Today’s post is a collection of 7 drills provided by Coaches Choice. These drills were taken from an eBook entitled 101 Winning Volleyball Drills From AVCA edited by Kinda S Lenberg. The entire eBook may be found at the Coaches Choice Volleyball Coaching Library
DRILL #1: BLIND RECEPTION
Number of Players:Two
Number of Balls: Twelve
Objective: To develop the athlete’s quickness, reaction and recovery time, as well as communication skills.
Directions:
- Drape a blanket across the middle of the net, as shown in the diagram.
- The coach (C) tosses one ball at a time to the two receiving players (P1, P2).
- Balls may be tossed deep, short, and side-to-side.
- Balls may be tossed as rapidly as deemed necessary.
DRILL #2: FREEZE THREES
Number of Players: 6–8
Number of Balls: Ten or more
Objective: To force players to focus on platform control and ball contact on defense in a competitive situation.
Directions:
- The coach (C) initiates the drill by hitting a ball (preferably from across the net) at three deep defenders (X1-X3, P1-P3). The player digging the ball must freeze his or her platform and look at it after contact with the ball, while counting “1-1,000” loud enough for C to hear.
- The ball is played out in three vs. three or four vs. four play (optional fourth player is a setter [S] on each side).
- Each first contact in the rally requires the player to follow the “freeze” rules described above.
- The rally ends immediately if a player does not meet the “freeze” requirement; otherwise, it continues until its natural conclusion, following normal volleyball rules (players may be allowed to hit front row or be limited to back row only). The team winning the rally scores a point.
- For the next rally, C brings the ball in to the opposite team. Rally score is kept to 15, with teams switching sides at eight so that each faces C as both a right-side and a left-side attacker.
DRILL #3: LUNCH COVERAGE
Number of Players: Nine or more
Number of Balls: Ten
Objective: To improve coverage off the block. Players learn to dig lower and more quickly. An inherent level of intensity is involved in the drill, whereby no ball falls to the floor, no matter how hard the block.
Directions:
- The coach (C) tosses a free ball to a regular six-person team (X).
- Blockers (B) are at the net, holding a school lunch tray, and the hitters hit into the block.
- Teams must cover and dig every ball. (The velocity of the ball coming off the tray makes a game situation come very easily.)
DRILL #4: NARROW COURT TWO-ON-TWO GAMES
Number of Players: Four
Number of Balls: One
Objective: To stress the use of the overhand pass and set. It is a great
drill to develop the skills of young players.
Directions:
- Players compete in a game-like situation, with three hits on a side (no spiking). The court is either 15 feet wide and 10 feet deep or 10 feet wide and 10 feet deep. (Tape must be added to define interior sidelines
[see diagram].)
Variations:
- The court can be divided in half by length.
- Scoring can be switched to rally.
- The ball can be put in play with a toss or a serve from a player or a coach.
DRILL #5: NET PEPPER
Number of Players: One
Number of Balls: One
Objective: To encourage solid ball control and to provide a good cardiovascular workout for individual players.
Directions:
- One player (X) passes, sets and hits to himself/herself, using the volleyball net as a partner. The key is to hit the bottom of the net so the ball pops out, then use a “j” stroke to get the ball up. To increase difficulty and emphasize movement, have the players hit side-to-side.
- The player peppers for a set amount of time.
DRILL #6: OFFENSIVE COVER
Number of Players: Nine
Number of Balls: Six or more
Objective: This drill stresses covering hitters each time and works on
getting a second attack if there is a block.
Directions:
- Three coach/players (C/P) with a ball each stand on a stable platform. On cue, C/P holds the ball over the net.
- The opposing hitter (H) approaches, jumps, and swings, while the team gets into offensive-cover positions.
- C/P releases or pushes the ball as the hitter swings (or shortly thereafter).
- All hitters transition, and the setter (S) sets away from the previous block.
- The team covers again.
DRILL #7: OVER-THE-NET PEPPER
Number of Players: Twelve
Number of Balls: Thirteen
Objective: To utilize a more game-like version of traditional pepper to warm up the players adequately, help the hitters develop line-and-cut options, teach the digger to learn to read those actions.
Directions:
- Move the antennae in to create three separate narrow court boundaries (see diagram).
- Position three teams of four players each (X) on the court. Begin the drill with standing spiking and then move to jumping and hitting.
- Remind the players to hit both line and cut shots over the net, not just the usual “facing the digger” shots.
Scoring:
- The number of net crossings calculates scoring. The group with the highest score of three-hits-in-a-row net crossings is declared the winner.
Variations:
- The drill also works well with three players per team, with the setter at the net ducking back and forth for both sides.
- The diggers/hitters can swap after every net crossing to help players move more.
- The coach can increase the challenge by defining what an attack is:
(a) low level—simply control the ball;
(b) medium level—standing spike to jumping and spiking;
(c) high level—aggressive hitting only.
Find more great volleyball coaching e-books at Coaches Choice Volleyball Coaching Library