Watch as Coach Joe Sagula explains, and players demonstrate this jump float serve exercise that works on footwork and proper ball toss. Coach has players focus on ready posture and taking “right, left–right, left” steps, […]
2-Step Swing Drill with Matt Darling – Gannon Univ.
Watch as Coach Matt Darling explains, and players demonstrate this hitting drill that progresses from 2 steps into a full three-step approach plus arm swing. Coach emphasizes the importance of speed and wants players finishing […]
Why Should Coaches Coach?
Coaches at high levels at prestigious programs need to win to keep their jobs. Winning consistently makes recruiting easier, keeps the fan base energized, the administration and boosters happy, and the financial bottom line healthy. […]
Bean Bag Passing Drill with Tom Hilbert – Colorado State Univ.
Watch as Coach Tom Hilbert explains that he likes training aids for certain drills and believes that gadgets can assist players in learning. The players demonstrate this drill by placing bean bags on their shoulders […]
Box-Initiated Setting Drill with Felipe Coronel – Houston Juniors and Lauren Carlini – USA National Team
Watch as Coaches Felipe Coronel and Lauren Carlini explain, and players demonstrate this box-initiated setting drill. The player next to the inclined box uses an easy toss to hit the ball at the box. The […]
Defining Commitment with Jeff Janssen – Janssen Sports Leadership Center
Jeff Janssen discusses defining commitment with your athletes and obtaining their feedback. It is important to question where they feel their commitment level is in regards to practice, social life, and acceptance of their role on […]
Setting a Ball Close to the Net with Steve Pike – SUNY Brockport
Watch as Coach Steve Pike explains, and players demonstrate a few options that will help setters deal with tight passes. Coach suggests rotating the shoulders, using one hand, and always finishing where we want to […]
Blocking: Ready Position with Rocco Lucci – Niagara Frontier VB Club
Watch as Coach Rocco Lucci explains, and players demonstrate the ideal ready position when blocking. Keeping feet under the shoulders, players should be comfortable, but loaded, with knees slightly bent. Coach emphasizes the importance of […]
Elements of a High-Performance Culture
By: Carla Nicholls Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics Being a part of a high-performance culture team is exciting, yet these environments can be extremely vulnerable and cannot be […]
Bounce Gun Middle Attacking Warmup with Dan Meske – Univ. of Louisville
Watch as Coach Dan Meske explains, and players demonstrate this middle attacking warmup progression. First, Coach wants players focusing on a high snap as they work on quick arm swing, bouncing the ball under the […]
Vegas 21 Free Ball Drill with Renee Saunders – Skutt Catholic High School (NE)
Watch as Coach Renee Saunders explains, and players demonstrate the Vegas 21 Free Ball Drill. This flexible drill consists of seven balls tossed to one side or alternated between sides. Free balls will be played […]
Multi-Purpose Drill with Jen DeJarld – Mother McAuley Liberal Arts HS (IL)
Watch as Coach Jen DeJarld explains, and players demonstrate this multi-purpose progression drill that works on players’ vision and helps them be intentional on the court. After serving, the server will choose any defensive zone […]
Setters Key: Hands Up on Time with Luka Slabe – NC State Univ.
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 […]
Acknowledgement Rule
By: Mike Hebert Originally Published in: Thinking Volleyball Provided by: Human Kinetics This rule has been part of my program since the early 1980s. It is one of those simple tools that manages to solve […]
Pepper Drill with Zoe Bell – Ardrey Kell High School (NC)
Watch as Coach Zoe Bell explains, and players demonstrate this flexible over-the-net pepper drill progression. Players will pass, set, and set over the net progressing to cross court and then down the line. Coach explains […]
Butterfly Drill Variations and 1-2-3 Passing with Kendra Potts – West Texas A&M
Watch as Coach Kendra Potts discusses the Butterfly Drill which offers the athletes multiple reps in every category. The 1-2-3 passing exercise is great for players of all levels and can be modified to work […]
Setting: Balance Balls with Carolyn Condit – Miami University
Watch as Coach Carolyn Condit explains and players demonstrate this balance ball setting drill with an emphasis on maintaining a good contact point and the follow through.
How the “Why?” Generation Is Making Coaches Better with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Stephen Mackey gives an interesting take on how today’s generation always asking ‘why?’ can make your coaches better. When coaches communicate, they should always start with ‘yes’ and not ‘no’. If you start with ‘no’, […]
Bucket Passing Drill with Jen DeJarld – Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School (IL)
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 […]
Power Tipping: Middle Attacking Warmups with Dan Meske – Univ. of Louisville
Watch as Coach Dan Meske explains, and players demonstrate this power tipping warm-up progression. Starting with a basketball, players will execute their full approach and tip the ball, focusing on wrist movement and finishing with […]
Genuine Feedback with Kendra Potts – West Texas A&M Univ.
Watch as Coach Kendra Potts shares insight on the importance of genuine feedback. People do not want pity, but a simple ‘I see you and you’re doing a good job’ goes a long way. Coach […]
Use Social Media as a Tool
By: Becky Burleigh – Retired Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics Most athletes have outward-facing social media as well as inward-facing social media. You can post things on your […]
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, […]
Culture Is Not a Sign or Saying with Seth Greenberg – ESPN
Seth Greenberg explains that building your culture takes time. Culture is not a sign or saying but how you live every day and how you carry yourself. It involves being consistent and setting expectations and […]
Hazing in Athletics
Hazing in Athletics: A Culture that the Realm of Athletics and Coaching May Unknowingly Contribute To! By: Rick Farnham, Retired AD – University of Vermont Athletics have always professed that “sports build character,” but it […]
Setting: Transition Situation Drill with Natalie Morgan – Harvard-Westlake School (CA)
Watch as Coach Natalie Morgan explains, and coaches and players demonstrate this transition drill that focuses on setters having to decide who they will set. The setter has three options: setting the outside, setting the […]
Up and Available Rapid-Fire Hitting Drill with Arturo Rivera – Univ. of Miami
Are you finding that your hitters are unprepared for a fast set? Watch as Coach Arturo Rivera discusses this up and available hitting philosophy that he teaches his athletes and shares one drill for reinforcing […]
Kneepad Touch Cardio Drill with Anne Kordes – Assumption HS (KY)
Watch as Coach Anne Kordes explains and shows video of kids running the Kneepad Touch Drill. This is a physical drill, requiring players to touch the kneepad of the teammate that passes the ball. Coach […]
How to Avoid Coaching Burnout with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Watch as Dr. Lee Dorpfeld explains how coaches will not experience burnout if they do not care about what they do and are not passionate about their work. Most successful coaches put in tremendous amounts […]
Jump Float Serve: Creating a Good Line with John Grossman – North Carolina State Univ.
Watch as Coach John Grossman explains, and players demonstrate this jump float serving drill that focuses on creating a good, straight line. The ball and the serving shoulder both start on the line (which you […]