Pretzel Passing Drill With Deborah Newkirk
The 3-person drill you’ll see here known as the pretzel passing drill, introduced by Coach ’Em Up founder Deborah Newkirk, teaches players that there’s a lot more to passing than just forming a good platform and directing the volleyball to the setter. Specifically, the drill trains players to focus on the proper movements they should […]
Teaching the Underhand Volleyball Serve
The Underhand Volleyball Serve In this video, Deborah Newkirk of Coach ’Em Up in Austin, Texas, shares the basics of teaching a good underhand volleyball serve. Several keys she emphasizes are being “strong” with the arm and hand that hold the ball, proper alignment with the arm that swings forward to strike the ball and […]
Improve Approach Acceleration and Footwork
Improve Approach Acceleration Former USA and Canadian National Team Coach Bill Neville discusses how the movement of the arms can affect a player’s hitting approach, one way to fix goofy-footed approaches, and other tips to improve approach acceleration.
Setter Attack: 4 Keys to Success
Successful Setter Attack Here are 4 keys to a successful setter attack as demonstrated by Oregon State setter Dana Backlund and explained by Mark Barnard, head coach of the Australian women’s national team and associate head coach at Oregon State: 1. Being able to jump set. 2. Disguising the attack by having both hands up […]
Relaxing Arms With Joe Sagula
Relaxing Arms Working with two of his passers, North Carolina coach Joe Sagula talks in this video about why it’s so important in volleyball to keep the arms wide when readying for a dig or a pass. As he points out, it takes patience and relaxing arms. But the payoff is that you’re less likely […]
Side Slide – Taught by Jim Stone and Kori Moster
The side slide is an important skill to master if you want to play your best defensive volleyball. Here, veteran coach Jim Stone and Michigan State libero Kori Moster break it down for you step by step. The Side Slide As Moster points out, getting good at the side slide allows you to extend your […]
Solo Reps: Unstructured Practice is Great for Skill-building
Solo Reps Stanford Coach John Dunning spends a lot of time planning every detail of his team’s daily practices. However, he also leaves 10 or 15 minutes for extra practice when players do solo reps. His reasoning: Practicing volleyball skills like serving or passing without having a coach on your back is a good way to […]
21 Down Serve and Receive Drill
21 Down 21 Down is a competitive serving and serve and receive drill. First team to zero points loses the drill. Teams are divided in equal number and capability. The drill follows a pass-and-replace pattern that goes like this: Passers receive a ball, and no matter the outcome, they get off the court and a […]
Blocking: Stay Low and Go by Tod Mattox
Blocking Drill During one Bishop’s High School practice, coach Tod Mattox works with the younger middle blockers on closing more efficiently to the outside blocker. His senior middle, Gretchen Cash, is very good at blocking, but the younger middles are still bending their knees and going down before their jump. That wastes time and often […]
