Correcting a Players Armswing

Question
I am a coach for a Middle school team in Northern Virginia. I have a girl on my team who is a tremendous athlete. She played on a 13 Select team for club volleyball so she is quite advanced for a 13 yr old. She has developed a good approach and a naturally fast swing. But she has developed a habit of leaning over to the side at the waist, with her elbow bent and ends up hitting the ball low and over her head. This is the first year I have coached her. She has a similar swing when she's serving as well. She knows that her swing needs improvement, because she tells me word for word what she's doing wrong, but she is very successful at this age group with it and so badly wants to hit hard and straight down, that she isn't improving her swing. I fear that she will have shoulder or back problems and also not be as successful as she gets older.

How can I help her correct this? I have explained to her that while we improve her swing, she may really struggle. I also realize that repetition is important, but what types of repetition? against the wall? should she toss for herself? Have a coach toss? Should we work on the swing seperate from the approach?

Well, thank you in advance for your help.  

Answer
Coach,

I am having a hard time understanding how she is contacting the ball.  Is the ball off her shoulder or in front of her?  If it is off to her side the easiest way to correct that is to tall her to make sure the ball is in front of her and she must see the ball as she is attacking it.  If she is bent over with the ball in front of her it will be a bit more difficult.

There are a few drills that may help.    Have her stand on a box (so that her hand is 6 ?12?above the net) take a tennis ball and simulate a swing (by throwing it over the net).  Then, have her self toss a volleyball and attack the ball. Have her do this to get comfortable with her swing.  Don抰 have her overdue it though because if her shoulder gets sore she compensate by doing things wrong.  Use a tennis ball again, have her hold the ball on her hand, make an approach and swing throwing the ball down to the court using a good wrist snap.  This should get her hand high and help her extend.  Use a video camera to let her see her good and bad swings; this is very helpful at all levels.

Use positive coaching.  Tell her to user her arms to gain height.  Contact the ball in front of her hitting shoulder.  Strong wrist snap.  Full arm extension.

After you think she is ready have her hit off a set.  If your setter isn抰 really good have her hit off a toss for a while first.

For a right handed hitter I use the following mimetic visual.  Think of yourself shooting a bow and arrow.  Both hands grab the bow and extend them upward (the left hand slightly ahead of the right.)  Pull back on the bow string with your right hand.  Bring your right hand back through your ear and point your elbow to the sky.  Drop your left hand down across your body as you are driving your right hand through the ball.  If is easier to do this visually than to explain it in an email.

Good luck and I hope this helped.

Steve