Von Clausewitz and Volleyball

“The best form of defense is attack.” - von Clausewitz, “On War”

Volleyball is not war. The stakes, however high, don't compare to battle. But shared principles exist. 

Both require offense and defense. Both require intensive study, preparation, and training. 

Here are a couple of quotes from the US Military Field Manual: 

"Offensive. Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. Offensive action is the most effective and decisive way to attain a clearly defined common objective. Offensive operations are the means by which a military forces and hold the initiative." 

“Simplicity. Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans, and concise orders to ensure thorough understanding. Everything in war is very simple, but simplicity is difficult. Simplicity contributes to successful operations. Simple plans and clear, concise orders, minimize misunderstanding and confusion.”

What breeds success?

• Offense puts the ball down (serves, block-kills, attacks)
• Defense keeps the ball up. 
• Aggressiveness and consistency 
• Superior physical and mental conditioning
• Unwavering belief and self-confidence without arrogance
• Health and luck 

Take the fight to your opponents and always stay in the fight. 

Lagniappe. This is an edited piece with AI framework relating lessons from the legendary strategist Carl von Clausewitz, adapted from his legendary "On War."

Six Lessons from War That Apply to Volleyball

The Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz never saw a volleyball match. He never diagrammed serve-receive or captured a libero’s footwork. Yet his classic, On War, captures truths about performance under pressure.

Clausewitz valued more than tactics. He cared about uncertainty, human behavior, and decision-making during unstable conditions. That makes his ideas overlap with sport.

Here are six Clausewitz principles worth stealing.

1. Friction Is Inevitable

In theory, everything is easy. In reality, nothing is.

Clausewitz’s most famous concept is friction - the countless small problems that make simple plans fail. Shoes slip. Messages get missed. Timing breaks down.

Volleyball lives in friction.

• Passes drift.

• Sets come off the net.

• Officials miss calls.

• Momentum swings.

We cannot eliminate friction. The advantage goes to teams that expect chaos and train for it.

Great teams don’t panic. They adjust.

2. The Fog of War

Information is always incomplete.

Clausewitz warned that leaders rarely see the whole picture. Decisions are made with partial, delayed, or flawed information.

That’s volleyball.

• Blockers guess, they don’t know.

• Defenders read plays, not minds.

• Setters decide before the hitter finishes the approach.

Analysis breeds paralysis. Players must act with confidence amid ambiguity.

Good volleyball is not perfect decision-making. It’s fast, committed decision-making.

3. Concentration of Force at the Decisive Point

Win where it matters most.

Clausewitz believed victory comes from focusing strength at the moment and place that actually decides the outcome.

Not all rallies are equal. Not all swings deserve the same risk.

Smart teams:

• Identify weak passers

• Target fragile rotations

• Lean into advantages late in sets

Discipline is more than playing hard. It’s knowing when to apply maximum pressure.

23–23 is different than 8–3. Treat it that way.

4. Defense Is the Stronger Form

Defense absorbs pressure and creates opportunity.

Clausewitz argued that defense is inherently powerful. It conserves energy, buys time, and frustrates opponents.

Volleyball concurs.

• Serve receive keeps you alive.

• Blocking provides information.

• Digging drains opponents emotionally.

Offense ends rallies. Defense extends them and extension creates doubt.

Teams that defend well don’t just stay close. They break opponents who expected the point to end sooner.

5. Moral Forces Matter More Than Physical Ones

Will, belief, cohesion. Mental toughness is a force multiplier. 

Clausewitz placed enormous weight on morale. Armies with inferior equipment often prevailed because they believed, endured, and stayed connected.

Volleyball runs on the same fuel.

• Body language after errors

• Who demands the next ball

• Who steadies teammates during runs

Talent matters. Training matters. But belief is the multiplier.

Technique wins drills. Belief wins fifth sets. Champions play harder for longer. 

6. Simple Plans, Ruthlessly Executed

Complexity collapses under pressure.

Clausewitz distrusted elaborate plans. Under stress, people revert to habits - not instructions.

So does volleyball.

• One great serve beats three clever ones.

• One blocking rule executed well beats five half-remembered schemes.

• One trusted system beats constant tinkering.

Simplicity isn’t a lack of intelligence. It’s relentless consistency. 

Do well what you do a lot and do them well under duress.

The Takeaway

Clausewitz reminds us that performance isn’t about brilliance in ideal conditions. It’s about clarity, discipline, and resolve when conditions are messy.

Volleyball, like war, rewards those who:

• Expect friction

• Decide under uncertainty

• Focus on decisive moments

• Defend with pride

• Value belief

• Trust simple habits

The gym may not be a battlefield. But pressure reveals the same truths.