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defense DRILLS
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2 V 2 Mini Match

Play a 2 v 2 mini-match, on which setters and spikers play their roles throughout. Spikers dig and take kills while setters only set. All attacks go crosscourt.

5 Drills

Bent Knee Warm Up

Players work in pairs and face each other, moving sideways along the court. While moving, players keep their knees bent and throw the ball underhand to each other.

2 Warm Up

Dig

The dig is a defensive shot played when the ball is driven hard towards the waist or below of a player.The ball has a lot of energy and pace so the defender does not need to put energy into the ball like a forearm pass, but ensure that they are still when the attacker contacts the ball and they contact their defense with their forearms and angle the ball upwards to a target of the middle of court.

1 Techniques

Matchlike Spike and Dig

2 players stand on either side of the net. One player overhand passes to their team mate who sets the ball back for a spike down the line. On the other side of the net, one blocker stands at the net and attempts to cover a cross court shot, while a digger is at the back of the court, and has to attempt to dig the ball either to their team mate or back over the net.

11 Spiking

2 Player Defensive Dig Drill 4...

Player 1 pushes a high ball for player 2 to defensive dig back to Player 1.

General

2 V 2 Mini Match 5 Drills - Vo...

Play a 2 v 2 mini-match, on which setters and spikers play their roles throughout. Spikers dig and take kills while setters only set. All attacks go crosscourt.

General

Defending attack after attack ...

This drill requires one setter and two or more receivers. The coach or a teammate throws balls from the other side of the net. Player 1 receives the ball by digging it to their teammate who sets the ball, whereby player 1 runs to the net to spike the ball. When using more than one receiver the person feeding should throw another ball into play the moment player 1 spikes. This way the player covering the backcourt can get into position to dig, move and spike to mimic a game situation.

General

Defensive Drill 6v6 - Volleyba...

3 players stand in a line just off court. Two feeders at the net set the rhythm for the defenders to move using appropriate footwork and then play defence. The defender then moves back off the court and goes the other way and this repeats for either a set time or number of good contacts.

General

Dig SMVT:DIGGING - Volleyball ...

The dig is a defensive shot played when the ball is driven hard towards the waist or below of a player.The ball has a lot of energy and pace so the defender does not need to put energy into the ball like a forearm pass, but ensure that they are still when the attacker contacts the ball and they contact their defense with their forearms and angle the ball upwards to a target of the middle of court.

General

Pancake 4 Passing Drills - Vol...

Players work in pairs with two balls between them. One of the players will have both balls. The player throws one of the balls, and their teammate lowers their position to pancake the ball with their left hand, before doing the same with their right hand.

General

In Zone Receiving 4 Passing Dr...

One server stands behind the opponent's baseline and two setters stand in Zone 2 and 3. The receiver is supposed to underhand pass the served ball to the setters alternately.

General

Dig The Kill 5 Drills - Volley...

2 players stand on either side of the net, and the receiver starts with the ball by overhand passing it across the net. This player then passes to their team mate who overhand passes it back for the spike.The spiker places the ball crosscourt. On the other side, the receiver's role is to step back from the net to the attack like and try and dig the ball back across the net.

General

4 Player Dig Pass Relay 5 Dril...

A 4 player dig pass relay over the net

General

Poor Technique of Dig 1 Techni...

An example of a defensive dig with a poor technique and several common mistakes.

General

Crab Steps 2 Warm Up - Volleyb...

<BR>Crab steps from side to side, with arms swinging to retain balance</BR>

General

Bent Knee Warm Up 2 Warm Up - ...

Players work in pairs and face each other, moving sideways along the court. While moving, players keep their knees bent and throw the ball underhand to each other.

General

Zone 1 5 Drills - Volleyball D...

Player 1 starts by serving from the base line and then enters the court. <br /><br /> He/she then runs into the correct zone (zone 1), where player 2 (standing in zone 4) hits the ball to him/her around waist high. Player 1 then has to dig up the ball, and return it to player 2 as if setting up a spike. <br /><br /> Player 1 then returns to their zone, where player 3 (from zone 2) hits the ball to them short in the middle of court. Player 1 then has to dig up the ball back to player 3. <br /><br /> Player 1 then returns back to their zone and steps two to three are repeated.

General

Get up, Run and Pass 5 Drills ...

Players start this drill on the back line in a press-up position looking at the coach.When the coach self feeds the ball players should get up to their feet and move forward to pass the ball back to the coach before it bounces.After passing the ball back players should run around the cones on the outside of the court and then join the back of the line.

General

Matchlike Spike and Dig 11 Spi...

2 players stand on either side of the net. One player overhand passes to their team mate who sets the ball back for a spike down the line.On the other side of the net, one blocker stands at the net and attempts to cover a cross court shot, while a digger is at the back of the court, and has to attempt to dig the ball either to their team mate or back over the net.

General

3 Player Passing Drill 4 Passi...

3 player triangular passing drill. Player 1 and Player 2 use defensive dig passes, whilst Player 3 uses the overhead pass. This can simulate player 3 setting up a teammate for a smash

General

Shuffle Passing 4 Passing Dril...

The coach loops the ball into the air, slightly to the left or the right of the blue cone, and the first player runs out and bumps the ball back into the coach's hands.The player then continues in the direction they were moving and touch the red cone. They then shuffle back towards the middle where they receive their second feed from the coach which they bump pass back.Finally the player shuffles across the other wide cone, touch it and then return to the middle to play the third and final bump pass.

General

Blocking Spikes 8 Block Drills...

Players stand opposite each other on different sides of the net. One player will be the spiker and one will be the blocker. Players throw the ball up for themselves to spike, and the blockers jump up to block the ball.

General

Quick Passes 4 Passing Drills ...

Players stand in pairs across the court from each other. One player has two balls and starts by throwing one ball in the air for the other player to pass back. While this ball is in the air having been passed back, the player throws the other ball to be passed back.

General

Dig 3 Balls 4 Passing Drills -...

Receiver faces three players who one after another spikes the ball for it to be digged. Change roles after the player has faced 3 spikes from each player.

General

Triangle Passing 4 Passing Dri...

Three players make a triangle while another joins one of the corners with a ball. The player passes the ball to another corner of the triangle before following the pass and standing behind the receiver, who continues the drill.

General

Shuffle and dig 2 Warm Up - Vo...

In pairs, the players stand on the service line facing each other. Player 1 has two balls. Player 1 then throws a ball to his/her partner. Player 2 has to return the ball using an underhand pass to player 1 who has shuffled sideways toward the net. Both players repeat this action until they reach the net, whereby they continue the action back to the service line.

General

defense SESSIONS
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Blocking Skills - Technique and Timing

Hands up! Use the block to strike when they spike and use your defence as an offensive tool - blocking the ball back into their court!

Floor Defense To Offense

Get your players down and digging the ball, quickly turning defense into offense!

Floor Defense To Offense | Vol...

Get your players down and digging the ball, quickly turning defense into offense!
defense ANSWERS
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My daughter is in 8th grade and has made the team this?

My daughter is in 8th grade and has made the team this year as she did last. We have a new coach this year who doesn't allow the girls to use their knee pads. What is the purpose of this?   Does it help at all with development of the sport?  It seems sadistic to me and I can't understand how causing the girls pain will help them to "dig" a ball or encourage them to dive for anything. Thank you

Archived User Coach

Defensive passing drills when moving from base to defense

Does anyone have any suggestions to improve the transition from base to defense?

Linda Eleftheri Coach, United Arab Emirates

strengthen my team's service reception

I'm really finding it hard to strengthen my team's service reception and the over all defense. They can't retrieve hard balls, drop balls and balls going to the corners. Can you help me out? Thanks!

Archived User Coach

Volleyball newbie, please help

What is floor defense and hitting in volleyball?

Archived User Coach

Defense positioning.

Has anyone heard of middle middle 2 by 2 defense? If yes, do you like it?Thanks.

Steve Batten Coach, Canada

defense

how is the best way to teach transition to defence

Dennis Warren Coach, Canada

triangle defense

how do you defend properly against triangle passing .. any drill suggestions

Brittany angelica Coach, United Arab Emirates

Defense positioning. | Sportpl...

Has anyone heard of middle middle 2 by 2 defense? If yes, do you like it?Thanks.

Steve Batten Coach, Canada

My daughter is in 8th grade an...

My daughter is in 8th grade and has made the team this year as she did last. We have a new coach this year who doesn't allow the girls to use their knee pads. What is the purpose of this?   Does it help at all with development of the sport?  It seems sadistic to me and I can't understand how causing the girls pain will help them to "dig" a ball or encourage them to dive for anything. Thank you

Archived User Coach
defense COMMUNITY DRILLS
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Rally met 5-6

Opwarming met 6

Opwarming met 5-6

Rally met controle

Transition defense to offence

Three man defense

Red Defense

Red Defense

Defense II

Cardio Defense

defense WEB VIDEOS
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