It's difficult to learn how to perform many of the skills in volleyball since they happen so quickly. In this article, you'll find six photographs that capture fleeting moments of excellence. I have chosen them to illustrate some of the finer, sometimes overlooked, aspects of the game.

Keep in mind, taking care of the details is important. It's what separates the champions from the rest of the pack.

BE PREPARED

This photo was snapped the moment after a spike. Is the blocker going to stuff the ball? The spiker's teammates shouldn't concern themselves with this question. No matter what, the covering team should always have the mindset that the ball will be blocked. Notice how all the Stanford players on the covering team in this photo are on the balls of their feet with their knees bent. They're ready.This team is obviously disciplined because all of the players are prepared to dig if the ball gets blocked. Hmmm. Maybe that has something to do with why they won the national championship.

ARMS APART

This photo is a good illustration of how you should prepare to receive a jump serve. Notice how the three passers have their arms out to their sides, enabling them to quickly set up platforms on either side of their bodies.

Players often make the mistake of starting out with their passing platforms already set up in front of their bodies. This makes it awkward to move, especially if you're trying to pass a blazing jump serve. Many beginners also have a bad habit of holding their hands together while running to pass the ball. What you should do is keep your hands comfortably apart and to your sides. This way, you'll be able to set up and pass balls coming from any direction.

NO PAIN, NO GAIN

The passer in this photo has his priorities straight. You'll notice that he's not worried about breaking his fall with his arms. All of his concentration is on passing. Less dedicated players might concern themselves with avoiding bruises on the hips or knees. But the player in this picture has the right mindset and understands that it doesn't matter what happens to your body. If you want to be a great passer, all that should matter is keeping your head still and your platform out and tilted toward the target.To make the optimum play, sometimes you have to sacrifice your body.

KEEP YOUR HEAD STEADY

When you're passing, be sure to keep your head still as the ball approaches your platform. This will enable you to maintain body balance and keep your platform stable. As USA's Allison Weston demonstrates here, you want to use your peripheral vision to see the ball contact your arms. Don't jerk your head down and watch it. At this point, there isn't enough time to make any last second adjustments anyway. By keeping your eyes forward, you can take in the "big picture" of the play. And if you've practiced enough, you can be confident that your platform will be in the right position to make a good pass.

WATCH THE BALL

One key to never being surprised in a volleyball match is keeping your eyes on the ball. On this "X" set, notice how the quick hitter is already turning his head to follow the ball, even though he's still coming down from his jump. In this situation, many middle hitters would be staring through the net at the opponent. But following the ball at all times is important. What if the "X" hitter gets stuffed by the blocker? If the middle hitter is watching, he'll be able to help out and cover. If he isn't, it's a point or a side out for the opponent.