Photography in Volleyball

Do you need some tips on how to get a good picture in volleyball? "DC fan" has some good tips that some of you could use!
"For equipment, you'll need a fast lens and high ISO. From a 60D and a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II lens:



Focal Length: 126.0mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Time: 0.0010 s (1/1000)
ISO equiv: 2500
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB





Focal Length: 200.0mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Time: 0.0010 s (1/1000)
ISO equiv: 3200
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB





Focal Length: 200.0mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure Time: 0.0016 s (1/640)
ISO equiv: 2000
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB



However, equipment is just a portion of the challenge in photographing volleyball. The real key is being able to follow the action, which is so relentlessly quick and unpredictable it makes basketball seem slow. One technique is to concentrate on action at the net, because the kills and putbacks will happen there. It'll definitely require a lot of anticipation, because if you wait for a peak play, it'll be over before you have a chance to push the shutter button. 

You'll probably spend a few matches getting used to the pace of the action, which won't give you much time to rest or think. After that, you can deal with details such as your location. A position on the opposite from the elevated net judge gives the clearest view. Eventually, you'll decide whether you prefer a low or high angle."

Website:http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1097437

Five Burning Questions

More people are hyped up about the volleyball NCAA volleyball tournament! Read more to find out.

http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/10126122/espnw-five-burning-questions-ncaa-women-volleyball-regionals

Illini NCAA Tournament

If you would like to stay up to date on the  Illinois Fighting Illini team click the link below. 

http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-volley/sched/ill-w-volley-sched.html

Team Dinners

Are you having a team dinner sometime soon? Well, you don't have to go out to eat to make it special for your team. A nice homemade meal will do just the trick! Make it a healthy meal, but at the same time make it filling. Play some games with your team after, or before your meal, and just make the best of your night!  You could have team meals weekly or even every other week. Or maybe it could just be a special occasion, that's fun too! I'm almost certain that your team will have a blast! Every player of the team could bring some dish to share with every player. But if you want, you can just make the whole meal yourself! I posted a link below for some excellent food ideas.
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/meals-to-feed-to-a-large-crowd

Productive Drills

Are you a coach, and looking for some good drills for practice? Well you've come to the right spot! I found a video below, and it seemed like they were very productive!
http://www.youtube.com/user/vballdrills

Stretches

Stretching could be vital to your athleticism! You need to perform the best stretches to get the best results. If you don't stretch often, then you could be more likely to tear, break, or dislocate anything in your body. Now, I'm not saying that if you don't stretch, you're going to break something by any means. I'm just saying that you are at a greater risk than others who don't stretch. You can click on the link below if you would like some stretches.
http://www.active.com/volleyball/articles/10-muscle-groups-every-volleyball-player-must-stretch-878685

Preventing Injuries

Want to know the best way to prevent injuries? I researched this topic, and I came across this dandy little article. I found this article truly helpful, and something I could use in the future.
http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/how-to-prevent-injuries-during-exercise

Playing Time

Playing time is an issue for most players and parents. But my outlook on it is, the best players, and the ones who give the most effort will get the most amount of playing time. Parents always get frustrated when they see that their kid is always on the bench. But if your kid doesn't play to the best of their ability then I do not blame the coaches for not playing you. You should give 110 percent in everything you do. Playing time shouldn't be based off of favoritism, the amount of money you have, but to how much you give. 

Travel Teams

If your volleyball season is over, it's never too late to join a travel team! Traveling teams other wise known as club teams, is a great experience for players to be on a different team, meet new people, and develop new skills. I've heard that being in club is just an amazing expericience, and sometime in the future I would like to join one. Playing volleyball year round would be an opportunity I wouldn't like to pass up!

Should You Eat Before a Match?

Yes or No?

Personally, I think that you should eat before a game but just not too much! You don't want to get sick right before a match. I decided to research this and see what I come across. This link below seems to be very helpful if you are in doubt! 

 http://volleyball.about.com/od/training/a/Nutrition_2.htm

Which is More Important?

Hitting or Passing?

Some people say that hitting is more important, but I personally believe that passing is. The reason that I believe this is because you need to be able to pass the ball to get it to the setter, who then gets it to the hitter, and then the hitter then hits it. If you didn't have the passer then it wouldn't of been possible for the hitter to even get the ball. So, I decided to get another out look on this. This link below seemed pretty reasonable!

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall08/Devine/passing.html

Libero

What's a Libero?

Many non volleyball players always question what a libero is. A libero is usually the best passer on the team. A libero normally wears a different color jersey from the other players on the team. A libero also only plays back row, since she's only a passer. Many people seem to think that since a libero only plays back row that they can't hit, but they can. There is such a thing called back row hits. Usually, the opposing will try and avoid hitting the ball at the libero, but most times that doesn't always happen. When it doesn't, the libero can get a good pass to the setter, and the setter can then set up the hitter and the hitter can get a kill! Well at least, that's what we're aiming for. The libero in the game of volleyball, is very important. The team is counting on you to be a leader, and get the perfect pass to the setter and take charge. When you don't fulfill those expectations every single time, don't give up! You will always have another chance to get at it! 

Diving

Correct Form of Diving

I've always wanted to know what the correct form of diving is. I mean, my coaches have shown me but, I didn't know if there was different form of diving. So, out of my curiosity, I looked it up. I came across this video, and I thought to myself, "that seems about right!" So to share what I have found with you, here is the link to watch this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OPMEebW-ro 

Passing

How to Correctly Pass a Volleyball

Photo credit to: http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-beach-volleyball-woman-mexico-pass-ball-image26429681

Many people seem to think that when you pass a volleyball, you interlace your fingers. But that is definitely not the case. Actually, that is the worst way possible to pass a volleyball. When you pass a volleyball you want to make a fist with one hand, and cup it with the other hand (shown in the picture above). You DO NOT want to cross your thumbs because if the ball its them then, it will hurt very bad. You also want your forearms to be flat, because that is your platform. Your forearms is where you want to pass the ball. You also need to have your knees bent, and in a squatting stance. When you see the ball coming step left, right. Do not swing your arms. All you need to do is shrug your shoulders because your legs will do all of the work! You also want to call mine, and when you step left right, step towards your target. There is also another form of passing called over head passing. Basically, over head passing is setting. But you're not the setter, you're just not in position to pass the ball under hand.

Getting Gifts

Volleyball Gifts? No Problem!

It's just about that time, now! Christmas will be here before we know it, and if you have a volleyball lover in your family, then I have some great Christmas gift ideas for you! I know that if I were to get some volleyball gifts I would ask for some, spandex, Mizuno shoes, knee pads, volleyball shirts, sweat pants, head bands, volleyball bags, Nike crew socks, and bows. For spandex, I would prefer Nike Pros. But that's just my own personal preference. You can never get enough of spandex, sweat pants, socks, bows, and head bands. They are just an essential when it comes to volleyball. Another item you could get is a volleyball. You could even try and get it signed by a professional player, or even sign it yourself. An even better gift would be to get someone tickets to their favorite teams game! That would be so awesome! 

Team Bonding

Everyone Needs to Get Along

Photo credit to:http://www.mainevents.co.uk/team_building_team_bond.htm 

Does your team lack trust, communication, and ability to get along? Well, you've come to the right place. Everybody on your team needs to get along, otherwise you won't flow well together on the court. First thing a team needs is, trust. You need to be able to trust each other, to actually be able to play a game right. One strategy to help your team gain trust is, trust falls. One person lets their teammate fall, but you have to catch them. If the person falling doesn't want to fall because she thinks you won't catch her, then you have lack of trust. Every person on the team needs to know they can trust each other. Another issue could be communication, so an exercise to help that would be to all get together and just talk. Talk about life, volleyball, food, your relationships, and see where that takes you. Lastly, ability to get along, hmm. If your team doesn't have the ability to get along, then you guys are in some trouble because, that's the last thing you need. Try having sleep overs, or go out for pizza, or all go to the mall togther and try to get along!

Improving Your Hitting

Want a Stronger Hit?

I know that I have always wanted a stronger hit. Out of my curiosity, I decided to simply google this matter to see what I would come across. I know a silly website doesn't always work and can't fix a hit instantly, but I was just looking for some ideas. This article actually seems helpful, and something that I could use in the future!  

http://volleyball.about.com/od/learntoplay/a/Hitting.htm

What is the Most Common Injury?

The Most Common Injury

I have always wondered what the most common injury in volleyball was. So I decided to do a little research. This article I found, seemed to be the most interesting and accurate! http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/volleyball-injury-prevention.aspx

Spandex Over Shorts?

Should Schools Allow Spandex?

Preferably, I believe schools should allow volleyball players to wear spandex during a game. Spandex is very light and it allows more flexibility in an athlete when they're performing the things they want to do. This article basically describes exactly how I feel! http://www.hrvarsity.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-7126.html

Asics vs Mizuno?

Which One Would You Choose?

Honestly, I would prefer Mizunos over Asics any day, but that's just my own personal opinion. In Jr High, I had Asics and I did not enjoy them as much as I enjoy Mizunos. Mizunos in my opinion are comfier and have more traction compared to Asics. As I was reading all of the debates over Asics and Mizunos, I came across this great outlook on both brands!

 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090706113535AAtNKCx