any specific court direction, consistent strength of
set
Emergency and
pursuit skills
Understanding
of tactics: Situational or tactical sets
Hitter strengths and weaknesses
Outside
hitters: ball control, movement ability, fast or slow arm swing, read
blockers, shot selection, right or left handed, mentality
Middles: Movement ability, fast or slow arm swing, stronger off one foot
or two, mentality
Setter:
Ability to hit or dump
PUTTING THE FACTS TOGETHER
Know what to use
Know your team composition and
chemistry.
Set an offensive mission statement
and realistic goals to achieve.
Build offense first around individual
ball handling ability and setter's abilities
Build offense secondly around hitter
abilities
Create player rolls and expectations
for:
Passing/Defense
Setter
(primary and secondary)
Hitters (In
or Out of system)
Coverage
Emphasize each player's strength and importance to team
offense success
Keep working on weak areas. Re-evaluate individual and
team goals. Set new goals
Tempo: What fits the team's strength and weaknesses
1. Slow Tempo: High ball
offense
Why:
Less error, greater consistency
Higher sets, less movement
When:
Big physical hitters (athletic or non-athletic)
Setter with slow foot speed
Poor ball control (2, 1, 0 hitters)
2. Medium Tempo: High
ball sets to outside hitters; shoot sets, quick sets to middle hitter
Cons:
Greater chance for error
Moderate consistency
Additional hitter movement by middle attacker
Why:
Allows for varying levels of ball control
Compensates for setter with average foot speed
Uses strengths of big physical hitters and smaller more athletic hitters
Can create sets or combinations based on strength of hitter and setter
Allows for a mix of tempo's and movement into sets
When:
Big outside hitters, agile middle hitter
Consistent passing to target
Technically sound setter
3. Fast Tempo:
Quick low sets
Cons:
Above average risk, greater chance for error
Demands much movement from all hitters
Why:
Creates seams and one-on-one situations for hitters
Good against an opponent that is physically stronger and taller
Neutralizes the big block, create seams for smaller hitter
Aids the smaller athlete that has exceptional ball control, movement and variety
of shots
When:
Exceptional team ball control: High percentage of ball to target passing
Hitters with athleticism; great movement skills, dynamic approaches
Athletic setter with very quick foot speed and consistent quick tempo sets
Areas of Offense
1. Serve Receive: Philosophy -
create the best situations to get the best passer(s) and attacker(s) the ball
Passing:
Identify best passer(s)
Have the best passer(s) touch the ball has much as possible
Use the serve receive formation best for team attack system
Offensive strategies: Basics
Player specific pre-determined play
Spread offense antenna to antenna
Create seams, create movement
Combination to beat the blockers
Balanced attack (if possible)
Consistency (reduce unforced errors)
Develop tactical skills in setters and hitters:
Setters: In system: What am I creating and why.
Know opponents blocking tendencies and type of team defense
Know strengths and weaknesses of own hitters
Know the roles of own hitters-terminators versus shot hitters
Know the mindset of each hitter
What tactics are working versus what tactics are not working
Which hitter is most effective versus which hitter is least effective
Hitters: SCORE!
What is the situation?
Where are the blockers (Inside or outside)?
What are the blockers giving or taking away?
Weak areas of team defense
Swing, off-speed, or tip
Shot selection options based on opponent's defense and ball position
Angle of approach
2. Defense/Transition
Movement from defensive to offensive positions
Setter role in defense
Secondary setter options
Middle attacker makes first call
3. Free ball Offense
Position specific pre-determined play
Best attacker versus weakest blocker
Ball to best hitter