subject: The Three Parts Of The Volleyball Attack [print this page] The Three Parts Of The Volleyball Attack The Three Parts Of The Volleyball Attack
Most people know that there are three hits per side allowed in volleyball, each time the ball is hit onto your side of the net. But what exactly do those three hits consist of, or why are there three hits? In simplest terms, the three hits can be called the block, the set, and the attack. Each one is an important part of the overall strategy of volleyball, one leading to the other. While there are times that less hits need be used, there can never be more than these three hits.
The Block:
The block is the first type of hit when the ball comes into your court. The block can be made in several ways. The most obvious is to block the ball at the net, causing it to immediately fall back into your opponents' side of the court. However, the block can be more than this. The digger will often stop the ball from falling to the floor by popping it up slightly, getting it ready for the setter. The blocker is tasked with taking the first hit of the ball and placing it into the best position for the setter. This can be from the either the front or the back row. Remember that every hit on your side is used to either attack or set up the attack.
The Set:
Setting the ball can be one of the most pivotal plays in volleyball. It is the setter's job to get the ball ready, or set, for the attacker to deliver the ball to the opposing team. A good setter knows what attacker he or she is setting for, and exactly how that attacker likes the ball set. Most often, the setter uses both hands, fingertips only, to shove the ball straight up into the air, slowing it down and allowing it to reach an ideal arc for the attacker. Notice again that that setter is another step in the chain of attack.
The Attack:
For most spectators, the attack is the most exciting hit during each play. This is the hit that drives the ball to the other side of the net, shooting into the ground or directly into another, usually weaker player. The most common type of attack is the spike. The spike is used to really drive the ball with a high velocity in a straight line at a downward angle making it hard for the opposing team to return. When the setter has set the ball in a good position, the attacker will be able to deliver the ball with speed, accuracy, and power. This is the final step in the attack chain.
The Point of the Play:
As you may have noticed, the entire set of plays while the ball is on your side of the net is the attack. Each step in the chain is to set up and execute the attack. The thrust of this is that everything you do is geared toward the attack. Every time a player touches the ball, they should be contributing toward the attack. Thus, even though there are three hits allowed on each side during regulation play, they are all part of a single, choreographed attack. That, after all, is the point of the play.
