Watch as Coach Dave Shondell explains and players demonstrate this parallel digging drill.
Improving Mental Toughness
There is no question about the importance of developing our athletes’ mental game. In a sport where points are won or lost on errors, recovering from mistakes…
Defense – Short Serve Drill – Travis Hudson – Western Kentucky Univ.
Watch as Coach Travis Hudson explains and players demonstrate these platform skills.
Training Liberos – Passing
We use passing as the example of how to train for all the skills a good libero needs. The other skills are discussed more specifically later in the…
Watching for and Avoiding Burnout
Coaches sometimes joke that there are only two times when they feel stressed-day and night. Although that story represents the extreme case, certainly…
Setters: Targets Drill with Ray Bechard – Univ. of Kansas
Watch as Coach Ray Bechard and setters work this targets drill.
1-2-3 Passing Footwork Drill with Travis Hudson – Western Kentucky Univ.
Watch as Coach Travis Hudson explains and a player demonstrates this 1-2-3 passing footwork drill.
Three-Ball Drill: Building Continuity Within Your Rotations
At the beginning of the season, coaches have a “To-Do” list that is a mile long. From individual technique training to team systems to…
Ball Handling Drills
The drill can be run concurrently on both sides of net. Three passers and one setter set up on each side of the net. A coach or tosser and a basket of balls are stationed…
Box Jumps with Nancy Dorsey – St. James Academy (KS)
Watch as Coach Nancy Dorsey explains and a player demonstrates these box jump drills.
Arm Swing with Bond Shymansky – Univ. of Iowa
Watch as Coach Bond Shymansky explains and players demonstrate this arm swing technique.
Middles – Coming from a Transition Phase – Todd Dagenais – UCF
Watch as Coach Dagenais explains and middle blockers demonstrate saving and setting a ball hit into the net.
The 7 Speeds of Volleyball – A New Way of Developing Your Players
Some time ago I showed John Kessel at USAV a book we published, “The 7-Speeds of Soccer.” He liked it and wrote an article that applied the…
Blocking Position Drill with Anne Kordes
Watch as Coach Anne Kordes explains and players demonstrate this blocking position drill.
Encourage Athletes
Another major role of the coach during competitions is to recognize and praise athletes. According to world-renowned soccer coach Sir Alex…
100 Passes Drill with Ray Bechard – University of Kansas
Watch as Coach Ray Bechard explains and players demonstrate the 100 Passes Drill.
Off-Season Training: Bottoms-Up Kettlebell Press for Shoulder Stability and Strength
The purpose of this drill is to train outside the standard, straight path overhead press with the kettlebell to increase muscle recruitment, shoulder stability and athleticism.
Middles Wides Drill – Dennis Hohenshelt – Univ. of VA
Watch as Coach Dennis Hohenshelt explains and his squad demonstrates this middles wides drill.
Blocking Drill with Marcelo Melado De Mesquita
Watch as Coach Marcelo Melado De Mesquita explains and players demonstrate this blocking drill.
Setting Drills
Front-Back Challenge – Because the setter must be prepared to send the ball in either direction, this drill reinforces the importance of receiving…
Blocking Tactics Drill
Blocking Tactics Drill 1: Oklahoma Drill (Hitting and Blocking) – This drill is named after the one-on-one football drill developed at the University of Oklahoma.
Ladder Drills with Nancy Dorsey – St. James Academy (KS)
Watch as Coach Nancy Dorsey explains and players demonstrate these ladder drills.
Platform Skills with Travis Hudson – Western Kentucky Univ.
Watch as Coach Travis Hudson explains and players demonstrate these platform skills.
It’s a Snap – How to Break a Losing Streak
As a coach, nothing is more demoralizing than a losing streak that just won’t break. While we do our absolute best to avoid losing streaks, performance slumps or even…
Blocking: Combat Boxing Gloves with Todd Dagenais – Univ. of Central Florida
Watch as Coach Dagenais explains and a Middle Blocker demonstrates this blocking drill using combat boxing gloves.
Transition or Bust Drill
Purpose: To give the team the opportunity to transition from offense to defense and back to offense. Setup: Players set up 6v6 on the court…
Blocking: Three Directions with Anne Kordes
Watch as Coach Anne Kordes explains and players demonstrate this Three Directions Blocking Drill.
Cross Court Pepper Drill – Eric Schulze – VC United
Watch as Coach Eric Schulze explains and players demonstrate this 4 on 4 Cross Court Pepper Drill.
Dangerous Games – Risk Factors In The Sports Environment
Many mental health disorders are at least partially rooted in genetic biological predispositions (genetic vulnerability). However, genetic vulnerability is not destiny – environmental stressors…
Coach Communication Guidelines Self-Assessment
1. Messages should be direct. Coaches who are weak on this quality avoid straightforward, direct communication. Their athletes may not know where they stand. These coaches…