Attack
Definition: strategic hit by a player with the intent of scoring a point. Key point: intent–if the player is not trying to score a point, THEN THERE IS NO ATTACK (and, as a result, no dig)
- Three outcomes of an attack: * Kill * Attack error * Ball stays in play (a.k.a. “zero attack”)
- What is a kill? Answer: an attack that directly leads to a point.
- What is an attack error? Answer: an attack that directly results in a point for the opposing team
What is hitting percentage? Answer: (kills-errors)/total attacks: (K-E/TA).Note: that if a player has more errors than kills, this will be a negative number.
Pitfalls
It is NOT an attack if: there is a bad set – A player passes ball over the net to keep the ball in play. Freeballs – They’re free, do not count them as anything. Digs to kills – If a dig flies over the net and drops for a point, it is a dig AND a kill. Reception attempt to kill – Ditto. Kills from overpasses – These look like blocks– they’re NOT. They’re kills
Setting/Assists
Definition (assist): when a player passes, sets or digs ball to teammate who gets a kill. Key point: it does not have to be assist or be on the second contact.
What is an assist? Answer: when a player passes, sets or digs ball to teammates who gets a kill.
What is an assist error? Answer: When an assist attempt results in an error. Most of the time it’s a ball handling error.
Sets that do over the net and falls for a point is a Kill and an attack. If it goes out of bounds, it’s an attack error)
Pitfalls -You know you’ve messed up if:
- You have more assists than kills.
- You have exactly the same assists as kills (VERY UNLIKEY this happens.
- You have more assists than total attacks.
Passing
Definition: initial contact after serve. For every serve, there must be a reception.
What is a reception error? Answer: when a serve results for a point for the opposing team. Team reception error when serve falls between two players or receiving team is out of rotation.
Pitfalls
Any time there is a service ace, there must be a receiving
Definition: Initial hit of a point
What is a service ace? Answer: Hits the court untouched. Contact is made, but ball is not kept in play. Violation is called on receiving team. Receiving team is out of rotation.
What is a service error? Answer: Ball doesn’t go over the net. Ball goes out of bounds (or its antenna). Server foot faults. Serving team out of rotations (service error goes to player who should have served.
Serving
Definition: Initial hit of a point
What is a service ace? Answer: Hits the court untouched. Contact is made, but ball is not kept in play. Violation is called on receiving team. Receiving team is out of rotation.
What is a service error? Answer: Ball doesn’t go over the net. Ball goes out of bounds (or its antenna). Server foot faults. Serving team out of rotations (service error goes to player who should have served.
Blocking
Definition: Player(s) block leads immediately to a point.
Key point: if does NOT matter which player touches the ball – if 2-3 players go up for a block and one player touches it, each receives a block assist.
What is a block error? Answer: when a player’s attempt to block a ball directly results in the stoppage of play and a point for the other team.
Pitfalls
A team’s total blocks is greater than the opposing team’s attack errors. If they are exactly the same, you probably messed up too.