Volleyball teams run drills during practice to improve individual skills, build physical endurance and foster team chemistry. Many volleyball coaches employ the blue lip drill to whip their teams into shape. As its name indicates, the drill certainly isn't easy. Players must work so hard to compete it that their lips might turn blue.
Set Up
The blue lip drill begins with all players gathered in a circle on one side of the court. The coach takes position outside the circle with a bin of volleyballs and selects one player to enter the center of the circle. This lucky player will be the one doing all the work.
Function
On the whistle, the coach hits, chips or throws a volleyball into the circle. The player in the middle, called the defender, must play the ball, setting it or passing it to one of the players along the circle's outer edge. The circled players aren't allowed to move from their spots on the floor. They must remain in place and attempt to catch the balls played by the middle defender. Each caught ball earns the defender one point. Typically, when a player catches a ball, she's removed from the drill and may not catch another ball. The drill ends when every player in the circle has caught a ball. When finished, the defender joins the circle and another player takes her place in the middle.
Variations
The drill can be altered by the coach. Some coaches prefer having each player who catches a ball leave the drill so the defender must work passes to each player in the circle, preventing one pass after another from going to the same person. Other coaches simply run the drill until the defender earns 15 points.
Considerations
The coach should play a number of different passes to the defender, mixing up height and velocity to keep the defender guessing. Ball placement should also be varied to force the defender to make quick, agile movements to get in set position. The drill's pace must be kept at a high level throughout, forcing the defender to work as hard as possible.
Benefits
Coaches love the blue lip drill because it accomplishes several things at once. First, it builds team camaraderie, as the entire team must work together to get the defender through the drill. Second, the defender has to demonstrate technical skill and pass accuracy to complete the drill. Finally, the defender gets a serious workout, improving cardio and stamina for game competition.
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