In Search of a Lineup
During the preseason, a key priority is finding the best lineup as you prepare for league matches.
How Do you Select the Starting Lineup?
What factors do you consider when deciding on a starting lineup? How do your players see this process? Is it an open competition where the players feel everyone has a chance to prove themselves? Do the players think you have already decided on who will start?
First, it’s important to understand the goal since it’s actually one that is continually evolving. Your starting lineup at the beginning of the season may very well change as your compete through the season. Ultimately the goal is to finish the playoffs with the strongest, most competitive lineup that is peaking at the right time.
So how do you get there?
EARLY SEASON
Competition games and drills
Through your tryouts and the initial preseason practices, you will want to mix position skill training with periods of team competition. The team competition can be as simple as 6 vs 6 regular games or wash games. Or you can use specific drills that isolate the competition. A drill that is focused on Left vs Left allows you place the emphasis on the outside hitter scoring.
You want these competitions to be meaningful so it is important for you to plan these drills ahead of time. The two teams should be balanced in terms of abilities. Have hitters hit off of the different setters and consider the block each has to hit against. Rotate the players so they have a chance to display their skills in both the front and back row.
For feedback, do not just consider which team won or lost a drill. Ideally, have a manager or assistant coach keep key stats during the various competitions/drills. Do the stats support your feelings about who is playing well or who is successful?
I would suggest you implement these drills at different parts of the practice. One day, do them at the end, and on the following day start practice with a competition session (after the warmup!). By changing the time frame it will allow you to see who performs well under different conditions.
Evaluation
Your staff should review the results on a daily basis for each team in the program. Use this information to make position adjustments, design the next day’s drills, and begin to formulate some versions of a starting lineup.
If your team has a few preseason matches prior to the start of league, make sure to capture video of these matches and keep stats. How do the stats compare to those from practice? Are players’ performances consistent or significantly different?
It’s also important to pay attention to team chemistry. How do specific combinations of six players work together on the court? Also analyze how two players work together side-by-side or how a setter and hitter connect. The chemistry will certainly grow as a team works through the season, but a coach must be aware of situations where it does not improve or becomes a distraction.
Besides stats (performance) and chemistry, a coach also has to consider a player’s competitive spirit. How does each of your team members perform under pressure? Do they play better at home, on the road, or both? Who are your best competitors and how do they contribute to the team’s success?
Depth and Changes
For most high school teams, the amount of time prior to the first preseason match is only a couple of weeks after the official start of the season. As you decide on the first starting lineup, keep in mind the options you have for depth in each position. Do not be so short-sighted that you only prepare a starting six. You must plan for injuries or illness which can happen at anytime. This means your evaluation should help you design a depth chart so you are prepared for the loss of any starter. You should have these options penciled out before the first match.
As you move through the early season, your staff should review the stats and consider adjustments to the lineup. I will discuss various options for these changes in the next blog post.
The next post will focus on match stats and possible adjustments.