Watch as Coach Joshua Walker talks about how to train hand contact. Hand contact is important for ball control, and he explains how each drill helps with hand-on-ball contact.
Focus Drill with Zoe Bell – Ardrey Kell High School (NC)
Watch as Coach Zoe Bell explains drills that require focusing your attention on multiple things at once. Having multiple balls alive in the drill that they have to focus on helps athletes get comfortable in […]
Practicing Empathy
By: Dan Gould and Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches’ Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics The coaching process has been increasingly recognized as a complex social and cognitive system. In this context, the quality […]
Working on Team Chemistry with Haley Eckerman – Kent State Univ.
Watch as Coach Haley Eckerman explains how she works on team chemistry. In the off-season, the team has a weekly one-hour session on leadership and culture. A different player plans each activity, and Coach Eckerman […]
Plank Tunnel Team Building Challenge with Blake Williams – Battle-Tested
Watch as Blake Williams explains and demonstrates the Plank Tunnel team building challenge. The group starts in a low plank position which creates a tunnel. The end person will crawl through the tunnel as the […]
Head Coach Blueprint: Cover Letters Are the Key to Getting Interviews with Chris Fore – Eight Laces Consulting
Watch as Chris Fore discusses how to get that first head coaching job. The key factor of getting an interview for the head coaching position is the cover letter. A great cover letter can make […]
Passing Early Prep and Routine with Michael Fisher – University of Pittsburgh
Watch as Coach Michael Fisher shows how they work on serve receive by being ready with early preparation. Michael emphasizes that the passer must do the same thing every time. They will call either “Float” […]
18 Out of 30 Hitting Drill with Todd Chamberlain – Univ. of Louisville
Watch as Coach Todd Chamberlain explains the “18 Out of 30” hitting drill. This drill reinforces swinging strong and with intent to get a kill without worrying about errors. The main goal is to take […]
Why Every Great Coach Assesses Their Athletes – Beyond the Scoreboard & Stats
By: Julie Hatfield-Still Provided By: Beyond The Game Alliance As a coach, you’re constantly evaluating whether it’s watching how athletes perform in a drill, tracking game-day stats, or observing who shows up ready to […]
Setters Key: Hands Up on Time with Luka Slabe – USA Volleyball
Watch as Coach Luka Slabe explains, and players demonstrate a setting drill focused on getting the hands up on time. Coach emphasizes the importance of always being ready to go with big hands, waist-high, and […]
Mental Toughness: A Skill That Can Be Developed with Dr. Colleen Hacker – Team USA / Pacific Lutheran Univ.
Watch as Dr. Colleen Hacker explains that mental toughness is a skill, and it can be developed. It is about how an individual responds to adversity, difficult situations, setbacks, and failure. Mental toughness is not […]
Jack and Jill Setting Drill with Natalie Reagan – Long Beach State Univ.
Watch as Coach Natalie Reagan explains, and players demonstrate this flexible setting drill that works both short ways, with the flow, and long ways, against the flow. The focus will be on body position, balance, […]
Full-Feature! Winning the Sideout with Renee Saunders – Skutt Catholic High School (NE)
We are releasing a FULL 36-minute session from the 2025 AVCA Coach of the Year Virtual Super Clinic, available in our Volleyball Coaches Insider +Plus video library. Free access to this video will expire on […]
Match Video Review: Coaches & Players with Ted Kopacz – Colorado State Univ.
Watch as Coach Ted Kopacz explains how to review footage with athletes to get the most out of their learning experience. Analyzing footage should be efficient and quick. When they can physically see their movements […]
Hands Over the Net: Adding a Middle Blocker with Mackenzie Nelson – Northeastern Junior College
Watch as Coach Mackenzie Nelson explains a blocking drill designed to improve athletes’ performance. This drill keeps them engaged by being mentally stimulating along with training blocking footwork.
How Coaches Can Develop an OUTSTANDING Working Relationship With Your AD
By: Kevin M. Bryant, CMAA Many times, in my 35-year career in college and high school athletic administration I have heard coaches share their frustrations about their athletic director. While I would like to […]
Hitting Around the Block Drill with Phil Nickel – Dallas College Eastfield Campus
Watch as Coach Phil Nickel explains, and players demonstrate this hitting around the block drill that uses pool noodles instead of live blockers. He uses different colored noodles to make it easier for the hitters […]
Unwritten Culture Rules with Joe Sagula – (Retired) Univ. of North Carolina
Watch as Coach Joe Sagula talks culture and discusses how it all starts in the locker room. Each team has a set of player-enforced “unwritten rules” that have been passed down. Coach explains that when […]
Serving Warm-Up with Megan Lenhart – Cornerstone Univ.
Watch as Coach Megan Lenhart explains, and players demonstrate, this partner serving warm-up drill. The drill starts with servers working on tosses, establishing routine muscle memory. Their hitting arm is in the proper position for […]
Reps Digging Drill with Carrie Lehocky – Hope College (MI)
Watch as Coach Carrie Lehocky explains a digging drill she uses to get a lot of reps off a live attack from all positions. Keeping the ball coming from each position keeps the players on […]
1-on-1 Blocking Eye Sequence Drill with Julie Jenkins – Trinity Univ.
Watch as Coach Julie Jenkins explains how to train 1-on-1 blocking so players can commit to a dominant hitter. This drill helps with reaching over the net and being decisive when blocking.
Coaching and Social Media
By: Rainer Martens and Robin S. Vealey Originally Published in: Successful Coaching Provided by: Human Kinetics When we think of coaching, we think of face-to-face interaction, but of course coaches communicate by phone, email, […]
Base Release Drill with Kellen Petrone – Univ. of Pittsburgh
Watch as Coach Kellen Petrone explains, and players demonstrate this base release drill that focuses on moving backwards as well as forward. The defender will execute the base release on the hitter’s toss and be […]
Blocking Vision: Don’t Close Your Eyes with Rocco Lucci – Niagara Frontier VB Club
Watch as Coach Rocco Lucci explains, and players demonstrate this blocking vision drill. Blockers will first focus on ready position, making sure they are elbows-distance from the net. Keeping thumbs up and fingers out wide, […]
Shuttle Passing Drill with Melissa Wolter – Univ. of West Florida
Watch as Coach Melissa Wolter explains, and players demonstrate the Shuttle Passing Drill. This flexible drill can be timed or completed through a certain number of touches. Players will group in threes and the outside […]
Timing Drills for Pins & Middles with Erin Glickert – SUNY Cortland
Watch as Coach Erin Glickert explains how to work on timing with attackers. Athletes work on timing, footwork, and step-close in this drill.
Pre-Game Pass & Shuffle Drill with Becky Edwards – Lancaster High School (NY)
Watch as Coach Becky Edwards explains her pre-game drill. There are multiple variations to warm up different game-like movements and skills. Getting many touches and reps in quickly is important.
The Decisive Intangible for All College Athlete Recruits
Originally published in an Adam Sarancik Book Most college coaches have similar goals, philosophies, and priorities when recruiting athletes for their program. In short, they want people, athletes, and players who tangibly have sports skills […]
Hula Hoop Setting Drill with Renee Saunders – Skutt Catholic High School (NE)
Watch as Coach Renee Saunders explains, and players demonstrate this hula hoop setting drill. Two players standing on boxes and holding hula hoops above their heads are the targets. The objective of the setters is […]
Training Outside Hitters Using Pool Noodles with Lyndsey Oates – Univ. of Northern Colorado
Watch as Coach Lyndsey Oates explains, and players demonstrate how they use pool noodles to help train their outside hitters. Using pool noodles is great if you are short on bodies or to save your […]