Coaches Insider

Dig or Die Drill with Nancy Dorsey – St. James Academy (KS)

American Volleyball Coaches Association — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:27:46 +0000

Watch as Coach Nancy Dorsey explains, and the players demonstrate the Dig or Die Drill. This is a quick rep drill with two teams competing against each other to score 7 points. As the drill begins, Coach Dorsey explains the scoring system and when one team scores 7 points, the players find a new spot.

Double Blocking Drill with Louis Mitchell – Renaissance High School (MI)

American Volleyball Coaches Association — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:26:17 +0000

Watch as Coach Louis Mitchell demonstrates double blocking and how to train closing the gap between a middle blocker and a right-side blocker.

Shoulder Strengthening Exercises with Erica Miller – Pope High School (GA)

American Volleyball Coaches Association — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:41:14 +0000

Watch as Coach Erica Miller explains, and a player demonstrates various shoulder-strengthening exercises. There are four body positions, with multiple movements in each: lying flat on the ground, hands and knees, plank position, and standing band work.

Targeting the Chair Serving Drill with Maci Battle – Rocket City Volleyball Club

American Volleyball Coaches Association — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:37:31 +0000

Watch as Coach Maci Battle discusses serving and how to work on the speed and velocity of the serve even without a radar gun to track speed. She explains why serving shorter and straight ahead gives the serve receiver less time to react, leading to a less accurate pass.

Favorite Competitive Drills with Jennifer Chandler & Staci Williams – Northwest High School (TX)

Texas High School Coaches Association — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:31:35 +0000

Watch as Coaches Jennifer Chandler and Staci Williams discuss their favorite competitive drills to do in practice. They discuss out-of-system drills to help with setting and swinging while out of system. They also explain a drill called Rewind. This drill focuses on errors, where athletes get to fix any mistakes rather than just moving on to the next point. The last drill is Farkle, where the number of points to win is determined by dice, and each side is trying to get to their number without knowing how close their opponents are.

Integrity

Jamy Bechler — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:40:31 +0000

Originally Published in: The Leadership Playbook

Integrity is the building block and most basic tenet to all other traits. If you are not an ethical person with a solid foundation of doing the right thing consistently, then you will not be a person of integrity. Integrity is the sum total of all our everyday choices. The more consistent we are with our everyday choices, the more integrity we have. Take the story of golfer Bobby Jones.

From 1923-1930, Bobby Jones won 13 major championships in golf. His record was unmatched until 1973 when it was finally broken by Jack Nicklaus. In a championship match that he was playing in, Jones drove the ball into the woods. As he was looking for the ball, he accidentally nudged it. Although no one saw him move the ball, he penalized himself one stroke (according to the rules), which caused him to lose the match by that margin. Afterward, when reporters praised him for his integrity, he responded that they might as well praise him and congratulate him for not robbing a bank.

In Martin Luther King's famous I Have a Dream speech he talks about people being judged by the content of their character. The true measure of a person's character is what they would do if they knew that no one would ever find out. The West Point honor code states,

"A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."

Your integrity is the most valuable thing that you possess. Here is an older poem from Dale Wimbrow, entitled The Man in the Glass about your integrity and how ultimately, you know whether you have it or don't

The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
and the world makes you king for a day.
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or wife
Whose judgement upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eyes.

He's the fellow to please – nevermind all the rest,
For he's with you clear to the end;
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass

Middles: Attacking Targets with Jaylen Reyes – Univ. of Nebraska

American Volleyball Coaches Association — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:53:12 +0000

Watch as the coach Jaylen Reyes explains, and players demonstrate the 'Attacking the Target' Drill. The focus is on hitting targets in specific zones. Both players must hit or come close to the target before moving on to the next one. This drill, performed without blockers, is effective for teaching middles how to use their hands to manipulate the direction of the ball.

Be a Wall, Not a Table with Kendra Potts – Grand Canyon Univ.

Volleyball Coaches Insider — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:38:33 +0000

Watch as Coach Kendra Potts explains, and players demonstrate this exercise that works on platform angles and technique. Coach emphasizes the importance of hitting under the ball, not at it, which helps drive the ball forward and not up. The player's platform should follow their feet and they should hold the finish for two seconds after.

Kendra Potts was previously at West Texas A&M Univ.

Bucket Passing Drill with Jen DeJarld – Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School (IL)

American Volleyball Coaches Association — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:26:36 +0000

Watch as Coach Jen DeJarld explains, and players demonstrate this bucket passing drill working on proper movement, tracking, and angles. The goal is to keep good form and not worry too much about the ball going in the bucket. Coach reminds players how important it is for their arms to move first and to stay forward when tracking. The drill progresses by working all angles helping to create muscle memory.

Swing Blocking and Transition with Erin Glickert – SUNY Cortland

American Volleyball Coaches Association — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:19:02 +0000

Watch as Coach Erin Glickert goes over the footwork and mechanics of swing blocking. She has her team swing block, then quickly transition off the net. Coach gives the athletes a chance to fix mistakes right away, to correct any footwork errors immediately.