Jim Stone Consulting Newsletter 7.15.25
Hello, everyone! As scary as it seems, school is beginning soon, which means the fall high school season is upon us. For those coaches attending team camps, I hope it proves to be a positive experience and that you gain some valuable insights about your team. I’ve been watching several of the VNL matches. In particular, the China vs. USA women’s match last night was interesting. Both teams effectively incorporated the backrow attack into their offenses, yielding positive results. Without question, the attack from the backrow is ahead of the defending team’s ability to block or defend the backrow attack. It will be interesting to see how the blocking and defensive systems evolve as we approach the Olympics. Thanks for reading! Suggestions are always welcome! Have a great week!
~Jim
Quote for the Week: “The fundamentals: Something many people know, but few people practice.” ~James Clear, author
Three Ideas For This Week
Idea #1 – End of Set Attacking – I was watching a very close, hard-fought VNL match this week. The match went five sets, with several set scores having a two-point differential. I was taken aback by the number of off-speed attacks at the end of the sets. This type of passive attack at the end of a set/match situation might have been a deliberate plan, but more likely, it is reflective of a hitter not wanting to make a mistake.
Coaches should practice these situations (23-23; 24-22, etc) in practice and encourage your players to attack to win the point. I discourage off-speed attacks in tight, end-of-set situations. That certainly doesn’t translate to hitting a crazy, low-percentage shot. You won’t always win the point, but that’s true regardless of any attack. I would especially focus on transition attacks. If you’re serving for the match, unless the opponent helps you out with an error, you’ll need to go from dig to kill. Hitters need to rehearse taking a good approach, pick a shot, and hit hard! As with any skill, your players will be more confident in “end of set” situations if they rehearse these situations in practice.
Idea #2 – Work With Your Setters on Setting Opposite the Direction They Are Moving – Most setters tend to set in the same direction as they are moving. If they move forward, they set forward. If they have to move back, they set back. However, a common trait of good setters is the ability to move forward to the ball and then execute a backset. Alternatively, they move back to the ball and set forward.
When working with your setters, focus on both moving forward and setting forward, as well as moving forward and setting back. You also work on moving back and setting forward and backward. You introduce this skill off a toss, then from a pass, and finally in live play. At times, during scrimmages, I’ll tell the setters that they must set the longest set. If they move forward past half-court, they must back set, and vice versa. This type of constraint allows them to work on these long sets in a game-like situation. Working on setting opposite their movement will develop their ability to set a good set, along with a smart set. VIDEO
Idea #3 – Use a Variety of Feedback Styles – I’ve had many players tell me that they are “visual” learners. I’ve never had a player indicate they prefer any style of learning other than visual. For a moment, let’s assume that is true. If they are indeed visual learners, what percentage of the feedback you provide is visual? I don’t have research at my fingertips, but I would guess most of the feedback coaches provide to players is verbal. There are over seventy different learning styles, with none being considered superior. When a player says they are a visual learner, it means they may prefer that style the most, but it doesn’t mean it’s superior to other learning styles. My suggestion is that coaches utilize a variety of feedback types (visual, verbal, kinesthetic, written, etc.). I did a blog on this a while back.
Video of the Week: Former Chinese Men’s National Team setter Jing Hou demonstrates a variety of activities you can incorporate when working with your setters. He incorporates a lot of movement and repetition. VIDEO
Current Blog Post – In this post, I discuss how many aspects of a player’s game have become easier; they now need demanding coaches more than ever. READ MORE
Archive Blog Posting: As club players make choices for the next club season, this post may be worth a read. I discuss the factors that impact a decision, personality, or expertise. Quite often, a coach may not have both. What seems to impact the decision-making process? READ MORE
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
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~Jim
