Defense - Part 3

Articles In This Section:

· Defense - Part 1

· Defense - Part 2

· Defense - Part 3

· The Westside JCC Defense - Part 1

· The Westside JCC Defense - Part 2

· The Westside JCC Defense - Part 3

· The Westside JCC Defense - Part 4

· REFERENCES

After the ball is passed forward for the setup or spike, the rest of the team should move into position to handle a possible block by the opponents. The setter goes directly behind the spiker, the outside man in back of the spiker comes up, and the rest of the team moves to form a circle of protection behind. It is very important at this point for the players to be alert, expecting the ball. They should think of the next play and know where and how to make the next play. See Figure #23.

Fig. #23. COVERING BEHIND THE SPIKER

X—Spiker; O—Other players;

Path of player

When the opposition has the ball, they too want to spike or hit it where it cannot be returned. If the spiker is very good, a three- or four-man block must be used to slow or stop the spike.

The methods of blocking have been covered in an earlier chapter, but blocking and defense go hand in hand. "Front line protection is still the vital part of defense." ¹

Players not blocking at the net must be ready to move in any direction in order to recover a partially blocked ball or a spike hit past the blockers. These players should stand in a stride stance slightly crouched with the hands up. A player can usually move faster from a stride stance than from a square stance and, here again, can drop his hands quicker than he can raise them.

In playing a ball that misses the block, a player must be ready to move to the ball as quickly as possible. It is better for the players to move their feet as in a still run while the spike is being made so they may move to the ball quickly. Phyllis King and Evelyn Prescott maintain that in girls' and women's volleyball, players too often stand flat-footed and wait for the ball to come to them.² The same holds true in men's volleyball. "The best defensive player is the fast, relaxed type who does not get set too rigid, thus being able to move in any direction instantly." ³

The only way to return a hard spike is to get in the path of the ball with the arms or hands. If the spike comes below the waist, the player may deflect the ball upward with the forearm or fist. The most popular method is to use both arms while both hands are clasped together. More arm surface is utilized and makes for a surer hit. A ball coming several feet to the right, left, or front of the defensive player requires him to deflect the ball upward with one hand or arm. The player must lunge quickly for the ball and be willing to dive to the floor. European players play close to the floor and leap or dive after balls to make recoveries. Such extra effort will enable a player to save balls which otherwise would be lost.

The use of the closed fist and the lower forearms is one of the major advances in defensive play. Robert E. Laveaga, noted volleyball authority, quickly detected these advances in comparing the National Championships of 1953 and 1940: "It is a hard driving, strenuous, exciting game with spectacular recoveries using the closed fist. This is one of the major differences in play as we look back. The ability to control the ball with closed hand is unbelievable. The Japanese used both fists doubled, with thumbs on top and adjacent to each other in which the forearms sometimes come into play." ⁴

One of the outstanding defensive systems in this country has been developed by the Los Angeles Westside Jewish Community Center. Wilson terms the Westside JCC the finest defensive team since the 1951 Hollywood YMCA team.⁵ Eugene Selznick, player-coach of the Westside JCC, has written the following portion of the chapter. In studying the defense of this great team, one cannot help being impressed with the complex and scientific maneuvers these players have mastered.