Mastering Doubles - Moving with the ball at the net (Offense & Defense)

So you or your partner have managed to start the point.  The ball is in play and on your opponent's side of the court. Now what?  If you are at the net, where do you move?  You and your partner are one up one back. First we have to distinguish between offense and defense.

In general, Offense is when the ball is played to the baseline person, or to the feet of the opposing net person  This means move forward & CLOSE THE NET.

In general, Defense is when the ball is played to your teams' baseline person, or when your baseline person plays the ball to the opposing net player in such a way that the ball is above the net wen it is struck.  This means MOVE BACK TOWARDS THE T or STAY THERE.

On offense there are two rules for covering your half of the court.

1. When you are cross court from the ball, hug close to the center line.
2. When you are down the line from the ball, be directly across from where the ball is being struck 

What does this mean and are there exceptions?

Baseline to Baseline
The following illustrations show the proper movement of BOTH net players in the situations where the ball is played to the baseline player of the opposing team.









 

Note in both examples that A1 is directly across from where the ball is being struck in space, and B2 is in the defensive net position at the T.

Now the exceptions:


Here A1 is still across from the ball, even as it is played close to the center of the court.  In this situation, B2 must retreat to the center of the service line in order to give B1 an angle to play cross court.

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In the above exception the ball is going to be struck from outside the singles line.  B2 has retreated to the T, but A1 does not move into the alley.  Instead they hug the singles line and FACE the ball.

Baseline to Net
The next scenario involves the situation where the baseline player on your team plays the ball to the opposing net player.  Prior to this, you should have retreated to the T or to the center of the service line on your half of the court, as shown in the earlier examples.

There are two situations that can occur if the baseline player chooses to hit a non lob up the line that does not result in a winner.  Both scenarios result in the opposing net player being able to play the ball.



Above is shown the Defensive position for team A.  If A2 is able to get the ball down the line and forces B2 to strike the ball below the net, A1 must move forward and play offense.
 
Note that A1 has moved forward anticipating the fact the B2 must hit up when they volley.  If A1 can pick off B2's shot, A1 should play the ball to B2's side of the court, since B2 has the least amount of time to react.  This, of course, is provided A1 plays the ball from above the net.

If B2 is playing the ball from above the net, then A1, simply remains in defensive position as illustrated below.



Now you are ready to be an effective net player, and play offense and defense.  Next post will be on when and how to poach/ pick off balls.