Tips for a Libero/DS??

Question

I used to play Libero for my club team but I was moved to DS(not because I was doing poorly). Now I am to serve (YEESSS!!) and I was wondering if any of you have some tips for me in passing. My team is preparing for Junior Olympics so I'm making my passing as good as it can be.

Answer 1

Try this for reading hitters. "The nose knows!" While not 100% effective watch the opposing hitter - read the set first and then find your hitter - watch her approach from the hips up to the shoulders. The flatter the approach (hips squaring to the net) the more likely she is to try and turn line depending on the set (low trajectory sets are harder to turn at younger levels). Lastly look at the hitter's nose. If she is looking up she's likely going to to try and go over the block, looking down she is likely to go low over the net. Also most hitters hit where they are facing. While this isn't fool proof, it will give you more information to process to try and get you into the right position to dig.

Answer 2

I am also a libero/DS the best advice i can tell you is work on coverage coverage coverage if everyone is where they are supposed to be on the court it makes your job a whole lot easier! Focus on your platform and work on perfecting it. The pass is generally the first step in your offense and usually your only defense (if the block isn't there) work on quick footwork and following the ball, also work on your back row attack (it's the middle ground between a jump serve and a front row hit.)  Good luck this coming season...hope this helps:)

Answer 3

omg!!! my clubs 14s team is going 2 JOs too!!!! woww pretty kool!!

Answer 4

What team are you on??

My team is going to the Junior Olympics too, in the 15 open division what about you.

Just keep your playform straight and call the ball.

Good Luck!!

can you post what team you are on ... i would love to know thx

Answer 5

i am also a libero/ds and i think it is one of the most fun position for volleyball. just remember to stay low and read the hitters body where they are going to hit it

Answer 6

TAKE FREE BALLS WITH YOUR HANDS

You should never have to pass a freeball a set is always more accurate. As a libero you should always stay low and dont lean move your feet. Complete layouts on tipped balls are sometimes necassary so be prepared. Remember to cover your hitters.

Also if you convinced your coach to move you to DS then I would suggest a serve that stands out. Having a float serve like everyone else will not convince your coach to keep you at DS. Work on a jump serve.

Answer 7

Can't stress this enough - DON'T BE AFRAID TO SACRIFICE YOUR BODY! Do anything to get that ball up. Remember, the floor may hurt, but an ace hurts worse.

Make sure when you're receiving that you keep your knees bent and low to the ground, don't bend at the waist, that'll just make you double over when you're running to the ball.

Stay on your toes, literally! If you plant your feet you won't be able to make yourself go anywhere, if you're ready to go you can explode after that first ball.

Don't ball watch. Don't expect the other girls to go for it, keep an eye on that ball and expect it to come to you. You need to be thinking "Right here, come on serve right here."

Be loud. Don't be a mouse on the court, no one on the court should be quiet.

Now that you can serve, take your time! You got 5-8 seconds out there (depending on the Refs, but nothing less than 5 seconds) Next time you are near an analog clock, watch it tick 5 seconds. It's really a lot of time. Take a breather, spin the ball a few times. You'll start to realize that you have your own routine each time before a serve.

Try to "spot serve". If you can get this skill down it's amazing. Say to yourself in practice "Ok, now I'm going to serve to spot 6, 3, 4, etc." It's a great skill to have especially if you realize one of your opponets has a weak pass.

Hope some of these tips help, and good luck as DS :)

Answer 8

Stay low, learn to read hitters/blocking lanes and listen to your coaches.....I just want to point out that when I say stay low, i mean really low. For serve receive, call the ball early (before it crosses the net) and move your feet quickly. On defence, make sure you're aware of where you are and where everyone else is. Learn to read the hitters arms. This will give you a slight edge in positioning. Usually, hitters will slow down their arm slightly before a tip and some will do their approach with one arm in the air, signaling the tip. Making this read will make you quicker and allow you to determine if the hitter is actually hitting. If they are, get in position and get into your brake step BEFORE they make contact with the ball. From here, if you're low, you'll be able to make quick reactions to the hit. This is also where reading the blockers on your side and listening to your coach will help. Your coach will tell you where he/she wants you to start from and then move to based on what the opponents are doing. However, this will also be based on having two blockers with one unified front. A lot of times, the middles are slow to close. If you're aware of this, and can read the hitters approach and positioning, you'll be able to make a better determination of where to be. The key is getting there before the hitter makes contact with the ball and staying very low....if you're low diving is easy and pain free ;-)

Good Luck!