If you are a lefty looking for good position to play in volleyball, then you are in the right place! Indeed …
… It is common for left-handed players to play as an Opposite Hitter in volleyball. He plays at the net on the right side of the court, and his main role is to block the outside hitter of the opposite team, and also, when appropriate, to block the middle player.
The opposite is also responsible for passing and setting, so he needs to have great ball handling skills!
In this article I breakdown exactly what it takes for a lefty to do well at volleyball.
Other good volleyball positions for left handed players …
A left-handed player can be a very effective server. Simply because the angles they are able to produce on the serve are ones that the opposing side, especially the libero, is not used to and it can take them by surprise.
For example, if they serve from the left-side and aim cross-court, the ball will naturally go to the left-hand wing of their opponent, which in most players will be their weaker side.
This increases the chances either of serving an ace or producing a broken play, handing the advantage to the serving team.
Another good position for a tall lefty is a blocker at the net. That is because they can help cut out the spike down the line because the opposition spiker may be reluctant to try and play the ball against their dominant hand…
… Forcing them, therefore, to go cross-court cuts down the options and makes the spike easier to defend.
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Left-handed players have an advantage hitting the ball from the right-side of the net as a right-side hitter, because they can either go across the court or down the line.
And they may also be very good setters as they have an easier time digging the ball out, or striking it from the setting position.
In fact, being a left-handed volleyball setter can be an advantage because they can tip the ball faster, and they may be in a better position to dump the ball over the head of the opposing left blocker.
Positions to be avoided by left handed players …
The libero is not well-suited to lefties, because they play only in the backline and their role is not only to defend the serve, but also to initiate attacks!
The problem is that most serves will arrive on their weaker right-hand, making the ball harder to control.
Unlike some sports, in volleyball you don’t have the time to run around the serve and get it on your stronger side, so this will always be a problem.
Keep in mind that Libero is generally considered as the easiest volleyball position! It is also considered as a great position for shoter players …
Another position to be avoided is spiker on the left-side of the net. The reason for this is that they will rarely receive the ball in the right position to hit properly, whilst still preserving their blocking responsibilities.
Either they will be forced wide and out of the court, or they will come inside, potentially leaving a gap down the line for the opposition hitter to attack.
How versatile are left handed players in volleyball?
Research indicates that, in US college volleyball for example, the opportunities for left-handed players are limited.
One of the reasons for this is the increase in the number of substitutes allowed. With up to 15 in some competitions, and unlimited numbers in others, teams now have multiple options for every position, so an opposite can struggle for regular game time.
And it is still the norm for teams to adopt a 5 -1 offence formation, with one setter and one OP.
Some college teams are recruiting a left-handed player once every two years, and others every three or four years.
This is because these players are seen only as players who can hit and block. Instead, it is better for them to focus on other aspects of their game such as their ability to set and pass as well.
Indeed, the setter is arguably the most important position, so whether somebody is left or right-handed should matter less than the ability to create scoring opportunities for their side. And, as already stated, there can be advantages to having a “leftie” as a setter.
What are the advantages of being a left handed in volleyball?
The first advantage of being a left-hander in volleyball is that it is unusual and, therefore, it comes with an element of surprise.
A lefty is able to create angles that regular players are not used to see which makes dealing with it quite hard!
On average, just 10% of the population are left-handed and this element of surprise gives opponents less time to react after the ball leaves a player’s hand.
Research indicates though that this advantage is greater for interactive sports like volleyball, tennis, and cricket, but much less so when it comes to more passive sports like snooker.
Studies also suggest that this becomes less of an advantage at the elite level.
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Would you need any specific drills as a left handed?
The key to any successful move in volleyball is good footwork! And as a left-handed player they should approach the net left foot right foot …
… A four step approach is recommended because that gives a player enough time to get in to the right position, and power to produce the swing that they want to make.
Using that four step approach, you need to make sure that they do not get too close to the net. Doing so can slow momentum and also inhibit the ability to wing the ball and strike it properly. It will also ensure that the ball is in front of them at all times.
Speed is also important. It should build up through the steps so that the finish is both fast and explosive. And the distance between steps should also get progressively bigger. It is the last two steps that will allow a player to get to the ball and make their attack point as high as possible.
Having completed the last two steps, the player is ready to jump in the air, swing the left shoulder and arm in a throwing motion.
Once the throwing motion has finished the wrist should be snapped. This is what gives players the ability to add speed and accuracy to their shots.
This drill should first be practiced without the ball, until the footwork and the body position are understood. Once they have been mastered then you can start using the ball.
Examples of left handed volleyball players …
One example of such a player is the Serb Saša Starović, who played for the national team between 2007 and 2015, wining a bronze medal at the World Championships with them, gold in the European Championships.
With him in the side, Serbia reached the final of the World League in 2015.
Standing at 6 feet 9 inches, he had a spike length of 132 inches whilst his block extended to 126 inches.
And another example is the Cuban Fernando Hernandez Ramos. He played for the national team between 2009 – 2012, whilst domestically he has played in Italy and Turkey, as well as his native country.
He has won a host of individual awards, including best server, top spiker, and best opposite in the Turkish championship.
His spike has been measured at 141 inches and his block at 133 inches.
From the women’s game there is Tijana Bošković of Serbia, another renowned Opposite and Blocker. At the 2018 FIVB Club World Championship she was named Best Opposite Player in the Dream Team.
The same year her team won the World Championship. She also helped them win silver at the Rio Olympic, and European Championships gold twice.
Kelly Murphy from the US is slightly different to these other players because as well as being atop class opposite spiker, she is also renowned as a setter as well!
Her abilities helped the American team win gold at the World Championships in 2014, and bronze at the Rio Olympics two years later, as well as a host of other medals.
Final Thoughts …
First of all, I really hope this article has answered all, or at least, most of your questions!
However, if you are a lefty, I don’t want you to consider this as an handicap or as a particular situation that you need to handle differently!
Instead, I want you to go through the normal process by trying all the positions so you can grow and improve your skills.
The Opposite is a good position to start with as a lefty, but don’t do the mistake of staying in this position and not evolving. Don’t hesitate to try all of them and you might end up finding a better one where you can perform at the best of your abilities.
Finally, I highly invite you to check these tips to choose the best volleyball position for you!