In volleyball, defense involves being able to read where the opponent is looking to hit the ball in addition to having the physical ability to get to the correct position. Performing defensive drills during practice can help heighten your skill on the court.
Vortex +4
For the Vortex +4 Drill, put two full teams on the court in normal game positions. Play a normal game of volleyball, keeping score of who wins each volley. The winner of the game is the first team to win four volleys in a row. The pace of this drill is extremely fast. The serving team should not wait for the defensive team to be ready; it must serve immediately. This drill helps improve transitions between offense and defense, in addition to teaching players to work in a fast-paced situation.
5 vs. 5 Dig or Die
Set up two teams of five on the court, two in the back and three in the front. Play a normal game of volleyball, only with different scoring. If the ball hits the floor without being touched by a defender, the team loses all of its points and the attacking team gets one point. However, if the ball hits the floor after being touched by a defender, the team keep its points, while the attacking team still gets one point . For example, if a team is winning 6-3 and the ball hits their side without any player touching the ball first, the score becomes 0-4. Play the game until one team gets to eight points. This drill teaches teams to be aggressive defensively, to communicate with each other and to make contact with the ball.
Defense and Blocking
Both teams should be set up in defensive positions on their respective sides of the court. The coach throws a ball high in the air to one of the front three players on one side of the court. A player must spike it immediately to the other side. The defense has a short amount of time to get into the correct position to block or return the spike. This helps teach anticipation and reading the hitter's hands and eyes. It allows players to figure out where the ball will go, in addition to developing the skills necessary to stop it.
Read Hitter's Eyes Blocking Drills
In this drill, have three players stand at the net in normal game positions. The attacking team should have three players on the court. Toss a ball to a player, then have her set the ball. The defenders must watch the setter's hands while the ball is being hit among the attacking players. The defenders are not allowed to raise their hands until they see the ball coming to their side of the net. When they see the ball being hit toward their side of the net, they are allowed to raise their arms in an attempt to block the ball. This drill ensures that players learn anticipation and hand positioning of opposing team members. It allows them to figure out where the ball is going to be hit toward.
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