About John Crutchfield Expertise 15 years coaching experience: United States National Team and High Performance National Team; high school (men`s and women`s); Club (Belmont Shore and Asics/Nova: boys` 16s and 18). Played volleyball competitively since 1970 including Junior Olympics; University of Southern California; Beach; U.S. Nationals (40 and over) and Long Beach recreational adult leagues (8 time city champions)I have joined the staff as an assistant coach for the men`s
volleyball program at California State University at Long Beach and am now
entering my second season with the program. In addition I am one of the
original coaches of the newly formed LBC Volleyball Club for the last two
years. I have coached 12, 13, 16 and 18 year old teams and coached our 13
year olds to the National Championship at the Junior Olympics in July, 2002
at Louisville, Kentucky.
Experience I've played volleyball all my life (since the age of 13 and before most people even knew it was a sport). I've been coaching for the last 18 years, even while I was practicing law full time. Recently I have changed to an education career partly to allow me more time to coach and to coach at a higher level.
Expert: John Crutchfield Date: 6/10/2001 Subject: 4-man Beach strategy
Question John, I am looking for information pertaining to strategies for 4-man beach volleyball. I want to learn where each player should be positioned in different situations.
Answer Hi Troy:
Strategy in the four man beach game is actually much simpler than most since their is no rotation (except for the server)or overlap rule. It is therefor critical to pick your team personnel wisely usually to include a strong defensive player for the back row (and preferably with good hands as he will usually take the setting role when the ball is dug by the setter), a tall middle for the quick attack and double blocking, a strong outside hitter, and, most importantly a smart setter (height is more important than usual here as the setter usually also blocks the front right (opponent's outside and strongest hitter).
Defensive strategy is to double block with the middle and communicate a line or angle scheme to the back row defender:
1. If the blockers are taking line, the back row defender will take the sharp angle and cover the seam, the off blocker will drop to cover the power angle and cut shot.
If the middle is fooled or cannot get outside to help with the block he should drop off and cover the cut shot and tips to free the off blocker to focus on the power angle and cheat toward the middle with the back row defender
2. If the blockers are blocking angle, the back row player rotates to the open line and covers the seam on a late or unclosed block (he must also anticipate the deep middle roll shot). The offside blocker drops to the ten foot line to take the cut shot and looks for tips.
3. On middle attacks and down balls, the middle usually blocks by himself and the three remaining defenders play three deep rotating to the angle of the attack (line player ancticipating tips)
Hope this helps .. let me know how you do!
All My Best .. .Crutch
