Footer Producing Powerful Peaceful Passionate Players

Tennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements

4 Digging Drills For Volleyball Players Who Need To Improve Dig Skills

Want to know what some good digging drills for volleyball are? Here are a four fun drills that I do with liberos and hitters who privately train with me.

In my Coach April libero training sessions we do a ton of digging drills for volleyball diggers, liberos, backrow specialists to help improve their defensive skills in the back row.

4 Digging Drills For Volleyball Players Who Need To Improve Dig Skills: In my Coach April libero training sessions we do a ton of digging drills for volleyball diggers, liberos, backrow specialists to help improve their defensive skills in the back row.

The digging drills that we do provide more quality reps to players because I know that the more ball touches in a short amount of time you get, the more the brain retains..and then the faster you get better.

That's the philosophy I stand by ...and one that's helped me produce and work with a number of current D-1 athletes, twice as many D-2 players and a slew of D-3 and NAIA players currently competing in NCAA competition.

Now that I've said what I said I'll step down from my soapbox and show you some more of the digging drills for volleyball I love to do....so let's get to it.....

If you are a player looking for individual digging drills for volleyball, then bookmark this page for new defensive drills to add to your collection. (Photo Al Case)

4 Digging Drills For Volleyball Players Who Need To Improve Dig Skills: If you are a player looking for individual digging drills for volleyball, then bookmark this page for new defensive drills to add to your collection. (Photo Al Case)

4 Digging Drills For Volleyball Players To Do Like This Hit And Dig Drill With Cross Court Digging

Remember there are two ways to do this drill.

Your coach can have you dig the ball back to them or they can have you dig the ball back to the setter's spot which builds up muscle memory so this becomes an automatic move when you're digging in a game.

In this version we set the ball baskets as targets where the setter's would be. There are actually two digger groups working one in the left back Zone 5 position and one with a right back Zone 1 defensive position.

Hitters alternate at a steady rhythm so the drill moves quickly and diggers have a brief pause to recuperate after each dig.

4 Digging Drills For Volleyball Players Like A Fun Game of Hitter vs. Digger - Winner scores 10 points First

A fun game of Hitter vs. Digger: Winner scores 10 points

First the Hitter hits hard deep cross court and scores a point when digger can’t touch it or digs an unplayable ball.

Digger scores a point when they dig a playable ball.

For beginners, hitter errors may not count but for more advanced players hits in the net or out of bounds are points scored for the digger.

4 Digging Drills For Volleyball Players Like The Hit And Overhead Digging Drill

I teach this drill a lot to beach partners when I'm coaching sand volleyball.

This works overhead open hand digging for hard hit balls that come at you usually from the neck up. This happens alot in beach volleyball.

Usually your partner hits at you so the ball is aimed for your chest and up and you start your digging hand ready position higher than what you do with regular pepper.

The goal is to push the ball..some even say "set the hard hit ball" up in the air....so your partner steps in to set it for you.

Want To Track Your Progress To Measure Your Improvement Over Time? Here's How

Improving your digging skills in volleyball is a gradual process, but seeing your progress over time can be super rewarding and motivating.

I keep track of everything especially when I work out because I want to know how much I've improved in a short amount of time and oer the long run and Im pretty sure you would want to also.

Here's a simple progress tracking system you can put in place to measure your growth:

1. Drill Performance Log

Maintain a log where you track your performance for each drill over time.

For instance, in the ‘Hit and Dig Drill’, document the number of successful digs out of total attempts in each practice session.

Over time, an improvement would be seeing an increase in your rate of successful digs.

2. Consistency Count:

Keep a tally of how many times you can perform each drill correctly without interruption. As you advance, you should be able to complete more repetitions without errors.

3. Reaction Time Recording:

Use a stopwatch to time how quickly you're able to react to the ball and complete a successful dig. You should aim to see this time decrease as you improve.

4. Dig Quality Rating

Rank the quality of your dig after each drill on a scale of 1-10, taking into consideration the control and accuracy of the dig. Over time, your average score should increase.

5. Game Performance Review:

Use your improvements in practice to set achievable goals for real game situations.

Track these goals and review your game performances to see where your practice improvements are translating into the game.

Remember, progress may feel slow at times, but consistent practice paired with mindful tracking of your improvements can lead to tangible progress.

Celebrate your small wins and keep pushing towards becoming the best volleyball player you can be!

For easy tracking, consider using a digital tool or app that allows you to log this data conveniently during or after your practice sessions.

Alternatively, a simple notebook dedicated to your volleyball progress tracking can be just as effective.

Do You Follow Me on Pinterest?

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!

Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!

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.

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

ShareFacebook X Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend

Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.

utkaprilcollegepiconneylandstadiumvideoboard

Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee, Coach April Chapple is

the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
former USA National team member
one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist

April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match

Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training

Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!

Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.

Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.

Email me right now to register or for more information.

info@improveyourvolley.com

Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.

Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2

There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with

the same toss height and same toss location
the same armswing speed
the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.

kamiminerpac12setteroftheyearformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

Tommi Stockham All Big West Conference sophomore former Coach April Chapple private client 3 years

katepriorallwestcoastconferencebyufreshmanformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

I have my own special QR code to my Linktree profile!

Scan to find out what you shouldn't be missing!

Click For More Info

Affiliate Disclosure

If you make a purchase through a link on my site, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

I only recommend products that I believe to have good value. Click to read my

(affiliate disclosure).

Donations Welcome!

If my free social media online training and/or instruction on this site has helped improve your game or meet your goals CLICK the Cash App link below to make a donation!

Thank you!

cash.app/$apchapvcevbc

Dear Vegas Parent

Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021