June 1997

Tricks of the Trade

Although solid basics are the foundation for success, even the best can pull a trick play out of their hat when the need arises.

By Karch Kiraly

We all know a player who likes to be tricky on the court. Whether it's faking a block or pretending to hit with his right hand and then dinking with his left, the trickster can be entertaining, but he's rarely successful over the long run. In general, avoiding flashy trick plays and sticking to the basics works best. But once in a while, you find yourself in a situation where the basics may not be enough. That's when you should consider resorting to some of the plays in the trickster's arsenal. Here are four plays that I don't recommend using all the time, but are ones that should work for you when you need them.

1. Back-Up Pokey

This is an emergency technique used to play a ball that's heading over your head while you're backing off the net. This happens most often when you're fake blocking, and the hitter shoots; or when you're playing short for the hit, and the hitter tries to loop it over you.

For this play, turn and move toward the back court while keeping your eye on the ball (Figure 1). Ideally, you'll be able to reach and make a normal pass. If you can't, plant your foot and shift your weight (Figure 2) while reaching for the ball with one hand. Bend your fingers down from the second knuckle while keeping your hand unclenched so you end up with a flat surface at the top of your bent fingers. Poke upward and forward at the ball (Figure 3) to keep it in play.

2. Skyball Serve

Very few people use this serve as a mainstay, preferring the more-popular jump or float serves. But the skyball is great to use on a blindingly sunny day when your opponents are facing the sun. It's also a good serve to exploit a weakness in your opponents' passing.

The best skyballs are the highest ones. A low skyball is easy to pass, but one that seems to drop out of the heavens is much harder to handle. First, position yourself at an angle to the court, never straight-on. (I rarely serve a skyball, but when I do, I like to be almost perpendicular to the court.)

Bend your knees as you bring your arm back (Figure 1), and, as you release the ball, give it a little height on the toss (Figure 2). As you begin to follow through, straighten up (Figure 3), and contact the ball with a flat fist (Figure 4). Follow through with your armswing in an upward trajectory to give the ball maximum height (Figure 5). This is a serve that needs practice and can fail in windy conditions. But once in a while, it can be a winner.

Reverse forearm pass

3. Reverse Forearm Pass

At one time or another, we've gotten stuck too short in the court and watched a good shot sail over our heads and land on the back line. Although it's not ideal volleyball form, the reverse forearm pass is one way to make the play.

This pass is basically an upside-down traditional pass. To execute it, raise both arms above your head, clasping your hands and angling your wrists back. Play the ball off the area where your wrists meet your forearms. The idea is to get the ball up high in the air, so it's important to keep your wrists angled back and your arms high. If you forget this, the ball could shoot straight forward or down.

Play the ball off the block

4. Play the Ball off the Block

Once in a while, even the best setter will trap-set you at the net, meaning he or she has put the ball way too close to the waiting arms of the blocker. Usually, swinging away at a trap set results in a giorious stuff block for the opponent. But here's another way to play it.

Instead of hitting the ball hard, tap it upward and off the hands of the blocker (Figure 1). If the ball doesn't go out of bounds off the blocker's hands (a "tool" and a side out or point for you), generally, it will fall slowly back into your side of the court, giving you or your setter a second chance to play it (Figures 2 and 3). A couple of things to keep in mind: Don't just swing or poke away indiscriminately at the ball, or you'll probably get blocked. Make a conscious decision to rebound the ball off the blocker's hands. And aim at the blocker's hands well above the tape because a ball that rebounds off the tape may cause a savvy blocker to yell "No touch!"