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When it comes to volleyball, there are numerous positions that are critical to the game’s development. If you’re new to the game, you might be wondering ‘’what position is WS in volleyball?’’ and how essential it is on the court.
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What Position Is WS in Volleyball?
The acronym WS is an abbreviation for Wing Spiker, also known as the right side hitter in volleyball. This position is similar to the outside hitter in that it is a front-row position with the purpose of attacking the ball and blocking the opponent’s attacks.
This position is also known as an opposite hitter, and players in this position may excel on both offense and defense, which is why they must have good jumping skills. To succeed in this position, you must learn more about it and gain a greater knowledge of its responsibilities.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Wing Spiker in Volleyball?
Hitters often have an important role in volleyball, after all, they are in charge of attacking the volleyball and preventing the opponents from scoring. In other words, they are highly influential when it comes to winning or losing a match.
Here you can see some of the responsibilities of a Wing Spiker in Volleyball
- Act as second setter: Sometimes the setter is not able to make the second contact on the ball, therefore, the WS needs to be prepared in order to act as a second setter. This way, the team will be able to properly attack at all times.
- Spike or attack the ball: This is one of the most basic objectives for the Wing Spiker, however, they need to be able to convert most attacks into ‘’kills’’. Meaning that their objective is to always score after performing an attack.
- Act as a blocker: The WS is positioned so he can block the opponent’s outside hitter, (who’s usually the role that scores the most points). Therefore, his goal is to prevent that player from scoring too many points.
- Synchronize with his front-row teammates: When a single block is insufficient to stop a powerful opposing hitter, he must collaborate with his teammates to accomplish a double or even triple block.
- Dig balls: If possible, the Wing Spiker should quickly dig difficult balls and keep the ball alive. Even though this is not his main objective, he can help the team by digging a ball and starting a quick counter-attack.
How to Improve as a Wing Spiker
Since you need to be good at defending and attacking at the same time, mastering this position takes a lot of practice and hard work. Following the next advice will allow you to improve as a Wing Spiker, and even improve your overall understanding of volleyball.
Learn How to Defend
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Be aware of your opponent’s positioning | Dig balls that could have been bumped |
| Train your reflexes | Give up on a ball |
| Train your attacking abilities | Take your eyes out of the ball |
| Learn to anticipate your opponent’s movements | Fail to communicate with your teammates |
As we mentioned, to excel at this position you need to know your ways around defending. This means that you need to know how to correctly approach, jump, and block the opponent’s attack. Additionally, you need to know how to dig a volleyball and keep it alive.
All of this can be possible if you manage to anticipate the movements of your opponent. However, it is not as easy as it seems, it requires a lot of training for this ability to be mastered. Here are some tips that will help you anticipate movements.
Examine Your Opposing Team
When the opponent has possession of the ball, you need to be highly aware of their positioning, their passes, and most importantly, their setter. Most of the time, the setter will have the second touch of the ball, which is going to be sent towards one of the hitters.
Therefore, if you can read the setter’s body language, you are going to be able to realize who he’s sending the ball to, and where, allowing you to prepare for the block.
After the opposing hitter receives the ball, you must examine their body and eyes to determine where the ball will be sent.. If you do this, you will be able to easily block any attack that comes your way.
Learn How to Attack
Being able to execute a successful attack can be a game-changer that allows you to win numerous games. However, in order to be an effective offensive player, you must practice and pay attention to some details that others overlook.
As a WS, for example, you must seek out the best possible hitting space. This will enable you to approach the ball and shoot it with ease. You must also coordinate your feet and movements in order to reach the ball as quickly as possible.
Lastly, you must adopt a proper stance that permits you to move fast. You will be more dangerous while attacking if you practice these small details.
Related Questions
Here are some related questions about the WS position in volleyball:
Are Blockers and Hitters Two Different Positions?
No, most hitters are also blockers. For example, when your team has possession of the ball, players in the front row are hitters; when your team loses possession, they become blockers.
What Are the 7 Volleyball Positions?
The seven volleyball positions are the setter, the middle blocker, the libero, the defensive specialist, the serving specialist, the outside hitter, and the wing spiker (opposite hitter).
Is WS the Hardest Position in Volleyball?
Although it can be debatable, the Wing Spiker is not considered to be one of the hardest positions in volleyball. This is because the setter is believed to have a more important and more difficult position.
Conclusion
Attacking positions are critical in volleyball since they are responsible for scoring points. Called the WS, wing spiker, or right side hitter, they are a key member of the squad in this situation. They can defend and attack at the same time, significantly helping his teammates.
