Characteristics and Responsibilities of a Defensive Specialist

By Erin Niebling
CAP Level II Coach
Ohio Valley Region
Club: Lineshot VB

Defense is a part of the game that is often overlooked. However, defense is the key to winning many matches. If a team is unable to pass and defend, they will not be able to utilize their offense, therefore making it very difficult to win a match. There are many skills and attributes that are necessary for a defensive specialist to be successful. These include both tactical skills as well as certain characteristics.

The first attribute of a good defensive specialist is having a good attitude. In order for a defensive specialist to be successful, he or she must be determined to get every ball that crosses the net. They have to be aggressive and never give up on a ball. Giving up on a ball is like giving up on the entire team. This type of attitude is essential to being a good defensive specialist. Another responsibility of a defender is to be vocal. They have the best view of the entire court and communicating with their teammates is a must. This ties back into having the attitude. If a defensive specialist is quiet and passive, they will not be aggressive in any aspect of the game. Good reading skills are important as well. They must be able to read not only the hitter but the setter as well. Throughout a play, there are many cues to look for when reading, such as verbal calls by the opponent and body language. A smart defender will pick up on these cues and be one-step ahead of the opponent’s offense. The final responsibility that a defensive specialist has is to be in good ready position at all times. A defender who is surprised is often going to find themselves in trouble. It is much easier to move to a ball from a low, ready position rather than from standing straight up. A defender must be ready for every ball that crosses the net to come to them and they can never be caught off guard.

All of these characteristics are necessary for a defensive specialist to be successful. When all these characteristics are present, you are on your way to becoming a very good defensive specialist. These attributes are a good foundation to begin teaching technical skills on.

The first technical skill to be taught is a proper ready position. This is the position that a defender will spend most of their time in. When in the ready position, feet are shoulder width apart and your weight is slightly forward with the shoulders over the knees and knees over the toes. Knees are bent and your butt is down with your weight on the balls of your feet. Your head should be up and eyes are always looking forward. The arms need to be out in front, ready to play the ball with a high platform angled towards the target. This is the basic position that is needed in order to perform any dig or pass.

There are many different types of digs that can be utilized in any given situation. The first of these is the “J” stroke. It is called this because your wrists curl up to form a “J”. This dig is used to receive balls that are very low to the ground. Often there is time for only one or two steps. When using the “J” stroke the defender plays the ball low to the ground and flicks their wrist up to force the ball up into the air.

Another type of dig that can be used is the overhand dig. When using this technique the hands are open and above the head, similar to a setting position. The hands and wrist must be firm and locked with the elbows bent. This dig should be used when a ball is overhead but is still in play.

A third technique that is used is the high lateral dig or the side dig. This dig is used by stepping out of the line of the ball and putting the arms in place of the body to play the ball. The inside shoulder must be dropped in order to direct the ball back to the target. This dig can be used when playing balls that are above waist level and moving very fast.

The final digging technique is the run-through. This is often used for balls that are far out in front of the defender. The player runs as fast as necessary to the ball, plays the ball and continues to run in the direction of the target. This technique is very useful in order to avoid hitting the floor to play a ball. It allows the defender to stay on their feet, which is very valuable in a fast-paced game.

In many cases is it necessary to dive after a ball. Although this is not ideal, it happens very often and it is important that players know how to dive properly and how to recover quickly.

The most important element in diving is being low and close to the ground. This will help to minimize the impact and reduce injuries. A defender should also try to play the ball before hitting the ground, using the dive as a follow through. In addition, when extending, a player should never try to break their fall by using their hands to stop themselves. This can very easily cause an injury. Although the dive is useful in some cases, it should only be used as a last resort. A defensive specialist needs to be ready to play every ball that comes over and diving takes up valuable time that is needed to be in ready position and read the offense.

However, there are times when diving is necessary in order to play the ball. When this is the case, recovery is key. There are two techniques used to get up quickly off the ground after diving. The first is the barrel roll. After playing the ball and extending on the floor, the player rolls onto and over their back pushing themselves up with their hands and back into ready position. The second technique is the shoulder roll. After playing the ball and extending, the player will roll onto their back and then kick their legs over one shoulder, similar to a summersault. The momentum from the dive will carry their legs over their shoulder and up into ready position. This technique is very effective when used correctly.

When a defensive specialist possesses the characteristics and attitude that is necessary along with the skills that were just discussed, they are on the road to becoming a very successful player. The defensive specialist is often the heart of a team and can play a huge role in the success of a team. Therefore, it is important to teach the necessary skills to have a solid defensive specialist on your team.