Transition Drills

By: American Volleyball Coaches Association

Originally Published in - The Volleyball Drill Book - By Human Kinetics

Transitions in volleyball include the time spent moving from one skill to another and moving from defense to offense and back. A successful volleyball team practices transitions regularly, gaining precision and speed. Every player must know where to go and how to get there.

The team movement on the court should be marked by a focused but relaxed group flow. Transitional flow is a fluid shifting in which players seem to Move as one and each player knows where and how to move in relation to the rest of the team. On a team with good flow, everyone moves at the same time with an efficiency, precision, and smoothness that make it look effortless.

Each player must move in the most efficient line possible and with little or no wasted energy. Coaches should spend time teaching individual movement patterns before running team transition drills. If every player knows where to go to cover after an attack and where to move in defensive play, the team's transitions will flow smoothly. A single player moving to an incorrect position or moving too slowly to that position interrupts the flow.

Players should move from a medium level, neither as high as for the serve nor as low as for the dig. In this position the knees are slightly bent so that players move with the help of the biggest muscles. Players should be light on their feet rather than loud and heavy. Encourage hitters to land on both feet and then transition to a blocking or low defensive position.

If players move in a high position, the transition is less efficient and more awkward because they will have to lower themselves to a defensive position when arriving at their next task.

Transition work should be done without the volleyball first and then with it. Walking through transition is a necessary part of learning. Repeat this until players can do it efficiently and proficiently and at game speed. Then add a ball.

Practice repetitions of each transition that occurs within the game of volleyball. The drills in this chapter focus on the time and movement between skills in the game. Some are individual in nature, such as working on a hitter transitioning to block after the attack and then transitioning back to the attack. Some drills focus on team transition, such as a team on offense with good hitter coverage and then transitioning to team defense with everyone moving to their base position and back to offense. The following drills teach players to make smooth, efficient, quick transitions. You will also find that transition work improves the running of multiplayer and team drills.

Coach, you will not regret making transition work a regular part of each practice. Teams with great championship history excel in transition work. These teams have flow and often win even when they are not as skilled as their opponent. Transition can win matches.

Pull Drill

This is an outstanding drill for emphasizing proper footwork in a controlled situation. It is also a fantastic conditioning drill.

Purpose
To perfect the footwork for hitters' transition off the net and approach to attack.

Setup
Six hitters set up in the right front, middle front, and left front on both sides at the net in base position as if they were preparing to block. Coaches set up at the sideline near or behind the 10-foot (3 m) line.

Run the Drill

1. The player in the left front on side B calls "pull," and all six hitters transition off the net to their starting approach position and quickly approach for the attack.
2. Each player moves in a counterclockwise direction to the next base blocking position, ready to transition.
3. The new player in the left front position on side B initiates the next transition by calling "pull."
4. Players repeat the same pattern 12 times.

Coaching Points

• Monitor players' footwork and watch carefully to make sure they transition far enough off the net.

• Put tape or some type of marker on the floor for base blocking positions and approach starting positions.

Variation
Increase or decrease the number of transitions based on players' fitness levels.

Team Transition

This is an excellent drill for practicing transitions on one side of the net while practicing setting and passing repetitions on the other. It is also good for encouraging blocker communication and promoting player conditioning.

Purpose
To read, respond, and transition from defense to offense.

Setup
Six players set up in base defense on side A. A setter gets into position 6 on side B. One player sets up in position 1 and another in position 9 on side B. A third player sets up in the middle back on side B.

Run the Drill

1. The coach tosses the ball to the setter on side B.
2. The setter on side B sets either a front set to the player in position 1 or a back set to the player in offensive position 9.
3. The player who receives the initial set then sets the ball to the player in the middle back.
4. The player in the middle back passes the ball to the setter in position 6 on side B.
5. The players on side B stay in their positions and continue this sequence of ball contacts for 10 balls.
6. As the players on side B set and pass the ball, the players on side A read the pass, read the setter, and efficiently move to their defensive positions and then quickly back to base.

Coaching Points

• Make blockers accountable for reading the setter before releasing to blocking position.

• Work with defenders to make sure they are in the right position for the set.

• Have one coach work with the defenders on reading, transitioning, and positioning. Have another coach work with blockers to critique footwork, upper-body position, assignments, and lining up on the attacker. Choose one or two skills to critique during the 10 balls.

• Designate whether the setter is front row or back row so that your blockers position their base properly

Variations
Side B players can rotate.
For beginners, have only the outsides set and hit down balls over the net.