Taking over a program: Get everybody involved
Terry Liskevych shares some tips for taking over a program: his most valuable lesson is to be patient, and his second lesson is to allow anyone who wants to get involved in the program to do just that....
View ArticleMiddle blockers: Different footwork patterns to get outside
Sometimes against a team who runs short, quick sets between the middle and outside hitters like a 31, your middle blocker doesn't always have time to do a full swing block to get in front of the...
View ArticleSingle focus skill work: It’s hard to get better at seven things at a time
Purpose: Have players focus on one particular aspect of a skill, and perform repetitions practicing that skill. How it Works: Two passers split the court into two halves. One coach or player will...
View ArticlePlay until the last whistle
Russ Rose of Penn State University warns coaches to make sure their teams play until the final whistle concluding the game. When teams gain momentum and start to celebrate a win prior to actually...
View ArticleMaking good hand contact when attacking
Jim Stone of USA Volleyball explains that many players, especially young players, have a hard time hitting the ball with a solid hand contact: fingers spread wide and palm fully contacts the ball....
View ArticleCompetition vs rewards/punishments
Mike Sealy of UCLA doesn't shy away from competition in practice, but tries to avoid "punishments" as a type of coaching. Sealy says his team dynamic normally approaches drills with a more relaxed...
View ArticleHow to plan your high school practices
Every coach knows that there is always an ebb and flow to practice. Creating a practice plan takes careful planning and coordination, requiring that a coach knows his or her team and their specific...
View Article3 tips to make your practice run smoother
Terry Liskevych talks the basics: practice management. First? Learn how to set up the net, no matter what level. Second? Teach your players how to shag the ball quickly. Set up ball carts and make it...
View Article6 vs 6 drill that won’t wear out your players
Purpose: Work on the first phase of play in a shortened rally 6 on 6 drill - a great drill if you want to practice game-like play but don't want to tire out your players. How it Works: Play out 6 on 6...
View ArticleThe prowl step: Timing and direction
Mike Sealy of UCLA calls the first step of the hitting approach the "prowl step": the slow-moving preparation step into the dynamic step-close (which should be fast) of an approach. The purpose of this...
View ArticleClarifying the seams on serve receive
Purpose: Simple drill to practice communicating and performing reps of the seam ball (the ball served between two passers). How it Works: Have two passers split the court on each side of the court. One...
View ArticleRhythm blocking drill
Purpose: Drill to teach players to control their blocking movement by performing multiple blocks within a span of seconds. How it works: One blocker starts in middle front. Two coaches in middle front...
View ArticleQuick tempo attacks: Gathering information
Leisa Rosen, Assistant Head Coach at the University of Michigan, shows how hitters follow the ball until contact. A middle hitter's eyes should always follow the ball, starting with the passer and then...
View ArticleCoaching secrets: Know your strengths
Every team is a different animal and so as coaches you need to be able to maximize your team with the talents you have and stop trying to duplicate someone else's success. The post Coaching secrets:...
View ArticleBack-row attacking: Moving with the setter
Using the back-row attack used to be Mark Rosen's bail out ball in out-of-system situations. Now, he has realized using the back-row in-system adds a new layer to the offense. Another addition he has...
View ArticleThe keys to building a champion
This session was part of AOC's 2020 Virtual Clinic series during the COVID-19 shutdown. Watch as Jim Stone and Terry Liskevych dive into their keys to building a champion, including answering questions...
View ArticleTraining setters on and off the court
This session was part of AOC's 2020 Virtual Clinic series during the COVID-19 shutdown. Watch as John Dunning, Cassidy Lichtman, and Jenna Gray dive into their keys to training your setters, including...
View ArticleA guide to running effective practices
This session was part of AOC's 2020 Virtual Clinic series during the COVID-19 shutdown. Watch as Jim Stone and John Dunning talk through how best to utilize error detection, skill correction, and...
View ArticlePriorities for coaching beginners
This session was part of AOC's 2020 Virtual Clinic series during the COVID-19 shutdown. Watch as Tod Mattox, Anne Kordes, and Jim Stone talk through simple steps to success when coaching beginners,...
View ArticleMastering the skill of reading
This session was part of AOC's 2020 Virtual Clinic series during the COVID-19 shutdown. Watch as John Dunning, Cassidy Lichtman, and Morgan Hentz talk through Morgan's playing days at Stanford...
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