Outside hitters and Defensive Specialists: how can I improve my skills?

Question

I made my schools JV volleyball team and i really need some help.

I am an outside hitter and my timing is always off. In order to hit it right i have to start my approach as the ball is being set but if its an over-set i miss it. pleasee help with things having to do with my swing, and timing, and hitting it IN the court, and working up to making a "kill".

QUICK.

I also have to play in the back row a lot and my passing isn't great. How can i improve on making a high ball right to the setter?

I need LOTS of tips and advice and things to work on at home, i really love the sport and i hate feeling like i don't deserve my spot.

Answer 1

I can't really help you with the hitting, but passing is definitely my specialty. Stay low and use your legs to get the ball high. Also, point your foot and body where you want the ball to go. Sometimes you can't point your whole body, so concentrate on pointing your foot to the setter, and make sure that foot is out a little more than the other foot, and you stay on your toes. While your at home, work on wall sits or squats. And also pretend that you are passing the ball, instead of using your arms, let your legs lift you up, if you keep practicing this it'll become second nature while your playing/practicing.

Answer 2

Make sure you approach right when the ball is at its' peak and always go in at an angle so you have the ability to adjust to off sets. As for bumping keep your platform tight, point your thumbs to the ground and don't swing at it, just kind of lean into it pushing it to the direction you would like it to go.  

Answer 3

As an outside hitter you have to start off the court so you know where the set is going to go and how to play it.  Start your 3 step approach when the ball is at it's highest point.  Then you have to explode to the ball, your in a race to get to the ball when it is still above the net.  Your arms should start in front, pump them back, then forward.  Do not use the windmill arm approach.  You lose power to jump and waste time in your approach.  Timing just takes a lot of practice.  See if your coach will show up early to practice or stay late to toss for you so you can practice your approach and timing.    As a hitter have to remember your are never going to get your perfect set.  You have to be able to better the ball in any situation.  Not every set will be hit able so you need to be able to adjust and still have a good attack, ex. down ball, or off the net spike, etc. Don't get frustrated, stay with it you will get your timing down.  

Answer 4

Hi, well..I am a setter myself and I had a middle hitter who would rush in to hit a quick set before i even got to the ball...This is very risky because not all my sets are going to be perfect.  How i helped him improve this was when we hit in hitting lines, i would toss him the ball so he could pass then I would set to him.  This way, he would have to slow down to adjust to after the pass.  Eventually, i changed it to downballs and it helped a lot.  Another way was that I told him to practice his approach at the net.  I would tell him to approach after i clap my hands, but, he had to count to 2 seconds first.  This helped him slow down his approach and eventually fix his timing issue.  Right now, you just need to break the habit of going in early.  Especially because a lot of your sets will be off at this level and being able to adjust to your sets is vital.  As for passing, the best way is to just keep playing and never give up after shanking or messing up a pass.  

Good luck

Answer 5

You should start your approach when the ball is at it's highest point.

Practice your approach 100 times a day without a ball.

For back row, don't swing your arms, let the ball come to you.

Point your thumbs down to the ground.

Stay low and on your toes. You should be able to see light under your heels.

Answer 6

well congratulations on making the jv team....when its an overset, you cant do much about it...its not your fault, its the setters. BUT---even when its an overset, you have to do as best you can, to adjust to the set, even if its too far out. so your first step to the approach, should be big to the outside, then the last two are just setting you up for the jump, where you will be hitting it. so thats how you hit an overset...

and timing--- when the setters hands let go of the ball, when the ball is at THE HIGHEST POINT in the air before it starts to go down, is when you start your 3 step approach.

to work on passing, you just have to practice staying REALLY low to the ground, and stay on the balls of your feet. staying on the balls of your feet will allow you to move faster to the ball.

you need to make sure that your stance is perfect to pass. to get a perfect stance, when you get low to the ground, here's what you do:

first you make sure that your knees align over your ankles, and you shoulders align over your knees. and then its perfect.

if you have trouble spiking the balls into the court, this is how you'll know where you'll be aiming the ball: when your shoulders face a certain way, thats where the ball will go. if your shoulders are facing the right corner of the other court that you're hitting into it'll go into the right corner...

alright, well thats all the advice i feel like giving. good luck later.

Answer 7

Be wide... You most of the time, should be not even in the court when you are being set. When your setter sets the ball, then start your approach and go for the kill, or when the set is at its highest peak, you start your approach.. You'll get it when you practice.. I got in JV in my first year of high school and did not have a clue how to hit.. I progressed and got the hitting down.. Don't worry about it. I did not feel like I deserved it when I got on.. But later in the season, you'll realized you did..