What is ‘transition play’ in volleyball?
A transition play involves a team executing defense and turning it to offense. When the opponent goes for an attack, your team’s first step is to block because that is the first line of your defense. If your team is unable to execute a kill block, that’s when your transition play comes in. The second line of defense should be activated next and that is your floor defense. The floor defenders should try their best to bring the ball up so that a play can be executed. When your team scores a point from the attack, that’s the time we can infer that you had an effective transition play.
Watch how Korea saved 9 match points against India through superb transition plays! ⬇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhlHRFlkz0E
What are the types of ‘transition play’?
In-system - Your team was able to slow the down the ball with a block touch or an excellent dig, therefore the setter was able to set up properly to his/her spikers.
Out-of-system - Your team was not able to get an excellent dig, hence the setter (or whoever gets the second ball) needs to adjust and set to whoever spiker is available (usually a wing spiker).
What are the skills involved in executing a transition play?
The basic skills involved in a transition play are: blocking, digging, setting, and attacking. These skills may sound simple and basic but they actually require a lot of time to master.
Blocking - There are three purposes in blocking an opponent: (1) get a kill block; (2) deflect/slow down the ball, (3) cover a particular angle/zone. The second and the third purpose will be of great use for a good transition play. Slowing down the ball will give floor defenders ample time to pass better while covering a particular zone/angle gives floor defenders less area to cover.
Digging - A good first ball will give the setter more choices of which play to execute, more choices means the opponent's blockers has a higher chance to be fooled. If the team is unable to get a successful dig, a transition play would not be possible.
Setting and Attacking - If you are against a strong or smart team, your team’s digging may often be out of system. Hence, it is important that everybody on the team knows how to set so that a transition play is possible. The result of having a decent set is magnified in the third touch because the difference is being able to execute a good attack or giving up a free ball.
What makes a transition play difficult to execute?
Since the ball is coming from an opponent’s attack, players will have shorter reaction time compared to when the ball is coming from a serve. The blockers will need to transition from net defense to attack approach in a very short span of time. The setter will have less time to think on who to set the ball to. The attacker may have to adjust his/her approach and attack coming from an undesirable set.
Watch Jim Stone’s analysis of the transition plays of Brazil Women’s National Team ⬇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8pmqM91fd8
Why is ‘transition play’ important?
In a rally, the receiving team is the one expected to score a point. Why? Because they will be the ones who will get the chance to attack first. The serving (and blocking) team is the one expected to counter the attack. The whole process of counter attacking is the mere essence of a transition play. An effective counterattack is the result of an effective transition play. Since volleyball implements rally point system, the team who is able to attack and counterattack most effectively has a higher chance of winning the game. That’s how important transition play is -- in a sport where “it’s anybody’s ball game,” having a higher chance of winning is a must have.
Reference
“Transition Offence.” The Art of Coaching Volleyball. https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/transition-offense/