Descriptive drill names are the best, right? This is Blind Blocking. And, that’s just what it is. Simple. Effective. Watch, you’ll see.
Here’s what you need for this volleyball drill:
A tosser
A blocker
A hitter
Set the players up in their respective positions. The tosser should stand at the 10-ft line directly behind the blocker. So she can’t see where/when the toss is coming, thus becoming fixated on the ball.
Tosser will toss a “Merry Christmas” ball to the hitter. That is, a ball that would simulate an overpass.
The hitter approaches and swings at the ball. (Trying, of course, to hit around the block)
The blocker has to watch the hitter. Watch her direction, move with her, watch her arm and adjust the block accordingly. Then stuff! (well, that’s the idea, anyway)
In a typical situation, when a setter is involved, the blocker eyes go from: the ball to the setter, back to the ball, then to the hitter. It’s that last part where most blockers get caught still watching the ball. I can see why, it’s moving around… it’s distracting.
The basic point of this volleyball drill is to get her to focus on watching the hitter’s arm at crunch time. And, in this situation, that’s all she can see … being blind and all.
Teach your defenders how to own those wannabe attackers on the other side of the net. Here’s a defense drill to help get you started.
In 3-man, communication is an absolute must. The object of this drill is to stay on the court. And, in order to do that, the players must keep the ball in play. Nay, keep the ball at the middle of the net, in front of the 10-ft line.
It looks like a lot to read, so watch the video first and use the instructions below as a reference when you try this drill with your team.
3 players start at left front. Each must pass a run-through to start the drill (that is a very short tip directly back up to the coach). After the pass, she’ll go to her respective position. Player 1 to right back. Player 2 to middle back. Player 3 to left back.
Let the drill begin! The coach will strategically place the ball in spots on the court. (hopefully the coach has some mad skills or this could get ugly pretty quickly)
Rule 1 “CIRCLE”: If he tips the ball in front of the 10-ft line on the wings (that is, left front and right front), the players “circle” in the direction of the dig. For example, He tips to left front. She takes a step toward the net. She must run through that dig all the way to right front, while yelling “CIRCLE!” so the other players know to follow in that direction. (Eg. Middle back player is now in left back. Right back player is now in Middle back.)
Rule 2 “SWITCH!”: If the coach puts a ball in the middle of the court (the donut), Left back and right back must decide who will dig the ball. (Eg. They decide-by communication-that left back will dig it.) As she runs toward the ball yelling “SWITCH!”, the right back digger must switch to cover left back’s position.
Rule 3 “SWITCH!”: If the coach sends a long shot to one of the deep corners, it’s automatically middle back’s ball. She will yell “SWITCH!” and run to the corner to take the dig. (Eg. If the ball travels to the left back corner, middle back will dig the ball and left back will cover her position. Middle back is now left back. Left back is now middle back.)
Rule 4 “STAY”: This is an easy one. If the player digging the ball does not move, she yells “STAY” and everyone stays. On a hard-driven ball, everyone stays.
When the play has stopped or the coach stops the drill. The team must quickly exit the court, so a new team can start. Switch up the groups of 3 or run a competition for which group can stay on the court the longest.
NOTE: The player who passes the ball decides which rule applies and must communicate that to the other players. But the coach can overrule any decision. On my court, if I have to move to receive a dig, the drill is over. But, each coach can apply their own rules based on the players’ skill level.
Yes. I know. It seems too complicated and everyone hates it the first time. But once the players get the hang of it, they love this drill. It’s fun and challenging.
You want your players to pass on the left, right? (the answer is yes) But, they’re used to the “way they’ve been taught” straight on or wherever the ball is. What they have yet to realize is their form makes all the difference in the ease of the task. For example, a player who drops her shoulder to tilt her platform will not have to swing her arms as much or create some crazy-looking forearm maneuver to get the ball all the way over to the setter. This drill makes the player over-exaggerate the form required to pass on the left and get it to the setter.
Coach, stand on a box on the opposite side of the net at right front.
One player is the target between middle and right front.
Another player takes a knee at left front (drop the left knee), about 6-8 ft from the net. This will make it nearly impossible to pass on the right.
1. Coach tosses the volleyball ball slightly over the net.
2. The passer must drop her right shoulder and tilt her platform far enough to push the volleyball all the way to the target.
3. 20 reps
This is a basic form passing drill. It’s not good for conditioning but passing reps in this position will get your players used to passing on the left.
Here’s a fun game situation (or scrimmage-like) drill to get the whole team involved.
1. Divide your team into pairs. Probably a good idea to make them even pairs (pair a good player with a not-so-good player).
2. Split the width of the court using a piece of tape (painter’s tape works really well because it will pick up easily when the drill is over.)
3. Run a mini tournament with four teams on the court at a time (or 8, if you have 2 courts). Play to 3, winner moves up to the “championship court,” loser stays on the same court.
4. Keep track of who defends the most on the “championship court.”
Dividing the courts in such a way forces the players focus on serving, ball control and attack selection. They have a much smaller area in which to place the ball.
Make it a little more interesting by offering a prize for the winners or punishment for the losers.
Wanna learn to bounce volleyballs out of the gym? Here’s a hitting drill to get you started.
This is a good one to go ahead and get the whole team involved. Here’s what you need: 3 boxes (about 2 feet tall) and plenty of volleyballs.
Put your attackers in their respective positions. Outside. Middle. Right. One setter on the net. Split the back row with 2 passers. Go ahead and have one player initiate the drill with a mini-serve from the opposite side of the net.
The setter will take the pass and alternate sets between the 3 positions.
Attackers start their 3-step approaches when the passer takes the ball. Left-right-left. Her third step is a jump to the box where she waits for the set. The setter shoots the ball to the attacker who pounds it! (or makes a decent swing).
The key to this drill is for the attackers to practice their approach. Watch the feet!
