Volleyball Toolbox

Setter Attack

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The setter attack can add versatility a deception to your offense. Some coaches only want their setters to focus on making a great pass to their hitters. This is always the highest priority for any setter. If you are fortunate enough to have athletic setter, then the setter attack is something that you can add to your offense to counter the defense.

In the video clip below Mark Barnard, head coach of the Australian women’s national team and associate head coach at Oregon State discusses what it takes to execute an effective setter attack.

The clip is from The Art of Coaching Volleyball. You can get many other great coaching ideas by clicking of the link above. You can also view many other volleyball videos at The Art of Coaching Volleyball YouTube Channel

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 keys to executing an effective setter attack are as follows:

1. Getting you feet to the ball. In order for the setter attack to be a possibility, the setter must be in position to have options.
2. The setter must jump set. Jump setting will make the middle blocker respect the possibility that you will set the hitter.
3. Deception. The setter attack requires that the setter keep both hands above their head so as to disguise her intent until the last second.
4. Make good decisions about which passes to set and which to attack
5. Direct the shots to the open spots where it is least likely to be dug.

Three different areas where the setter attack can be directed are to the middle of the floor. In this attack the setter will use her left hand to strike the ball with a quick wrist snap to the center of the floor. Sometimes when the blocker cover her she can use her right hand and hit the ball back behind the block. A third option as the defense adjust is to throw the ball back deep to either zone 1 or zone 5


Volleyball Platform Control Drills

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Consistent high-quality passing makes every team better. Here are 7 different Platform Control Drills that are designed to isolate a player’s platform and improve their touch on the ball. These drills will give players the necessary repetitions required to develop the proper fundamentals needed to be a consistent passer.

The clip is from The ART of Coaching Volleyball and was a featured Tip of the Week by the AVCA. For more great volleyball coaching drills, like the platform control drills seen below, visit the www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com or the AVCA YouTube Channel

The Platform Control Drills are demonstrated and explained by USA Girls National Team Assistant Coach Brooke Coulter are great ways to isolate the player’s platform and develop touch on the ball.

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)

Platform Control Drills

While simple in nature this drills are not only great for platform control, but are great for camp settings. These drills are great to use when rehabbing injured players or anytime you want many players to get a lot of reps in a short period of time.

The progression of platform control drills begins with the player on one knee about six feet from a wall. The player will pass the ball forward towards a box marked on the wall. The player continues until they have hit 50 balls in the box.

The next progression is to have the player extend one leg to the side while the other leg is still on the ground. The goal is again to hit 50 balls in the box and then switch legs.

To work on passing from a non linear position have the player extend on leg forward diagonally across their body while the other knee is on the ground. The key in this platform control drill is to get the shoulders forward and keep the front shoulder lowered. Once again hit 50 balls into the box and switch legs.

Next, have the player stand on one leg and complete 50 reps with each leg. The fifth drill in the progression of platform control drills requires the player to stand and alternate which foot is forward. The players should switch their stance between each pass. Continue until 100 balls have been hit into the box.

The sixth drill is another non linear platform control drill. In this drill the players stand facing to one side or the other and strike 50 balls into the box.

The final drill is a fun drill that helps develop touch. Have the player hit the ball up and try to get the ball to stick in the sweet spot of their platform.

If done consistently, these platform control drill will improve a players ability to control their passes.


Dig Hit Drill

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The best teams have hitters that are able to mount an effective attack even when the pass or set has not been perfect. In the video clip below Coach Frank Lavrish, head volleyball coach at Regis University in Denver Colorado, demonstrates a Dig Hit Drill. This Dig Hit Drill or Pass Hit Drill is a 2 vs 2 volleyball drill that forces hitters to be very aggressive. In this drill hitters must attack on the second ball as only two contacts are allowed. The drill requires the first pass or dig to be high and to the center of the court. By hitting the ball high and to the center, the hitter will have an opportunity to take a swing. This teaches the hitter to be aggressive to get in position and attack every ball that comes her way.

The clip is produced by The Art of Coaching Volleyball. For more great video you can click the link above or go to The Art of Coaching Volleyball YouTube Channel

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

The dig hit drill begins with two players on side of the court (called the winners court) and pair of players on the other side (challenge court). The rest of the team is in pairs waiting for their turn on the challenge court. If players on the challenge side win the point they rotate to the winners court and a new pair of players step up on the challenge court. Players on the winners court remain on that side as long as they are able to dig hit or pass hit and win a point.

Rules can be added to require that the hitter jump to attack. For the dig hit drill to work the dig or pass must be high and in the center of the court.


Out of System Attack

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Good volleyball teams attack effectively when they make a good first pass to the setter. Great volleyball teams are coached to execute an effective out of system attack. If your team is going to be able to attack when the first contact is not perfect, then you will need to incorporate out of system attack drills

In the video clip below Wingate Head Coach Shelton Collier, shows you two different drills that he utilizes to improve his team’s ability to attack out of system. The drills are designed to help make the setter more comfortable with setting a ball out of system.

For more volleyball training ideas you can click the link www.volleyballsolutions.com or visit Volleyball Solutions YouTube Channel

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 the site. If you can not view the clip, see your network administrator)

Coach Collier’s first drill is designed to get the setter more comfortable with the out of system pass. In this drill the ball is tossed into play and the first ball is intentionally passed out of system. Coach Collier discusses the importance of reversing the ball. The hitters are instructed to “delay step” so that they can be moving into the ball as they attack.

The second drill is called the virus drill. This out of system drill is started with a ball tossed to a coach. The coach will then pass the ball inside out in order to create some chaos and create an out of system attack opportunity. The goal is to put the ball up in the air, get a good set and put a swing on the ball. After the hit, a second ball will be tossed in quickly and another out of system attack will be initiated.


Knee Pad Drill : Volleyball Conditioning and Passing Drill

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The Knee Pad Drill is a great conditioning and passing drill from former University of Louisville Head Coach Anne Kordes.  This is a great drill  to get everyone in the gym involved.  The Knee Pad Drill does not require several coaches as the players can run the drill by themselves.  Four players are required and the drill can be done on just one side of the net, meaning you could have multiple groups going at the same time.

This drill is from a DVD  that has many great ideas to help with practice planning. For more information about that the DVD that the clip below came from click the link One Court, One Coach, Max Reps.

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that the sound is turned on. If you are viewing in a schools setting, please note that some schools block access to YouTube. If you have trouble viewing the clip, please contact your network administrator.

The Knee Pad drill begins with two wing defenders and a middle back defender facing the coach (or player). The coach passes the ball to one of the players.  If the ball is passed to a wing defender, she moves to the ball and  passes it back to the coach. The middle back player must sprint to the wing player that received the ball  and touch her knee pad. After touching the knee pad, the middle back player sprints back into position. The coach (or player) quickly passes another ball to one of the three defenders. If the ball is passed to the middle back, both wing defenders must go touch the middle back’s knee pad and then recover to position.  It is important to note that the players must face the coach as the move to touch the knee pad and recover to the next ball.