North County Aces: My Site News
Wednesday, August 15Blindfold
If you have a newer team this drill can help them get to know each other and help them learn to communicate to their teammates.
Pair the girls up and have them take their kneepads off and throw them in a circle. The coach then will pick a pair who will start the drill. The rest of the team will form a circle but that circle doesn't have to be perfect and make it large.
One of the girls from the pair picked will be blindfolded and turned a couple of times. It is up to her partner to guide her to a knee pad by giving her the right directions. When the girl reaches the knee pad she will pick it up still blindfolded and throw it. If the knee pad hits a player or lands close to a player they will be the next couple to do the drill. Repeat until all the girls have a chance to be blindfolded.
Wednesday, August 15
Over the net
To help delvelope passing, setting and tipping skills try the following.
Pair the girls up and place one on one side of the net and the other opposite to her on the other side of the net.
The first girl tosses the ball over the net to her partner who has to bump and set to herself and then she tips the ball over to her partner. She must complete this ten times in a row before switching partners. If the player should miss she will have to start over at zero. Make sure the tosses are good ones.
This may take awhile but it helps each player learn to control the ball.
Wednesday, August 15
2 on 1
This is one of my girls favorite drill it's very fast pace and they seem to have a great time playing it.
Start with two players on one side of the net. The single player on the other side of the net will serve to the two. If she misses her serve she will return to the back of the line and the next girl will serve.
Once the ball is serve the two players will have to play the ball out with three hits. The girl who served the ball steps onto the court ready for the return. Once the ball is return the single girl plays the ball to herself for three hits and returns the ball to the other side.
To get out of the game the following will have to happen. If the returning team misses the ball the player making the mistake is out and the single player runs to the other side of the court to replace her. This has to be done quickly because the next server steps up and serves the ball right away. If the player playing alone can not return the ball she steps off the court and returns to the end of the line and the next server steps up to serve.
We play this for about 15 to 20 minutes mainly as a warm up this will give each player a number of times to play.
Thursday, August 16
Belly Doubles (good for a younger team)
Have a pair of girls on each side of the court with another pair on each of the base lines. Have the girls on the court lay on their stomachs. The coach standing on the side tosses the ball to one of the courts the players must jump up and call the ball which they play out for three hits over to the other court which the players are still on their stomachs. They then jump up and call the ball and play it out. The first team who misses immediatley is replaced with the players standing on the base line. Play a number of times giving each team a number of times to play.
Thursday, August 16
Leap Frog (conditioning)
Pair the players up and have them start on the base line. The first girl will crouch down in front of her partner and the other girl will get ready to leap frog over her. Have a coach standing in front of the girl crouching down so when the other leaps frogs over her the girl standing up with get a ball thrown at her which she will have to hit back to her coach. Once you have reached the net start over repeat at least ten times. This is really great on strengthing their legs while working on ball control.
Friday, September 14
Dig and Hit Drill
Drill used for ball control:
You need at least three players:
The ball is initiated by the coach from the opposite side of the net on a stand. The coach attacks the ball at the digger in the front row in the RF or LF.
The digger passes the ball to the setter and immediately releases to his or her "x" or spot where the attacking approach begins. The digger must get around the cone and to the "x" for the attack to be considered a success.
Friday, September 14
Serve and Dash Drill
A good drill for the younger players.
One player:
Most people forget that the whole skill of serving includes dashing to a back line defensive area. For those defending LB, the dash turns to a good eight-meter (or more) sprint. As you run you should be watching the ball. Run and watch. Don't watch then run. Watching the served ball can help you to determine what small adjustment you should make on the next serve. Do at least 5 times for each player.
Friday, September 14
Kirby Corner
The coach with a ball cart facing one player who is in a corner of the court. The inactive players collect the loose balls and return them to the ball cart. The coach feeds a stream of hard down balls, dumps and tosses to the player who digs them back. The next feed is made as soon as the previous feed is dug. The coach should vary the feeds to either side and in front of the player to make her move and recover. Run the drill for a minute or so and then replace the active player.
Monday, October 22
Outside hitters cover yourself
Use repetition to practice trasitioning from defense to offense.
Have the hitters start at the net the coach will then slap the ball and the outside hitter will transition to defense. The coach hits a ball to the outside hitter who then digs the ball to the setter who sets a second tempo set to the outside hitter who hits the ball. As soon as the ball crosses the plane of the net the tosser tosses a ball over the net to simulate a block. The outside hitter then passes the blocked ball back to the setter who sets a one tempo set to the outside hitter.
Wednesday, November 14
Dig Dig Attack
A coach stands at the net and spikes the ball to a player at the base line. The player then passes the ball to a target. The same player immediately moves to the middle back base and receives another spike from the coach and again tries to pass to the target. The player then goes to the left back base and digs another spike from the coach. As soon as the plaer digs the spike another coach immediately tosses a ball to the strong side for the player to spike. This should be a very fast drill. Each player should go through this drill 5 times.
Wednesday, November 14
Anticipation
The coach is in position on the left side of the court. The player is in position 1 with her back to the coach. When the coach slaps the ball the player must turn and get to the ball where ever the coach tosses it and pass it back to the coach. Variations to this drill can be, the player must set the ball, player could lie down with his back on the floor or the player may sit down with her face to the coach.