13. In a beach game, I saw the player at the net hold
up 2 fingers
behind their back when their partner was serving. Why?
The net player/blocker
was telling their partner the direction
they were going to block; 1 = line,
2 = angle, fist = no block.
14. What are the position numbers on the court?
There's more than
one system, but the most common has the
setter (right back) designated
#1 with 2-6 numbered counter-
clockwise to #6.
15. Someone
asked me if I played a 6-2 or 5-1, but I'm 5'8. What
were they talking about?
They were asking about standard player/offensive sets. In
these 2 common offenses,
the first number is the number of
designated hitters,
the second, the number of setters. In a 6-
2, while 2 players
share setting duties (coming from the back
row), all 6 players
are hitters as well. In a 5-1, there are 5
hitters and one setter
(back or front row). Most higher level
teams go with
a 5-1 to get consistent setting. With lower
level teams you
might hear a 4-2 where two setters always
set and the setter
is always in the front row. A bit farther
and you'll
hear "center set" where the person rotating
into the middle of the front row
sets (giving up the middle
hit).
16.
What is rally scoring?
A perverted system of scoring designed to destroy normal
play strategies, etc. A point
is scored with each serve;
whoever wins the volley gets
a point. Normally used in a final
game to speed up play to
get the show over quickly.
17. What are the rules differences between USAV and high
schools?
There are too many to list here.
18. I was playing vb at a picnic and people crashed the net, lifted
the ball, ran over on our side, and generally ignored the rules.
How do I let them know there are rules
without them saying
"we're only playing for fun"
and me sounding like an asshole?
Good Luck! The best way to do this is to let it be known from
the start that 1) the net
is "fragile", please don't crash it, and
2) that rossing onto your
opponents court is how ankles get
broken. As for throws, doubles,
etc., let'em go. If you have a
problem with this kind
of play - sit back in that lawn chair and
have another beer. You
might try a little teaching, but let's
face it, folks are there
to party, not learn.
I: Training
1. What are the Plain Truths of Training for volleyball?
1. Any attempts to increase your physical abilities MUST start
with a rigorous
whole body weightlifting program.
2. To jump higher, do a lot of jumping.
3. You
cannot overemphasize the need for stretching to
prevent injury.
4.
Physical improvements are hard. For most people,
improving
their volleyball skills is far and away the wisest
use
of time. Find good players and emulate them. Ask them
what
you do wrong & listen to them.
5. Play a lot of volleyball, every day if possible, and play with
people better
than you.
2. What's the "vertical" and how do you measure it?
One's vertical is the effective
height of one's approach/jump.
To measure it, stand flat
footed and measure how high you
can reach. Then with an approach
and jump, say next to a
wall, measure your best jump.
The difference is your
"vertical." There's no such
thing as an 'average vertical
(except for the constant
discussion, the only comparable
measurement that is subject to such exaggeration is the
length of the male sexual
organ). All I can say is that almost
everyone can improve it.
3.
How can I increase my vertical by xx inches?
Many ways; probably the fastest and most effective way
is to
improve your jumping technique.
Check out vb books and work
with a coach. There are many
strengthening methods that will
increase your jumping ability -
and, plyometrics work. The
cover feature of the December 1999
issue of Volleyball
Monthly was jumping; technique,
exercises, & drills.
