A Simple Hitting Strategy

Here´s a way to up your outside hitting percentage by simply making your opposing blocker "play you honestly." The strategy is simple, but not used nearly enough. All you have to do is to always, without exception, hit your first ball down the line.
Sounds simple, right? But what it does is this: blockers are taught to block angle until the opponent hits the line, since 90% of hits are blasted angle. So if you hit your very first hit down the line, it instantly shows your opponent you can do it, and that you WILL do it. They must now play you straight on, to guard the line, which will open up your angle again.

Another hint: if your first line shot goes down, hit your second one down the line, too. The reason? Many players assume that a line shot was actually an accident, a ball that wasn't hit right, in effect. They´ll tell their blockers to keep blocking angle until their opponent hits two down the line. So you´ll get away with a second shot down the line, as well.
It goes without saying that if they never adjust, keep hitting the line all day. Either way, your percentage could increased dramatically.

Time To Play

The survey is now done and Tina has the results. She'll take care of the rest.

On November 3rd, we're hosting a VNB tournament in Barachois. That's less that 3 weeks away. So it's now time to concentrate on your game.

We have a few practices games left, as well as a "real" practice this Friday in Barachois.

See you there

Thanks

Stéphane

SURVEY OF THE DAY #1

Hi GATORS

Since we don't have much time to talk about it during the practices/games, I thought it would be a good idea to do a little survey to find out the preferences concerning our HLC Warm-Up sweaters. I made the questions based on suggestions heard so far.

Tina will look at all the answers submitted and make the final decision for the GATORS.

Please answer the 6 following questions :

1- On the BACK of the sweater, would you prefer to see "GATORS" in :
a)Silver
b)White
c)No preference

2- On the FRONT of the sweater, opposite to the HLC logo, what would you want to see:
a)The letter "G"
b)A volley ball
c)A gator logo
d) No preference

3- Surrounding the logo/letter/volleyball, what would you like to read:
a)SHEDIAC GATORS
b)GATORS
c)Nothing


4- Which logo would you prefer 1,2,3 or 4 ? Please refer to the logos posted above. Just look at the GATOR itself and not the full logo since it will be modified. For example, logo #1 would be a GREEN crest with the name 'GATORS' and the shape in WHITE. The logo #2 would be a WHITE Gator on a light GREEN circle. The logo #3 and #4 would just be the GATOR itself in Green.

5- Other than our team name, would you like to add something else on the BACK of the sweater ?
a)A volleyball
b)No
c)Something else ? Please indicate your suggestion


6- If we had the opportunity to order the matching pants from the HLC catalog and individually pay for it, would you be interested:
a)yes
b)no


Please click on "commentaires" at the bottom of this message to post your reply. Select "anonymous" if you are not registered.

Thanks GATORS !!
Have a nice week end

Mel

PRACTICE NIGHT FOR THE GATORS

Hi GATORS !

We are scheduling a practice for the GATORS. Many players have indicated that they wanted to have a practice before the VNB tournament.

The practice will be on Friday October 19th from 18:00 to 20:00 at the Père Edgar T. Leblanc school in Barachois. Please confirm your attendance by clicking on "commentaires" at the bottom of this message box. If you are not registered, select "anonymous" to post your reply.

Thanks
See you later GATORS !

Mel :o)

2 Quick Tips : Hitting and Tipping

1- Waiting to Kill

Here’s a formula for outside hitters:

On outside attacks, don´t go half speed and meet the ball at the net. Wait a second longer and then EXPLODE to the ball. The consequence is more energy which means a higher jump and harder hit.


2- Dump to #1

Setters and hitters can learn something from this tip on tipping:

When dumping the ball into your opponents court, consider dumping deep into position #1 (right back). It will cause the opposing setter problems, since they´ll they have to turn to see their teammate´s pass.

Stéphane

HLC Warm-Up Sweaters On the Way!!!

Great news!

HLC (Home Loans Canada) has approved our request for sponsorship and will be helping the GATORS look good for warm-ups and keep warm between games. Players will each be receiving a navy blue HLC sweater with GATORS logo on the back. The sweaters will be arriving in a month, on time for VNB season.

HLC Home Loans Canada is mortgage brokerage company - a division of CIBC Mortgages.

Thanks to Tina and her Ben!

And thanks HLC!!

The GATORS

Volleyball Skills: How to Win in Warm Ups

By this time you've had your team prep talk right? Your coach has told you pretty much who does what on the other team. It’s before the game now and you probably have the time. Watch!

a. Watch and Identify who you might have to block in front of you.
b. Watch how they hit the ball.
c. Does she hit on the way down?
d. Is her armswing slow?
e. Does she have a fast or slow wrist snap in other words does her hit go down or go long in the court.
f. Does she always face cross court when she wants to hit cross court or does she hit over her shoulder to disguise her shot.

Does she always call for a high ball set or does she hit a shoot set as well? Look for clues in warm up as to what your opposing hitters do, you should be already thinking about how you need to block that person or how late you need to wait in your block squat before you jump against a particular hitter.

Do the same in the serving warm-up. As you are shagging your ball - keep an eye on WHERE members of the opposing starting team tend to always serve. If the left side hitter has served most of her warm up serves cross court - you can bet that she isnt going to pull too many surprises in the game and do something completely different than what you saw her do in warm up. Players love to warm up the skill that they perform the best in warm ups. If you are alert you can anticipate alot of what a player is going to do -during the game.

If she serves 5 cross court and 1 down the line - what are you going to tell your team to look out for- that cross court serve first-right?
The last few minutes of the warm up and before you line up to start the game YOU can be talking to your teammates and share with them what your observations are. "Hey Gal Sal just hit the last 5 balls cross court whoever is blocking her be ready for that..." Why is this important?

Shark Sense; Getting in Touch With Your Inner Shark
1. This shows the coach that you are thinking. ...and sharing -which makes their job easier. And let's face it brownie points are Always good in that area.
2. You are also less likely to be taken by surprise during the game by what happens on the court because you've started Looking and Analyzing (aka warming up your brain) in warm-ups BEFORE the game even started.

So I'm not keeping my head down, grooving to the pre-game warm up music and concentrating on "just...doing my thing by just shagging and running back to hit" in warm-ups.

I'm aware, alert and helping my team by seeing, sharing and communicating what the opposing members of the other team are doing. This volleyball skill is preparing me mentally to Anticipate what is going to happen.

That's how you Win in Warmups!