Small group drill: Chaos pepper
Low on players at practice today? Use this pepper variation that adds a little chaos into the drill, even when you only have 3 players. Have your players break into groups of three and begin with...
View ArticlePractice planning with flexibility
As a coach, you need a good practice plan. But you also need the flexibility to change it based on the particular day. Mark Barnard explains how being able to adapt different drills, times and goals is...
View ArticleFirst-to-25 drill for serving and passing practice
Clinician: Mike Sealy head women’s volleyball coach at UCLA Purpose: To train passing and decision-making in a competitive environment How it works: Players split into two groups. Each group...
View ArticleFocused feedback for hitters
Purpose: Dunning gets into the nitty gritty of perfecting hitting form for each individual athlete. Whether it’s toe position, arm swing, foot planting, or speed of approach, Dunning covers the...
View ArticleCurating player strengths into practice and play
Volleyball is a dynamic game where people specialize at a particular skill set. Terry Liskevych talks about maximizing a player’s strengths and limiting the use of their weaknesses in order to keep...
View ArticleGame planning: Knowing when to substitute
Two questions to ask yourself when thinking about the right times to substitute players is WHO & WHEN? Do you substitute smaller players in the back row for taller players? Do you substitute a good...
View ArticleHitting slides: Timing & footwork
Training hitters who have never run the slide? Two important things to work on are timing and footwork! Watch as John Dunning takes a few novice athletes through the ropes of running a slide:
View ArticleBlocking fundamentals: Parallel blocking
Need to increase your team's blocking coverage? Watch as Mike Sealy shows the proper body positioning, hands, and footwork for parallel blocking and discusses how being a good blocking team is...
View ArticleServing pressure drill: Making practice more game-like
Purpose: To simulate game-type situations. How it works: Assemble players in 2 groups of 3 at the end line. One person serves at a time from each group. After Player 1 serves, she goes to the end of...
View ArticleFocused passing form and drills
Purpose: Volleyball is nothing without solid passing. In this drill, Russ Rose shows passing dynamics and how to practice solid form and movement for defensive players. Have your players work on...
View ArticleExecuting the short serve in beach
The short serve is a great option for disrupting an opponent’s offense. In this video, 3-time Olympian Holly McPeak explains why it’s so effective and how to execute it. She also shares her...
View ArticleSmall group drills: Pass & switch ball control drill
Purpose: To warm-up players while promoting communication, problem-solving, and ball control all at one time. How it Works: Groups of three players line up on the court with two players on one sideline...
View ArticleLibero training: Defense mechanics
Jim Stone advises coaches to look at the specifics of the libero’s movements so they can the best body positioning and proper form. The defender’s hips should hinge while maintaining a straight spine,...
View Article5 requirements of a great libero: Mechanics
As a libero, a player must have dynamic speed, strength and agility to adapt to different plays. Haley shows the kinesiology of how a libero must be positioned to successfully move toward balls in...
View ArticlePractice planning: The roles of players & coaches during practice
You, your assistant coaches, and your players all fill specific roles during practice. As coaches, you need to: Be a leader and work to develop your players into leaders Have a commitment to...
View ArticleGame planning: Pre-game stats & what to look for
Before the match has even started, stats can show you what to expect from your opponent. These stats are important and can be found at every level. For highschool, look up the previous weekends...
View ArticleDigging the deep corners: Responsibility
The post Digging the deep corners: Responsibility appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.
View ArticleTeaching players to earn their spot
Russ Rose addresses how to form a competitive culture over time. He emphasizes creating an atmosphere of earning one’s privileges instead of handing them over simply because of a program’s reputation....
View ArticleIn-game setter communication with John Dunning
John Dunning wants his setters to be smart both on and off the court. To help them make educated setting decisions, he keeps in-game statistics from the sideline. Setters check the stats during...
View ArticleBecoming a better reader and learning to make decisions
Two things players need to do better: reading & decision making. Do you teach enough reading in practice? John Dunning believes players do not see the game! If your players are not able to read in...
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