The Dig and Dive Volleyball Digging Using The Sprawl And The Extension

 The "sprawl" and the "extension" are two advanced dig and dive volleyball skills where you take one step while lowering your body to the floor before digging. 

In advanced dig and dive volleyball defense training my coaches and I spend many hours on digging practice drills teaching the sprawl, the extension the barrel roll.

In advanced volleyball defense training my coaches and I spend many hours on digging practice drills teaching things like..

• the sprawl
• the extension
• the barrel roll

Dig and Dive Volleyball Using The No Step Sprawl Technique

This requires a digger to quickly sink their hips below the level of the ball once the ball has been hit at them so they can position their angled platform directly underneath the path of the oncoming ball and control the ball up into the air.

The sprawl is a quick way to drop to the ground faster than an oncoming ball in a way to get your defensive platform arms underneath the ball to deflect it back up in the air before the ball hits the floor.

Use the sprawl when you don't have time to take a step to a ball before digging it because its dropping very quickly to the floor. 

The Sprawl:

1. Use a mini trampoline or have someone throw a ball at a faster speed, aiming the hit right at you. This exercise will help you practice lowering your hips quickly and getting under the ball.

2. Start in your ready position, then practice dropping to your knees quickly, placing your forearms on the ground. This way, you get the feel of how fast you need to be.

The Extension:

1. Set up a line of balls to the left and right of you. Starting from your ready position, move laterally, make a giant step towards each ball, lower your body and extend your arm.

2. Use your non-reaching arm as a balance. Practice touching the ground with it as you reach to dig the ball, to simulate how you would need to balance yourself in an actual match situation.

Common mistakes to avoid:

- Don’t stand straight. Always be in your athletic stance - knees bent, hands out front, ready to move. Standing straight can compromise your speed and responsiveness.

- Don’t lunge at the ball. Keep your movements controlled and precise. Lunging could make you lose balance and decrease your accuracy in digging.

- Do not panic and adjust too much for the ball. Remember, the ball should bounce off your platform, and if you keep it angled to the target, theoretically this is where the ball will go.

Lastly, remember that every good dig starts with good positioning and great anticipation. Practice reading the opposing team's formation and the hitter's arm swing in order to get a good idea of where you need to be. With time, this reading of the play will become second nature and your dives and digs will be more successful.

Dig and Dive Volleyball Using The One Step Extension

Using the extension digging technique requires a digger to take one or two steps to get closer to the ball before digging it.

Usually players will use an extension technique if they need to hit the ground after deflecting the ball in the air because they are off balance after digging the ball.

This way they can quickly get back up unhurt and continue playing. 

We teach the one step extension digging method for balls that fall to the right or the left of a player in defense. 

• You take one big step towards the ball while lowering yourself to the floor so you can get one arm under the ball to deflect it back up before it hits the ground.

If the ball is falling to the right side of your body

• you take a giant step with your right foot 
• lowering yourself to the ground while your left hand is placed on the ground to help you lower your body
• your right arm extends under the ball with a closed fist turned sideways that helps deflect the ball back into the air high enough for a second player to get to the ball to make a play. 

1: c - A defensive technique to quickly lower the body to the floor to dig the ball
2: False
3: b - When the ball is falling to the right or left of your body
4: c - Jumping to reach the ball
5: True
6: b - The techniques to quickly lower your body to the floor to keep the ball in play
7: True
8: b - Standing in an upright position
9: False
10: c - On the ground for balance
11: b - There is not enough time to take a step before digging the ball
12: True

Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

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I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

Defense is an attitude!
Watch Japan dig after dig, amazing volleyball defense! 

Alright, alright, alright! Time to study something something. You still have those three options: 

1. Let's learn more about defense,  digging and how to defend your court by exploring the Related Links below. 
2. Or you can choose the suggested reading on our Sitemap page   Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages in the How to Play Volleyball section in the drop down menu at the top of the page to get started. 

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