Want to extend the range of your setter and the quality of their their extended range passes? Check out this Jump Setting tip from Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky Head Coach.

When jump setting do you have them jump off of one or two feet. Every coach has his or her ideas on what they believe is best. No matter which way you believe is best, I believe that it is wise to consider alternate ideas even if you eventually reject them.

In the clip below Coach Skinner (2017 SEC Co-Coach of the Year – 2x SEC Coach of the Year; 2006 USA Junior National Team Head Coach) discusses why he has his setters jump off of one foot when jump setting on longer passes.  Coach Skinner is obviously a successful coach and you may find his points noteworthy.

When jump setting Coach Skinner’s number one focus and priority is that the setters arrives at the ball on balance. His experience with his setters has been that they are more balanced on long passes when the jump off of one foot. When covering ground it is simply easier to jump with control, balance and power when jumping off one foot. His setters have confirmed to him that they are more comfortable and confident with this technique.

Therefore, he teaches his setters to jump set off when foot they are moving into the 13-15 ft range and trying to set a” slide” or “5”, of  a  “Go” or “Hut”.

They clip below is from an instructional DVD that Coach Skinner put together with Kyle Walton, Transylvania University Head Coach. For more information about that DVD click the link Setter Drills for Improving Wrist Speed and Timing.

The YouTube video below has audio, so make sure that your volume is turned up and that you have access to the site. Please note that some schools block access to YouTube.

 

In this post Stanford coach Kevin Hambly demonstrates a Libero Training Drill that he utilizes to help train his liberos to effectively cover more ground and increase their coverage area.

In the clip below Coach Hambly shows you how he trains his libero to move to the ball from the left back position. He discusses the importance of the “Go” position and always facing the action by keeping your hips, knees, shoulders and toes pointed at the action. This libero training drill is just a portion of his teaching progression

He begins his libero training drill by positioning the libero in the left back position. The coach is at the net with a ball. the coach will either simulate a tip, setter dump or a set. The libero will then move accordingly. The coach will toss the ball to the center to simulate the dump or tip. The libero will move forward to cover. If the coach bounces the ball, thus simulating a set, the libero will move into position to dig. The coach will then hit a ball to the libero.

Coach Hambly then progresses to having the players face the coach in the middle. A second coach is placed outside and when he bounces the ball to simulate a set outside, the libero must turn and face the action and retreat into position to dig the ball.

This libero training drill  is just a short sample from Coach Hambly’s  libero training dvd. For more information about that DVD click the link AAU Volleyball Skill Progressions: Libero. In that DVD Coach Hambly talks about coverage, the role of the libero on a team, and how to identify the best player for the libero position. He covers every aspect of being a libero in easy to understand segments that are easy to understand and master.

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your sound is turned up and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube.

Most coaches would like their hitters to have better technique so that they could produce more power. Most coaches would like to reduce the chance of shoulder injuries in their hitters. In this post, Stanford coach Kevin Hambly shares some arm swing progressions to help your hitters.

In the clips below Coach Hambly shares three sequences that he uses to teach the attack.

In the first video the players begin by throwing the ball up to themselves by swinging both arms like they were jumping to attack. They will toss the ball up and get their right arm back in a compact position (elbow back and up around the shoulder; not extended up). The left arm should be up in front and extended. As the the player gets their arms in position, they should open their shoulders and hips.  The players will then rotate 180-degrees as they strike the ball.

In the second video, Coach Hambly has the players start behind the 10 foot line with a tennis ball in hand. They will then run to the line and take their approach. The athletes should open their hips and shoulders, being sure to lead with the hip and get the shoulder back creating a stretch in the torso. The right arm should be in a compact position and the left arm should be up. The players will throw the ball across the net and rotate as the they throw.

In the third and final video, coach Hembly has the players start behind the 10-foot line and toss the ball to setter and follow to the net for an attack.  The hitter will focus getting the necessary torque (turn 180-degree).  She must lead with the hip and get the shoulder to back just as in the previous drill. He begins by having the hitter hit down the middle and then progresses to hitting angles. In each case it is important that the rotate their hip and point them in the direction that the ball is to go.

These drills were taken from Coach Hambly’s DVD entitled Arm Swing Progressions for High Power Attacking  for more information about that DVD you can click the link above.

The YouTube videos below have audio, so please make sure that your volume is turned up and that you have access to the site. Note some schools block access to YouTube

Here is the link to Coach Hambly’s instructional DVD again if you are interested in learning more. Just click the image.

Here are two drills from legendary former Stanford coach John Dunning that will help teach your players the fundamentals of blocking.

In the clips below coach John Dunning,  shares two very simple drills that focus on the fundamentals of blocking and provides some key coaching points on blocking. Coach Dunning’s accomplishments speak for themselves:

2016 NCAA National Champions – 5x National Championship Coach (2016, ’04, ’05 at Stanford, 1985-86 at Pacific)        Distinguished member of the AVCA Hall of Fame (2011)
2001 AVCA National Coach of the Year; 4x Pac-12 Coach of the Year; over 800 career wins

The first fundamentals of blocking drills is called Wall Blocking. Here is a brief explanation of that drill.

Players line-up and face a wall. Mark a spot on the wall to represent the height of the net. The player will jump up and extend the arms as high as possible and press their hands against the wall. The hands should be flat against the wall with the thumbs up and the pinkies out. The feet of the players should swing forwards so that their toes touch the wall. This will have the effect of pushing their behinds back slightly and help prevent moving into and touching the net.  The players should also be careful to practice landing with their behind pushed back and their knees bent. This will soften the landing and prevent injuries.

The second drill is designed to work on the fundamentals of blocking involving the arms and hands only. In this drill the players are placed on boxes to practice blocking. This is a great way to work on a key skill, while also giving their bodies a break from the all of the jumping and landing required in the sport. (In my opinion, anything that you can do to get better while giving the players body a break is a great drill).

Here the coach will simply hit balls at the blockers from a variety of angles. The players can work on reaching across the net and seal. They will also get a chance to work on angling their hands so that the ball is blocked into the court.

These drills are just two of the drills found in Coach Dunning’s instructional DVD. For more information about that DVD click the link below

John Dunning’s Taking Your Attacking, Serving, & Blocking to the Next Level!

The two YouTube videos below have audio, so please make sure that your volume is turned up and that you have access to the site. Note some schools block access to YouTube.

If you are looking for a drill to help your blockers identify hitters and communicate better, try this Blind Blocking Drill.  This drill uses an innovative approach, to help blockers focus on the hitters rather than watching the ball.

In the clip below Jenny McDowell, Emory University Head Coach; 2008 NCAA D-III National Champs, 2010 NCAA Runner-Up; 2008 NCAA D-III National Coach of the Year; 4x UAA Conference Champs; 5x UAA Coach of the Year; over 512 career wins; demonstrates a blocking drill that she call Blind Blocking.

The Blind Blocking Drill begins with three blockers on one side and three hitters and a setter on the other. A coach will stand behind the blockers and signal to the other side what type of swing (attack) the other team will use on their first ball. After signaling to the setter, another coach will pass to the setter who will in turn make the appropriate set (as determined by the signaling of the coach on the opposite side). The attacking side will get three ball to play. After the first ball, the hitters will transition and the middle will dictate the attack on the next two balls.

The blockers are all wearing either hats or visors. The purpose is to help the focus on the locating the the hitters rather that watching the ball. The hats make it difficult to look up at the ball. The goal of the blockers is to identify the hitters, communicate as blockers and get to blockers on every attack.  The blockers must execute perfectly on three consecutive attack to get out of the drill.

If the blockers are unable to get out of the drill, the coach behind the blockers will signal the attack for the first ball and another three ball sequence will begin. Coaches can use attacks that they want their team to work on. This would also be a good way to prepare for an upcoming opponent and practice blocking how they like to attack.

The clip featuring the blind blocking drill is from a dvd featuring Coach McDowell and Coach Judy Green (former Alabama Head Coach: over 600 career wins). For more information about that DVD click the link Our 7 Favorite Drills and Where to Find 115 More

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your volume is on and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube.