Tracking Alignment

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by timasdf

Hi Bob,

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it.

I completely agree that it is largely a fool's errand to attempt to teach alignment to inexperienced volleyball officials. When I am running clinics for new/newer officials, I explicitly forbid discussion of that topic! There are so many more important things for the new official to master before worrying about alignments.

I should have better asked the question, which is what techniques/strategies have been used successfully for officials that don't have any playing/coaching experience (but aren't brand new to officiating)?

Thanks again,
Tim

A few things I would recommend:

Definitely learning what formations teams use in serve receive would be a great start. Most teams use similar serve receive patters, so if you can recognize those, you can then realize exactly which positions should be where.

Learn if the serve receive pattern has the setter following the libero, or (much less often), vice versa. That can go a long way toward knowing which player should be where.

Learn which position each player is slotted into. For example, if your service order is setter, outside, middle, then know that #2 is your setter, 6 your outside, 10 your middle, etc. Know which player is your opposite by recognizing that player, not starting at a card. The libero is a good way to set your vision, and is almost always on for the middle, so you can work from there.

Understand certain assumptions, like if your setter is left front, the opposite can't be in middle back.

But most importantly, don't be a slave to your lineup card...I've found it's much better to get information you need from your scorer while you're trying to figure out what exactly you see. This, however, requires you to have a good prematch discussion with your scorer, and let them know how you're going to request certain information (i.e., "Next three on the left" means "Let me know who are the next three servers on the left, so I can determine the front row.").

It takes a while...I've been at this for 17 years, and I'm still working at it, so yes, it's difficult. Just figure out little tricks, and learn those serve receive patters. If you get good enough, you should know where the setter is just by seeing how they line up.