"Stamp Out Bad Volleyball"

"Stamp Out Bad Football" - Sign on Patriots' consultant Ernie Adams's desk

Volleyball is a cerebral game. Superior players have versatile skill sets and mindsets. "The Art of War" informs one of the great treatises about competition ever. Apply to volleyball... Start with a ChatGPT take. 

🎯 Serving Strategy

• Avoid: Serving to the opponent’s best passer or libero, who thrives under pressure.

• Attack: Target weaker passers, forcing shanked passes and taking the other team out of system.

• Example: If one outside hitter struggles in serve receive, keep serving her until adjustments are forced. (Melrose did this in 2012 to take advantage of a semi-final opponent OH defender)

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🏐 Offensive Targeting

• Avoid: Challenging the opponent’s tallest, strongest blocker repeatedly.

• Attack: Run plays that isolate a smaller blocker, force mismatches, or attack seams between blockers.

• Example: If their middle is dominant, run more quicks or back-row attacks to stretch her away from the net front.

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🛡️ Defensive Alignment

• Avoid: Overcommitting to defend their strongest hitter every play.

• Attack: Scout for patterns — some players tip under pressure, others avoid hitting line. Direct defense to anticipate weaknesses.

• Example: If an outside hitter rarely uses the line shot, shift the block and defense to cover crosscourt more heavily.

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🔄 Substitution and Matchups

• Avoid: Keeping lineups that put your weakest blocker against their best hitter.

• Attack: Use rotation adjustments or substitutions to create favorable matchups, especially in late sets.

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🧠 Psychological Game

• Avoid: Trying to outduel their star when she’s in rhythm.

• Attack: Pressure less confident players with serves, tips, or tough blocking reads. Frustrate them until errors multiply.

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✅ Takeaway: In volleyball, The Art of War principle means directing your energy where it creates the greatest disruption: serve at the weakest passer, attack the smallest blocker, defend the predictable shot. Success comes from exploiting cracks, not banging against walls.

Study "practical examples." Win the "head game."

1) Violations - Never commit a service line violation. Stay out of the net. 

2) Communication - "Call the ball." Habits begin in practice. No 'campfires'

3) Make the safe play. When it's a 'get me over' play, don't do "too much" and send the ball out of play or into the net. 

4) Make better attack choices. From the pins, you have a lot of choices - down the line, crosscourt, cut shots (short and angled), tips, roll shots, off the blocker's outside hand. 

5) Stay within yourself. Make the smart decision to attack when the attack is there, reading the defense, and knowing your skill set. 

6) Play with purpose. Pressure the defense with serves into alleys or sidelines or to the weakest defender. 

Lagniappe. Correcting the attack - surf, reset, flow. 

Remember "crescendo" when all of the instruments arise together.