Front/Back Row Defense Adjustments

On defense it is always hard for outside and weak front row players to decide if they should block certain balls or back up and play tip cover. A lot depends on the strength of the hitter, location of the set, and the blocking ability of the defender. 

Here the weak player pulls off the net to play tip cover while the right back backs up to cover deep line.

In this play the weak helps in a double block while the RB pulls up to cover the tip.

Players should use the pole as a blocker and how far to block off the line. Don't hug the pole for it is challenging to hit straight down the line.

Make sure that when a player covers line that they have their outward food next to or on the line so they do not have to guess or play balls towards the line that would end up swinging out of bounds.

The following drill helps the front row and back row player to work together on defense. When the front row player blocks, the back row player behind her must adjust according to the front player's location therefore you would not want them stacked and create a hole. Imagine a string attached to both players and the pole and they swing, move, and adjust accordingly.

Have players play 2vs2 and split the court in half while making the defense adjust and the offense tries to find the holes to score.

These notes are from Diane Flick of Western Washington >>