Years ago, the 4-2 was one of the most popular volleyball systems, and it’s making comeback. As Tod Mattox, varsity coach at The Bishop’s school, explains in this video, the 4-2 can be extremely effective if you have a creative setter and good Slide attackers.
Why use the 4-2 system rather than the 5-1 or 6-2?
Here are some good reasons:
-With a front-row setter in all 6 rotations, the right back doesn’t have to worry about coming from the back row to set. This allows that player to focus on defense when the other team is attacking. And since the front-row setter is already in position, he/she will have an easier time getting to the ball and delivering a good set.
-If you have a good back-row attacker who can hit the Bic or another back-row set, you take the congestion out of the middle of the court.
-By featuring the Slide as a primary offensive weapon, you give the opponent’s defense a big challenge. As Mattox says, defending a good Slide attack is not easy, and if teams are good at it, other attacks open up.
An easy way to test this system to see if it is a good fit for your team is to run a 6v6 scrimmage with both sides in a 4-2 rotation. Setters are always in the front row and should be opposite each other in the rotation.
In this video, Mattox urges the setters to attack frequently, set the Slide and run the Go, a fast left-side set. (Higher left-side sets are OK, too.)
Outside hitters often get good looks in the 4-2 system because the opponent’s middle has to wait a split second longer to respect the Slide.
To increase the chance for success on the Slide, passers should pass more to the middle of the court rather than the right side and the right back should stay a little deeper in transition so he/she doesn’t clog up the slide hitter’s approach.
For a closer look at the 4-2 volleyball offense, check out this video by USA Youth National Team coach Jim Stone.
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