Volleyball Toolbox

Back Setting Tips

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Keys to executing the back set with Nabil Mardini.

Coach Mardini is the Director of Operations with Los Angeles Volleyball Academy (LAVA) and is the former Pierce College Head Coach. He is a 3x CCCAA California State Champion and Back-to-Back Runners-Up. He has twice been named the AVCA National Two-Year College Coach of the Year.

According to Mardini the footwork is the same for the back set as it is with the forward set with the exception that the back set requires at left right footwork pattern and that the knee must be driven down towards the ground thus forcing the hips forward so that the ball goes backward.

He also states that he believes that the setter should watch the ball because if the setter holds their head steady and does not look back there will be tension in the shoulders and the ball will not travel.

Many coaches would not want their setter to watch the ball claiming that that takes away any deception. Mardini claims that all of the deception is accomplished prior to the set not after the set.

The last coaching point that he shares with regards to the back set is that the closer the set is to area 4 the bigger the step should be with the right foot and if necessary the setter may even kick.

This clip is taken from Coach Mardini’s instructional DVD entitled Best of Club Volleyball: Setting 

If you are interested in learning more about that DVD simply click the link above.

The YouTube video below has audio os please make sure that your speakers are turned on.

 

 


Passing Drills to Eliminate Bad Habits

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This article was provided by The Junior Volleyball Association

The first contact in volleyball, the pass, is by far the most critical if a team is striving to play at a high level. Even at the beginner level, it’s important for coaches to give their players many repetitions practicing proper technique. There are 3 common bad passing habits that will hinder an athlete’s ability to pass consistently to the target:

  1. Not moving feet to the ball
  2. Swinging at the ball
  3. Poor posture

1. Reach platform to the ball instead of move feet to the ball

  • Want to make sure players are moving their feet to pass ball in midline instead of reach for ball
  • This habit starts when we allow kids to reach when practicing serve receive from a toss or easy serve. Once the velocity picks up and the serve flattens out, controlling the ball becomes a much harder task.
  • When teaching young players to pass it’s important to start with higher, easier balls, but make sure there is focus on getting feet to the ball every time.

Drills:

A. Rolls. One partner sitting on floor with legs spread. The second partner is in ready passing position and starts at end of the partner on the floors foot. The partner on the floor rolls the ball fast down her leg. Once she gets the ball back, she rolls the ball down her other leg, forcing he partner making who is in passing position to shuffle.

B. Scoops. Same drill, but partner on the floor is now standing.

C. Corners

D. Leg Bounce. Coach enters ball from a toss or serve and ball has to bounce thru the player’s legs.

E. Band Passing. Use green elastic band around ankles forcing kids to shuffle and stay on feet when they move to pass the ball. Start with short distance and progress to cover more ground.

F. Knee pad touch drill.

  • Can do continuous on whole court
  • Can do with base, read, stage, cover

2. Swinging at the ball

  • You don’t want your players to swing at or swipe the ball to get it to the target area
  • You want them to learn to drop their shoulder and angle their platform using the transfer of weight to drive the ball to the middle of the court
  • Want players to move through the ball with a subtle transfer of weight
  • Use angle of the platform and momentum to direct the ball to target
  • Tilt not Twist

Drills:

A. Partner knee passing. Emphasize platform staying over top of knee

  • Right foot forward
  • Left foot forward

B. Belly Bump. Put ball under shirt forcing the platform to stay out and away from the body.

C. Side to Side Short

D. Lanes Narrow

E. Lane Narrow with Tilt

F. Lanes Wide with Tilt

G. Shuffle Passing

3. Bad Posture

  • Shoulders are usually the issue, as players will pop up out of a ready position once the ball is served causing their shoulders to come up.
  • Focus should be hips back and shoulders forward
  • Keep passing stance shoulder distance apart. When players move back they will make their passing frame smaller by shuffling feet close together.

Drills:

A. Towel or dot placed on the back of a player while passing. Cannot let is fall off, especially when moving backwards to pass the ball.

B. Russian Drill

C. Antenna. Hold antenna or noddle at head height in front of passer, just off to the wide, so they can use the height of the antenna as a visual to keep head in the same place once the ball is served

It’s important for coaches to reinforce that your players execute proper technique through repetition. Improper technique will create bad habits. By giving your players a lot of touches on the ball with proper technique, you are giving them a better chance of creating and maintaining good habits when passing the volleyball. It’s as easy as that!

For related reading for volleyball coaches click HERE. To view more passing drills click HERE.

About the Author

Anne Kordes is the Associate Director and 17 Red Head Coach at KIVA in Louisville, as well as Assistant Coach at Assumption High School. In 2017 Assumption HS was State and National Champion. Her KIVA 17 Red team was 17 Open Runner-up at the 2017 AAU National Championships, and took home the bronze medal in 2018. Anne has 17 years of coaching experience at the DivisionI level, including the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at University of Louisville from 2011-2016, and the Head Coach at Saint Louis University from 2004-10. She has garnered numerous conference coach of the year honors and was also the President of the American Volleyball Coaches Association from 2011-2013. Anne finds a way to get the most from her players, and has coached numerous All-American athletes at the junior and college level.


One Foot Setting

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It would be great if every pass was perfect, but they are not. One foot setting is a way to help setters be more effective when they pass is not placed perfectly.

In the video clip below Craig Skinner,University of Kentucky Head Coach; 2x SEC Coach of the Year;2011 AVCA All-South Region Coach of the Year, discusses setting off one foot and also shares what he calls Umbrella Tossing to train the setter.

Coach Skinner begins by discussing how to handle the imperfect pass. He believes that is best for the setter to use a left, right footwork pattern as they jump off one foot. He feels that by jumping off one leg the setter will be more dynamic in the air, have more control in the air and cover more ground on passes that are not perfect.

He begins by executing close tosses with his setters so that they can get the footwork pattern down.

He progresses to a quick explanation of Umbrella Tossing. Here he moves around the setter in an umbrella shape pattern giving here passes from all angles. In this drill, he gives her one perfect pass a not perfect pass. The not perfect pass should be tosses such that she gets work moving in every direction.

This clip is just a portion of Coach Skinner’s instructional DVD. For more information about that DVD click the link Simplified Setter Training

The YouTube video below has sound, so please make sure that your speakers are turned on. Note that some schools block access to YouTube. Click the arrow to play the video


Passing with the Hands

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More and more overhand passing is becoming a bigger part of the game. Here are some things to consider when teaching this fundamental skill.

In the clip below John Kosty, Stanford University Men’s Volleyball Coach (2010 National Championship), discusses using your hands to pass.

He begins with discussion on positioning. Coach Kosty says that he has come to believe that when in serve receive it is best to position the body facing the target rather that the serve. In his opinion, this position allows the overhand passer to re-direct the serve and push it towards the target. It also allows to be in position where they can move to get in transition.

He states that hand strength is a key component to overhand passing. This is particularly important when the ball is outside of the perfect hand placement.Therefore it is critical that players are able to move an re-position themselves so that they are in better position to execute the overhand pass.

Key Coaching Points:

  • No wrist action
  • Use elbows
  • Firm hands
  • Ball never touches pads
  • High Finish/Strong hands

He also stresses that he never follows overhand passing with setting drills as the fundamentals of these actions are different.

This clip is just a sample from Coach Kosty’s instructional DVD. For more information about that DVD click the link Developing Attacking and Passing Skills

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

 


Hitting Control

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Here is a simple yet effective tip that will increase hitting control when spiking the ball.

In the video below Andor Gyulai, Coach & Owner of Volleyball1on1 and former NCAA Champion at UCLA, discusses and demonstrates why the hand should strike the ball slightly left of center for maximum control.

Coach Gyulai points out that your players should be able to use this technique at all hitting positions.

This video clip is just a portion of an instructional course found on CoachTube. For more information about this free course, click the link:

Volleyball Spiking and Hitting Techniques

The video below has audio, so please make sure that your speakers are on and the volume is turned up. Please note that some schools block access to YouTube