By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life After 40+ years in coaching, certain things are automatic for me. One of those things is, from the moment a practice, training session, game or season […]
Jump Float Serve: Ball Toss on the Line with Joe Sagula – (Retired) Univ. of North Carolina
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, […]
Defense: Attack the Attacker with Genny Volpe – Rice Univ.
Watch as Coach Genny Volpe explains and demonstrates with a player this ‘attack the attacker’ exercise, focusing on body positioning and footwork while playing individual defense. You have to be aggressive, face the attacker, and […]
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 […]
Coaches’ Legal Duties
By: Rainer Martens & Robin S. Vealey Originally Published in: Successful Coaching Provided by: Human Kinetics Over the past 50 years, through thousands of lawsuits, the U.S. courts have defined and continued to define your […]
Blocking Explosion Drill with Mick Haley – Volleyball MasterCoaches
Watch as Coach Mick Haley explains, and players demonstrate this explosion drill that works on blocking arm movements and footwork. First, Coach wants players to minimize the swinging of the arms and focus on driving […]
Jack and Jill Setting Drill with Natalie Morgan – Long Beach State Univ.
Watch as Coach Natalie Morgan 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, […]
Setters: Where to Contact the Ball with Luka Slabe – USA Volleyball
Watch as Coach Luka Slabe explains, and players demonstrate the correct hand placement for consistent setting. Coach emphasizes the importance of “high hands” placed above the forehead which gives you the ideal trajectory and makes […]
Recruiting, NIL, and Student-Athlete Priorities
By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life One significant reason Hall of Fame college coaches such as Nick Saban, Jay Wright, Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski retired prematurely is NIL (Name, Image and […]
In-System, Out-of-System Drill with Joe Morales – Texas A&M Univ.-Commerce
Watch as Coach Joe Morales explains, and players demonstrate this fast-paced drill working on in-system and out-of-system play. Progressing from a tip to a roll shot and then a down ball, players will dig the […]
What Are Your Athletes’ Biggest Influences? with Chet Scott – Built to Lead
Watch as Chet Scott explains the ‘leadership is influence’ concept, and that you know you are a leader if you have followers. If you are going to lead and influence your players, it would be […]
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 […]
Nine Ways to Develop Accountability in Your Program
By: John Klessinger – South River High School (MD) Accountability is a modern-day buzz word. It is thrown around team locker rooms, business meetings, and in schools. But what is it really. I am not […]
Blocking Drills with Haley Kindall
Watch as Coach Haley Kindall explains, and players demonstrate a few blocking drills that work on positioning and tempo. The solo commit block helps players work on a one-step, hop to close the block in […]
Two Ball Team Drill with Chad Callihan – Furman Univ.
Watch as Coach Chad Callihan explains, and players demonstrate this team drill that works on serve-receive offense and playing out of system. Each team has a chance to win two balls to get the big […]
One-Foot Takeoff Footwork Drill with Matt Darling – Gannon Univ.
Watch as Coach Matt Darling explains, and players demonstrates this progression drill that works on the one-foot takeoff. Footwork and arm swing go hand-in-hand. Players focus on the left, right, left approach and add the […]
Developing Athletes at Practice
By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life “The best athletes have the most potential to be the best players.” Prior to, and possibly including 8th grade, I think all players benefit from playing […]
Blockbuster Drill with Kris Fiore – Lincoln-Way East High School (IL)
Watch as Coach Kris Fiore explains, and players demonstrate the Blockbuster Drill that works on transition footwork. This is a 5v5 competitive, high-energy drill that also works on a full range of shots and has […]
Genuine Feedback with Kendra Potts – Grand Canyon 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 […]
Coverage Team Drill with Tom Hilbert – (Retired) Colorado State Univ.
Watch as Coach Tom Hilbert (Retired) explains, and players demonstrate this 6-on-6 team drill focusing on coverage. This is a 2-ball drill with wash scoring and helps with player alertness by creating coverage situations.
Setting Effective Goals
By: Colleen M. Hacker Originally Published in: Achieving Excellence Provided by: Human Kinetics Olympic athletes, like most high achievers, commonly set goals to guide and motivate performance. These elite performers would not engage in action […]
Where Do You Find Leaders with Jeff Janssen – Janssen Sports Leadership Center
Jeff Janssen discusses the areas of the Commitment Continuum in which you will find leaders. He urges athletic administrators to not just look at parents, coaches, or kids, but to look at themselves on the […]
Ball Control 1-on-1 Drill with Megan Wargo-Kearney – North Carolina State Univ.
Watch as Coach Megan Wargo-Kearney explains, and players demonstrate this 1-on-1 drill that works on ball control. The major focus is on the first ball being high which gives players time to set up for […]
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 […]
High Hands Pepper with Emily Kohan – Colorado State Univ.
Watch as Coach Emily Kohan explains, and players demonstrate the High Hands Pepper Drill. This pin-focused drill works on hitting the ball off the top of the block. Coach encourages players to challenge themselves, swing […]
25 Contact Drill with Nancy Dorsey – St. James Academy (KS)
Watch as Coach explains, and players demonstrate the 25 Contact Drill. The object of the drill is to complete 25 touches with the option of players rotating after each ball. Increase difficulty by requiring your […]
Jump Float Serve with Jim Stone – Jim Stone Consulting
Provided By: Jim Stone, Author of “A Game Plan For Better Practices” Purchase Access to Full E-Book Here: https://jimstoneconsulting.com/book/ Watch as Coach explains how he wants the jump serve to have a rhythm to it […]
What U.S. Coaches Should Teach to Elevate Their Athletes’ Game with Danijela Tomic – Bowling Green State Univ.
Watch as Coach Danijela Tomic explains how important teaching the fundamentals is for young athletes. Players should know how to serve, how to set, and how to pass. Holding off on the specialization of position […]
You Have Served and Served Well
By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life There are very few certainties in life. In coaching, one of those certainties is that no matter the season, no matter the league, no matter the […]
Interesting Stats on Serving with Mick Haley – Volleyball MasterCoaches
Watch as Coach Mick Haley discusses serving statistics and explains that knowing the numbers gives you decision-making freedom and will make you a better coach. Coach shares the most effective serving placements and emphasizes the […]