Strategy: Let your opponents have the opportunity to fail.

Sometimes, the best strategy is the simplest. Not the prettiest and not the loftiest or most elegant.

Sometimes the best strategy is a strategy that would lose games under most other circumstances.

This is that type of strategy.

And here's when you'll usually need it: You're in a game in which your team is all thumbs. Your team can't pass. Your team can't set even if a pass accidentally gets to the setter. Your team can't hit even if a good set magically appears.

No timing. No chemistry. No communication. No teamwork. No luck.

But, despite all this, you're still in the game: the score is fairly close.

Wait a sec'. Playing this poorly, you should be getting your butts kicked.

Why do you still have a chance of winning this game? 

The answer to this question -- and the solution to your problem -- is right in front of you. Move your glazed-over eyeballs away from your hapless and frustrated teammates and focus them on your opponents.

Maybe they should be getting their butts kicked.

Are they passing that much better than your team? Are they setting that much better than your team? Are they hitting that much harder or dinking that much smarter?

If they were all that much better, the score wouldn't be close at all.

So, in lieu of your team actually gelling and playing at its best, the way to catch up and win is to let your opponents have the opportunity to fail.

Here's the mindset you need for this strategy:

Ball in play on your side = your problem. Ball in play on their side = their problem.

Here are some of the finer points you might employ as the game goes on:

1. Send ALL your serves directly to their weakest passer.

2. Hit ALL your hits (spikes, lobs, dinks -- everything) directly to their weakest passer.

3. Every time your opponents' hitter goes to hit, put some hands in front of him. Any hands. Ninety percent of blocking is just in showing up. Showing up is enough to distract, if not discourage, most hitters.

4. When your opponents send the ball back over to your side of the net, they no longer have the opportunity to screw up. So, at a minimum, send the ball back to them, even on the first touch if necessary.

5. Forget about making a great pass, a great set and a great hit. Consider ANY playable pass to be a good-enough pass, ANY playable set to be a good-enough set and ANY hit to their court to be a good-enough hit. It's a great hit if it goes to their weakest passer.

I've seen plenty of games where a team just beats itself. When your team is doing this, shift the focus from your weaknesses to your opponents' weaknesses.

Let the other team have the opportunity to screw up. They might just meet your expectations by beating themselves faster than you can.

And with all the attention and expectations focuses on their side of the net, maybe your team's communication, timing, teamwork, skills -- and luck -- will return.