Possession Enders

Although basketball and volleyball share features, they differ in a development area - "possession enders."

As a hoop coach, I tried to develop possession enders - players who led to scores (assists, baskets) and stops (rebounds, steals, blocks). If you have three reliable scorers, two rebounders, and two ball-handlers you succeed.

Volleyball possession enders do these:

• Powerful serves (especially aces)
• Stuff blocks
• Successful attacks
• Assists (including passes front row to front row)

As in basketball, having three potent attackers is critical to go deep in the postseason. This model is limited because it doesn't value properly "keeping the ball up" digs and serve receive, plays that cancel opposition possession enders. 

For teams to excel, they need to master combining both offense and defense. That requires not only skill but toughness, the capacity to play "harder for longer" as Canadian coach Dave Smart emphasizes. 

Lagniappe. Blocking can improve if blockers 'get to the spot' more quickly. On the outside double block, the outside blocker should angle their hand in slightly to work to avoid a 'tool'.