The Golden Ball drill is designed to simulate critical points in a match.
Not all points are the same. Some are simply more important than others and demand increased focus at the critical point in a match and the Golden Ball Drill is designed to simulate those situations.
In the video clip below Coach Terry Miller (Cherokee Trail High School) explains how he uses this popular drill.
The drill is played 6v6 with a coach entering the ball to begin play. The coach should have at least 8 balls to begin the drill and one of them should look significantly different. (The so-called Golden Ball).
The coach either chips or roll shots the first ball and the point is played out. The team that wins that point receives the next ball from the coach.
The game continues as such until the “Golden Ball” is put in play. The winner of the point played with the “Golden Ball” has the option to make the score tied or award themselves 3 points.
Not only does this serve to emphasize that some points are more important, but it also gives the team that behind a chance to catch up quickly. This is helpful when in practice the teams are mismatched.
This clip is from a presentation that Coach Miller made at a Glazier Volleyball Clinic. For information about how to gain access to his entire presentation as well as hundreds of other great clinic presentations click the link Glazier Volleyball Clinic
The video below has audio so please make sure that your speakers are turned on.