1. Shout It out Loud
When in practice, your team should always use audible calls. This allows middle hitters for volleyball the chance to develop a strategy and refines their teamwork. Better defined, this allows your middle hitters to develop better transition attacks as well as which attack option to call. Your middle hitters also develop better timing skills when the team calls their shots. Call during every scrimmage and practice situation and your middle hitters will be ready to attack during the season play.
2. Group Them up
Middle hitters may benefit from a group technique, like when you use the "loading zone" attack. This technique brings your middle players to one location, generally a few feet left of the 3-meter volleyball spike line. From this "loading zone," your players disperse into their attack formation. This pre-loading might seem to give away the attack method, but leaving from the same location doesn't give your strategy away. Launch your middle players from the "loading zone" and you might find fewer free balls and more opportunities for attacks.
3. Set Up Drills
Make a few strategic volleyball drills and run through them with your middle hitters. For instance, try drills such as two in the middle set, which calls for your middle hitter to set the ball about three feet above the net, right in front of the setter. This allows for an attack that the opposing team cannot prepare for.
4. Migration to the Hydration
Keep your middle hitters, as well as the rest of the team, well hydrated during practice and games. Take breaks every 1/2 hour or so--just to make sure your team gets a drink. Your middle hitters are moving around on the court. Make sure they are not migrating to the diet cola and other soft drinks too. These won't improve their game and certainly won't improve their health. Opt for water and water-based drinks, such as Vitamin Water or Propel. These have less sugar and more nutrients in them than some of the sports drinks. Then, if you want to take your team out for a special treat afterward, go ahead.
5. Warp Up to Warm Ups
Your middle hitters might arrive ready to set, dig and spike, but make sure they take the time to stretch and warm up first. Stretch arms and legs, and make sure they stretch their hamstrings. This is important for those high jumps needed for those tips. This also reduces the chance your middle hitters will be out of the game because of injury.
