Volleyball is a high pace sport that require being aggressive to a certain extent. Indeed, even players with the best skills out there might still struggle because of not being aggressive enough …
This article explains exactly what does it mean to be aggressive in a sport like volleyball, as well as some helpful tips on how to build up this skill and when you should utilize it the most.
What does it mean to be aggressive in volleyball?
Being aggressive in volleyball usually means being explosive and playing with a fast paced and precise manner.
Playing volleyball aggressively means that you need to focus on the things that will provide you the means to ensure a victory on the court!
There is positive aggression and negative aggression though. Negative aggression is a different thing …
It can be quite destructive. It is the product of hotheadedness and bad mistakes, that are made in the peak of anger.
How to become positively aggressive as a volleyball player?
We cannot talk about being aggressive without having 4 crucial pillars (Explosiveness, High pace, Composure, Timing)
Important Side Note: In the last few weeks I’ve been doing some research on what makes a quality ball from a lower quality one. I will publish this information quite soon in a separate article. But interestingly, I’ve found that this volleyball ball has all the good criteria a quality ball should have.
Explosiveness
Explosiveness means that you need to be ready at any given point of the game to perform an outburst of energy, that may save the set.
Explosiveness is generally practiced by sprinting you can exercise your body to adapt to an instant high blood pressure, high heart rates and the instant activation of your lungs.
It can also be practiced during regular volleyball practices. By performing different exercises that require instant player action, such as one man box serve, or the practices of digging and receiving fast incoming balls.
Explosiveness is also practiced with the agility ladder (Check it Here at Amazon). The agility ladder can help you with your foot work and the movement of your hips. It can provide you with the necessary explosiveness that comes from your lower body.
Fast pace
The fast pace of a team is sometimes extremely important. It is tightly in connection to the explosiveness of a team.
A team playing with a fast pace will almost always have the chance of confusing the opposite team.
So playing explosively with a fast pace is the key to positive aggression. A fast paced game does not mean however that the team needs to be in a hurry to score a point, that is where the composure comes in.
Composure
A composed team will always have an advantage over a nervous one.
This is key for better decision making. When a team or a player is composed he will make better decisions most of the time
In order to be composed enough the team or the player must not give in to emotions, anger and fear of losing the game.
Learn how to keep your composure in volleyball …
Timing
Timing is maybe the most important part of playing aggressive volleyball. All of the things that we have listed so far relay on timing.
If the players of a team are trying to play explosively and fast paced they will need to make every contact with the ball count, from receiving, to serving, digging, passing, blocking and hitting the ball.
If a team is not precise and can not time the ball properly, then that can lead to frustration, a slower pace and ultimately to negative aggressive playing.
How do you serve aggressively in volleyball?
When serving the ball in volleyball it is crucial to do it aggressively, that is explosively with a lot of force behind the punch.
The key behind an aggressive punch is the momentum that you manage to produce with your body.
Here is a short step by step guide on how to perform an aggressive serve in volleyball.
- Position yourself behind the end line, three to four steps away from it. Put all your weight on your stronger foot, with the ball in your hands.
- Start your movement towards the end line by transferring your weight from one foot to another. Start explosively with the transfer, speed is the most crucial thing in a serve.
- By now you should have started running towards the end line. Well it should look like running, because there are three to four steps to it.
- When you have reached the end line, with the last leg that touches the ground try propelling yourself upwards, by performing a one leg jump.
- Your body should be straight, with one hand holding the ball above your head, while the other is behind your back, swinging towards the ball.
- With the momentum you have gained when running towards the end line, you will not only hit the ball with you hand, but with your entire body force. This will result in an aggressive serve that will send the ball at an enormous speed towards the opponent.
It is worth noting that this serve needs to be performed explosively, with precision. We have already talked about this. There is no room for anger in a serve, sine it can affect your precision.
Volleyball Moves that require more aggressiveness?
Not every volleyball move requires aggressiveness. Indeed, there are moves that need you to be really aggressive much more than others.
Bellow a quick overview of those moves:
Digging
You can perform aggressive digging moves in volleyball with ease. Digging can seem as an aggressive move in general, since it requires explosiveness and agility.
Digging is the perfect example of an aggressive volleyball move, otherwise, you won’t even be successful doing it.
Learn how to dive for a volleyball with a minimum of risk!
Spiking
spiking is another good example of volleyball aggressiveness, and just like digging it requires the player to be aggressive in nature.
A spiker needs to be always ready to hit the ball when it is well passed to him. Similar to the setter, the spiker propels himself in the air and hits the ball with the momentum that he builds up when on the ground.
Spiking can be played aggressively if the player practices it well, and if he gets familiar with the movement, that aggressiveness can be very useful for the team.
Passing
Aggressively passing the ball can be very useful. Passing however is not like spiking and digging. Spiking and digging need to be played with precision, composure, and explosiveness.
Passing on the other hand needs to be played without explosiveness. It can be played aggressively, but without the explosiveness. Passing is performed with precision, with a fast pace.
Finally, keep in mind that being aggressive should not impact your volleyball footwork which is also an important factor …
Volleyball positions that need more aggressiveness
2 important positions that need the player to be aggressive are:
- The outside hitters
- The middle hitter
The hitters need to know nearly every time, where, and how to hit the ball, they need to anticipate the opponents moves and be ready in advance.
The hitters rely on speed, explosiveness, agility, precision, and composure.
One more position that is worth mentioning is the libero. He is the most active and agile element on a team.
He is generally required to be very explosive, agile, fast and precise with the ball. Although the position of the libero is not an offensive one, he still needs to be aggressive in his defense which will help start better attacks for his team.
Should women volleyball players also be aggressive?
Volleyball is considered by many as a women‘s sport, and Yes, women volleyball players should, just like men, be aggressive in volleyball.
Indeed, the same things are mostly expected from women and men in volleyball. Explosiveness, precision, composure, endurance and high stamina …
The overall physical requirements might not be the same, but the core principles and requirements of the sport are.
It is even perceived that women should showcase even more aggressiveness than men, since they are naturally gentle and soft.
Final Thoughts …
One mistake that most beginners do, is that they tend to focus too much on showcasing more power and aggressiveness. Basically, there is nothing wrong with that, however, this make them focus less and less on building their basic volleyball skills …
So, if that’s your case, don’t focus too much on being aggressive at the beginning of your journey, try to build skills first.