Feet, Flex and 'Fysics'

Feet, Flex and 'Fysics'
By Graydon Swisher (Memphis, Tenn. * Delta Force Volleyball)

What a game!

The sport of volleyball is a great, yet unique game. The team aspect within a rally sport makes for an exceptional dynamic. There are many components of the game including hitting, blocking, setting, passing, serving, offensive and defensive strategies, and serving strategies.

However, at the heart of the game is passing. One could argue the game cannot be played at a high level without a solid foundation in passing. Passing is crucial to be remotely successful in this sport especially at the younger ages. This is not a major news flash to anyone that is in any way familiar to the game. Some may argue this point, but ultimately the game cannot be played without at least some players on the court that can be depended on to make a pass when necessary.

The problem is that passing instruction especially for beginning players is not detailed nor focused enough to allow for a significant, solid skill base. Passing instruction can be much more influential and effective when broken down into the three key categories of feet, flex and “fysics."

It is clear to see that feet and footwork are important in volleyball. However, it is not enough for a coach to merely say “move your feet” or “move to the ball." Players must be trained specifically how to move their feet. Volleyball requires an array of movements in all directions. Athletes must be specifically trained to move laterally, diagonally, forward and reverse...and in a volleyball specific manner.

This can be accomplished using court lines, cones, dots, or agility ladders and a variety of drills. Players also need to be specifically trained to develop quicker foot speed. This can be achieved through the previous measures and drills as well as using leg bands to strengthen directional movements. Most of these measures and drills are for defined movements, but there is also a need for training with reading and reaction movements. Players can perform mirror drills with another player or as a team reacting to the coach to address reaction movements.

It is important for coaches to stress to players that all passing starts from the ground up and therefore begins with the feet. As a result, one can see the importance of starting not only the beginning of a season, but also each practice with volleyball specific footwork training.

Another key in passing is the concept of “flex." Flex what? Well, passing involves flexing muscles, but not like one might imagine. The idea of flex in passing is geared more to the flexing of the muscles in the lower half of the body. Players must understand that regardless of how much or how little muscle is in your leg, when one passes the ball, leg muscles should be flexed, which requires certain positioning.

This is the area where coaches need to take the time to demonstrate proper lower body position. It is crucial for players to learn the exact positioning of the feet, lower legs, upper legs, gluteus and hips. All these parts of the body work together to create the correct form in passing.

Players can benefit from visual aids that reinforce the techniques and positions. Coaches need to strive to put in practices player-only passing drills to allow the coaches hands-off time to supervise and concentrate on reinforcing proper flex and form with each player giving constant feedback.

The final key in passing is the implementation of “fysics” or physics that exists in the game of volleyball. It is a game of angles and force. Coaches must see the value in conveying to players how angles and force play a part in the skill of passing. Angles are important in setting up the proper positioning in passing.

The entire body is involved in passing and must maintain certain angles. The legs, arms and torso all need to be positioned with certain angles depending on what trajectory of pass you want executed. Players must learn how their shoulders can change the angle of the platform their arms make. This is necessary as players begin to move laterally.

Just as different angles affect the trajectory of passes to the target zone, so does the amount of force affect the trajectory of the pass. Force is another key component in passing that coaches should incorporate into their training. Coaches should stress how not only does the ball understand the angle that a player's platform has on it, but also the force that the platform can have on it. Players need to see the different movements that lead to the different levels of force.

Coaches can demonstrate the different amounts of force a player's platform can have on the ball. A player can put force on the ball to pass it two feet in the air or 20 feet in the air. Coaches can put player's in drills that will require them to use different levels of force on the ball depending on the situation.

For example, passing short balls around the 10-foot line to passing balls around the “20-foot” line are ways of mixing up the different force usage. Coaches can engage players in passing drills that require different trajectories, such as a flat, on the line pass or a ten to twelve foot high pass.

In closing, most coaches, if not all, would agree on the significance of passing to the success of both the individual player as well as the team in volleyball. All coaches should understand that spending time working on passing skill sets is vital. Ultimately, one can see that passing instruction can be more influential and effective when broken down into the three key categories of feet, flex, and “fysics."