Developing Doubles Teamwork, Part II

In my last article, I discussed some of the basics of doubles teamwork and court coverage. To recap: 1) the baseline player (the server or receiver) should not try for winners but should hit shots with the intention of setting up the volleyer to win the point. 2) A team should position its steadier player in the deuce court and its more powerful player in the ad court. 3) When both players are already at the net the player diagonally opposite the ball should cover the middle.

In this article I will discuss the basics of poaching, lob coverage, and communication. An effective team needs to poach at least occasionally to keep their opponents off balance. The server or receiver must hit shots that allow their partner to cut off the middle ball. The server should serve deep to the center “T” or into the body to force a high return down the center. Wide serves should be used sometimes to mix things up, but this forces the volleyer to cover the alley instead of the center. The return of serve should be hit to the server’s feet whether she comes into the net or not. This will force a high return that the receiver’s partner can poach. This winning play should be used much more often in intermediate doubles as it is very distracting to the server. Keep in mind that as soon as the volleyer crosses the center line to poach, the partner should automatically cross to cover the vacant side.

In doubles you are responsible for your half of the court front and back. So if you are lobbed you must make every effort to hit the overhead and maintain your offensive position at the net. Try to aim past the closer player and your partner, who should stay near the net, can put any weak returns away. If you absolutely cannot reach it, say “your!” and go diagonally back to the baseline since your partner will have to lab back. Then stay on the baseline and keep lobbing until you either get it past them or you get a short ball, then move in and attack.

Good communication is critical to an effective team’s success and it involves far more than simply calling for those overheads. You should talk to your partner before and after every point. Plan where you are going to serve or return and whether poaching or faking should be tried. Most teams do not like to use signals and, if you talk, they are not necessary. The following five plans cover most situations:

1. I will serve up the middle (or into the body) and you poach.
2. I will serve wide and you fake the poach and cover the alley.
3. I will chip a low return and you poach.
4. I will drive down the line and you cover the middle.
5. I will lob down the line, be ready to retreat.

Finally, good communication involves constant support for your partner. Be a cheerleader for your team, always encourage your partner to go for her shot. Every player has concentration lapses during a match, it is your job to lift your partner’s play up to its highest level.

Remember good doubles teamwork is critical to successful match play. Most shots cross the center third of the net and an effective team dominates that area. With relentless attacking, timely poaching, and good communication, a well developed team can often beat a more talented pair of players who do not interact well.