Defensive players need to ability to extend their range in order to be most effective. The side slide is a fundamental move that will improve your defensive players range. The side slide must be executed properly in order to cover the most ground. It also must be done properly so as to reduce the risk of injury and progress into a roll.

In video clip below Coach Jim Stone form The Art of Coaching Volleyball Former Michigan State University AVCA All-American Libero Kori Moster breakdown the key components of the side slide and roll. The video was produced by The Art of Coaching Volleyball and was posted on the AVCA YouTube Channel. For more great tools that will help you develop your players and program click on the links above.

The YouTube video below has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. (Some schools block access to YouTube)

The following is a summary of the key components of an effective and safe side slide.

A correct side slide begins with proper body posture. The arms should be comfortably in front of the body with the shoulders forward and the knees bent. The side slide begins by moving the feet first in the direction of the ball. The players should push off forcibly in the direction of the ball. The hips should be lower than the ball and the shoulders angled towards the middle of the court. The wrist and shoulders should be leading as the player lunges to the side. The arm will extend along the floor.

The knee on the leg that was leading should be turned towards the mid-line of the body. This is critical to avoid injuring the knee while executing the side slide. From this position the player can simply roll on to their back and then back over their shoulders and onto their feel

Footwork and conditioning are key components to being and effective blocker. In the clip below, Tom Keating, former Dubuque Wahlert HS Head Coach, 11x state champion, 7x Iowa coach of the year and 2003 National coach of the year, demonstrates a blocking drill that works on both footwork and conditioning.

In this blocking drill Coach Keating takes his blockers through a progression of footwork patterns and jumps. This drill is from a complete DVD dedicated to defense. For more information about the DVD that this drill came from click in the link High School Coaching Academy: Defense & Blocking

The YouTube video of the blocking drill has sound, so make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site.(Some schools block access to YouTube)

The blocking drill progression begins with your blockers in base position at the net and then moves through the following footwork patterns.

1. First the players jump and block as if the hitter was directly in front of them. (Reps can vary)
2. Players jump/block and then hop right and the jump and block again.
3. Players jump/block, hop right, jump/block and then hop left and jump/block
4. Repeat sequence 3, but add inside cross right, jump/block, inside cross left, jump/block
5. Repeat sequence 4, but add step crossover right, jump/block, step crossover left, jump block
6. Repeat sequence 5, but add step crossover hop right. jump/block, step crossover hop left, jump/block

As the players get tired towards the end of the sequence it is important to stress that their hands must remain above their waist. As players become fatigued, their hands tend to drop. This blocking drill is a great conditioning drill as it simulates a long point in which the players would have to jump several times.

The blocking drill is also great for developing the necessary muscle memory for the various footwork patterns

Teaching passing fundamentals is usually one of the top priorities in a volleyball program. Passing the volleyball is so very critical to your teams success, that most coaches prioritize this skill in their feeder system or on their lower level teams.

For high school school varsity coaches it is sometimes impossible for them to attend lower level practices and help with the instruction of passing fundamentals. We must rely on our coaches at that level and many times they are not as skilled or knowledgeable as the varsity coach.

Below is a video that could be used to help your lower level coaches instruct the proper passing fundamentals. In the clip Terry Liskevych, Oregon State Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, clearly and effective demonstrates the proper stance, platform and other passing fundamentals.

The clip is from the Team USA YouTube Channel. You can click the link to see other videos that could be great tools to use in your program.

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. (Some schools block access to YouTube)

In the Passing Fundamentals lesson Coach Liskevych stress that first and foremost the player should be in a relaxed medium position. Meaning that:
1. Feet should be shoulder width apart.
2. Balance should be on the inside of the feet not the heels.
3. The players should have “knocked knees” and be slightly “pigeon toed”.
4. One foot in front of the other
5. Bent over such that the shoulders are in front of the knees and knees in front of the toes.

Proper passing fundamentals also requires proper platform. Coach Liskevych desribes the position as being like a stiff board from the shoulder to the wrist with no bend in the elbow. Players should make contact on the sweet spot between the hands and elbow. The platform should always be angled towards the target. The platform should never swing above the chest and should always follow the ball to the target.

He also suggest the all high balls should be played overhand.

I think this video is most useful in helping your lower level coaches teach proper passing fundamentals.

The following ball control game is a great variation to your normal practice routine. I am sure that all of you have your favorite ball control drills that you utilize on a daily basis. Ball control is so important and plays a huge role in your team’ success. Because it is so important ball control must be practiced continually. If you are looking for some variation to your daily routines while still getting ball control drills in, you might consider the ball control game demonstrated in the video below.

The ball control game is presented by Kirsten Bernthal-Booth, head coach at Creighton University. She calls the game “Golf” and is not only great for practicing ball control, but may also be use as a fun team activity and great to use in a camp game or contest.

Golf is just one ball control game or drill that you will find presented in the dvd Skill Development Drills: Ball Control. For more information about the DVD that this ball control game came from click the link above.

The YouTube video has sound so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. (Some schools block access to YouTube)

The premise of the ball control game called “Golf” is for players, working in pairs, to execute a predetermined sequence of ball control drills that culminate in hitting the ball in to the antenna. In this game the antenna is like the pin on a golf hole.

Typically this ball control game consists of four holes. The coach will design four different holes for the players to play with each hole requiring a different sequence of ball control drills. Each pair of players must complete the sequence of ball controls drills for a hole and then strike the pin. If they miss the pin they must repeat the hole until they are successful.

The beauty of this ball control game is that the coach can design a wide variety of holes to challenge the players and at the same time adding variation to the normal practice routine.