There are moments in matches when a point is seemingly bigger than all the others. Coaches, players and even fans recognize the moment.The moment where it feels like “this next point is worth more than 1.” Simply put, the teams that play these points the best are the ones that win championships.
In the clip below Silvia Johnson, Metro Volleyball Club – Director (Washington, D.C., VA, MD), 2015 Girl’s Junior 18 National Champions; demonstrates a drill that she calls Money Ball. This is a great drill to simulate the pressure that comes with the big moments in matches.
Money Ball begins with one team serving the first point to the other. After the first point is played, the coach will start the next six points by giving each team three down balls. Upon completion of the seventh point, the setter on the team that is ahead will choose whether to serve orserve receive the next point. This point is what Coach Johnson calls the money ball. The score might be 4-3, 5-2, 6-1 or even 7-0 at this point. In order to win your points you must win the money ball. For example if you are up 6-1 but lose the money ball, you get zero points and the other team gets one point. The only way to score is to when the money ball point. Games are usually played to 25
Coach Johnson’s Money Ball drill is taken from her DVD Best of Club Volleyball: Competitive Drills & Games is just one of 7 competitive drills that she shares. For more information about that DVD click the link above.
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