What is a Technical Report?
In sports, a technical report refers to a document compiled by a specialized organization that comprehensively details the development efforts leading up to a major target competition, as well as the strategies and tactics employed during that competition.
Furthermore, these reports often include related data and analyses concerning participating teams. This allows for comparisons with one’s own team, making technical reports a crucial resource for guiding future team development and training policies.
Technical Reports in Other Sports
For instance, looking at the world of Japanese football, a specialized body called the Technical Committee exists within the Japan Football Association (JFA), and it is responsible for creating technical reports. Furthermore, the technical report for the 2022 World Cup appears to have been sold to domestic coaches for a fee.
FIFAワールドカップカタール2022テクニカルレポート JFA公認指導者資格保有者に向けて販売開始“FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Technical Report now on sale to JFA certified coaches”
Furthermore, if we look at the world of Japanese basketball, a specialized body called the Technical Committee’s Technical House Subcommittee exists within the Japan Basketball Association (JBA), and they have published a technical report regarding the Tokyo Olympics. This report is publicly available for free on their website, and even for an amateur like myself, its volume and quality are clearly so high that it’s hard to believe it’s free.
Okay, let’s now turn our attention to the Japanese volleyball world.
Here’s the English translation for “ユース代表チームのコーチによるテクニカルレポート”:
Technical Reports by Youth National Team Coaches
I’ve done a good deal of searching myself, but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any publicly available technical reports issued by a specialized organization.
However, as I was scrolling through a social media timeline, “something” suddenly jumped out at me. It was the post below.
I’ll quote the content of the two posts you mentioned below:
U17 Women’s World Championship 2024′ Technical Report: Feedback to Document and Carry Forward
I want to share as much as possible about this experience and the emotions from a volleyball perspective, hoping to connect it to the future. Please excuse my disorganized thoughts.
Offense
- Attack Mindset: First and foremost, every player must possess a strong will to attack and prepare to aggressively score points.
- Tempo & Slots: When competing at the global top level, we must anticipate 190-200cm blockers coming in multiple waves with lead blocking. We need to use tempo and slot concepts to create numerical superiority.
- Maximal Jumps: Players must use a powerful approach to maximize their athletic ability and jump high.
- Out-of-System: In out-of-system situations, we emphasized utilizing shots effectively, using the block, creating rallies, and jumping and hitting firmly even when the set is not perfect.
- Fundamental Skills Gap: Many players had virtually no experience with first-tempo attacks, attacking with multiple hitters, or hitting back-row attacks. Similarly, many setters were jumping sets for the first time. We need to normalize these skills quickly, using videos and other tools to transform visualization into power.
- Keys to Success: The consistent use of a high-percentage,立体的な攻撃 (立体的な攻撃 – “multi-dimensional attack,” meaning attacks from various positions and tempos) with middle blockers (MBs) around 20-25% and back-row attacks also around 20-25% was a major factor in our ability to compete and advance globally.
- China Final – Missed Opportunity: In the final match against China, their block employed a spread shift. This meant a single block was committing to middle area attacks. This was precisely the time when we should have consistently run middle and pipe attacks through the center. However, the opponent’s strong serves and our predictable quick attacks, used “only” when available, led to commitments that took away the setter’s options. This bias towards setting outside against a spread-commit block was a significant factor in our loss.
- Tactical Understanding: A major gain was our ability to understand and selectively apply basic offensive tactics like Opening, Over-load, and Set against movement based on the opponent. Developing the awareness to play “against the opponent” is a necessary perspective for enjoying volleyball going forward, and experiencing this enjoyment was a very significant achievement.
- Skill Development: We also worked on acquiring skills such as the Crossbody shot and Wrist away, improving situational awareness, and making quick adjustments to short, tight sets that were off-system.
Net Defense (Block)
- Bunch Read Block: We primarily used a bunch read block, always aiming for multiple blocks against any attack. This is also to broaden our options tactically in the future. To make the choice to not go for a block even when you can, you first need the prerequisite ability to go for it.
- Communication is Key: Blocking is communication. We strived to coordinate with the diggers, determining where to guide the opponent’s hit and what to block, or even just applying pressure by forcing the opponent to change their hitting course.
- Addressing Delays: One major cause of delays was “panicking.” We trained “See & Respond,” allowing players to realize they had enough time.
- Countering Height: To counter taller opponents, we focused on being faster, higher, and more forward. To achieve this, we first worked on acquiring swing block technique, integrating it from training and body control sessions.
- Side Blocker Involvement: For attacks in the opponent’s middle area, side blocker participation in the block is necessary. We conveyed this awareness and the associated techniques (Quick-one, Fast-one), starting with simple drills and building repetition.
- Understanding Block Success: I believe players understood the meaning of a read block only after grasping what constitutes blocking success/achievement. Beyond kill blocks, blocking brings many other benefits, helping the team and pressuring the opponent.
- Adjusting to Specific Attacks: We also worked on adjusting to single-leg back slides, which are rarely seen in this domestic category.
Floor Defense
- Handling Powerful Attacks: To receive high-speed, sharp attacks, players need to handle the ball in front of their bodies.
- Ball Size Adjustment: Some players in this category typically use a size 4 ball. Few players overseas use a size 4 ball, so the fundamental skills differ. Players first need to understand that they can’t run through the ball, don’t have time to swing their arms, and simply aren’t strong enough to return the ball precisely to the intended spot.
- Approach Distance: We strived to ensure all players secured enough approach distance for the initial high first ball. Furthermore, by using jump sets, we aimed to obscure the opponent’s middle blocker’s view and delay their reaction as much as possible, thereby gaining relative time.
- Challenges in Center Back Defense: A primary challenge was center-back defense. Because players weren’t accustomed to positioning based on the block, new challenges emerged as their blocking awareness improved. These included positioning when caught up in a read block, or anticipating and reacting when gaps appeared that the opponent might try to exploit.
- Transitioning to Attack: Many players are typically primary attackers whose connecting role is handled by others, leading to a very common tendency to drop back for an attack approach before focusing on defense or connection. Developing the awareness to circulate the ball and create rallies is another future challenge.
…To be continued ↓↓
U17 Women’s World Championship Technical Report (Continued)
Serve
- High Contact Point: We specialized in serving from a high contact point.
- Hybrid & Topspin Serves: The entire team worked on powerful hybrid serves and topspin serves.
- Short Serves to Zone 2-3: We used short serves to zones 2-3 to limit the middle blocker’s movement and approach.
- Struggles vs. China: In the final against China, we struggled against their high-contact serves and drop serves falling into Zones 7-8-9. Observing senior matches, it’s clear that not only power serves, but also serves dropping at the feet are increasingly used to score. We definitely want to work more on drop serves in the future.
Sideout
- Three-Person Serve Receive: We started by learning the standard formation for three-person serve reception. This knowledge is also linked to serve tactics and is crucial for understanding the unique aspects of volleyball, such as rotation.
- 3 OH System & Right Side Attack: While incorporating a 3-outside hitter system, we structured our formations and attacks with the constant aim of maintaining the right-side (Slot C) attack option.
- Leveraging MB & Pipe: We continuously sought to utilize the middle blocker and pipe attacks.
- Aggressive After First Touch: We demanded that players participate actively in attack after the first touch, without collapsing.
- Overhand Serve Receive: Due to a test rule that prohibited finger action reception (i.e., overhand serve receive), we practiced line control and moving from front to back to receive extensively. We often had to drop back on the line to handle deep and long serves, which in turn made us struggle against drop serves placed into Zones 7-8-9.
- In-System vs. Out-of-System: We clearly distinguished between in-system and out-of-system situations. We worked on linking situational judgment with technical skills, so that players could effectively utilize attack skills in situations where everyone could approach aggressively, and also when it was clear who the hitter would be and multiple blockers would commit.
Other
- Overhand Pass Violations: In Japan, double contacts are judged strictly, but catches are quite lenient. Since some players would habitually catch the ball at the start of training camps, we had to raise awareness about this point and re-teach techniques from scratch. This is an area that needs to be consciously addressed in daily activities, and not just by coaches; there’s also a need for alignment with global standards among referees.
- Out-of-Position Violations: These were being called very strictly, so we reconfirmed the setter’s starting position and positioning forward, backward, left, and right.
- Data & Tactical Thinking: We dedicated significant time to using DataVolley4 and coach-created videos to foster tactical thinking. This included how to fight against specific opponents, how to leverage strengths against weaknesses to win, what kind of game flow we wanted to create, how to organize serves and blocks for that purpose, how everyone should approach from floor defense, how to create numerical superiority, and how to use technical skills for situational judgment. We focused on making players continually engage their minds to enjoy and deepen their understanding of volleyball as a game.
Finally, in Peru, I was deeply moved by the actions of the players who carried forward the culture rooted by Mr. Akira Kato and the local Japanese and Nikkei communities, transcending time and national borders to connect it to the future. As a team, we learned history and felt, to the point of our skin tingling, the meaning behind it, and what value we could create by acting in the present. Volleyball transcends eras, cultures, and nations.
By https://x.com/PlayVolleyball4
The posts I shared above were made by Kento Hayashi, a coach currently with SV League’s TORAY ARROWS Shiga. He accompanied the U17 Japan National Team as a coach to the recent U17 World Championship and took it upon himself to publish what he called a technical report via social media.
My eyes widened in surprise.
I immediately contacted Mr. Hayashi to express my desire to feature his report in an article, and he kindly gave his consent, which is why I am writing this piece now.
My heart was truly moved when I considered the immense effort and value involved in a national team coach personally writing a technical report after a tournament and then sharing it on social media.
It struck me that these individual, proactive, and courageous actions are what move people around them, ultimately leading to the transformation of organizations and even entire industries.
Giving Back: Bringing Technical Reports to Youth Development
Inspired by his courageous example, I asked myself: “What can I do right now?” An answer quickly came to mind.
That is, to turn his technical report into an article and share it with as many people as possible involved in youth development.
I believe this is something I can contribute. Given the nature of social media, Mr. Hayashi’s report is concisely and simply summarized. I thought that by adding my own terminology explanations and supplementary details, I could help his report reach an even wider audience.
Honestly, I’m not sure if this endeavor will succeed. However, just as Mr. Hayashi’s brave actions prompted me to act, I believe my actions can create a chain reaction that connects to the future of Japanese volleyball. I’m ready to take on this challenge.
My Interpretation of the Technical Report
Here, I’ll break down Mr. Hayashi’s technical report by individual play, categorizing content into two sections: “Development Policy” and “Post-Tournament Analysis.” Finally, I’ll cover aspects beyond play. Let’s begin.
Serve
Development Policy
- Aim for direct points or force the opponent into an out-of-system attack using powerful hybrid serves or topspin serves from a high contact point.
- Utilize short serves targeting Zones 2 and 3 (see diagram below) to obstruct middle blockers’ approach paths or limit their approach options.
Post-Tournament Analysis
- In the final match against China, our team, ironically, struggled against the very type of serves we aimed to execute, as well as drop serves (serves falling at the attacker’s feet) into Zones 7, 8, and 9.
- Observing senior-category matches, it’s clear that scoring increasingly involves not just powerful serves but also a mix of drop serves. Therefore, it’s crucial for each player to develop the ability to deliver serves that create a gap in the opponent’s reception.
zone1~9
Reception
Development Policy
- Foundation: We’ll primarily focus on a three-person reception system.
- Formations: It’s crucial to first master the six basic reception formations. This knowledge is essential for understanding serve tactics and, by extension, the unique volleyball rule of rotation.
- High Ball for Attack: To effectively utilize middle blocker quick attacks and back-row attacks (pipe attacks) from the center line, we aim to return a high ball to the setter.
- Maintain Attack Readiness: Attackers should avoid dropping to their knees or losing their balance as much as possible after reception, to remain ready to participate in the attack.
- Overhand Reception Rule: Given the test rule prohibiting overhand passing for reception, we practiced adjusting our initial positioning higher up on the court and moving backward to receive the ball.
Post-Tournament Analysis
- We often had to drop deep to receive powerful serves landing in the back of the court. However, this was exploited by opponents, and we struggled against drop serves falling into Zones 7, 8, and 9 (see diagram above), which targeted the area we vacated.
Set
Development Policy
- Jump Set Focus: We aim to jump set as much as possible to distract opposing blockers (especially middle blockers) and delay their reactions.
- By setting from a higher contact point, the opponent’s blockers are forced to look up, delaying their initial movement. Some players had never jump-set prior to being called up to the national team.
- Right Side & Slot C Offense: We will always construct our formations and team offense (total offense) with the mindset of attacking from the right side, specifically Slot C (see diagram below).
- This allows us to deploy a team offense that utilizes the full 9-meter width of the court, putting pressure on opposing blockers.
- Maintain Middle & Back-Row Usage: We will maintain a high usage rate of attacks from the center line (middle blockers and back-row attacks) to consistently launch multi-dimensional attacks.
concept of slot
Post-Tournament Analysis
- Throughout the tournament, the usage rate of middle blockers was around 20-25%, and back-row attacks were also around 20-25%. Maintaining our attacks from the centerline is likely what led to our second-place finish.
- In the final match, our opponent, the Chinese team, used a spread-shift defense (see figure below). They countered our centerline attacks with a commit-block strategy by one of their middle blockers. In this situation, we should have continuously maintained our centerline and back-row attacks to place a cognitive load on their blockers. However, their strong serves disrupted our ability to attack from the centerline. We also gave the opponent clear situations to run a quick attack near the net to our middle blockers, who were then blocked by their tall middle blockers. This eliminated the option for our setter to use the centerline and forced a disproportionate number of sets to the sides, which was a major factor in our loss.
spread shift
Attack
Reinforcement Policy
- Every player should understand the concepts of Tempo & Slot to execute our team attack (total offense).
- In our in-system attack, to create a numerical advantage against the three opposing blockers, all attackers must have a strong will to participate in the offense. They should always secure a full approach and attack with maximum effort.
- Players should take off from a sufficient approach to jump high at top speed and execute the attack.
- When competing at the world-class level, blockers between 190-200cm often use a bunch-read block system to defend.
- In an out-of-system attack, players should observe the opponent’s block, make a situational judgment, and use individual skills and tactics.
- Players should always be able to choose to hit hard, even when out-of-system.
- We also practiced skills like the following:
- Crossbody shot: A technique where the player hits with their arm wrapping around their body. A right-handed player would use this to hit into the opponent’s right-side area.
- Wrist away: The technique to hit a shot inside the block. The player swings with their thumb down and their arm moving away from their body.
- When it’s difficult to score with a spike (e.g., a tight set, surrounded by a block, or close to the net), players should use individual skills and tactics like an off-speed shot, a block-out, or a re-cycle to set up a new team attack from an advantageous position.
- While using our basic team tactics as a foundation, we should also decide on our team’s offensive design based on the opponent and enjoy the tactical battle.
Post-Tournament Analysis
- Being able to play volleyball with an awareness of the tactical battle with the opponent on the other side of the net is a necessary perspective for anyone who wants to enjoy the sport. The fact that the players were able to put this into practice and enjoy it was a huge accomplishment for them.
- Most of the players had never used a first tempo attack before. They didn’t understand the feeling of multiple attackers participating in an offense, and they had never hit a back-row attack.
Here is a natural English translation of your text.
Block
Reinforcement Policy
- We aim to form a two-player or greater block against any opponent’s attack, using the Zone Bunch-Read Block System (see figure below) as our base.
- The ability to execute the Zone Bunch-Read system will serve as a foundation for when we need to perform various other blocking tactics in the future.
- Players must understand that blocking is a form of communication between blockers, and between blockers and back-row defenders (diggers).
- For example, blockers and diggers should constantly communicate to confirm what they are defending against and what they are letting through. This continuous communication leads to highly precise collaboration.
- We put pressure on opposing attackers by blocking their favorite hitting lanes in advance.
- We rigorously practiced the Read Block (see figure below) in training until it became second nature.
- The coach provided detailed feedback on the process of each play, which enabled the players to judge the success of their blocks on their own.
- We worked to master the swing block to form a faster and higher blocking wall.
- This required spending time on physical training so that players could achieve the desired body control.
- Our side blockers consistently form a multi-player block with the middle blocker against attacks from the opponent’s centerline. We do not isolate the middle blocker.
Post-Tournament Analysis
- We repeatedly explained what constitutes a successful block. It was around the time that players started to understand that a block other than a “kill block” (like a soft block) can also help the team, and that even without touching the ball, a “pressure block” can still put pressure on the opponent’s hitter. I felt this understanding helped them gradually grasp the meaning of adopting the Zone Bunch-Read block system.
Purpose of Block Play
Block System
Here is a natural English translation of your text.
Dig
Reinforcement Policy
- We focused on hitting the ball in front of the body to receive sharp spikes delivered with a fast tempo and from a high contact point.
- Players worked on acquiring the techniques suited for the larger and heavier official size 5 ball.
- Many players in the U17 team are middle school students who usually play with a size 4 ball. Very few players use a size 4 ball overseas. A change in ball size can require a change in technique. We needed to make the players understand they shouldn’t hit the ball while moving, swing their arms excessively (because there’s no time), or expect to receive many balls that they can control with a big arm swing.
- We emphasized getting the first ball high enough so that all attackers (including the passer) could secure a sufficient approach distance.
Post-Tournament Analysis
- Since many players were not used to total defense (block and dig), the positioning of the player in the center back was a challenge for the team. This was especially noticeable when our blockers barely managed to catch up to an opponent’s hitter on a read block or when there was a gap between blockers.
- Many players, who are usually the aces on their teams, are often excused from defensive duties. As a result, there were many instances where players began preparing for their approach even though they were in a defensive phase. This is a point that requires a change in daily awareness.
Other
[On Overhand Pass Faults]
- In Japan, double contacts are strictly called, but catches are judged quite leniently. Since some players were routinely catching the ball when the training camp began, we had to start by cautioning them and retraining their technique. This is an issue that needs to be addressed intentionally in their regular team practices, and it requires not only coaches but also referees to align with world standards.
[On Out-of-Position Faults]
- At this tournament, out-of-position faults were being called very strictly. We took the opportunity to re-confirm the setter’s starting timing and everyone’s positioning, both front-to-back and side-to-side.
[On Data Utilization]
- We regularly used analysis software and videos created by the coaches to give players an opportunity to think tactically for themselves. This included topics like how to fight against a specific opponent, what kind of game flow is desirable to leverage our strengths against their weaknesses, and how to win. We spent a lot of time helping the players think for themselves and enjoy the sport by asking questions such as: “How do we link our serves, blocks, and digs?” “How can everyone participate in the attack and create a numerical advantage during a transition?” and “How can each attacker use their individual skills based on the situation?”
Coach, Hayashi’s Impressions (Original)
“I was deeply moved by the actions of the players in Peru, who transcended time and borders to carry on the culture that Mr. Akira Kato and the local Japanese and Nikkei communities had established. The team studied this history and felt, to their very core, what it all meant and what kind of value they could create with their actions today. Volleyball truly transcends eras, cultures, and nations.”
