- Private Volleyball Coach April
- The Best Volleyball Drills
- Drills to Improve Volleyball Skills
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
These six drills to improve volleyball skills in digging and defense technique are exercise we do in boot camp classes and trainings to improve ball control.
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
Not Digging Balls That Are Hit Right At Your Feet?
Are you having a problem digging balls that're hit right at your feet?
One digging issue you may have is that you are putting your hands together to form your platform...too late.
Once the hitter commits to their armswing, that's when you as the digger should have your hands together to form your digging platform.
Many times players wait too long and still have their hands apart after the hitter has contacted the ball...by then its too late.
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
Diggers Put Their Hands Together Quickly When Diving To Dig A Ball Behind The Block
Putting your hands together earlier creates a platform with both forearms to dig the ball with and something to keep the ball off the floor earlier.
When I use my phone to show players what they’re doing wrong more times than not they can see what I’m telling them to correct and they fix it fast.
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
Day 2 Middle School VB Clinic
I showed this group of middle school liberos Dafne, Delaney and Selena on Day 2 of our first clinic how long it was taking them to put their hands together before digging.
Keeping your platform arms a ball’s distance away from your body and putting your hands together once you’ve landed in your adjusted defensive position is the key to touching more balls hit right at you and controlling those balls so they’re more likely to reach their target.
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
Working on Libero Training digging three types of attacked balls...
Working on Libero Training digging three types of attacked balls...
- digging the hard hit
- reading then chasing down the tip while trying to stay on your feet
- running down the deep shot to the far Zone 5 corner while trying to stay on your feet
- digging a settable ball (high in the court as near to Zone 3 - middle front- as possible) if not possible then to the middle of the court
- getting comfortable covering the entire zone 5 left back area of the court while taking only 3-4 steps to get to each ball
- reading fast and reacting fast while controlling our body parts so we can control the ball
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
Two Hitters vs One Digger, Continuous Digging To The Target
Usually done during warmups in order to get warm-up to play defense in the match.
When you are digging you should be working on three things
- first getting the hips under the ball fast
- second keeping arms further away from the body (you should be able to fit a volleyball under your arm pits-that's the perfect distance!)
- third digging the ball from a lower point without rising out of your/her squat Two keys to remember..
- eliminate extra body movements that don’t help you perform the skill get comfortable staying lower to the floor In this video, all the players are learning to be comfortable playing the ball without rising out of their squat which
-eliminates extra movement while digging
-the player views the ball from a lower point
-the player plays the ball closer to the floor which allows more time for better ball control -player keeps arms a balls distance away from their body which covers more court around them
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
For diggers playing back row defense
Diggers dig. Defense back row.
Hitters vs. diggers no block.
Working on reading the Hitter.
Working on tracking the Ball that’s tossed to the Setter.
- Then watching what set the Setter delivers to what Hitter ( this case Zone 4)
- then watching the Ball that’s set to the Hitter (is it a high ball?, is it a hut? Is it a ‘go’?)
- before watching (eyes go back to the Hitter) the Hitter to get clues as to where to be on my side of the court to dig the ball they hit.
6 Drills To Improve Volleyball Skills in Digging and Defense Technique
Ball-Setter-Ball-Hitter
In other words BALL- Setter- BALL - Hitter
Working on fearlessness. Getting comfortable facing a hard hit ball while dropping hips below the level of the oncoming ball. .
Getting comfortable letting the ball come down low (belly button level) before playing it...staying in your lower defensive position without rising up out of your squat ...to play the ball.
Digger works on being stopped...once the Hitter starts their armswing
Volleyball Drills:
Where Do You Go From Here?
Your three options are:
- You can learn more about Drills by visiting the Related Links below.
- Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
- 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.
Learn more about volleyball drills on these pages!
Volleyball Serving Drills For Beginners Learning To Underhand Serve
Beginner players learn how to improve your serve with these volleyball serving drills for the underhand serve so you consistently get the ball over the net.
Volleyball Drills For Serving Overhand, Float and Jump Serve Technique
These volleyball drills for serving help you to work on getting the ball to specific zones on the opposing team's court using the float serve and jump serve.
5 Volleyball Beginner Passing Drills I Use To Improve Passing Skills
Five volleyball beginner passing drills that show you what to do and what not to do in order to learn how to improve the consistency of your passing skills.
Passing Drills Volleyball Players Do To Improve Ball Control Skills
These passing drills volleyball players do at home to improve ball control skills also help to increase your focus, concentration and to get 1000 reps done.
Volleyball Setting Drills - Improve Your Front Back Side Setting Skill
If you're a beginner looking to improve your setting touch and accuracy, or an advanced player aiming to perfect your side setting skills. this info will help.
The Best Passer On The Team 8 Volleyball Passing Fundamentals Drills
These 8 volleyball passing fundamentals drills will help you become the best passer on the team who reliably delivers dimes to the setter to run the offense.
4 Passing Drills For Volleyball To Improve Passing Skills Very Quickly
These are 4 good passing drills for volleyball to improve pass skills which answers the question for any players asking "how do I improve my passing skills?"
What Does A Good Passer in Volleyball Do To Get The Ball To The Target
A good passer in volleyball faces the net, drops the inside shoulder, angles their platform, avoids turning to face the target, keeps shoulders facing the net.
The Dig Volleyball Drills We Do In Training on Pinterest and Youtube
I gathered a collection of the dig volleyball drills we do in training that I explain how to do at home or in practice to my Pinterest and Youtube followers.
Volleyball Passing Drills To Do To Improve Your Passing In Volleyball
My clients consistently improve their passing skills with my volleyball passing drills including 1 passer vs 1 server, synchronized passing and more pass drills.
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.
- 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.
I have my own special QR code to my Linktree profile!
Scan to find out what you shouldn't be missing!
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
|
|
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!
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
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?
What Are You Looking For?
Hi there!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.
Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you can learn more each week!
Stay strong! Stay motivated!
-Coach April
SUSCRIBE
to my email newsletter below!
Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts
Ready to energize your volleyball mom journey?
Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list above on ImproveYourVolley.com.
You'll receive energy-boosting tips, exclusive insights from me, Coach April Chapple on maintaining momentum in volleyball.
Let's power up the Vegas volleyball scene together!
Recent Articles
-
The Volleyball Toss How Consistent Is Your Ball Toss Before You Serve?
Jan 16, 25 08:37 PM
The volleyball toss for the overhand serve needs to consistently be two feet up in the air and one foot in front of front foot which puts the ball in front of your serving arm. -
Coach April Launches Peace Love And Volleyball Inspirational Shirts
Jan 13, 25 01:10 PM
How Coach April's Peace Love and Volleyball revolution in Vegas, inspires players, coaches and especially volleyball moms with unique butterfly-inspired designs -
8 Volleyball Serve Rules On The Toss and When and Where You Can Serve
Jan 11, 25 05:31 PM
Learn these volleyball serve rules and regulations for who, what, when where and how you can serve and when.
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.