Volleyball is unique as a sport due to the quick transition between offense and defense during the course of a game. Players must be ready at a moment's notice to defend their court from a score by the opposing team. Drills are an effective way to reinforce the fundamentals of volleyball defense during practice.
Blocking Drill
Blocking involves trying to stop an opposing player from spiking the ball while at the net. To help your players practice blocking, try a simple drill that will help them work on timing. Divide your team in half on opposite sides of the court. One side is the spiking team and one side is the blocking team. The first person on the blocking team has a ball and tosses it just over the top of the net to the first person on the spiking team. Immediately after tossing the ball, the blocking player must get in position to block the ball. You can also have a coach at the net who tosses the ball to the spiking player, which allows you to vary the location and timing of the ball at the net, keeping the blocking player guessing as to where to set up for the block.
Dig Drill
Digging the ball involves diving to the ground to hit a ball up in the air that is about to land within the area of your team's side of the court and score a point for the opposing team. A simple digging drill can help your players learn how to master this essential of defense. Stand on a chair or ladder at the net and have players line up at the back of the other side of the court in the middle. Hit the ball just in front of the first player in line. She must read your shoulders and dive at the ball and dig it, then roll over and immediately jump back to her feet to dig at another ball. Hit four to five balls at each player before rotating.
Charge the Hole Drill
This drill helps players learn how to cover a hole in the defense when the ball can slip through. Mark an X on the floor behind the middle of the back line and have players line up behind it. Have two defenders stand on chairs or boxes about 4 feet apart at the net with their hands up. Stand on a chair in the middle of the defenders on the other side of the net. The first player in line starts at the X as you hit a ball down between the two defenders. The player must run to the hole and dig the ball, then run back to the X as you hit another ball through the hole. Have each player dig four to five balls, going back to the X each time.
Member Comments