Set For Succes

A Publication of the American Volleyball Coaches Association
March 2014
Set for
Success
Lloy and Arnie Ball on

Selecting and Training
an Elite Setter
p. 6
Also: Defensive Strategies Transitioning from Court to Sand
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On the Cover
There may be no two greater experts on the art of setting than Lloy and Arnie Ball.
Our in-depth article reveals their philosophy for selecting, training and working with
your setter, helping them lay the foundation for the rest of your team.
Cover photo courtesy of USAV.
March 2014
Contents
8 Setting For Success
When it comes to the art of setting, you cant get any more respectable than Arnie and Lloy
Ball. They know that having a good setter is essential for the success of any team. Theyll
provide valuable insight into how you can identify potential setters and train them to their
highest potential. If you can convince your setter to put in work on their own, then your
team will reach new heights.
14 Making Change: Transitioning from Court to Sand

Sand volleyball has taken off around the nation, and now more than ever, new players are
taking to the sand and learning the ropes of the game. Often, athletes arent prepared for the
demands of their new playing environment. Florida States Danalee Corso walks you through
the process of helping players find their sand legs and acclimate themselves to the game both
physically and mentally. Check out some drills and tips that address all facets of the game.
25 Game Strategies - Defensive Systems

As the sport of volleyball has changed and grown rapidly in the past several decades, a fascinating
dichotomy has emerged with regards to team defensive design and strategies. The traditional
methods of deep, low perimeter player positioning around a block have been revised and
restructured due to the need to defend much faster and more diverse offensive threats. Wellesleys
Dorothy Webb dives inside the technical factors that can influence coaching decisions and discusses
how you can develop a proper understanding of the defensive principles your team needs.
Departments
4
Spring Conference
The 2014 AVCA Spring Convention is guaranteed
to be a full exploration of the coaching profession,
from macro-managing a program to the tiniest
technical details.
19
Xs and Os
Spice up practice with a new drill courtesy of www.
coachingvb.com!
13
Sand Update
Check out our first sand poll and get acquainted with
programs that are participating in the 2014 season.
21
Rules Updates
The NCAA has made some critical updates to
how certain rules are interpreted. Weve got all the
important changes that you need to know.
Coaching Volleyball 2.0
2014 SPRING CONFERENCE
Networking Opportunities
Abound in the Windy City
Craving the educational and networking opportunities that the AVCA Convention provides but couldnt make it out to Seattle this
year? No need to fret weve lined up an excellent slate of presenters and activities that
will give you the volleyball fix that you need.
Taking place in Chicago this May, the AVCA
Spring Conference offers a unique environment of classroom sessions, court demonstrations, off-site activities and plenty of chances
to network. Grow in both your knowledge of
the game and within the scope of the volleyball community. The tightly focused schedule
addresses all aspects of developing a successful
volleyball program, from big-picture topics to

the most intricate Xs and Os. Get registered
the early bird deadline is March 21!
NCAA Division I-II
Mens Championship
Full-session tickets to the two Thursday
night semi-final matches (6 & 8 pm) and
the Saturday night Championship match
(7 pm) are available to registered Spring
Conference attendees for only $35. Tickets
purchased through the AVCA block will be
in the end zones guaranteeing that youll be
rubbing elbows with like-minded coaches.
Gentile Arena
Sweatworking
We started the sweatworking program
in Seattle, and it was such a hit that were
bringing it with us to the Windy City. There
is no better way to network than in a state of
sweat! Get your day started off right with a
group exercise class on Friday and Saturday
morning at The Doubletree (FREE for
Spring Conference attendees)!
Guided Group Bike Ride
This optional activity on Friday, May 2 from
3 to 5 pm is $25 per person. The price includes a two-hour guided ride along the
North Branch Trail with a helmet, map, lock
and transportation to/from The Doubletree
and the trail are included. Many of you have
been stuck in the gym all winter time to
get out and get a touch of Spring Fever!
The beautiful North Branch Trail is named
for the North Branch of the Chicago River,
along which it winds. Get out and experience Chicago in this unique way with other
conference attendees! Reserve your spot now!
Networking Reception
with AVCA Exhibitors
(Full Registration Package Only)
This is your opportunity to learn about the
newest products and services developed specifically for volleyball and volleyball coaches.
Youll be able to check out the latest innovations in volleyball tech and get a leg up on
your competition at the same time. Whether
its an apparel need or a new training device,
well have you covered. Join the conference
exhibitors for drinks and hors doeuvres
on Friday night from 6 to 8 pm at The
Doubletree.
Championship Match
Social Hour
Your weekend of learning has come to a
close. Kick back, relax and share some of
what youve learned with other conference
attendees at a pre-Championship Match social hour from 4:30 to 6pm on Saturday at
Bar 63, conveniently located one block from
Gentile Arena!
Unparalleled Education
Awaits at Spring Conference
The AVCA Spring Conference was born seven years ago with the intent of adding an educational program that was unique from, yet
a complement to, our annual Convention.
Our working subtitle was 21st Century
Coaching Skills. The goals were 1. focusing
education on bigger-picture, though-provoking CEO-type topics; 2. building a more
intimate, small-group centered environment by including plenty of networking opportunities between and among presenters
and attendees. We also seized on the chance

to encourage more conversation between
coaches of mens and womens teams and, of
course, to enjoy the high-level volleyball of
the NCAA Mens DI/DII Championship.
Our 2014 Spring Conference is an aggregation of these goals and opportunities, the programming an attractive mix
of macro-topics and micro-topics. Hugh
McCutcheon, one of very few coaches who
Learn From the Best

Your 2014 Spring Conference Presenters
Cheryl Butler
Sharon Clark
Shelton Collier
Jen DeJarld
Dan Friend
Jennifer Fry
Kevin Hambly
Pete Hanson
Abby
Hasebroock
David Kniffin
Anne Kordes
Lisa Martinez
Hugh
McCutcheon
Sue Medley
Mark Pavlik
Rob Ridenour
Kelly Sheffield
Sam Shweisky
Courtney
DeBolt Slinko
Charlie
Sullivan
Joe Walton
has led medal-winning Olympic efforts in

both mens and womens volleyball, will discuss what he learned in his gender-crossing
journey. Now two years into a college job, he
will give what he calls one mans opinion
on what it means to be a coach. Wingates
Shelton Collier and Hinsdale Souths Lisa
Martinez will also discuss big-picture concepts related to coaching theory and program
development. And our ever popular Why
We Win? session will feature Mark Pavlik
(Penn State), Pete Hanson (Ohio State) and
Charlie Sullivan (Springfield), three veteran
mens coaches with national championship
rings discussing how and why winning happens sometimes and is elusive other times.
If this sounds too theoretical, fear not! The
three days are also packed with sessions on technique and tactics: match preparation (Anne
Kordes), creating swings (Kevin Hambly),
movement skills (Cheryl Butler), swing blocking (Joel Walton), setter training (Courtney
DeBolt Slinko), serving to score (Jen DeJarld),
ball control drills (Jen Frye) and scouting opponents (Rob Ridenour). These will certainly
give you your pragmatic how to fix.
We will also continue our exploration of
coaching profiles by engaging Kelly Sheffield
and Sue Medley in conversation on communication shortcuts that have paid dividends
for them with both players and administrators. And, of course, we will explore new
ways to use the latest technology tools for
video feedback (David Kniffin), organization (Sharon Clark) and statistical analysis
(Kyle Mashima).
10 Reasons to Come
1 You love the volleyballimmersion experience that only
happens at a gathering of
equally unbalanced coaching
professionals.
2 You need an excuse to
go to the NCAA Mens
Championship . . . and a
Cubs game.
3 You are sick of recruiting and
want to remember why you
went into coaching.
4 You like events with lots of
interaction between clinicians
and attendees.
5 Its closer to where you live so
you can drive and save some
bucks.
6 There is no better clinic value
for the money.
7 You need a kick-start to start
planning for fall.
8 You are tired and burned out,
and need a volleyball-battery
recharge.
9 The weekend is one of very
few without a club tourney.
10 You want to keep investing in
yourself as a volleyball coach.
Setting for
Success:
Tips for Choosing and
Training Your Setter
By Arnie and Lloy Ball
inding a good setter is a challenge that

every coach has to deal with. Identifying
a player with the potential to make a
talented setter is a good first step, but then
the setter needs to be developed and trained.
One thing thats certain is that most technical setter training is done in a coach-oriented
environment. How can you become or develop a top-level setter? Well look at some of
the training methods that helped turn Lloy
Ball into one of the best setters in the world.
In an ideal world, a setter on your team
will devote time to training in the workout
room and gym, showcasing a work ethic that
reflects the determination to become great.
That doesnt always happen by itself, though,
so how can we start that process? Believe it
or not, it can be taught. You can provide an
environment that fosters drive and determination, and sometimes you need to be strict.
Instill the notion that someone is always
ready and waiting to take their position early in their career. A driven, motivated setter
will work harder and with more focus if they
PHOTOS: USAV
Setting for Success

understand that theyre not irreplaceable.
Conversely, it can be tough to motivate that
second or third string setter on your roster.
Make them understand that their spot on
the depth chart isnt permanent. With hard
work, they are just as likely to reach up and
claim that spot for themselves.
With a few setters on the roster, encourage
them to take the initiative and work out on
their own. There are a number of ways two
players in the gym can help each other develop.
The setter can work on their game in the

off-season, as well. The summertime offers
a great chance for maximum improvement.
Setting is obviously the first priority for
someone in that position, but there are other
roles the player can fill. Its nice to incorporate some backcourt defense and serving.
Have them work on reading the ball and
finding where they need to be on the court
to most effectively help the team. Theres a
great fast-paced drill that can not only help
the player read and make decisions, but get
them a good workout as well.
Theres plenty of ways to add another dimension to these drills. One way to mix it
up is to vary the position on the court.
One thing we dont consider is that the
coach isnt always available, and teaching
players to work without a coach isnt something we often discuss. This is a crucial component of building a program, especially
when time with players is limited. With
how constrained some levels of play are, the
player absolutely needs to take extra time on
their own to ensure that they develop to the
highest level possible.
As a setter, you need to acclimate to how
the hitters like the ball. Training with the hitter in a two-person setting can be an excellent
Setting for Success
way to learn preferences and tendencies, furthering the team chemistry and improving the
opportunities for success in the regular season.
This knowledge will help the setter produce
sets that arent ball-determined, meaning, for
example, if the set is low and inside, the hitter
is forced to hit the ball cross-court. If the ball
flies past the antennae and the hitter has to
chase it, the hit has to be down the line. The
goal should be to produce a hitter-determined
set, where the ball ends up in a window that
the hitter can take advantage of to hit anywhere on the court. Remember not every
hitters window is the same. Thats why working extensively in small groups is key to developing that relationship. You must do drills
like this three to four times a week to maintain
consistency and continuity. Its paramount to
success of the setter to communicate loudly
and often. Cohesive movements are a result of

constant talking, and the result is unparalleled
chemistry and more wins during the season.
Whats wrong with the previously mentioned scenario? The players have got to take
the initiative to work without the coach
around. Theyve got to take responsibility
for this aspect of their training, and believe
me, its hard work. Weve got to convince
setters and hitters that hard work both in the
off-season and during the season pays off.
10
Setting for Success

These movements are hard and require diligent work. They also are very difficult to pull
off if the pass is too low. A pass that doesnt
give the setter room to work limits the quality of the set from the start. We have to convince the team that the first contact can give
the offense a good foundation immediately.
Now, a lot of people believe in passing the
ball in a flat manner. We find this handcuffs
the setter. You need to make a philosophical
decision about how you want your team to
pass. The reason we practice this way is that
the ideal situation doesnt always happen in
volleyball this allows the setter to develop
a versatile and consistent approach that can
work in a number of situations.
Something else that we do that is a bit
unique is train our setters to run to the ball
with your hands down as long as you can
keep the guns in the holster. Many coaches
teach moving with hands up, but naturally,
we dont run that way. We run most athletically with our arms moving as they instinctively do. They can come up at the last
second and still be just as effective. This is
a more efficient move, and at younger ages,
it allows players to use the momentum of
lifting the arms up to power the ball more
effectively.
All these movements allow not only repetition, but emulate something that well do
in the game. A lot of teams employ misdirection. When the pass goes one way, set the
other. When were running forward, most of
the time the middle blocker will follow. We
can set back over our head and cause them
to be late. We want these things to become
second nature.
Having a strong core keeps movement

tight and efficient, the back strong and
emphasizes muscle memory. If your core
strength is loose, the ball coming off the sets
will be loose. Running drills such as the ones
weve suggested can make the off-season productive and means that the setter will arrive
for pre-season workouts already prepared to
produce tight sets.
Setting isnt something that can only be

done from right front or right back. The nature of volleyball dictates that a setter that
11
Setting for Success

can play defense from a number of positions can be a valuable asset to any team.
Have them practice getting into transition
from a variety of positions. Make sure they
set the ball high often, out-of-system setters dont set the ball high enough because
theyre uncomfortable with the angle and
court location.
Weve always been impressed with the

Asian and Brazilian teams and their speed of
play especially with regards to their passing. Their ability to jump set on free balls is
well-known. But who really determines the
speed of the offense? Its the setter. The lost
art of the high ball can lead to big swings
and less fatigue for your team.
One of the hardest sets to make is when

the pass comes high behind the setters
head. When we practice, we dont do a
good enough job of passing to a variety of
locations. Therefore, when our players are in

game mode and the pass comes from angles
we arent familiar with and to locations we
dont practice, we have trouble adjusting.
Its a glaring weakness for a lot of teams that
dont practice it.
When you pick your setter, a lot of

things need to be considered. They need to
be one of your best athletes, because theyre
going to run, jump and move a LOT. They
need to be in top shape, because theyre
going to need to cover for errant passes by
dashing to the right spots. They also need
to be strong-minded. They should be the
first one to show up at the gym and the
last one to leave; they can provide excellent
feedback to the coach about who can do
what. They also need to be committed and
have enough self-confidence to shoulder
the burden when easy blame for defeat falls
on the setter.
You need to find people with those skills
and help them grow. They can be your extension on the floor. The right setter can make
or break a team. Use some of these tips to
help your setter understand that they dont
need a scheduled, controlled team practice
session to improve.
12
AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Top 10

2014 Preseason Poll
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pepperdine
Southern California
Long Beach State
Florida State
Hawaii
6. UCLA
7. Nebraska
8. St. Marys College of CA
9. Florida International
10. Stanford
Sand Volleyball Programs

Southwest
1. Southern California
2. Pepperdine
3. Long Beach State
4. Hawaii
5. Loyola Marymount
6. UCLA
7. Cal State Bakersfield
8. Grand Canyon
9. Arizona
10. Arizona State
11. Cal State Northridge
Northwest
1. Santa Clara
2. San Francisco
3. Stanford
4. Pacific
5. St. Marys College of CA
6. Sacramento St.
7. Cal Berkeley
8. Cal Poly
9. San Jose State
10. Boise State
11. Oregon
12. Washington
Midwest
1. Nebraska
NAIA Varsity
1. Webber (FL)
2. Warner (FL)
3. Cal State San Marcos
Southeast
1. Florida State
2. College of Charleston
3. Stetson
4. Jacksonville
5. North Florida
6. UAB
7. Tulane
8. Mercer
9. Florida Atlantic
10. Florida Gulf Coast
11. Georgia State
12. Florida International
13. Louisiana Monroe
14. South Carolina
15. LSU
16. Mississippi State
17. TCU (2014-15)
This list is generated by the AVCA from the NCAA Sports Sponsorship Lists, http://web1.ncaa.org/onlineDir/exec2/
sponsorship, and from public releases that have been printed in newspapers stating an institutions intentions. This list
may not be inclusive of all institutions that are playing Sand VB or have set a date for adding a program. If you have new
information, or want to be added to this list, please alert Kathy DeBoer at the AVCA, kathy.deboer@avca.org. Go to http://
www.avca.org/sand/ for latest information on sand volleyball rules, legislation, facilities, and the most updated list of
schools considering adding a program.
13
Transitioning from
the Indoor Game
to the Sand Quickly
By Danalee Corso
Head Coach, FSU Sand Volleyball
s a younger player, I spent the year

moving back and forth from the
sand to the court, giving me a good understanding of what players go through when
they make the switch, and giving me some
expertise in taking skilled volleyball players and helping them become good sand
players in a short span of time. Well take a
look at some of the basic drills and tactics
that can get you up and running quickly.
Think about the first step this way:
identify your biggest fire, and try to decide
how you can put that fire out. As a coach,
you need to come to an understanding
of what happens to the mental state your
players are going to be in as they transition
from the court to the sand. A lot of times,
players have to deal with initial frustration
as they may be very talented on the court,
but struggle with their first foray into sand
play. If they cant get over that first hump,
its hard to enjoy the game and even harder
to keep them working hard to improve.
14
You can begin to establish a

foundation for playing in the
sand early on by simply having
the players run and condition
in the sand. This builds a level of comfort and
familiarity that can be sustained with regular
participation. Also, keep in mind that, particularly in the early days, its very difficult to
go double days meaning multiple workouts
without some recovery time. Players that are
being pushed too rapidly are going to see
their effectiveness diminish over time. I recommend a maximum workout time of two
to three hours per day with at least two days
per week designated to rest. In reality, your
conditioning is largely to prepare for running
drills. A two-minute drill in the sand is exponentially more difficult and taxing than a
similar drill in a court situation.
STEVE MUSCO
In my experience, it takes
about five weeks for a new
player to adapt to playing on
the sand. This is the time in
which a player will find their sand legs and
learn how to become more stabilized in the
softer environment.
We tested some of our Florida State players that were coming off of a very good court
season and discovered that our middles (who
touch 10 feet or more) consistently touched
an average of eight inches lower when they
moved to the sand. Likewise, the outsides
were touching three inches lower. You can see
how that drastic of a change would be frustrating to a high-level athlete. Your outsides,
who will be well-practiced in a jumping motion more suitable for the sand, will likely
transition a little bit easier than your middles.
15
One key that is essential to

developing that core stability
in the sand is a simple jump
serve. The top-spin jump serve
is very important for a hitting drill on the
sand. Whether or not you use it in matches,
the process of learning to hit through the ball
can help players make the change to sand,
particularly middles. Because youre outdoors, there are a number of natural elements
that will come into play. You may step into a
divot or the wind may gust, moving the ball
around and forcing the player to hit wherever they can. This means sets are often less
than ideal, so learning to hit through the ball
in a variety of ways can be a valuable tool.
First contact is critical indoors, but in
the sand there are so many more individual touches that the first contact becomes
even more important. The sand game has a
unique rhythm and flow to it that needs to
be fully grasped.
Four Corners
V Drill
Partners are on one side of
the court.
One partner is the target
in the middle with the ball.
Target sets the ball long, short, long, short.
Other partner has to pass the ball back
to the target each time.
Repeat the drill 3 times then switch.
Digging
Digging posture in the indoor game differs
a bit from what the sand game requires. You
need to be a little wider, feeling loose and
bouncy. Ball control in the sand game is of
great importance, and the little details are
what can make the difference between winning and just getting close. Players with efficient footwork can be more effective than
players that are taller or faster.
Digging Drill
Partners are on one side of the court.

One partner is the target in the middle
with the ball.
Target throws the ball to each corner.
Other partner must pass the ball back to
the target each time.
Repeat the drill three times then switch.
Target sets a ball to the passer, passer sets

a short ball.
16
After the pass, they should

make a half turn, backpedal and pass one deep.
Target then hits a ball to dig.
Do this drill six times each.
Digging with the hands is a critical aspect
of the game. In indoors, we dig to the pocket, but in the sand we need to dig the ball up.
Hand Dig Drill
Target hits a ball to the other player.

Player hand digs to themselves then hits
the ball back to the target.
Target catches the ball then hits it again.
Setting
The second contact setting
is of great importance. This
is whats going to create separation among talented players. This is where
the technical aspects of the game are most
magnified. In the indoor game and mens
game, you can be a little less technical because of the speed and height of the game.
In the sand, however, your players need to
think tactically about their movements and
really nail the little things.
Some of these drills are great for small

group work, but they can also be adjusted to
be incorporated with the entire team.
ROSS OBLEY
Triangle Drill Variation
For more than four players.

Defenders dig an angle block by crossing
over and passing to the setter.
Setters and defenders rotate while a
coach hits the ball.
17
Hitting
Now we move to the hand
phase. A well-placed ball on
the sand is much more effective than just whaling on the ball like you
would in the indoor game.
Revolver
Pass to yourself.
Set to yourself.
Stay on the ground and hit over the net
towards the line.
After hitting, player on the other side of
the net goes.
match. If youre at a tournament, you wont have the

strength in the championship
that you did earlier in the day.
You must adjust and be comfortable playing
at those different angles.
Moving to the sand is a process that takes
time. As previously stated, the normal period
is about five weeks for the first-time player.
That will shorten as they get more accustomed to sand movements. Regularly jumping into a sand session throughout the year
will make the transition that much easier.
For more on transitioning players from the
court to the sand, including some defensive
tips, check out the full presentation, available
on DVD from Championship Productions.
STEVE MUSCO
Youll notice that these drills can be especially exhausting. Never go to sand practice
without a stopwatch or some way to keep
time we want to limit the amount of time
spent doing these drills because they can be
so tiring physically and mentally. In the indoor game you can sort of let drills run on,
but here we need to be mindful of the work
being expended. Even if theyve not quite
mastered the drill, give them time to rest.
Throughout practice, point out to the
players how theyre technique changes as fatigue becomes more of a factor. Remember,
if it happens in practice, it will happen in
games. Players dont often get to quite the
same height throughout the duration of a
18
Xs AND Os
Continuous Cross-court Digging

By John Forman, www.coachingvb.com
Check out www.coachingvb.com for daily volleyball tips, thoughts and drills!
Synopsis: Continuous cross-court digging is a high-intensity drill which builds mental

toughness while working on individual digging and fitness.
Age/Skill Level: This is a drill which can be used with all age groups and skill levels.
Requirements: Three players in the drill, two coaches, 6 or more players to collect balls and
feed, lots of balls
Execution: Begin with one player in defense for position 5, and two players queued up behind. A coach positioned on a box or chair in position 4 on the other side of the net hits a
cross-court ball at the player which they have to dig to target. The player then sprints across
the court to defensive position where they dig a ball from a coach on a box in position 2
on the other side of the net. At the same time, the second player in line in position 5 steps
in and digs a ball from the coach in position 4. The players continue going from back and
forth digging in positions 1 and 4 until they collectively reach a predetermined objective of
X number of good digs.
PP
C
F
R
P
F
C
19
Xs AND Os
Variations:
If there are no boxes, tables, chairs, etc. for
the coaches to hit from, they could stand on
the same side of the net as the players.
Depending on the skill level of your

team you could only count digs to
Target 1 (a 3-pass), or you can accept
digs to Target 2 off the net near the 3
meter (a 2-pass).
To work on keeping digs on their side
of the net, a -1 can be applied to the
count if theres an overpass (but dont go
negative).
To get players focused on digging with
proper technique and being prepared,
you can do a -1 for single-arm digs.
The temptation may be to go with more
than 3 players in the drill, but that will
likely prove challenging because of the
players getting tangled up moving back
and forth. Even with 3 players the players are often dodging each other on the
cross-over.
once you get going. That will force the

players to continue moving rapidly and
not slow their pace.
Make sure the players are going all the
way to the sideline and not stopping well
inside the court, especially as they get
tired. You can do this by aiming your
hits to land near the sideline, which will
keep them honest.
Talk to the players throughout the
drill. Remind them to get to the right
spot, to move quickly, and to use good
technique. Encourage them throughout,
and make sure the rest of the team does
so as well.
Encourage players of similar skill to go
together so you can adapt the tempo and
aggressiveness of your hits to be able to
challenge all players at a level suitable to
their development.
COURTESY OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY-ST. LOUIS ATHLETICS
Additional Comments:
Keeping the tempo high is a key to this
drill, which means the players collecting
and feeding balls must be highly efficient
or you need to have sufficient balls to
overcome this deficit.
Make sure players crossing the court do
so away from the net rather than toward
it. Otherwise they are at risk of taking a
ball in the head.
Do not let the players give less than
100% effort. If a ball drops with no
attempt to play it they go back to 0.
Dont alter the rhythm of the hitting
20
NCAA RULES
NCAA Rules Changes

As volleyball evolves, so must the rules by which the game is played. The NCAA Womens
Volleyball Rules Committee and the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel have approved a
number of rules modifications that will be incorporated in the rules book for the 2014 and
2015 seasons. There are quite a few that stand out. Check out this link (http://ncaa.org/
sites/default/files/2014_2015_WVB_Rules_Changes_FINAL.pdf ) for the latest information. Dont be caught by surprise this fall!
SUBJECT
PG.
RULE REF.
RULE CHANGE
Playing
surface, Free
Zone Distance
Increased
12
1.1.1
For facilities constructed after 2016, a free zone of 3 meters

(9 feet, 9 inches) is required.
Assessment
of Sanctions,
Elimination
of Expulsion
Sanction
28
Rationale: Increases player safety and lessens the potential

for interference with fans. This change may also promote
longer rallies with increased free space outside the court.
6.4
Delete the sanction level of Expulsion (dismissal for the

remainder of the current set). A further sanction after a
penalty (red card) would result in Disqualification (dismissal
for the remainder of the match).
Rationale: Places a greater emphasis on sportsmanship by
not allowing coaches or players to return after being expelled.
Uniform
Numbers,
Allowance of
0
32
Rally and
Completed
Rally, Definition
Revised
35
7.1.2.6
Shirts may be numbered from 0 through 99.

Rationale: Add the number 0 as an allowable number.
8.1.3.1
Modify the definition of a rally as follows:

Current definition: A rally is the sequence of playing actions
from the moment of the service contact by the server until
the ball is out of play. A rally is completed when the playing
actions result in a point awarded to either team.
New definition: A rally begins from the moment of the service
contact by the server until the ball is out of play. A rally is
completed when a point is awarded to either team.
Rationale: This will allow a coach the option of substituting
when play is stopped to issue a penalty (red card). Prior to this
change, if play was stopped to issue a penalty point, it was not
considered playing actions, so the rally was not considered
complete. A substitution would not have been allowed.
21
NCAA RULES
Standard
Protocol, PreMatch WarmUp Protocol
Adjusted
38
9.1.1.1
The pre-match warm-up may be protocol (Table 2) may be

adjusted by conference policy for the first 20 minutes (until the
40-minute mark on the clock). The adjustment to the current
protocol may only be made on a conference level and may not
be used for non-conference matches. The NCAA championships
will follow the default warm-up protocol (Table 2).
Rationale: This change allows conferences to alter their
warm-up protocol due to facility space constraints.
Timeout,
Length
Adjusted
44
11.2.2
Change the default timeout length from 60 seconds to 75

seconds. A timeout may be less than 75 seconds if both
teams are ready for play.
Rationale: Allows coaches more time to communicate with
their players and matches the recommended
length of a media timeout.
Media
Timeouts,
Non-Broadcast
Timeout Length
Adjusted by
Mutual Consent
44
11.2.3.3
By mutual consent of both coaches, the length of all timeouts

may be reduced from the default length of 75 seconds to 60
seconds, or increased to the length of 90 seconds. If both
coaches do not agree to the modified length, the default time
of 75 seconds will be used.
Rationale: Modification to the timeout length to meet the rules
change in Rule 11.2.2.
Accident
or Injury,
Substitution
Allowed for
Injured Libero
Replacement
47
Libero
Uniforms,
Shorts May Be
Different from
Teammates
50
Libero Uniforms,
School
References
Allowed on
Jersey Sleeve(s)
51
11.3.5.1
Allow coaches the option of replacing the injured libero with

the player she came in for and then allow one substitution for
the replacement player (only).
Rationale: For all other injured players, the coach may
substitute any legal substitute. Currently, if play is stopped
because the libero is injured, the coach may only return
the player that the libero came in for to continue play. This
would allow the coach to replace the injured libero with the
player she came in for and then allow one substitution for the
replacement player.
12.1.3.3
It is not required that the liberos shorts be identical to her

teammates.
Rationale: Allows the libero to be more visible by providing
more uniform options.
New
12.1.3.1.5
Allow a single mascot and/or school reference to be placed

on the sleeve(s), provided it does not exceed 4x 4 or 3x 5.
Rationale: Allows for displays of school spirit while keeping
the integrity of the solid-colored uniform rule.
22
NCAA RULES
Player Contact
with Net or
Antennas,
Contact
Allowed with
Net Outside
Antenna
62
Officials
Jurisdiction,
Arrival Time
Adjusted
67
15.2.1.2
Change the current net rule to allow contact with the net
outside the antenna provided it does not interfere with the play
or is not used as a means of support while playing the ball.
Rationale: Allows for more consistency by officials when
calling net violations and aligns with USA Volleyball rules.
18.1.2
The jurisdiction of the referees begins with their arrival on the

court, which should be at least 40 minutes before the match
start time.
Rationale: Currently, the officials jurisdiction begins at least
30 minutes before the match start time. This proposal would
require officials to be on the court at least 40 minutes before
the match start time to conduct the required pre-match
protocol.
The
Scorekeepers,
Terminology
Modification
72
18.4
Change terminology from scorekeeper to scorer.

Rationale: Align with USA Volleyball and National Federation
of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules language.
RULES AND
INTERPRETATI
ONS
23
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Use the Powercore 360 Performance Training System

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For more information contact Billy Glisan at billy@powercore360.com
Game Strategies:
Primary Principles for Designing
Dorothy Webb, Wellesley College
and Evaluating Your Team Defense
As the sport of volleyball
has changed and grown rapidly
in the past several decades, a fascinating dichotomy has emerged with
regards to team defensive design and strategies. The traditional methods of deep, low perimeter player positioning around a block have
been revised and restructured
due to the need to defend
much faster and more
diverse offensive threats.
Some of the adjustments are necessary and
logical; however, many
of the changes have
evolved from some
inadequate
coaching philosophies as
well as a lack
of player
discipline.
By Dorothy Webb
Volleyball Head Coach,
Physical Ed. Recreation & Athletics,
Wellesley College
PHOTOS: JOHN RICH
25
Game Strategies
For more than 30 years, my focus as a
player and a coach has been on defense. My
high school team won three California state
championships, my club team won three
junior national titles, and my college team
won two Division I national championships. I played in three professional leagues,
indoor and on the beach in the 1990s.
Although I played all the way around as a
middle blocker and an outside hitter, my
specialty was always all the back row skills,
especially defense. I still hold the Division I
NCAA tournament record for digs (prior to
the implementation of the libero position).
Many of my teammates also specialized in
defense and ball control which is the primary reason, I believe, we were so successful.
As a current college coach and an observer
of the professional game, the national team
players and the top Division I programs, I

have one consistent thought with regards to
team defense every time I watch great teams
play: the six amazing and increasingly large
and powerful athletes defending each side
of the net could have only a very limited,
general team defensive plan (with at least a
couple of people blocking and free license to
read) and they would still cover most of the
court, making dozens of amazing, athletic,
defensive plays; however, when I closely observe the balls they do not dig, I wonder if
many current defensive strategies position
players in the best possible position individually and as a team to cover the whole
court and all possible shots, and to make the
most defensive plays with the most control.
Many of the elite college and national
team coaches present and write about their
26
Game Strategies
philosophies for designing team defenses. In
recent years, more and more of these elite
coaches seem to base their team defenses
on statistics and positioning players according to percentages. The mens national team
coaches have videotaped and taken stats for
hundreds of matches. At one clinic I attended they explained how it was this comprehensive process that led to their very clear
rationale for designing their team defense.
The end result was quite logical: take offensive statistics for dozens and even hundreds of international matches and then
position your defensive players in the positions to which the vast majority of the balls
are attacked.
One example of the outcome of all of
their research is that they concluded that a
player must be positioned in the middlemiddle position. The middle-middle position was described and diagramed as being
located nearly 10 feet into the court from
Diagram 1
the end line and almost exactly mid-way

between the sidelines. It was easy to understand their logic since statistics proved that a
significant number of balls ended up being
attacked to this very position. In fact, after
a few dozen matches, almost any hitting
chart at any level will look something like
Diagram 1, with the vast majority of balls
going to middle-middle or what are popularly known as the 2-by-2 spots in left and
right back. The remaining player positions
were established using the same criteria (see
Diagram 2 for a typical defense designed from
these principles).
Although this process of designing a defense is logical, it overlooks the critical relationship between the block and the positioning of the defensive players, and it fails to ask
some very important questions, namely:
1) Why are balls being hit to certain parts of
the court (i.e. is there a blocking problem rather than a defensive breakdown)?
Diagram 2
27
Game Strategies
2) How are balls being hit to certain spots

(i.e. are they hard-driven balls or roll
shots, tips and block deflections)?
The answers to these questions are critical in the design of a comprehensive team
defense. If a team frequently has a seam
in the block and/or is frequently blocking
one-on-one (especially outside) then they
certainly will need to position a player in
the middle-middle position (and probably
will need to allow other players to read up as
well). However, they should not necessarily
design their defense to assume they always
will have hard-driven balls hit to the middle
of their court; rather, they should focus on
fixing their fairly serious blocking problems.
If, in fact, a significant number of balls are
being attacked to the middle of the court (as
proven by the statistics and offensive data for
many successful programs) then it is imperative to know what kinds of balls are being
hit and why they are being hit there. Clean,
hard hits through the seam are a blocking problem (although they still must be
defended); however, in my experience and

observation, the vast majority of these balls
being attacked to the middle of the court
are rolls, tips and hard balls deflected off the
block. If this is true, then it is much more
effective to maintain a deep, low defense (to
ensure that the team does not give up deep
balls behind them in the court) and train the
players to read and move forward for these
difficult but very playable balls to the
middle of the court.
Low, forward individual player body positioning is also a critical factor in effective
defense, yet it is rarely a point of major emphasis even in some of the most successful
programs. Faster and more diverse, powerful offenses, the widely used overhand dig,
and the many 63 (and bigger) back row
players who are primarily in the game as offensive weapons, have led to more upright,
flat-footed body position, generally. Many
of these players are often phenomenal athletes who still make dozens of great plays,
but coaches could discipline and position
these players for even more and easier
defensive opportunities.
Some principles to consider in designing a team defense that are different and
even in direct conflict with statistics and
percentage-driven philosophies include:
Six defenders on one 30 X 30-foot
square court can defend the entire
area; no shot needs to be conceded
(especially behind any player)
Design your defense around your
block, positioning your players to defend all hard-driven balls the block
cannot stop, while giving players full
28
Game Strategies
license to read and adjust to a poor
block; cover all hard-driven balls first,
and tips, roll shots and balls off the
block second
Design your team defense expecting a
double closed block and then adjust to
blocking breakdowns (not vice-versa);
assume youll have a solid block taking
away any hard-driven balls to the center of the court and position defensive
players accordingly, but practice (on a
daily basis) and use emergency adjustments for blocking breakdowns
A defense should never give up balls
behind any player, in the back of the
court (i.e. players should never be expected to go backwards or dig behind
them for a hard-driven ball); any defensive player significantly shallow in
the court is usually unnecessarily conceding part of the court
It is much easier and faster to come
up out of a low body position than to
drop down into a low defensive stance;
coaches must discipline athletes against

their natural tendency to stand up
straight and tall; its much easier physically to stay and move in a higher,
more upright position but its far less
effective for covering both deep, harddriven balls as well as short tips, roll
shots and balls deflected off the block
It is easier and faster to move forward
rather than backward; coaches must
discipline athletes against their natural tendency to read forward (excessively) into the court especially when
confronted with big, powerful hitters,
a very fast, complex offense, and a lateclosing, broken block
Faster, more potent offenses with great
setters and many fast options have created
more blocking breakdowns, late-closing
blocks and one-on-one blocking situations
than ever before. Coaches must position,
train and discipline each individual player in
a low, deep, forward body position to be able
to react and move as quickly as possible for a
wide variety of shots over the greatest
possible expanse of court.
Statistics and percentages tell only
part of the story in our sport. Great
athletes who read well will dig lots
of balls regardless of their exact body
and court position. However, great
defense and ball control are the foundation of every successful team, and
it is critical for us as coaches and players to ask: what are the best defensive
body and court positions for allowing
the greatest number of digs with the
most control?
29

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COURTESY OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY-ST. LOUIS ATHLETICS

NCAA Rules Changes

For facilities constructed after 2016, a free zone of 3 meters

Rationale: Increases player safety and lessens the potential

Delete the sanction level of Expulsion (dismissal for the

Shirts may be numbered from 0 through 99.