QuestionDear Coach Houser,
I'm sorry to bother you as you must be very busy, but I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I am on a college volleyball team and am an outside hitter. Our team isn't very strong, but we have potential. I am having trouble scoring for us on the outside however, I'm not sure why. Could it be my hitting technique? Do you have any strategies or tips for me? Thanks!
AnswerGood morning and welcome to www.allexperts.com!
Very interesting question. We could spend an hour on it. Let's start! (And try not to spend an hour! haha)
Let's start listing the ways that I'd want you to end the rally from the outside.
* Do you have a line shot? How effective is it? If it's not, can you tell me why not?
* Do you have very good velocity on your hit? I think you know if you do or not. If you do, then USE IT! Some girls have been punked down by their coaches b/c they have made mistakes. But, if a great fastball pitcher has a homerun hit off of him, does he stop throwing his great fastball? Of course not.
* Do you have a roll shot that the opponents can't see coming? If not, then why not? It's something you should have had since the 10th or 11th grade.
* Can you see the blockers? Hitters who are very good can see the blockers and they use that skill to avoid being blocked. If you haven't developed that skill, then you need to get into the gym with a setter and two blockers standing on boxes, and hit and hit and hit WHILE simultaneously you're trying to see the blockers hands.
* Now, if you can learn how to see the blockers, then you may be 6 months or a year away from consciously trying to tool the block. Not a lucky tool shot. An intentional shot off their fingers, off the outside blocker's hands, between them, etc. But this has be practiced and practiced as well.
Almost NO GIRL can say, "Let's get it on" vs. a typical college block. Those that do usually have their good nights vs. sucky teams, and horrible nights vs. good teams. I just saw the stats of a girl who plays D1 ball here in Virginia. The team won vs. a poor team and she hit .305. The team didn't win b/c of her. No, she hit well b/c the other team had short/poor blockers. The team later lost vs. a good team and the girl hit -.228. The team didn't lose b/c of her. No, she just had a horrible night b/c those blockers were taller/better, she can't see them, and thus they shut her down.
Next. Yes, of course it could be your hitting technique. But, most often it's not. If you want to post something on YouTube and email me the link, that'll be fine. You can read me at
[email protected]. If you prefer to send a video attached to an email, that'll be cool also.
Do you have other questions? If so, please follow up or email me.
And would you now do a favor for me? Would you please visit me at www.coachhouser.com, and look around. I think you'll love the smiling faces, and I know that your high school coach would be indebted to you forever haha if we came to directed a site camp at your old school next summer! :)
Have a great day! When is your next action? GOOD LUCK!!
Coach Houser
Roanoke, VA
