VOLLEYBALL 

NEWSLETTER

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The following Newsletter has been forwarded to you, from the Volleyball Newsletter  E-Mail list. The UK's leading on line Volleyball News service, providing up to date volleyball information, direct to newsletter members throughout the UK and Ireland. Articles are collected from a variety of sources and credited appropriately. The Volleyball Newsletter uses advertising sponsorship to support our free and non-profit making service to newsletter members. To advertise your volleyball events or products, direct to players, club and league secretaries throughout the UK & Ireland, then please see our web site for details or contact Dave at  Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com

Hi all - More Volleyball news from the web.

Cheers - Dave Reece Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com

We are a newly opened Sports Complex and we are keen to have volleyball as one of our activities. Could anybody please contact me regarding researching the potential of setting up a Youth section at our centre. Location and Facilities as follows;

Hamble Community Sports College off A27 2 miles - Hamble - Sports Complex on 'school' site - full sized sports hall v. high ceiling, sprung wooden floor - volleyball posts - full size + small ones for across court play - volleyballs - court marked

No qualified coaches at present, 

Barbara Wilkie HCSCBVW@aol.com
Assistant Headteacher Community 

Dear Sir, I am writing to you from Nigeria. I am one the Nigerian national volleyballers. I will like to come and train with a club in London to enable me to prepare for the all Africa games coming up later this year.

I need the invitation of a volleyball club in London, to me enable me get an entry visa. I will want to feature in the volleyball club season in London to enable me prepare and train for the event come later this year.

Waiting to read from you soon, best Sporting Regards,

Adebayo A. Moses isaactayo@yahoo.com

Hello all, Two years ago I injured my elbow. I got tooled on a block attempt, and the hit was directly into my right hand, and it hyperextended my elbow. I have corrected the problem on the block by penetrating a little more, so that if the ball gets hit directly into my hands, my elbow won't hyperextend.

The problem I am having now is that my elbow sometimes hyperextends when I go to dig, almost always when it's a one-armed dig and the ball is hit pretty hard. (Note: I only one-arm dig when I have to dive and can't get to the ball with both arms.) Is there any way that I can prevent this hyperextension from happeneing? My arms and legs hyperextend normally (I also have what is called congential laxity in my joints, which means my joints move around a lot and I'm prone to injury). When I dig, the elbow hyperextends even more than usual, resulting in pain and me not wanting to go for the ball anymore ;) .

I have been to physical therapy for the elbow, and they gave me some strengthening exercises, but I was curious if there was anything I could do on digging that might prevent this, in the same way that penetrating more on the block is preventing the hyperextension on the block.

Thanks!
Martha martha@walz-tech.com

Basingstoke Volleyball Club is looking for new ladies....if you are interested in joining us please come along to Basingstoke Sports Centre on Thursday evenings from 7.20 onwards or contact me, we look forward to seeing you!! 

Best regards, 
Yesim Soyak ysoyak@hotmail.com

We've moved : our web address is www.aberladybays.com

thanks
Eric D. webmaster@aberladybays.com

There has been an e-mail doing the rounds in the UK, requesting players for the University of Maryland and hence inviting female players to apply for a scholarship. On behalf of our reader I have tried to find out more about this offer but to date, all e-mails just disappear into a black hole.

Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com

Hi Dave, We are holding a Referee Grade 4 and Coaching Level 1 course at The Ashcombe Volleyball Centre, Dorking, Surrey on Saturdays 22nd and 29th March. The Tutors are Nick Pain and Stewart Dunne. Cost £55.00 or £35 for full time students [you must be over 16].

Thanks,
Freda Bussey sport@thebusseys.freeserve.co.uk

Get That Overhead Action Shot

This weeks photos, are from the FIVB web site, showing some interesting overhead action shots.

This was a very tough tour for the National Team players. After the huge success of the final match against the Moscow select team in Glasgow there was a very high level of expectation, but the circumstances in England were entirely different. In Glasgow we stayed in a hotel with all of the services you would expect, so that the focus would only be on the volleyball performances. In England we stayed at Upper Heyford, slept on mattresses on the floor, and tried to stay warm in the absence of a heating system. At Upper Heyford it was quite difficult to focus on the volleyball.

I like the set up at Upper Heyford, I like that the players have to rough it, I think it is character forming, and I think the players have nothing to distract them, because there is nothing but the practice gym on the derelict site, but in the middle of Winter, with the temperature at subzero numbers, it is very tough. 

Last year, when we made our first trip to France, part of the expedition was to have Ralph Hippolyte watch the team and make an assessment of our progress and immediate needs. Ralph, who used to coach the GB Team, is our Technical Advisor and he has a keen interest in our progress. His evaluation was that we were on the right track, but needed thirty or forty matches to realise our level. His opinion was that the players needed to be able to demonstrate all of the quality they showed in the practice gym in the match one, but that took experience, and experience has to be gained, it cannot be bought. I said to Ralph at the time that we simply could not wait for the thirty match threshold. Ralph smiled that enigmatic smile he has and shrugged his shoulders.

The English tour proved him right. We are now getting close to the thirty matches he talked of, and we are getting very close to playing like we need to. When we played the series against the team from Moscow we played well, and we coped with what they had to offer, and in the final match we posed them questions they could not answer. The English team were better than the Moscow team, and the matches were at a higher level, so we had to do more. We did more, but not for long enough in any of the matches, and not consistently enough. Match one we were up two sets to zero, and didn't close it out, finally losing a very, very tight fifth set 15-17. Match two was the most focused, most concentrated game we have been in for a very long time. We lost 0-3 and played better than the first game. We lost 0-3 and had outstanding performances from several key players. We lost 0-3 and played the game the way it is supposed to be played. 

Match three took place on Sunday morning, barely twelve hours after match two, and the players were very tired. The difficult sleeping and eating arrangements, the long journey there, the prospect of another long and difficult journey back home, all of these factors should have mattered, but instead, when the match started the players eased into a performance gear they did not know they had. Despite all of the difficulties, despite all of the hardships, there was only the game in their heads, only the need to perform, and for this they are due the utmost credit. We lost the match 1-3, the second set score was 29-31, we won the third set, and the fourth was 22-25. We are SO close!

The key point about Ralph's thirty match threshold is that the accumulated experience allows you to 'cut to the chase', in other words, focus only on the relevant parts of playing the game. Volleyball at international level is an enormously complex business. It involves so many different factors, so much preparation and thought, but then the matches themselves are essentially about two features - timing and tactics. Easy to say, difficult to understand, more difficult to execute in the face of the intensity of maximum competition.

Over the process of the different match series we have participated in since Ralph made his assessment in February of last year, it has been like peeling back the layers of an onion to get to the centre. We have worked at the physical aspect of the games, the technical and the psychological; we have looked at the systems we use and individual decision making, we have worked as hard as it is possible for any group to work. The English Tour verified that we are now very close to the centre, close to realising that we simply must focus on timing and tactics. Every play, every attempt to touch the ball has a tactical dimension, and must be undertaken at precisely the right time. The players must view every moment in the game, every situation which unfolds as a problem to be solved. They can never simply take a swing at a spike, make a jump at a block, pick a particular zone and set to it. I know it sounds obvious, and I know it sounds fairly easy, and it has taken us the thirty matches to get to the point where we almost understand it.

Our next venture will be to Estonia, the only thing I hope for is that the heating works!

Thomas

www.scottishvolleyball.org

Following on from the last issue...

Hi, Balls should only be pumped when they fall outside of the pressure set by the rules of the game [0.30 - 0.325kg/cm2]. It is vital that when training balls are of the correct pressure as this will ensure you train under the same conditions as matches.

Regards
Stewart Dunne stewart@dunne6.freeserve.co.uk

Wolverhampton (white shirts) - Devon (red shirts).

Hello guys! Can any of you give me some tips on hitting? I am struggling with getting the speed/power on the ball that I want. I have been working on angles as well - which I am achieving more often, but the variety of speed/power is missing in my hits. I have been told that the setter can be at fault for causing a hitter to limit him/herself but I want to be able to hit hard no matter what kind of set I get. 

Drano drano1110@yahoo.com

First, you might actually NOT want to hit every set at full speed. Swinging hard at bad sets is a recipe for shoulder problems. If you're playing a tournament, you might have to do it at times, but if you're playing open gyms or even leagues, you might want to  think about saving your shoulder and waiting for the good sets to go for the power swing.

That said, your approach is the most important factor in being able to adjust to the set and be in position to hit the ball hard even when the set isn't perfect. Like someone said, waiting is important. Unless you're running a quick play (a 1 in the middle or shoot or 3 to the outside), you shouldn't need to start your approach until the ball leaves the setter's hands (although you will be using the time between the pass and the set to get into the position from which you want to start your approach). If the steps on your approach aren't already instinctive, practice so that they are. From there, you can use the steps to adjust to a set that is too far inside, outside, or off the net. Remember that the purpose of the approach is to get you to the  ball in position to hit it. Also make sure you are using your 
arms properly in your approach - that will help both your jump  and your power.

Specific things to try to add power would be keeping the ball in front of you (which someone already mentioned) and keeping your left (or non-hitting) arm up as long as possible. There are also many different aspects of the arm swing that can come into play here. I've had a couple of coaches who've  emphasized keeping the elbow high (pointing at the sky rather than out to the side).

Good luck!
Joanna L. Dyl jdyl@princeton.edu

First, your setter CAN be the problem when you are DEVELOPING your strike. YES, there are those who can hit just about anything, but the consistent hit typically has to be developed through a consistent SET -- then it can be diversified. I've seen a lot of new players get frustrated (with the game!) trying to develop basic swinging techniques with sets that are all over the place.

Once you are getting the same set, in nearly the same place every time, then you can work on increasing your jump to the ball, keeping it slightly in front of you, and snapping your wrist on contact -- those things will improve your delivery speed. If you are trying to do it all with just your arm(s), it is very difficult to generate power. 

For instance, I am right-handed. My right-handed swing is mostly arm. I'm fortunate to be able to have excellent shoulder rotation and can develop a powerful strike. Sometime in the mid-80's I started developing a left-handed hit (very useful!). My left arm is as flexible as my right, but not as strong. BUT! For whatever reason, I have a GREAT wrist-snap with my left hand and can actually hit the ball down better than right-handed, WHEN my timing and the specific set permits it.

Get your power and hit consistent, then move on to attacking whatever the setter is throwing up there.

Good Luck!
Cliff Overman  daryl.hoffman@psualum.com

[Following recent sport liability cases in the UK, we may well be following the USAV on padding]

As I look ahead to this weekend and attending my son's tournament, I remember something that occurred last year at the same facility.

Background
The facility had setup large wooden jump boxes as substitutes for referee stands on some of the courts. I am sure it was because they usually do not have to set up for 12 courts. These boxes had no padding on the edges nor corners. I thought they were a little dangerous when players would run into them. There were some players hitting the boxes but no injuries fortunately. This is a USAV sanctioned tournament.

My question:
What is the referee's responsibility for safety of the playing facility?
Should they not start until something has been done to correct the situation or some other approach?

JRS jerrystrubDELETE@earthlink.net

See USAV 2.6.3 and 2.6.4 that requires padding at least 1/2" thick to a minimum height of 6 feet on posts and referee platforms. 

This padding used to be optional, but became mandatory in 2001. In our region, a lot of facilities needed to get their stands padded in some fashion as a result. 

> What is the referee's responsibility for safety of the playing facility?

Total. 

Officially, see rule 26.3.1 that charges the first referee with determining whether conditions meet playing requirements. 

Legally, there is a very real liability to be concerned with. 

> Should they not start until something has been done to correct the situation or some other approach?

I know I would not start a game on such a court. I'd remove the box and officiate from the floor if needed. Personally, I don't want anyone to get hurt, and legally, I enjoy my house too much, and the official extended liability insurance is only good for a Mil.

If you are concerned about this, I would take it up with your region. They should share your concern because of the insurance liability concerns with the facility insurance that comes with USAV sanctioning. 

Best Regards, 
Todd Haverkos tdh@vbref.org

I have had that trouble before. Seems I have paper thin nails. I have:
1. Used clear nail polish. (hard to handle as a guy)
2. Tried dietary supplements to strengthen nails.
3. Taped up my fingers. This is tedious - I used pre-wrap and tape.
Bub nospam@nospam.net

I know if I cut my fingernails and play for a significant amount of time within the next couple of days, my nails hurt. Thin strip of tape across the nail when pain starts seems to help a lot. I also just make a little bit of effort to not cut my nails before a tournament day.
Todd Haverkos tdh@vbref.org

At times, due to dry skin, volleyball will split the skin of my fingers near the edge of the nail....not parallel to the nail, but perpendicular... Occasionally I've had a split between the nail and the  sking...but not caused by volleyball.

in either case, I use 3M's Nexcare *Waterproof* bandages. They are a thin stretchy plastic that does a good job of conforming to the shape of the finger tip. I barely notice them. And they stay put. They are sticky on all 4 edges so they don't come off during play. They aren't actually waterproof when wrapped around a finger tip, but they prevent sand and dirt from getting in, which is good if you are playing on the 
beach.
Bill co-bc@shaw.ca

Played last night. Taped fingers tightly.. No bleeding!

Thanks!
Fred fredboer@yahoo.com

Hey everyone, I was hoping that someone out there could help me out. I'm looking for specific types of attributes that coaches from the USA are looking for
from players. I have a setter who just graduated this year, and she is aspiring to play college ball in the USA. She's won numerous awards from differerent tournaments she has competed in (Hawaii, Japan, Korea and of course here on Guam).

Well, I want what is best for her, so can anyone who knows what most coaches look for in their players (division I, division II or junior college) we can set some realistic goals for her to try to reach so she can better market herself.

For example: She is 5'5" tall, What should be her vertical leap? Does she have to sprint a certain speed at a certain distance? ... and so forth ...

This will be a big help not only for her, but for all the other athletes coming out of Guam that aspire to play college volleyball.

Thanks for your time ... coach Al Garrido atg@kuentos.guam.ne

I am a CAPII certified coach and can start off buy telling you that coaches like to see films, films of skills, films of good games as well as bad ones top include focus on the player and some of just the game with no focus on a player. They do like to see what a player does when she is not involved in the play. They can tell a lot about her coach ability from things like that. Height will be a factor but I have seen shorter girls play DII and do very well.

Different coaches look for different things. Physical ability, volleyball specific skills especially, are important, but when you talk about a setter, her temperament, decision making skills, strength, (can she set the ball outside or cross court) and communication ability. I am sure you know that most coaches use their setter as their floor general, so a calm confidence is important too. 

Physical skills, like a 6' 6" setter with a 34 inch vertical would be a big plus, but many coaches know that a 5' 5" setter with a big heart and ice water in her veins can do the job too. Best of luck to you and your player.

DOUG WARNER DLTAREFCHR@aol.com

The study, the first of its kind that pays special attention to professional Beach Volleyball, is published in the March 2003 issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine. It shows that the injury pattern in the sport resembles that of indoor volleyball, but with fewer ankle injuries. Researchers found, however, that more than one in every three players reported having sought medical attention for an overuse injury during the 7.5-week study period, mainly for knee, shoulder, and low back pain.

The Research is available online at the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center website (in English and Norwegian) www.ostrc.no/ostrc.asp/

www.fivb.org

Launching into the 2003 season, a year that heralds the beginning of the Olympic Qualification process for Athens 2004, teams, individual players and Volleyball and Beach Volleyball aficionados all over the world can look forward to a great year of FIVB competitions.

World Cups - who goes straight to the Olympics?
Absolute hits for this year will be the Men's and Women's World Cup tournaments in November where the top three place-getters in the men's and the women's tournament directly qualify for Athens 2004. This prestigious quadrennial event will be again hosted by Japan, which brings to the tournaments a wealth of organizational experience, media coverage and sponsors.

The 12 teams (for men and for women) are made up of Japan, as the host country, the five 2003 Continental Champions and four best Vice-Champions, plus two wild card teams nominated jointly by FIVB and the Japan Volleyball Association. 
Teams play a single-round robin format, in two parallel groups, some of which cross to the opposite group half way through the tournament during their journey across the islands that make up Japan.
Players will have the benefit of state-of-the-art sports complexes and enthusiastic audiences as they strive for Olympic qualification, while added interest will be created during the year as we approach the Continental Championships in September that will decided the tournament starters.

Copacabana - perfect location for the Beach Championship
October will be a month to remember on the Beach Volleyball Calendar as Brazil hosts the World Championship on the fabulous Copacabana Beach. 
The event will close out a bigger than every before World Tour calendar, including for the first time a four-leg Grand Prix, a chance for the world's best to snatch the overall Grand Prix and earn a place in Beach Volleyball history.

Catering for the new generation
This year the FIVB hosts four World Championships for Under 18 and Under 20 women and girls in Kenya and Malaysia and for Under 21 and Under 19 for men and boys in Iran and Thailand, plus two Junior World Championships for Under-18 and Under-20 in beach Volleyball. These events represent an investment for the future of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball and present young players with a chance to play the world's best and gather important competition experience. 

Annual Competitions - Bigger and Better in 2003
The 2002 edition, which climaxed in brazil for the final round enjoyed great success, including almost double the television audience of the previous year. This annual tournament, with $15 million up for grabs, the richest prize in Volleyball will continue to grab the headlines and ratings, while the Women's World Grand Prix will also be bigger and better with 12 teams competing for the first time in this annual women's competition.

www.fivb.org

By Michael Buteau http://quote.bloomberg.com

SPECIAL CASES

9.12 In a match between China and Korea at the Women's World Championships, the Korean setter, S. J. Lee, set the ball to spiker Yoon-Hee Chang. As Chang hit the ball, she also hit Lee with her knee. The hit of Lee caused her to brush against the net. The second referee called a fault on Lee. Is this a correct interpretation of Rule 12.3.1?

The second referee was correct as Chang was in the action of playing the ball when she caused Lee to contact the net. Had Lee just casually brushed the net after setting the ball and as she was preparing for the next play of the ball, the net contact would have been incidental contact for which the second referee
would not have called a fault. The action of playing the ball includes the take off and landing of the attacker. It was during this time that the contact of the net took place.

9.13 During a time out in match between Cuba and Brazil in the Women's World Cup, the Cuban coach met with his entire team in the very back corner of the free zone near the warm up zone. The referees did nothing to prevent this. Are the referees correct?

Rule 16.4.2 states that the team must "go to the free zone near their bench" during a time out. Although the Cuban Coach apparently violated this rule, he did not violate the spirit of the rule. The purpose of the rule is to remove the athletes from the playing court so that the playing court can be mopped and so that the
playing court will not be threatened by water or other materials which the team may use during the time out. The referees were correct by not being concerned about this event. Rule 16.4.2

More examples in the next issue....

GREEN - Out Door Tournaments / BLUE - VB Events / ORANGE - Beach Tournaments / RED - In Door Tournaments

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