|
by Mike Schlegel With summer approaching, it's time to come out of hibernation and get your sand game in slope. These tips will help you get back to basics by focusing on fundamentals.
Don't start the summer with bad habits such as reaching for a pass or digging with one hand when you should have used two. Make it a personal goal to get every ball with your entire platform, not just half of it. Liz Masakayan is one of the most successful players in beach (and indoor) volleyball because she goes all-out for the ball on every play. There's no way that you're going to be able to accurately use the one-arm play at the beginning of the summer, so forget about it. By concentrating on using two hands, you'll increase the chances for success early on.
How often have you seen receivers in football turn their heads away from a pass and then drop it? Volleyball players tend to do the same thing when it comes to pass- ing a serve. Be sure to "look the ball" into your platform before tak- ing off on your hitting approach. Remember that the better your pass, the more likely it is that the set will be where you want it. As soon as you put hitting above pass- ing, your team's offense will get buried in the sand. As AVP pro Lee Legrand is demonstrating in this photo, pass first and hit later by looking the ball into your arms.
You can bet that your partner's setting is going to be inconsistent-if not totally lame-at the beginning of the beach season. One way to prevent hitting errors and make your partner look good is to focus on reaching high on bad sets, especially those that are too far out- side, inside, back or forward. Elaine Youngs demon- strates this point as she chases after a dying inside set. If you keep your reach high, it decreases the chances that you'll hit into the net or out. It also allows you to get more heat on the ball because your contact point is higher and you won't drop your elbow.
Setting demands precision, but, unfortunately, that's something you aren't likely to have after hanging up your sand game during the winter. In getting up to speed, remember to use your legs and push forward as you bump set. Bump setting isn't the act of swinging your arms; it's an upward and forward motion that comes mostly from your legs. Step forward with the leg that is closest to the net. By the time you send the ball back into the air, your legs should be fully extended, and you should be pushing upward on the balls of your feet. As you can see in this photo, Dain Blanton is showing perfect form as his legs push him in the direction he is setting.
The toughest part of beach conditioning is getting your sand legs. At the beginning of the summer, your legs are bound to tire quickly. To find your sand legs more quickly, remember to stay on your feet as Janice Harrer is doing in this photo. Do whatever it takes to make a good play while keeping your body out of the sand. Sure, the sand is soft, and it's a tempting surface to rest your weary legs, but you don't want to play with your butt on the beach. If you force yourself to play on your feet early in the summer, your legs will get stronger much more quickly.
Of all the skills in volleyball, beach blocking is the most frus- trating when you're out of practice. It's tough enough when you're at the top of your game let alone when you're rusty from a long winter. So "Be like Mike" (Mike Whitmarsh, that is) and keep your eyes on the hitter. Even if you aren't in the right spot, there's a chance you'll get a hand or two on the ball if you reach into the hitter's angles. You don't want to do this nearly as much indoors, but creative blocking is a must on the beach. The more you watch the hitter, the more balls you'll touch. As you can see, Whitmarsh is successfully read- ing the hitter and shifting his block into Steffes' hard angle..
|
PLAY EVERYTHING WITH TWO HANDS
