Attacking the ball in volleyball is one of my favorite things to do – and I’m sure it’s a lot of peoples’ favorite thing to do just because it is so satisfying getting that awesome kill! We all see those highlight videos of middle hitters hitting in front of the 10 foot line or outside hitters cranking the ball line. And we also know what it feels like when we finally get that amazing hit that we want to add to our own highlight video if we had one. However, attacking is more than just an opportunity to look cool or feel strong. So, we’ve compiled a list to explain the purpose of an attack.

1. Break the opponent’s defense. You score points in volleyball by besting the other team’s defense, right? So, breaking the opponent’s defense is a great strategy to ensure that you’ll score points. When we say “break” their defense we mean make your offense so powerful and unpredictable that the defense is unsure and intimated by your offense. Using a smart and dominant attack can do that – tipping when the defense doesn’t expect it, intentionally aiming at empty spots in the defense, swinging powerfully when the set is ideal – all of these things can break the opponent’s defense and allow you more opportunities to score!

2. Force the opponent to play good defense. Going along with breaking the opponent’s defense, a good attack also forces the opponent to play good defense. If they don’t “break” then they have to put A LOT of effort into playing better defense. Because they are focused on defense, they aren’t able to put as much focus into their offensive strategies. This decreases their chances of scoring which increases yours! Think about it – if all your teams’ attacks force the defense to do overpasses or pass off the net and away from the setter, they won’t be able to set up their offensive hitters! So, your attack is a great tool to force the opponent to play better defense, which benefits you!

3. Control the pace of the game. Using your attack strategically allows you to control the pace of the game. There are times in volleyball, especially during long rallies, when you may feel out of control and a little frantic. But using a strong attack will allow you to control the pace of the game and give you more control of how the game is played – and you can play the game to your advantage! For instance, if you’re an outside hitter then for a couple of attacks you can fully swing and attack on the ball to make the defense recognize your abilities. Then, you can tip the ball right over the block to change up your offense. Then you can attack the ball again and go line. Then you can attack the ball going hard angle – Do you see how the possibilities are endless and can frustrate the defense?! You can use your attack to keep the defense on their toes and end rallies when you need to. The power is in your hands!

4. Play competitively. To be blunt, attacks are what end rallies – attacks are what score points – attacks are what give you the “wow” factor sometimes. If you’re playing a difficult team that also has a strong offense, then your defense is what allows you to stay in the game and your own strong offense is what allows you to score points! It takes both aspects of the game – offense and defense – to be successful but having a strong attack allows you to really compete at a higher level against those tough teams!

5. Build confidence. This final purpose of an attack is a more personal one – it allows you to build confidence. Being the one that ends a rally or scores the winning point for your team is a HUGE confidence boost. And being able to maintain the ability to do that only increases your confidence as time goes on. Having a lot of self-confidence allows you to set higher goals for yourself and encourages you to work harder and improve yourself. Without this level of self-confidence, you won’t be as motivated to improve. And professional volleyball player Matt Anderson says, “That is what we are looking for from everyone. Constant improvement!”

As you can see from this list, having a strong attack is more important than just for looks. It’s a very important aspect of the game that has a lot of impact on the game! But when you do nail down a strong and unpredictable attack you do look pretty cool in addition to the other important aspects of an attack! This list is inspired by the #BruceLeeMindset!