Court positioning and body alignment

What this lesson covers

Body alignment dictates court coverage. When defending in a diagonal, feet point toward the incoming ball with shoulders width apart. This setup shifts when hitting down the line, where the player squares up to face the opponent directly. During defense, the player maintains a position behind the ball trajectory to ensure the contact point remains in front of the body. Staying away from the glass allows for better calculation of the rebound.

Transitioning to the net involves moving through the middle zone quickly using a volley or a half-volley. Once at the net, maintaining a distance of about two meters from the net reduces the space behind the player, making lobs harder for opponents to execute. The player advances to attack and recovers to the neutral position constantly rather than standing static. This movement pattern creates a balance between covering the court and maintaining the ability to retreat for a bandeja.