How to Develop a Volleyball Game Plan
"Every player has a weakness, even the best in the world," says Rob Heidger, pro beach volleyball player. "Watch your opponents closely, and you'll find it. Then exploit it."
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Instructions
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Get videotapes of your opponents' matches and analyze them to learn their strategies, specific plays, strengths and weaknesses.
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Attend the early round matches of your tournament to learn more about who you might play.
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Observe where your opponent hits the ball (everyone has a favorite spot), then put the ball in places that take away their favorite shot.
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Find your opponent's weakness, then force him or her to continually play with that weakness.
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Serve the best setter so that he or she will have to hit, rather than set.
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Watch your opponents warm up from across the net to see whether they are doing anything special.
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Notice where they line up before a serve to see whether they are giving away a large area of the court.
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Tips & Warnings
"It sounds like a simplistic strategy, but it works: Always force your opponents to do the things they hate to do," says Heidger. "If they play poor defense, make them dig. If they can't block well, hit through them."
Extra preparation - even if it seems overboard - can give you the added edge you need.
As tempting as the beach party scene is, it is a good move to get some rest and avoid the all-nighters.
Heidger and his teammate Kevin Wong are the No. 1 ranked U.S. Men's Doubles Team in beach volleyball. They competed together in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
