The holy grail of court positioning is the receiving line. I see many pros teaching this and the dotted line used to be where all players should go. One of the reasons this worked so well was many players used a side wall extensively. I like at least two feet behind the receiving line as the tip of a “zone”. I want my athletes to use a zone defense to beat most opponents.
Why? Why not? Give up the kill shot but do not give up the pass. Which one is easier to execute? Yep! Make them execute the hardest shot, not the easiest!
I still see people working in front of the receiving line with their little toes pointed directly at the front wall. Why? Because it has always been taught that way!
This makes you into a box-if the opponent and the ball are in front of you, that is good positioning. If they are behind you, it is not. I know because i coach against people using that 1980’s positioning. Why is it used? It has always been used! Opening up your stance slightly to the side where the ball is allows you more flexibility to react to shots. Closing that stance, with toes to the front wall usually means more defense, and less offense.
In practice sessions, one of my favorite expressions is, “Attack, do not defend!”
Go get’em Tigers!!