Tip: Offseason Conditioning

Objective:

This tip will help you stay in shape or get in shape for your upcoming season that will be here before you know it.

Course of Action:

1. Play in at least one league all of the time.

2. If you spend most of your time playing inside, try and get involved in an outdoor league or beach volleyball.

3. Play 2 person beach volleyball whenever possible, this will help every part of your game.

4. Begin a running schedule, if you do not have one already. Training is not just for the off-season.

5. 2 key exercises to do are running at least 8 – 10 miles a week and getting involved in a jumping program or plyometrics.

Focus On:

1. The more you play the better, but do not do more than your body is capable of handling.

2. Cross-train when time permits. Getting involved in other sports is good because it will help you develop muscles that you may not use during the volleyball season.

Tip: A great hitting strategy.

Here´s a way to up your outside hitting percentage by simply making your opposing blocker "play you honestly." The strategy is simple, but not used nearly enough.

All you have to do is to always, without exception, hit your first ball down the line. Sounds simple, right? But what it does is this: blockers are taught to block angle until the opponent hits the line, since 90% of hits are blasted angle.

So if you hit your very first hit down the line, it instantly shows your opponent you can do it, and that you WILL do it. They must now play you straight on, to guard the line, which will open up your angle again.

Another hint: if your first line shot goes down, hit your second one down the line, too. The reason? Many coaches assume that a line shot was actually an accident, a ball that wasn´t hit right, in effect. They´ll tell their blockers to keep blocking angle until their opponent hits two down the line. So you´ll get away with a second shot down the line, as well.

It goes without saying that if they never adjust, keep hitting the line all night. Either way, your percentage has increased dramatically.

Tip: Blocking

If you´re playing a hitter who connects well enough to be able to hit a variety of angles, you´ll need to cover more area with your block. Since you´re up there by yourself, you´ll need to get tricky at times. Try setting up as if you were going to block line, thus making your opponent think the angle shot is open. Since the angle is generally their best shot, they´ll usually fall for the bait.

At the last possible second, move your arms quickly into the angle lane, and take that shot away. Sometimes, you´ll be able to stop several of those shots in a row before your opponent figures out what you´re doing.

Tip: Doug Beal´s Tips For Player Success

Doug Beal, Coach of the 1984 Gold-Medal-winning U.S. Men´s Olympic Team, outlines his traits a winning volleyball athlete should cultivate in his 1985 book "Spike!"

• Respect the other team´s athletes.

• When you block a ball, turn around and celebrate with your teammates.

• Don´t play them, play yourself.

• If you only play to win, you limit yourself. You can do better! Play every ball as if it was the most important play of the game.

• Don´t watch the other players to see what they´re doing. Don´t worry about the score. Play your very best, every play, and the rest will take care of itself.

• Celebrating together builds enthusiasm and confidence.

• Playing against yourself builds skill and sportsmanship.