When to start the 1st & 2nd tempo approaches

Question
Tom,

I have been to many clinics and read many articles about timing attacks...such as when the ball passes your shoulder as the hitter you should go (For a shoort).  Perhaps you could sum up what the timing is for shoots (fast) a 2 ball, a 1 ball and a slide?  Thanks.

Scott

Answer
Good afternoon and welcome to www.allexperts.com.  Your question is a good one!  Never been asked it before.

1st tempo:  The hitter should be in the air when the ball is in the setter's hands.  Period.  I've never been able to tell my hitters when to start, b/c it depends on the height and speed of the pass. (In fact, I've never even MET the coach who can tell the hitter when to start.....not after 24 years.  Never met him.)  It's easier for kids to be told, "Be in the air ready to hit when the ball is in the setter's hand," than have them start at a time that'll get them there correctly maybe 75% of the time for the rest of their career.  If you leave the "on time" part of the kids, they'll figure it out in a few weeks, maybe earlier

2nd tempo:  We know that the hitter should jump very soon after the set is made.  The sooner, the better.  If you're coaching a right-handed person, tell her, "Your first left foot step has occurred at the moment the ball is in the setter's hands."  This works really well for my hitters, and it's not only something that's objective, but it's something that they can see in front of them.  I just taught a big 5'10" OH/MB "left foot on the floor when the ball is in the setter's hands," last night in the gym, and she picked it up immediately.  

Shoots & Slides:  When to start merely depends on whether the set is supposed to be 1st or 2nd tempo.  If you're running anything that ends in a "1," then the hitter is in the air when the ball is in the setter's hands.  That includes 31's, 51's and 61's.  If you're hitting a "2," then left foot is done when the ball is in the setter's hands.  This include the slides 72 & 82, the 32 and usually the outside shoot (12).

If one of your players, therefore, is running a slide, and she says, "When do I start?", the answer is, "What are your trying to hit?  A 1, or a 2?"  When she answers that question, the she knows the answer to her original question.

Thank you for visiting www.allexperts.com.  Please come again.  And please visit www.coachhouser.com.  My staff is completely full of camps for this summer, and I think after you see all the smiling faces, you'll understand why!  

Chat soon!
Coach Houser