If you’re playing volleyball in a competitive environment (and maybe even if you’re not) it won’t take long for you to realize that communication is extremely important. Even in a 2 person game like beach volleyball there is a lot of conversation during and between plays. When you move on to the 6-person indoor game, the complexity increases and requires even more communication. Here are some tips on how to improve communication on the court.
Make sure calls are strong and followed by action.
There is nothing worse than watching a player sing the ball, make an initial move, and then stop to let someone else take it. A good ball call is loud and authoritative, leaving no doubt that the player is receiving the ball. Calling the ball three times – “mine, mine, mine” – is a good idea, as it leaves no room for doubt. The call must be followed by a move with intention (or happen at the same time), no attempt. The only thing that should stop the player from going for the ball is having someone hit him on the spot. Catching the ball and moving with conviction will eliminate a large number of balls that fall between two players.
Communicate excessively
There are probably things that don’t need to be repeated, like whether the setter is in the front or back row for the fifth consecutive service. Saying it anyway builds the habit of communicating so you don’t forget in those moments when you’re most critical. In a way, it can also be part of the pre-serve ritual that helps players focus on the next point. If the blockers are calling the hitters and the passers are declaring their sewing responsibilities, then everyone is connecting with each other and ready to play the next point.
Enforce communication requirements in training
If you don’t speak during practice, chances are you won’t speak during games either. That means you have to develop the habit of communication during training so that it carries over to your matches. This requires ensuring that the balls are called at all times. To encourage this, have consequences for not calling the ball, such as not counting a good pass in a service receiving drill. Or perhaps offer rewards for good communication, such as giving a team a bonus point if blockers correctly call attackers on every play for 3 straight plays. Incorporating a focus on communication into your training, and making sure everyone knows it’s a priority, will go a long way in getting players talking to each other during game time.
Developing good communication on the volleyball court takes a lot of work, especially with inexperienced players. However, if you work on it consistently, it will improve quickly and eventually become second nature.