How to Play Volleyball

Volleyball Strategy; Slamming the Spike and Wasting Your Competition

2008-12-25T09:33:00.000-08:00

Volleyball Strategy; Slamming the Spike and Wasting Your Competition

If you are a Volley Ball player and you truly like to win then you are going to have to practice the hardcore spike to level the competition. And when I say level them, I do not mean level the playing field I mean completely level them into submission. This is why you personally and your team must concentrate more on slamming the spikes and wasting your competition rather than just playing the fundamentals and proper placing of the spike.

Now please hear what I am saying, I did not say do not practice and hone your skills on development of precision in the fundamentals of the game of Volley Ball. Anyone who has ever played the game competitively knows that. With certain family members who have played high level Volley Ball, I have been to enough tournaments and grueling practices to know that and you should too if you are serious about the sport.

You goal is to win and perhaps you need to play with an iron fist to win rather than observing any sort of take it easy on the competition type strategy. In other words if you competition leaves an opening pound it like you never have before like a reflex from hell into the hole. If your competition jumps to high to block pound it towards their heads. You must play to win and stop thinking otherwise. Volley Ball Strategies should include; Slamming the Spike and Wasting Your Competition. So, please consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Volleyball Shoes

2008-11-25T09:33:00.000-08:00

Volleyball Shoes

Volleyball is widely played and is among the most popular games in the world. As the evolution of the game goes on, equipment and apparels such as shoes are keeping up the pace. Most volleyball shoes are now available bearing the ingenuity of modern technological advances designed specifically to play the game.

In playing volleyball, just like playing any other sports, you need to equip yourself with the right skills, game knowledge, techniques and strategies, apparel and shoes. Volleyball shoes are specifically cut and designed for playing indoor volleyball. They are manufactured with materials and styles that match the needs of volleyball players.

The market has a wide array of volleyball shoes to choose from. The shoes come in various sizes, brands, styles, colors and designs. There is a selection of shoes for men, women and children, and you can find them in most sport’s stores and on the Internet. Choosing the right shoes to wear is important as it can affect the way you play volleyball. You need to know that your feet will perform for you throughout the whole game and hopefully help your team win the game.

Remember, size does matter. Try on several pairs of shoes until you get the right fit. Also make sure that they are made well. Check for durability and reliability of the material used to make the shoe and remember that volley ball shoes are designed differently for men and women. If you’re buying in a shop, ask for professional advice. If your buying online, read all the material about the shoes you are interested in before purchasing them. Also, magazines about sporting goods might have tips and advice on how to fit volleyball shoes and what specific designs and styles to choose.

Volleyballs provides detailed information on Volleyballs, Beach Volleyballs, Volleyball Clipart, Volleyball Shoes and more. Volleyballs is affiliated with Imprinted Basketballs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva

Volleyball Practice

2008-10-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Practice

Volleyball Practice makes Perfect

By developing a strong warm up routine, you will be able to easily snap your players into a game playing mindset. Use any combination or all of the following drills at your next volleyball practice or before your next game to come up with a warm-up routine that suits your players’ strengths and helps them work on their weak points.

Offensive Warm-up Routine

At the beginning of the volleyball practice, divide your team into partners. If so desired, pair the stronger players with the ones that require a little additional help and guidance. Execute each of the following mini drills for approximately 2-3 minutes, or just long enough to get the blood flowing and the muscles fully lubricated before moving on. Use a sharp whistle blast to signal the end of one drill and the movement to begin the next one.

The first warm-up skill is a simple ball throw. Have your partners stand across the court from each other, and using their hitting arms, throw the ball back and forth. This action serves to warm up the hitting shoulder and arms, including the shoulder joint.

The next warm-up action involves spiking the ball. From the same positions as before, have one player throw the ball into the air and spike the ball hard enough so that it reaches their partner after one bounce. Continue spiking until the shoulder feels warmed up.

After spiking have your players work on their setting to warm up their fingers and arm muscles. Have your partners stand 10 feet apart and set the ball back and forth with the focus being on accurate passing skills. Following setting, your players will practice their passing skills the same way as with setting. Again the focus here is on clean and crisp passes that don’t deviate from their target destination.

Another necessary skill in the game of volleyball is serving, which is also incorporated into the warm-up routine. Divide the team into 2 groups and have each group spread out along the back line on either side of the net. Each player begins with one ball. At the sound of your whistle, each player serves the ball. Since the teams should be spread out evenly, there should be a ball close enough to each player for them to pick it up and serve again.

Don’t forget about Defense!

As much as offensive moves are important, maintaining a strong defense is an equally important part of any volleyball practice. The next part of your team’s warm-up routine will get them into a defense frame of mind which will translate come game time.

For this defensive drill, have your players line up opposite you and gather at least 10 balls at your side. One player is the designated setter who is to stand off to the right side between you and the line of players.

Toss the ball into the air high enough for the first player in the line to pass it to the setter. The player that passes the ball then moves in to the setter position, becoming the new setter. Meanwhile, the original setter hands the ball to you and runs to the back of the line as the next person in line steps up to pass your throw to the setter. Once players get the hang of the drill you can always increase the speed, which will keep players on their toes and constantly anticipating the next move.

Larry Reid has been coaching volleyball for well over a decade. You can get instant access to his championship volleyball practice plans by visiting his website:

http://www.volleyballpracticeplans.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Reid

What You Should Know About Volleyball Safety To Make The Most of Your Play Time

2008-10-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

What You Should Know About Volleyball Safety To Make The Most of Your Play Time

The fun and excitement of volleyball lures many children and adults into playing the sport. However, in order to have as much fun as possible, volleyball safety is something that you must always keep in mind. There is no fun in a sport if you are injured and cannot play due to something as simple as knowing when or when not to bend your wrist. Your first consideration when preparing to play volleyball, or any sport for that matter, is to make certain you have all of the equipment you need to play safely. Depending on where you are playing volleyball, there are several types of equipment you can purchase that can help prevent injuries. The basic equipment falls under several categories:

Protective Gear
Shoes
Clothing
Miscellaneous Accessories

Protective Gear

The most common type of equipment is the basic protective gear. Pads and palm protectors fall into this category. Pads, such as elbow pads and knee pads are generally used in hard floor based volleyball, such as indoor courts located in schools world wide. All three are also highly suggested in sand based courts, and are considered a vital part of volleyball safety, as they protect the most vulnerable parts of your body. Volleyball pads are used to prevent injury due to impact with the ground from purposeful dives and accidental falls. Palm guards are used to protect your hands and wrist from impact of the volleyball, as well as from falls.

Shoes

The second category of equipment that is vital for volleyball safety is the style and type of shoes worn during game play. Specially designed men and women's volleyball shoes allow for better grip on the court, which prevents sprained ankles and dangerous falls. Without the proper shoes, you put yourself at risk. Nike and Reebok are two companies which specialize in sports shoes.

Clothing

During a volleyball game, wearing the proper style of clothing is the only way you can ensure accidents are prevented. Some styles of clothing, such as high riding shorts, can cause discomfort to the player, which can lead to a lack of concentration and injury. By wearing proper sports jerseys and comfortable low rise shorts, you can enjoy a comfortable game without additional risk of injury.

Miscellaneous Accessories

When selecting your other accessories, you need to always keep your safety in mind. While ear rings and other piercings may be aesthetically pleasing, they do not belong on a volleyball court. Choosing what to wear besides the standard volleyball safety gear is very important. A volleyball to the stomach could cause a great deal of pain and danger should you have a naval piercing, for example. Earrings being ripped from earlobes is another common volleyball injury which is easily prevented. Play it safe. If you do not need the accessory, take it off for the duration of the game. If you play volleyball a great deal, arrange for any piercings to be done and finished healing before or after the season. If you must have volleyball accessories, some good wholesale accessories for volleyball include hair scrunchies, temporary tattoos, and arm bands. Another thing to consider is most, if not all volleyball leagues do not allow temporary tattoos to be worn during matches. Much like glitter, they could be considered a distraction to the competition at hand.

After you have been fully equipped for playing volleyball, there are other things that you need to keep in mind. These are the basic safety rules of volleyball, and should be adhered to at all times.

Body Positions - Setting, Serving, Spiking and Passing
Physical Contact

Body Positions

In volleyball, an important aspect of the sport is the position your body is in, whether you are setting the ball, serving, or spiking. Improper body positions can cause injury to yourself, or potentially others, so you should take great care in assuring that you assume the proper positions.

Setting

When setting the ball, you should always be careful to watch the ball, and be in position several ball lengths before arrival. Facing the target rather than the origin can prevent being hit in the face with the ball. Losing focus on the ball can also result in being unbalanced due to reacting to the ball being where you do not expect it. This can result in injury, as sprained wrists and ankles are a likelihood.

Serving

When performing the serve, you want to make certain your lead foot is opposite from your hitting arm. If your lead and hitting arm are both on the same side, you will be unbalanced, which can result in a wide serve and injury. You must also make certain to hold a firm wrist position when completing the serve.

Spiking

This can be one of the more dangerous aspects of volleyball. When spiking the ball, you will be in motion, and using a heavy, hard action on the wrist and your body. As you are jumping in this move, you run risk of sprained ankles and other foot related injuries. Injuries resulting from falls are also extremely potential in this move. When performing your spike, there are several things you need to remember. First, you should be jumping with both feet. A one foot jump can lead to injury. Also, you should not perform a "tennis" swing. This is where you side-sweep with one arm, while your other arm swings backwards. This is a risk to yourself and your teammates, and should be avoided. Your wrist should also be held back in this position, and snapped forward on the spike. A dead-on hit can jam or sprain your wrist. By keeping these small tips in mind, you should be able to prevent injuries.

Passing

This is the one of the most common moves in volleyball. The pass, or the forearm bump, is performed by holding your hands together and hitting the ball with your forearms. A good pass involves your hands being held together, while your elbows are held straight, and your wrists remain firmly in position. Your body should be positioned towards your target when the pass is completed. If any of these things are not done during the pass, you run a risk of injury to yourself and others. This is where a great deal of wrist injuries occur, as hitting the ball with your hands instead of your forearms can cause sprains or breaks in your wrists.

Physical Contact

In Volleyball, physical contact should be avoided at all times. As this is a no-contact sport, collisions usually result in injuries that prevent you or your teammates from participating in future games. While many sprains only take a week or two to heal, broken ankles and wrists from collisions take far longer and can ruin your season. Always keep in mind where your teammates and opponents are. By doing this, you can save yourself and your comrades a lot of pain and trouble.

At first, all of these volleyball safety tips may be overwhelming. However, without them, you will find yourself out of play due to a painful injury. Persistence in following the basic rules of safety can prevent this and enable you to enjoy the game to its fullest extent.

About The Author

Rebecca Blain is a professional and hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her fish and educating people about volleyball equipment which can be read about here:

http://www.everything-volleyball.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Blain

Volleyball Practice Drills

2008-09-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Practice Drills

Practice Makes Perfect

Keep your volleyball practices fresh and interesting by incorporating new drills that isolate specific skills or combine a number of skills by integrating them into game play. When introducing these volleyball practice drills to your team, make sure to fully explain every aspect of the drill and give each player a chance to practice the drill at half-speed first before proceeding to full speed. Not only will this serve to avoid unnecessary injury, it will also allow your players to cement the correct frameworks before implementing the learned skills.

Three Pile Pick Up

The first of these new volleyball practice drills is a simple one we call Three Pile. It’s a great drill for the beginning of a practice year as it incorporates many skills and while it can be organized around a competitive framework, it is also great for building teamwork and communication skills which are crucial when playing volleyball.

To begin the Three Pile drill, have 3 players lay down on the court in a pile on top of each other. At the sound of your whistle, throw a ball high into the air. At the same time, your players must untangle themselves as quickly as possible and stand up in time to call out the first hit. The player closest to the ball then sets it and run the play as best as possible.

To turn the game more competitive, have two piles of 3 players on either side of the net, and throw a ball to each group. If the ball is called out and missed, that player is out of the game. If the ball is successfully hit 3 times then it must be hit over the net to the other team who hit the ball back to the coach and drop to the floor in a pile. The team that achieves this first earns one point, and play continues until a predetermined score is reached.

4-on-4 Free for All

The next of the volleyball practice drills is not only a great workout but it teaches your back row players to play smart. To begin, divide your player into groups of four. Have your players set up in a diamond formation, with one back row player, two outside hitters and one front row setter that stands at center front.

The drill runs just like a regular game except that when the opposing team is hitting on the outside, the outside player rotates back to the ten-foot line in order to double block as much as possible. This drill requires for the back row player to read the opposing hitters well since they will need to be able to move quickly to hit the ball.

To up the ante for this drill, especially if you want to work on developing a kamikaze defensive strategy, have your back row player dive for every ball that is a hit. This will help to eliminate the lazy mindset that defensive players sometimes fall into with regards to other players picking up the slack.

Larry Reid has been coaching volleyball for well over a decade. You can get instant access to his championship volleyball practice plans by visiting his website:

http://www.volleyballpracticeplans.com/

For a limited time, all coaches who visit Larry's site will also get a free copy of his special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Volleyball Coaches Make". Go get your free copy today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Reid

What Started It All - The History of Volleyball

2008-09-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

What Started It All - The History of Volleyball

Surprisingly, one of the most well loved sports in the world is also relatively young. Despite the game's youth, it has gone through a wide variety of changes and evolution as a part of its rich history.

Believe it or not, but at one time there wasn't Asics or Nike women's volleyball shoes or even volleyball uniforms for sale anywhere, let alone online!

To fully understand and appreciate how much the game has changed and how much work was put into to make it successful, you need to search back to the very origin of Volleyball, and study when and why changes were made.

Just over 100 years ago, in 1895, William G. Morgan developed the first game of Volleyball. At the time, Morgan dubbed the game "Mintonette". "Mintonette" was created for business men as a game that involved less physical contact at the chapter of the YMCA where he worked at in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Morgan borrowed aspects from several games to create his own game. The first aspect was from tennis, borrowing the net. Instead of the standard net, however, he raised it to be 6 foot 6 inches high, so it was just over the heads of average men. Other sports he borrowed from include basketball, baseball and handball. During one of the demonstration games of the sport, one of the spectators commented the game was more about volleying, and the games name was changed to Volleyball.

That was only the beginning.

In 1896, the first official game of Volleyball was played at Springfield College. This game signified the first real take-off of the sport, and led into further games being played at a variety of different Colleges. In the year 1900, Volleyball had taken off enough where a special ball was designed just for the game. Another feat also accomplished in 1900 was that the YMCA took the sport from America to Canada, the Orient and the southern hemisphere. Five years later, Volleyball also spread to Cuba. This spreading was what signified the start of the Volleyball era. Unlike most sports, Volleyball moved International in its early days, allowing for the game to evolve to meet the players needs world wide.

In 1907, Volleyball received its first recognition of being one of the most popular sports at the Playground of America convention. This was the first recognition the sport received, and helped to further its popularity. In the following ten years, the YMCA continued to spread the sport to Brazil, Puerto Rico and Uruguay. In 1913, the first official Volleyball competition was held in the Far Eastern Games.

1916 saw Volleyball have its first true evolution. In the Philippines, the set and spike offensive pass was introduced, and game play was altered to involve this new form. The Filipinos developed the "bomba", which is the kill, and the named the hitter the "bomberino". In this same year, the NCAA was invited by the YMCA to alter the rules of the game, and it was initiated into Colleges and other schools as a part of the standard physical education courses and intramural programs. A year later, the scoring system was also adjusted so that a game ended after 15 points instead of 21. This allowed more games to be played within the same span of time, in an attempt to make the sessions a little shorter for the players.

Three short years later, in 1919, the American Expeditionary Forces donated 16,000 Volleyballs to the troops, which provided a stimulus for growth in foreign countries. With this rise in growth of the sport, new rules began being developed. A year later, the three hits per side rule and the back row attack rules were put into place.

By 1928, players and fans of the sport realized that "official" tournament rules and regulations were required. The United States Volleyball Association was formed, and the first U.S. Open Volleyball tournament was held. The U.S. Open allowed for squads that were not YMCA sanctioned to participate, which was a breakthrough at the time. This evolution permitted lovers of the sport to fully enjoy the game without having to be tied to the organization that created it.

After 1928, the game of Volleyball was forever changed. With the "official" rules set down, and a tournament that wasn't private to the YMCA, the popularity of the sport was allowed to sky rocket. The Men's U.S. Open was held every year thereafter, with the exception of three years. 1943, 1944 and 1989 did not have the yearly tournaments, due to wars and other obstacles.

In 1934, Volleyball saw another extensive change through the recognition of official referees to oversee the games. This change in particular drastically altered the calls and the fairness of the game.

The 1940's held several special events for Volleyball. Not only was the forearm pass introduced into the game, the first world championship Volleyball game was held. It was during this time that the volleyball movement saw fruition, and squads from all over the world could find out who was the best. This became a yearly event, allowing for more publicity of the sport, which aided in its growth. Around this time, over 50 million people were playing world wide, in over 60 different countries.

By 1964, Volleyball had spread enough to warrant introduction into the Olympic games. The first games took place in Tokyo, where a rubber carcass with leather panels was used for the ball. This ball became the one that would be used in most modern competitions. As a part of the Olympic games, Volleyball was allowed to grow even further, until it secured a place for itself as the second most played game in the world.

Despite this high level of popularity, it wasn't until 1986 that the Women's Professional Volleyball Association, or the WPVA, was formed. With the growing rate of professional interest by both sexes, Volleyball was finally allowed to reach its full potential for popularity. Elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges all invested into the game by providing courses in Volleyball in their physical education, so that the sport was known in most households around the world.

While still trailing behind Soccer for popularity, Volleyball has done extremely well for a game with roots so young.

About The Author

Rebecca Blain is a professional and hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her fish and educating people about volleyball equipment which can be read about here:

http://www.everything-volleyball.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Blain

Volleyball Practice and Mental Strategy: Overcoming Life's Obstacles

2008-08-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Practice and Mental Strategy: Overcoming Life's Obstacles

When I got back from Italy in 1998 I dedicated all my time to giving and helping family and friends. This was because I felt I owed them since I spent so much time away from home pursuing every professional volleyball opportunity that was offered to me.

At the beginning of the summer of 2006 I went to get an MRI on BOTH of my knees. What an experience. Pretty interesting.

You are laid on a cold slab and slowly rolled into this huge round incubator tube like apparatus. You are given ear plugs because it makes alot of noise while you are inside. Before I even got the results of my MRI...my doctor sent me a referral to an Orthopedic Surgeon. At this point I KNEW I had my work cut out for me. The results on my Left knee were as follows: 1. a tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, 2. patellar chondromalacia (how can I have this if I cant pronounce it!), 3. a small Baker's cyst 4. a Focal subchondral sclerosis in the anterior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle (what! english please) and 5. Joint effusion

The report also included some additional details as follows: Large joint effusion is noted, there is a tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus while my medial meniscus is intact. Geez, something is intact! Apparently the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are intact but patella chondromalacia is seen. Otherwise, patella and patellar extensor mechanism are intact but additionally, there is a focal subchondral degenerative change noted in the anterior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle. No seriously that sounds so impressive!

The results for my right knee were even more fun: Let's start with 1. Severe degenerative changes, 2. Anterior Cruciate ligament tear (really, I never knew!), 3. Body of the lateral meniscus tear, 4. Loose body posterior to the lateral femoral condyle ( I think there is something floating around in there somewhere.), 5. Joint effusion

Of course this wasn't all, there were additional details: Sagittal, coronal and axial images demonstrate severe degenerative changes involving both medial and lateral compartments of the knee with extensive osteophyte formation and chondrmalacia as well as subchondral sclerosis. (Okay what the...?)The sagittal images demonstrate a COMPLETE anterior cruciate ligament TEAR. (Wow, seriously I never knew..). There is also a focal tear in the body of the lateral meniscus. The medial meniscus is intact. (Oh thank God!) Patellofemoral degenerative changes and patellar chondromalacia are seen. A loose body (again) is noted immediately posterior to the lateral femoral condyle. (In other words there's a piece of bone or something floating around in my other knee!) This report ended with the following. "Thank you for referring this patient to us!" (funny. very funny.)

So when I first opened the envelope and read the results I just started laughing. I couldnt stop laughing. Because two days before I did my leg workout in the gym which consisted of 140 lunges. That's 10 in one direction 10 in the opposite direction 7 times...no breaks. Followed by Squats. I did my usual 2 hour leg workout which also included Clean Pulls, Good Mornings, two different Leg Curl Exercises, Toe Raises and Cardio on the elliptical Machine.

I'm not exactly sure what I was laughing at. I didnt even know what to think or where to begin... I've always practiced and pushed myself very hard. I've never really babied myself. Basically I thought that if I could walk then I could run. And if I couldnt run then I could ride a bike. I ALWAYS found a way to overcome the obstacle. So I think I may have been laughing at everything I had done in these past 17 years.

Nothing ever stopped me...and that was funny.

I knew that I had my only volleyball knee injury incident a long time ago. Major League Volleyball was the first Women's Professional Indoor Volleyball League in the United States. I was the first round draft pick chosen by one of the greatest volleyball player's ever... Mary Jo Peppler to play for the New York Liberties. While playing in Dallas I went up to spike and when I came down and my toes barely touched the floor I felt something wasn't right so I just let my body fall instead of just trying to land on my two feet. As a result I tore one third of my ACL. If I tried to land on my feet I would've completely torn my ACL then.

I was given two possibilities. Either I could have reconstructive surgery OR I could basically live in the gym for the rest of my life. I chose to live in the gym after a period of rehabilitation and the dreaded KNEE brace. So I knew that I was going to have to weight train for the rest of my life to keep strong the muscles surrounding the ACL -the back of the knee, my calf, my thighs and my butt muscles all would need to stay strong in order to compensate for the weak two-thirds of the ACL I still had. That was 17 years ago!

Somewhere between THEN and now I completely TORE my Anterior Cruciate Ligament...and didnt even know it! Life is hilarious!

I forgot to mention that due to my ACL injury I missed the last three Major League Volleyball games of the season. But because of the work ethic I adopted and applied BEFORE my injury I was still named to the First Team All Pro Team as well as named Best Left Side Outside Hitter for the first Major League Volleyabll season.

If there was a lesson that I could pass on I'd say "When you get a chance to practice and work hard...Do it as if you will never have another chance to do it again. Give 110% to each rep, to each set...make each one count becasue you never know what the outcome will be and you never know if you will be given a chance to do it again.

April Chapple is a former USA National Team member and Volleyball Professional. As President and owner of Volleyball Voices Inc. April has created the first virtual volleyball mentoring community consisting of various volleyball information sites including http://www.top5volleyball.com and http://www.volleyballvoyeur.com for all females who play. !f you enjoyed this article then Subscribe to the free Volleyball Voices Newsletter!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=April_Chapple

What it Takes to Earn a Volleyball Scholarship

2008-08-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

What it Takes to Earn a Volleyball Scholarship

Athletic Scholarships can be a difficult task now a days. Unless you are the Lebron James of your respective sport you must really focus on your particular athletic ability and utilize all necessary forms of promotion to help obtain an athletic scholarship.

This is a unique story specifically about volleyball and how one athlete went about gettting a volleyball scholarship. For Hannah Smart it’s been five straight years to the USA Volleyball Junior Olympic Championships with her club team KC Power club. Five years in a row is a serious feat and a serious commitment. The team finished this year in 11th place but most importantly it was the fun they had and the exposure the got in hopes of securing a volleyball scholarship.

The exposure comes at a cost both financially and personally. It is often difficult for high school athletes to be away from a number of their friends and family while they travel to tournaments and camps throughout the country. The finances often add up into the thousands of dollars between club team costs, travel costs, food, room and board, etc. With the hopes that it may payoff in the end with a volleyball scholarship offer.

Summer time and fall of there junior and senior seasons is the time that the serious players will begin preparing for college scholarship offers. This dedication to one’s sport is a common thread throughout all the sports, you must play club and travel ball and spend the time and money to get seen.

Author is from http://recruitcity.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Bean

Volleyball Mental Toughness - How To 'Spark' that Volleyball FIRE in your Players!

2008-07-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Mental Toughness - How To 'Spark' that Volleyball FIRE in your Players!

After winning the first set, your team has dropped the last two in a row. Their backs are against the wall and they are playing back on their heels. Chins are dragging on the floor, and the bench is quiet.

It’s driving you crazy! How do you spark that volleyball fire in your players even though they are behind the eight ball? Scream? Yell? Stomp your feet? No way!

Remind your players that they have no chance of winning if they already count themselves out. They have already won the one game, and they only have to win another to get back in the match.

All of a sudden it doesn’t sound so bad does it.

When your players are losing, they focus far too much on the serve they hit into the net or the easy dig they missed because they were out of position. It is a proven fact that the more a player dwells on the negative aspects of a game, the more likely they are to repeat those mistakes.

It is planted in their mind – now you have to uproot it!

Emphasize that run of six points the team had to make the third set close; remind them of the amazing stuffs they made on the opposing team’s top power. Talk about the killer hit that ricocheted the top of their setter’s head and into the crowd. ANYTHING to get your players smiling, laughing and now motivated towards the positive things that they have done.

Focus on winning one point at a time. Too many players will be so focused on the end result that it affects their big hits, digs and jump serves along the way. Get them back to doing things right.

Your players don’t have to be superstars and make amazing plays (although it does help). All they need to do is execute their passes, get the sets above the net, and hammer the hit down the opponent’s court.

The tide of a game can change in your favor, or it can come crashing down on your head. Remove the doubt from your player’s minds and they will come out fighting for a win!

You will find many more great volleyball tips in our brand new e-book, “Winning Volleyball Skills.” You’ll discover dozens of tactics you can use immediately to instantly improve your volleyball game by your next match! Check out the information by going to: http://WinningVolleyballSkills.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hayley_Merrett

Volleyballs

2008-07-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Volleyballs

Volleyball is among the most well-loved and popular sports around the globe. An active sport that provides excellent aerobic exercise, this game is perfect for keeping you fit, and it also helps you improve your hand-and-eye coordination, as well as your ability to supersede the desire to duck a fast-moving object – in this case, a ball.

In this game, there are two teams playing with a net that is 6foot x 6inches high separating them. Each team must hit the ball back and forth over the net. They are allowed three hits to get the ball over the net to the other team. In case a team commits a fault, fails to return the ball properly or the ball hits their ground; the opponents will get a point or score.

Volleyball is played in almost any country on beaches, school grounds, or backyards. Although an enjoyable game, to have the perfect volley ball game, there are a few things that must be considered.

If you want to enjoy a volleyball game thoroughly, then knowing the rules is key. Know the guidelines, faults and scoring procedures of the game will help you know just what to do in every play that you encounter. Enlist the help of any volleyball professional to teach you the basics. Sport magazines and books may also have good information about volleyball game rules.

Now that you know the rules and you have an apt basic knowledge, next thing to know are the techniques. There are many techniques in playing volleyball, and if you watch a pro play the game, you’ll know about it. There are clinics and centers offering volleyball techniques trainings and improvements, and you can certainly enroll on one of them if you choose. However, keep in mind that volleyball techniques lay within you, and it’s really up to you what strategies and skills to use without violating a rule.

In every sport, safety should always be a top priority. Always bear in mind that every safety measures should be taken in consideration seriously, as some accidents may involve a life-threatening situation. Many basic guidelines in volleyball incorporate tips on how to prevent injuries and accidents as well as what to do in case there is one.

Volleyballs provides detailed information on Volleyballs, Beach Volleyballs, Volleyball Clipart, Volleyball Shoes and more. Volleyballs is affiliated with Imprinted Basketballs.

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Volleyball Drills

2008-06-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Drills

The Challenge of Finding New Volleyball Drills

As a volleyball coach, one of the biggest challenges I face is coming up with new drills that will help my players improve their skills while pushing their boundaries for learning new ones. When trying out new volleyball drills make sure to demonstrate the drill at half speed before running the drills at full speed.

Each player should have a chance to practice the skill slowly before increasing to the desired speed in order to minimize the chances of injury as well as give the players a chance to practice the fundamental movements before working on speeding them up. Each of the following volleyball drills isolates a different skill or skill set. By isolating a specific skill your players are able to work on them one at a time and apply their learning come game time.

Getting your Own Rebound… Again and Again

For the first of the three volleyball drills divide your team into partners who are approximately the same height, if possible. Each pair should have one ball. The player with the ball shall be player 1 and other is player 2. Since the goal of this drill is to improve ball control throughout a wide variety of contact methods, begin by having player one hit the ball down to player 2.

Player 2 is to dig the ball and hit it high up so that they can tomahawk the ball. Next they are to hit the ball with only their left fist followed by the right fist only. After this, player 2 sets the ball to themselves, then hits the ball down hard for player 1. Player 1 is to repeat the sequence in the same order. Repeat this drill 5 times for each player before increasing the speed or switching up the order of the hits to keep players on their toes.

Hit the Cone in the Corner

The goal of the next of the volleyball drills is to improve your team’s serving abilities from the corners of the court. For this drill divide your team into two groups, with each players having one ball. To begin, set up an equal number of cones in each of the four corners of the court. At the sound of your whistle, the players are to serve their balls in an attempt to knock over the cones on the other side of the net. Players are to continue picking up balls and serving again until all the cones have been tipped over.

The team who knocks over all the other team’s cones first is the winner. For a variation that works on more precise aiming skills when serving, set up only one cone in each corner, and have each team take turns serving and trying to knock over the cone. Each team earns one point every time they knock over a cone, and the winner is the one with the most points after 5 minutes of play.

Larry Reid has been coaching volleyball for well over a decade. You can get instant access to his championship volleyball practice plans by visiting his website:

http://www.volleyballpracticeplans.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Reid

Volleyball

2008-06-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Volleyball

Volleyball originated in United States and is more than hundred years old. Volleyball is an extremely popular sport in United States and has gained popularity in various other parts of the world. It is estimated that 46 million Americans play volleyball and there are around 800 million players of volleyball worldwide. In the year 1895, William G. Morgan, thought to mix the elements of baseball, basketball, tennis and handball into one game. He thus created a game called mintonette, which was later called volleyball. The first game of volleyball was played in the year 1896. Earlier, the ball of basketball was used for playing volleyball. In the year 1900, a special ball was designed for the sport. The ball of volleyball now weighs between 9 and 10 ounces and the ball pressure is between 4.5 and 6 pounds

Volleyball is one of the most energetic sports. In volleyball there are typically six players in one team. There are two teams playing against each other. Each team has three players in the front and three players at the back of the court. In between the two teams there are high nets to separate them. The teams use their hands and arms to hit the ball back and forth over the net. The ball should not fall on the ground.

Volleyball can be played indoors as well as outdoors on a rectangular court. The field is divided into two equal half-courts. The rules of volleyball are fairly simple. There are six players on each side. The server of the ball should serve from a line on the court called the restraining line or the end line. It is necessary that the ball is clearly visible to the opponents before the serve. The ball may be served overhand or underhand. The served ball may graze the net and fall to the other side for a point. The maximum hits allowed per side are three. A single player cannot hit the ball twice in succession. If so, it is considered to be a foul. The ball may be played off the net throughout a volley and on serve. A permissible hit is contact with the ball by a player body above and together with the waist, which does not permit the ball to perceptibly come to a rest. If two or more players contact the ball concurrently, it is considered one play and the players concerned may not partake in the next play. A player must not attack a serve. Switching positions will be allowed only between front line players and that also after the serve.

The scoring of the game is also quite simple. Rally scoring is used in volleyball. The game of volleyball is typically played to twenty five points. There will be a point scored on every score of the ball. Scores will count on a defence miss or out of bounds hit. Defense will score on an offensive miss, out of bounds hit, or serve into the net.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on sport and visit our associated site articles for free.

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Volleyball Drills Three Drills To Enhance Your Volleyball Skills When Practicing By Yourself

2008-05-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Drills Three Drills To Enhance Your Volleyball Skills When Practicing By Yourself

I may sound a little bit crazy, but I absolutely love practicing my volleyball skills and developing new ones.

Nothing makes me happier than being with my teammates, on the court, and practicing my jumps, blocking, serving, spiking, passing, bumping, and even conditioning.

This is where I get pumped up and jazzed about playing. It's at these practice times where my team bonds together and we push each other beyond our limits. It's also where we can see where your own skills may be lacking on one area or another.

I used to think about these areas and think that there are other people on my team who excel in my weaknesses, so why should I have to practice and bust my butt to improve.

To Win. Win. Win.

Very simply the idea of transforming my team into a an unstoppable juggernaut where there are no weaknesses in any area of the court.

So how do I enhance my game, build upon my weaknesses and elevate my team? I practice by myself!

No It's Not An Oxymoron

How do I practice by myself? It's really a lot easier than you may think. I've created three great drills that I've used to help me in my weaker areas.

Timed Marksmanship

This is how I get the blood pumping. It's great for conditioning and for placing my serves right where I want them.

On one side of the court make 5-6 "x"'s on the floor with duct tape at various places. These are your targets. Then set a clock for 5 minutes and set up to serve on the other side.

You then practice serving and aiming for an "x". If you hit it grab another ball and go for another. But, if you miss you must run over, retrieve the ball, and try again until you hit it the "x".

The goal is to hit all the "x"'s on the other side within the time limit. It's a gut buster and really helps with your concentration, conditioning, and serves. Both in power and accuracy.

Set Me Up Again and Again

This is where you actually set up spikes to yourself. Another great conditioning drill but also gives great accuracy in your sets.

Again, put several "x"'s on the floor in random places. Then simply throw a ball up in the air where you're standing and simply "set" the ball towards another "x". Quickly run to it and "set" it again towards another "x".

Repeat this for several minutes. You won't believe how this will immediately increase the accuracy, and timing of your sets and ultimately get your team delivering great killer spikes!

Defending Myself

One of the areas, while I wasn't bad, I wasn't up to the level as my teammates was my defensive dig.

So I knew that I needed to both fix my reaction times and my ability to dive for the ball. I then created this drill to work on it and now I prowl the middle court like a lion looking for fresh meat!

Very simply I defend myself. It took me awhile to get use to doing this, but once I got a handle on it, I didn't have any more problems.

Throw the ball up in the air and bump it on the way down. Now, all you need to do for a set period of time is continue to dive, dig, or bump the ball again wherever it comes down.

Like I mentioned, this drill will dramatically increase your reaction times and ability to relentlessly pursue the ball.

Once you become accustomed to the drill you can make it even more demanding my controlling where you actually bump it to.

Work On Your Weaknesses And Your Team Will Be Unstoppable

When my teammates and I began working on self practice techniques on a regular basis we became an even stronger force, both as a team and personally.

Do you have any weak areas? Try these practice drills to further enhance your volleyball game and create the "unstoppable" team.

Volleyball player Hayley Merrett has completed a brand new ebook that contains even more "self practice" techniques, and tactics to instantly improve your volleyball game by your next match! Check out the information by going to http://WinningVolleyballSkills.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hayley_Merrett

Volleyball Training Videos: How Watching Video Improves Your Volleyball Game

2008-05-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Training Videos: How Watching Video Improves Your Volleyball Game

Watching volleyball videos can seem like the most boring aspect of pre game preparation but like most things you just have to know how to MAKE it work for you.

Usually there are two basic reasons why a coach has you watch volleyball videos...in preparation of an upcoming game or to get better at performing a particular volleyball fundamental. It's easy to get lulled into or lost in the moment of the game on the small screen but instead of watching every play just for the sake of saying "hey I finished watching the video" pick a particular volleyball fundamental that you need to improve and watch the best one or two players perform that fundamental over and over again.

If you need to improve your volleyball serve receive skill or "pass the ball" better then that's the part of the game you need to focus on watching other more experienced players do. Unless your volleyball coach has instructed you to watch something in particular (like the way a team plays defense or the way a player transitions off the net) focus on watching a better player perform the skill that you need to work on the most. How does she do that?

What are they doing? How are they standing while the server still has the volleyball? Do they have a stutter step or do they hop jump as the ball is crossing the net? Which foot is forward? Is their upper body straight up or crouched over? Are they straight legged or are they in a slight squat position when they serve receive?

This is what happens to me when I'm watching a volleyball video...

If I'm watching someone serve receive well....I watch this player execute the right volleyball skill or technique over and over and over again. I want to take that "scene" and take that "visual" with me so I start playing that scene repeatedly in my head. I start visualizing that player doing the same thing in my mind after I've stopped watching. When I go home, when I go to bed, when I'm washing dishes, before practice I get used to seeing this player do the serve receive correctly in my mind.

Then... I start hearing my coach's words on how to do this skill correctly. So then I hear my volleyball coach, I hear my coach say "step to the ball", "present my platform", "use my legs", and I keep hearing my volleyball coach's words over and over like a tape recorder in my mind. This is actually kind of easy because when you aren't performing a skill correctly THAT IS when your coach starts yelling at you anyway, right? What they are yelling at the top of their lungs already exists in your mind so you just start playing that mental volleyball videotape, over and over.

Then little by little both what I SEE in my mind and what I HEAR in my head start meshing together. When I re-play this continuously in my mind these two things start coming together where I form a mental volleyball movie of my own. When this mental movie starts playing then after awhile my body starts to respond to the mental voice I hear and the mental picture I've been playing.

My body starts doing the things that I have been rehearsing over and over again in my mind. I start seeing myself -take the place of that player and in my mind I see myself performing the pass correctly over and over.

And the aspects of the game that I am playing over and over start to become automatic and I start doing these things physically- not just mentally- but actually in real life.

That's how I make watching volleyball videos work for me.

It's great when you can hear a volleyball champion who has played for years commentate on the game. Singin Smith, Karch Kiraly, Mike Dodd and Holly McPeak do the color commentary with Chris Marlowe for the AVP Beach Pro Volleyball Tour games on television. All these volleyball Champions represent some of the greatest players in the history of the AVP and all are past Olympians with multiple gold,silver and bronze medals in Indoor and Beach Volleyball. Listening to them talk about the game is like going to volleyball school. The more you do it...the better volleyball player you can become....and that's one way to make volleyball videos improve your volleyball game.

April Chapple is a former USA National Womens Volleyball Team member and Volleyball Professional who created Volleyball Voices the first virtual volleyball mentoring community with volleyball skills, stories by champion women volleyball players and volleyball coaching information sites where females learn how to play better volleyball.

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Volleyball Training -Training Beginner Volleyball Players!

2008-05-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

Volleyball Training -Training Beginner Volleyball Players!

Your team is tied at 22. It’s the fifth game of the state championship and you badly want to beat your cross-town rivals.

Everything looks good, except one of your players goes down with an ankle sprain. You take a long look down your bench – rookies, all of them. Things could be lost – unless you have taken the time to make sure that your greenhorns have learned the basics.

Training your players to contribute as quickly as possible is the key to making sure that your team isn’t caught in a compromising position. Get them on the court in practice as often as possible and put them through the same paces as you do your starters. Where to start? Place an emphasis on learning the fundamentals.

The skills should be presented to the athlete in a sequence that best gives them the opportunity to contribute as quickly as possible in game situations. What’s the first skill they should learn? Passing, of course.

A player needs to know how to start a play before anything else. They could end up being on the wrong side of the opposing team’s best power and they best know how to get into the ready position and dig the cannon coming their way.

Now you need to teach the rookies how to dish out what they are receiving – big hits. If you can shape their attack skills quickly, you could have an extra weapon when one of your starters goes down. Make sure they learn to approach the net properly, and they will start hammering the ball to the floor in no time.

Since most of your setters will be identified during the learning process, this should probably be the last skill you focus on with learning players. While each player should know and be proficient in this skill, there are only one or two setters on the court at any one time, and probably no more than two setters on an entire team.

Coaches – get all your players into game shape as soon as possible. Not just the regulars, but the rookies, too!

You’re going to need them at some point during the season, so teaching them to dig the ball from their knees, make the picture perfect set and then slam the ball to the floor is going to make your team a champion!

You will find All of the drills you need to teach your rookies the ropes in our brand new e-book, “Winning Volleyball Skills.” Including TONS more tactics to instantly improve your volleyball game by your next match! Check out the information by going to: http://WinningVolleyballSkills.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hayley_Merrett

Volleyball Drills For Youth

2008-04-25T05:52:00.001-07:00

Volleyball Drills For Youth

Choosing the Best Youth Volleyball Drills

When coaching youth volleyball it is important to select your drills based on your players’ current skill sets and those that need improvement. Running drills that are too easy or too difficult for your players is not nearly as beneficial as selecting drills that your players can master with much practice and skill improvement. Please feel free to integrate the following volleyball drills for youth at your next practice.

Four Player Pepper

When selecting volleyball drills for youth, make sure to choose fast-paced drills that emphasize fun as much as skill building to hold your players’ attention. The first of these drills is a variation on the classic pepper drill that my players love. Pepper is an excellent drill because it builds concentration while improving a number of skills including multiple types of hits and ball control. This drill borrows the form of the pepper drill and adapts it for a four player version.

First off, divide your team into groups of four. Each player assumes a different role in the game: player 1 is the hitter, players 2 and 3 are diggers and player 4 is the setter. Each group has one ball. At the start of your whistle, the drill begins with the hitter tossing the ball into the air and hitting it to one of the diggers. The digger pops the ball up to the setter who sets the ball up to the hitter, who continues the rotation in a similar fashion.

There are multiple ways to up the ante for this drill. You can enforce a rule where if any of the players miss their designated hit and the ball touches the ground, either the player or the team is eliminated from play. The last one or ones standing are victorious. Also, you can run the drill for 8 minutes, having the players switch roles every 2 minutes at the sound of your whistle, which gives each player a chance at each of the skills.

Zip it Up

One crucial skill that should be in any volleyball player’s arsenal is the zipper pass. The next of the volleyball drills for youth teaches how the proper positioning for the zipper pass and how to use it during game play.

For the zipper pass, the first thing to know is the proper body position for correct execution. First, the feet should be slightly wider than the shoulders with one leg slightly in front of the other, the knees are to be bent, and the arms should be locked at the elbows. The ball should come in to contact with the arms directly in front of where the zipper is located at the front of a pair of jeans. Have your players practice transitioning from their regular stance to this zipper pass stance before moving on to the zipper pass drill.

For the drill, have a row of passers stand on one side of the net with the coach or another player standing on the opposite side of the net. The coach tosses the ball to the players one by one. As the ball reaches the passers, they are to assume the zipper pass stance and instead of passing the ball, catch it exactly at the zipper level.

Larry Reid has been coaching volleyball for well over a decade. You can get instant access to his championship volleyball practice plans by visiting his website:

http://www.volleyballpracticeplans.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Reid

The Fascinating History of Volleyball

2008-04-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

The Fascinating History of Volleyball

It’s a sport with that uses terms such as “joust” “decoy” and “kill” although it was originally devised to be played by businessmen to give them less physical contact and be more suited to their sedate lifestyle.

Volleyball was invented by William Morgan, a YMCA instructor, and the very first game was played on July 7th, 1896. Morgan combined elements of other established sports, such as baseball and basketball.

The net was based on the net used in tennis – although raised to a height of just over 6 feet. A few years later, the sport had its own ball – and its own name, as an observer noticed that many shots were volleys.

During the early part of the 20th century, volleyball spread quickly through not only the US, but parts of Asia, South America and the Caribbean. In 1916 the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) helped to promote the sport further and define the rules.

The first YMCA championships were held in New York in 1922 and a few years later, the sport came under the control of the newly-formed US Volleyball Association.

In 1949, the first Volleyball world championships were held in Prague, and were won by Russia – at that time, European countries dominated the sport. During the same year volleyball became more widespread and popular at colleges and in 1955, volleyball was first played at the Pan American Games.

Another milestone in the sport was achieved in 1957, when it was decided to designate volleyball as an Olympic sport. The Tokyo Olympics in 1964 were the first games to feature volleyball and the ball used was made from leather paneling over a rubber carcass.

The first gold medal was won by the host country although since its introduction as an Olympic sport, Russia has won the most medals. It would be another 20 years until the US won Olympic medals for the sport – Gold and Silver at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In addition to the standard game, there is even sitting volleyball, for the disabled. And beach volleyball – popular for many years - is now a recognized sport, having made its Olympic debut at the 1996 games.

Today, volleyball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s played regularly by an estimated 800 million people worldwide – ranking second only to soccer - including almost 50 million people in the US alone.

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Dr. Josef Reindl is doing research in sports and sports equipment. He is owner of http://www.sport-bandagen-doc.de where sports bandages and sports clothes are available. He is also running http://www.handball-nachrichten.de and http://www.basketball-nachrichten.de where he publishes daily news on handball and basketball.

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