Volleyball Arm Swing

Several weeks ago Jill Gerber wrote the following: “In working with the Venice Volleyball team what kinds of things are you doing to connect the whole body movements of throwing to the body movement of the attack arm swing? I am finding that most volleyball players rely heavily on a shoulder/arm movement rather than a more hip, trunk, shoulder, elbow, wrist chain of movement.” Jill, first of all let me apologize for not answering sooner, just kind of fell between the cracks. I believe in using a variety of medicine ball throwing movements to reinforce the concept of total chain involvement. At least two days a weeks we do an upper body wall throw module with a 3 kg ball using two arms and then the same series one arm with either a 1kg or 2 kg ball depending on the individual players needs. Two other days a week we do Total Body Power throws for distance and the other day a different total body throw series designed to reinforce arm lag and hip lead. With specific individuals whom the coach feels need to improve arm speed with do a program of manual resistance, stretch cord fast eccentric work and throwing with various weight and size balls. I really think the root of the problem with the girls volleyball players is that they do not have a good foundation in throwing mechanics. That is something I am going to emphasize more in the 09 off season. I am going to just have them play catch with a football or a softball.