From: serge@ll.mit.edu (Sergio Cafarelli)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.volleyball
Subject: Re: hitting past blocks
Date: 2 Sep 92 14:54:34 GMT
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

In article <1992Sep1.142114.22578@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> ematias@csri.toronto.edu (Edgar Matias) writes:
>In article <1992Sep1.130649.5043@infonode.ingr.com> scott@bell.b17a.ingr.com (Scott Bell) writes:
>>|>    I can't speak for others, but I've always found it easy enough to hit
>>|> around a block without having to look directly at it.  When I see that the
>>|> ball is being set (outside) to me I'll take a quick glance at the position
>>|> of the blocking players, then focus on the ball; I now have a rough idea of
>>|> where they'll be taking off from.  When I'm in the air and about to hit the
>>|> ball, I'll keep an eye on the blockers' hands with my peripheral vision and
>>|> will therefore know how much to the left or right to cut the ball.
>>
>>        Do you ever rely on calls from teammates about the block( "Two up
>>        tight" or "Nobody!") ??
>>        I think the "peripheral vision" thang would be tough on quick to 
>>        medium speed sets. Do you always do this, or is it a little intuition?
>>        Just curious - my game would improve alot if the answer was revealed...
>
>
>   Yes, of course I rely on my teammates... when they're reliable, that
>is. :-)  The technique I mentioned above is mainly for when I have a lot of
>time to sum up the situation (i.e., a high ball outside), and not much
>help from my allies.  Therefore it is a bit of intuition, and depends a lot
>on the situation at hand.

I am not sure how long any of you guys have played, but if you rely on your
teammates to make your hit you have a problem. (This discussion applies to
indoors....Outdoors you're partner better give you an idea of what shot is
free). I agree that it is helful when your teammates point things out to you,
no argument there, but YOU MUST CONTROL YOUR OWN HIT. I agree 100% with the
peripheral vision technique. You must keep the ball in front of you when you
hit...This allows you to SEE the ball AND the BLOCK. As far as the medium
speed shot, if you are right handed you will want to face the cross court
keeping the ball in front of you. If you see a blocker, you CUT the ball.
(For a lefty it's different)
I am afraid you will tell me that you have a hard enough time hitting a
medium speed shot, so if this is the case the practice, practice and practice.
You must be able to cut any kind of set. As far as a quick set is concerned
it is more of a timing play....As a hitter you know that you MUST cut the
ball to the left or right. A good hitter WILL see the block, so he can make a
decision. YOU SHOULD NOT BLIND HIT....If you do i say practice!
>
>>|>    Because I'm fairly short (5'8") I can't rely on great height or long
>>|> arms for my blocking, so I have to rely on timing and other factors.  One
>>|> very important thing that you should do is to look at the SPIKER when you're
>>|> blocking, and not the BALL.  If you focus on the ball, you won't know which
>>|> way the hitter will cut; if you zero in on the hitter's approach and arm-
>>|> swing, you'll be able to see exactly where he/she is hitting the ball, and
>>|> adjust your jump or reach accordingly.
>>
>>        I kinda agree, but think you should zero in on BOTH ball and possible
>>        attacker. If you focus on one or the other, I think you'll get caught
>>        going up on a fake or screwing up your timing because you're not up
>>        quickly. 
>
>   Sorry... again I didn't explain it clearly.  Only after watching the
>ball, and KNOWING that it's going to an opponent in my general area, will I
>focus in on the hitter's arm-swing.  In this way, I know where the ball is
>going and I`ll be able to key in on the correct hitter without having to
>follow the ball's path.  (After all, the laws of physics don't change much
>in a gym... :-)

When you block, you must first watch the pass. A shank pass is probably  a
right or left side set (depending on where the shanks goes) Assume there is
a good pass, you must then watch both the setter and the hitters so that
you don't get burnt with a quick play. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS 
BY KEEPING BOTH HITTER AND SETTER ON YOUR FIELD OF VIEW. Then you focus in the
set to figure out if its good or bad. If it's good then focus on the hitter
just like Scott said. Remember, if it's a good set the hitter has to go to
the ball and you got to the hitter...hence the ball WILL appear in your
filed of view :)
>
>>        It works for me to watch both and get partially on the side of the swing,
>>        i.e. watch how far back they rotate their shoulder/ move their hand.
>>        Intimidation is a big factor also( wear shirts that say "Kamikaze Attack"
>>        or "Death to Blockers" ;0 ;)
>> Scott

As far as wearing a shirt with the name "Death Blockers" or "Killer Attack"
is a definite plus :)
>
>     - Mark Rosteck -
>(g1marker@cdf.toronto.edu)
>

Serge
any more coments please write to serge@ll.mit.edu