Base Defense

Question
I'm a little confused as to when you switch to base defense.  On serve receive do I switch to my base position as soon as the ball is served or do I wait till my team plays the ball over before I switch.  If I am a middle in position 2 for example when do I switch to the middle on serve receive

Answer
Good morning Stacy and welcome to www.allexperts.com!

The answer to your question depends on two factors:  (a) are you front row or back row and (b) what does your coach want!  Let's tackle them!

a) If you're back row (and you're on my team), this is how I would like for you to play.  FIRST, make sure the ball is passed!  SECOND, if the ball is passed poorly, be prepared to hit!  But if the ball is passed well, start "following the pass" looking to cover whomever the setter gives the ball to.  THIRD, after the ball has passed over the net safely, shuffle to base position....while looking at your opponents!  

If you're a front row player (and you're on my team):  FIRST, again make sure the ball is passed!  Whether you're in serve receive or not, make sure you are fulfilling your responsibilities on the first hit.  More below. SECOND, take the hitting route that you've been told to take by your coach or setter.  If it is a quick in the middle, then BE THERE on time.  If it's a high outside or high back set, then be available for the set and don't be surprised when you get it.  

We mentioned first contact in the previous paragraph:  You may be saying, "I'm not in serve receive.  I don't have any responsibilities."  Wrong.  You should be helping call in and out.  If you're "hiding" in the front row, you will occasionally have to return a serve....or the ball will hit the floor right beside you.  

b) Regardless of what I've typed above, do what your coach says!!!  Always.  Your coach has an idea of what each player should do.  If 5 girls are doing what Coach says, yet Stacy is doing what Houser says, it's like 4 basketball girls playing man-to-man defense, expect for Stacy.  She's playing Houser's zone defense.  WHAT?  No, all players on a vball team must be on the same page defensively, or there will be screw ups.

You may answer, "I don't know what my coach wants."  Then ask.  Ask politely.  If possible, re-ask.  Maybe ask your teammates when you're all away from the coach, "What does coach want us to do?"  You won't get praise by following Coach Houser's advice, unless it fits into your team's system.  You'll get praise for doing what works in your team's system.  

So, don't EVER EVER do what your dad, mom, or Coach Houser says UNLESS it helps your team play better within your coach's system.  B/c when one of my players start "free-lancing," I will ask her, "Where did you learn that?"  The correct answer is something like, "Coach, just tell me what you want me to do, where you want me to be, etc.  I'll do whatever the team needs."  The wrong answer is, "Coach Jones told me do this."  The hard core response is, "Well, honey, Coach Jones isn't your coach on this team.  What Coach Jones says to do may not be helpful.  Do what I tell everyone on the team to do before I replace you with someone who will."

I hope this helped some.  If not, please follow up with another question.  

I hope you have a great weekend.  My staff and I at coachhouser.com have 10 hours of private lessons here in Roanoke this weekend.  They're SO MUCH fun!  If we can ever do anything for you or for your team, please have your coach contact me at [email protected].  

Later!
Coach Houser