Unlike reflective practice, critical reflection is not focused on solving a specific problem. Critical reflection is used more sparingly, but…
Defense – Overpass Work – Eric Schulze – VC United (IL)
Watch as Coach Eric Schulze explains and players demonstrate this overpass drill.
Characteristics of a Setter
No two setters are exactly alike, but when we are evaluating setters, we find it useful to examine certain characteristics we feel are most important.
Middles: Two Step Approach in Transition with Todd Dagenais – UCF
Watch as Coach Todd Dagenais explains and middle blockers demonstrate the two step approach in transition net.
Agility Box Drills with Gwen Egbert – Doane University
Watch as Coach Gwen Egbert explains and players demonstrate these agility box drills.
Outside-Hitter Transitional Pepper Drill
This structured drill works on every aspect of outside hitting. It’s a great conditioning drill for the outsides because they must transition hard. Defenders…
Defensive Partner Drills – Kirsten Bernthal Booth – Creighton Univ.
Watch as Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth explains and players demonstrate these defensive partner drills.
Multi-Ball Drills for Mental and Physical Development
Before I arrived at Bradley, I was a club director and high school coach in Indianapolis. I was always on the lookout for creative ways to stress our athletes…
ACL Injury Prevention – Assessment – Jake Moore – DPT; APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor
Watch as Coach Jake Moore explains and an athlete demonstrates these ACL injury prevention – assessment exercises.
Line and Angle Drill with Silvia Johnson – Metro Volleyball Club
Watch as Coach Silvia Johnson explains and players demonstrate the Line and Angle Drill.
Across the Net Crossfire / Pepper Progression
Often when teaching hitting mechanics, we spend our time on approach footwork and angles, getting into a good load position, keeping the ball in front…
Parallel Digging Drill with Dave Shondell – Purdue Univ.
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.