High School Right Side Position

Question
My 14 year old 6' daughter has been playing Outside & Middle in club for the
last  couple years.  She is a smart and strong blocker and an even stronger
outside hitter.  She made the varsity high school team this summer. The coach
will only let her practice at the Right Side position and she is struggling.  She
has always been the go to player for points in the past.  Now it looks like
she'll be sitting the bench this season.  What is out there for learning the
Right Side position?    I haven't been able to find any good articles, books, or
DVD.

Answer
Hello John and welcome to www.AllExperts.com

My name is Coach Tovar

Having a daughter or son as player is always a sensitive matter because you would like for them to always be playing. The situation here is that the coach needs an effective right side hitter.

It is a big promotion because it equals to someone telling you "You are going to take the hardest job on the team and I feel you can do it". Your coach probably is doing what is best for the team as far as players are concerned. Any body can be good as an outside hitter but not everyone can be good as a right side hitter.

In this position you have to wait for the ball to pass your whole body before hitting the ball which takes a lot of practice and timing. Your coach probably saw that your daughter was good enough to try this position. I have had to make the same decisions. What usually ends up happening is that the player shows very little interest in that new position and gives very little effort.

It's like saying to the coach, " If you are not going to put me where I want to, then I will not try to learn the new position". The coach usually benches these type of players because the coach feels they will not be a good asset to the complete team.

I myself personally was changed to a right side hitting position in my college club team. I practiced very hard until the coach made me an assistant coach to train new players on how to grasp these right side techniques better.

I would suggest that your daughter ask the coach for as much help on techniques to help her master the right side outside hitter position. If your daughter did the same thing on another team, she would of had the same results. Here are some brief techniques to remember when spiking a volleyball from any position and or area.

Improving your Hit
1.   Make sure you look at the ball and then turn away as you spike the ball.
2.   Hit the ball at its highest point.
3.   Make a 揅? hand position to help you with your topspin and follow through.
4.   Twist your wrist from one side or other as you spike the ball.
5.   Jump with momentum at an angle and not straight up.
6.   Jump to reach for the spike

Improving your Timing
1.   Perform an approach very slowly and trace your steps.
2.   Your most natural approach should be the best one for you.
3.   Practice your approach from the 10 foot line.
4.   Practice your approach as a 4 second time ( from start of approach to the actual hit). Practice this on a branch 1 foot  higher than the actual net.
5.   Practice looking away at the ball jut before you hit the ball to see your options from the blockers.
6.   Most important, your starting stance should look like you are going to start a standing running race.



I hope this answers your question.

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