Simpli ed Stats Wizard

Advanced
(Serve-Receive Error Percentage around 8-15%)

An advanced team is very good at receiving the ball. Statistical focus should be: 

. Serve Rating
. Receive Rating
. All Stats
. Attack – Attempts, Kills, Errors
. Dig – successful, errors
. Free ball pass ratings
. Block – successful, errors

Serve-receive strategy for Advanced teams

You should have at least three good passers at this level of play. If you have two excellent passers, you
could try using just two passers.

Number of receivers: 3

Offensive system for Advanced teams

Use a 6-2 or 5-1 based on how many good setters you have. If one setter is excellent but short, that
setter can still play in the front row. The loss of blocking is typically not signi cant when compared to
setting accuracy.

6-2 system
5-1 system

Drills for Advanced teams

Serving Drills | Passing Drills | Setting Drills | Digging Drills | Hitting Drills | Team Drills

Focus on Serving First

If you serve well, you can put pressure on your own team to serve-receive better.
 
Technique:
Low toss
High 5 – compact, powerful swing

Skill Drills - Serving

Wall Serve Drill

 
Goal: Gain consistency in toss, contact, power.
 
How to do it:
Start about 10 feet away from the wall.
Serve to a spot on the wall about 8-9 feet high.
Get 10 good serves to the spot.
Back up one long step and repeat.
Get to where you are 30 feet from the wall, if possible.

Serving Competition Drill

 
Goal: To serve consistently over the net under pressure.

How to do it:
Split team into two groups, try to distribute the serving skill evenly
across both teams.
Two servers at a time, coach blows whistle.
If you make a good serve, you go to the other side.
If you miss, you go back to the end of your team’s line.
First team to get everyone to the other side wins.

Rotation Game
 
Goal: Serve accurately to all 6 zones on the court. Learn to serve under
pressure.

How to do it:
Split up into 2 teams.
Each team sets up on opposing end-lines.
Each team sends one player to the opposing court.
That player is a catcher who sits in Zone 1.
On the coach’s whistle, everyone serves to their player.
The player must catch a ball while sitting.
Once the player catches a ball, they run back to their team. The
successful server takes the catcher’s place but in the next zone. (Zone
2)
The game continues until one team wins by completing a Zone 6
catch.

Zone Serving Drill

 
Goal: Use a 5x5 grid of 25 zones instead of the normal 6 zones. This requires
more precise serving mentality and engages more effort. It uses the
concept of “aim small, miss small."
 
Note: This grid system is extremely useful as a language to communicate
spots on the court in a very precise way – not just for serving but for
attacking and defending.
 
How to do it:
5x5 grid
Each row is a strip from left to right with Row 10 the closest to
the net (0 to 6 feet deep) and Row 50 the last 6 feet of the
court (24 to 30 feet) along the end-line.
Each row is split into 6-foot wide zones – from left to right. 1 is
the left side + 6 feet. 5 is the right sideline minus 6 feet. (See
grid image)

Target speci c zone.

Serve 5 balls to each of the zones that are called out.
31, 33, 35, 42, 44, 51, 55
Ball must be below the top of the antenna and reach Zones 30-50.
Coach calls zones.
Once teams are comfortable serving a zone, coach calls various zones.
This makes it more game-like and unpredictable for the players.
Do a double-sided drill and have a challenge across the net.
First team to score X points wins.

Sideline “Lane Serves” Drill

 
Goal: Be able to serve straight down the right and left sidelines. This is a
dif cult serve to pass, particularly when setters and MBs are transitioning in
front of the served ball. 

How to do it:
Set up an extra antenna inside the court (6 feet on the left and right
side).
Line up facing straight down each sideline. You might consider
double-sided and have each side serve the right sideline, then the left
sideline. This helps prevent servers from hitting each other with their
serves.
Goal will be to make some number of good serves (like 10) down each
“lane.” The lanes on the 5x5 grid are Lane 1 (left side) and Lane 5 (right
side).
A good serve must go deep to row 40 or 50 and be below the top of
the antenna. This is a fast, at serve. 

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2nd Focus: Passing

Serve Receive passing is the most important skill in volleyball because it determines if you can control
the opponent’s serve well enough to attack and side out. Once your team is able to serve tough, it can
learn to control tough servers. 
 
Technique:
Figure out where the ball is going early.
Move feet to the ball.
Set up platform.
Tilt to target.

Skill Drills - Passing

Serve and Receive Stat Drill

 
Goal: Stat players’ serve and receive error or success % as well as their serve
and pass rating (on a 1-4 scale). Get them in a “game mode” so there’s
higher focus and intensity.
 
How to do it:
Servers on one side, passers on the other. Coach rates pass and serve.
(See diagram.)
Take quality ratings
Serve: 0-4
Pass: 0-3

 Team Receive Drill

 
Goal: Get your best passers on the court into 3- or 4-person receive as you
would in a match.

How to do it:
Set up your rotations based on passing stats using the best receivers.
(Use www.rotate123.com app to set up your formations and to
communicate with your team.)
Have coaches and player serve hard at the receivers.
Set a goal of less than 25% receive error and at least 25% perfect
passes. (Servers serve tough and are not scored.)
Use a white board to keep track of each rotation.

Butter y Drill
 
Goal: Learn controlled serving and passing.
 
How to do it:
Set up a full Butter y drill: Server, Passer, Target / Server, Passer,
Target.
Set a goal of 5 or 10 perfect passes.
Set up server at appropriate location from mid-court all the way to off
the court –depending on accuracy and power.
Drill should take no more than 10 minutes.

 180 Shuttle Drill

Goal: Learn inside-the-10-foot-line passing control. Many free-balls that land

inside the 10-foot line get passed over the net because of lack of practice
and not setting the platform angle correctly. This drill teaches ne balance
and control. Also target over-the-head passing to a spot.

How to do it: See slides

Serve Receive Error Percentage Drill

 
Goal: Get team to understand the importance of rapid side out % – going for
50% or better. Target side out in 2 tries max.
 
How to do it:
6 on 6 format.
Tough serving.
Receive and side out as quickly as possible.
Receive 12 serves. (Serve errors don’t count.)
Try to get through 6 rotations in 12 serves or fewer. 
This will be 50% side out or better.

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3rd Focus: Setting

Using ngers to control the ball is an important skill and gets overlooked when players aren’t setters.
Overhand ball control expands the players’ range of coverage. 
 
Technique:
Shape the ball with ngers and palms.
Look through the “window” created by thumbs and index ngers.
Ball should be above the forehead on contact.
Right foot forward, left foot back.
Face the target and follow through with palms facing target.

Skill Drills - Setting

Wall Set Drill

 
Goal: Learn to use all ngers to set the ball consistently.
 
How to do it:
Mark a spot on a wall about 9 feet up.
Toss the ball to the wall and set it back to the wall.
Make sure to have hands high with arms almost straight out just a bit
before locking elbows.  
Look at ball through “window” between thumb and index nger.
The ball should hit the player’s forehead if it were to slip through the
ngers. Most times, hands are too low and ball will hit the chin.
Make 10 good sets to the spot. Make sure to shuf e feet with right
foot slightly in front.

2 Player Pepper with Sets

 
Goal: Get comfortable using hand sets.
 
How to do it:
2 players pepper.
One player hits, the other player digs the ball to the hitter.
Hitter sets ball to other player and other player hits back.
Count how many hand sets the pair can achieve before the ball hits
the oor. 

2 Setter + DS Triangle Set Drill

 
Goal: Improve setter footwork and accuracy.
 
How to do it:
One setter has ball and is the target. (Start in position 4.)
Toss to DS in the court.
DS attempts to make a perfect pass.
Second setter sets this ball to target.
Do 10. Count how many sets are perfect.
Swap setters.
As players improve, the “target” setter can also set (instead of toss) to
the DS.

5x5 Set Drill

Goal: Learn to set 5x5 when out of system so that hitter still has an
opportunity to attack, and make sure the set does not go over the net.
.
How to do it:
Left front transitions off the net; 5 other positions ready to set the ball.
Coach tosses to any of the 5 players.
Player should consider just bump setting high, 5 feet off the net, 5
feet in the court.
Attacker hits this ball.
Goal is to get 20 good hits.
This drill is one big group of players, not divided into half hitters/half
setters. It’s out-of-system setting and hitting for EVERYONE!

Notes:
Do both left and right side.
Setters can set 3x3 but should not attempt a perfect set off a bad
pass. This tends to end up with a tight set, which is not easy to hit.

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4th Focus: Digging

When training digging, reward effort! You want players to be aggressive going after every ball, even
when completely out of reach. Emphasize fun. Players should learn to slide on the oor and enjoy it,
and the team should enthusiastically cheer on the effort.
 
Technique:
Feet wider than shoulders, parallel toes.
Face the ball.
Arms low and hands covering knees.
Be low enough to touch oor with nger.
Move platform to meet the ball.
Make angles to rebound the ball up high and toward the center of the court.

Skill Drills - Digging

Basic Slide Drill

 
Goal: Teach players how to slide safely and make it fun.
 
How to do it:
Get an old pair of socks. (Long tube socks are particularly good.) Cut 3
holes in both. Put hand into sock and put thumb, index and middle
nger and last 2 ngers into each of 3 holes.
Socks should cover the palm and forearms, possibly up to elbows to
prevent oor burns from sliding. Socks will also make sliding very
smooth. Socks should look like the image to the right.
Player should have knee pads on.
Start on knees.
Reach and fall forward and slide on forearms.
Reach with dominant hand and catch the fall with the other hand,
then slide.
Get low, take a step, reach with dominant hand and catch the fall
with other hand, then slide.
Get smooth so that it’s quiet and body parts are not bumping on the
oor.
Slide smoothly and as far as you can.
Knee slide on both forearms.
Knee slide on one hand.
Standing slide.

Run Slide Drill

 
Goal: Have fun sliding.
 
How to do it:
Once players are con dent in their sliding, have them line up on the
end-line, run 2 steps and slide as far as they can.
Get up and run to the 10-foot line and slide. See who goes the
farthest.
Make it a contest or just do slides at each line on the court from one
side to the other.

Shuf e Slide Drill

 
Goal: Learn to slide sideways. (This is also a good conditioning drill.)
 
How to do it:
Have players in rows of 3 on the 10-foot lines and end-lines – all facing
the coach who is off the court.
Coach will shuf e left or right, then yell “slide” and players will slide to
their side on their belly.

Explosive Digging Drill

Goal: Learn to dig balls that are outside of your feet when you’re off balance.
This will expand your defensive range.
 
How to do it:
Coach stands at center of 10-foot line with a basket of balls.
Players line up at center of the end-line.
One player enters the court at center, 20 feet from the net.
Player gets low, touches oor with hand.
Coach hits ball to left or right of the player, out of reach.
Player dives/slides in that direction.
Next player enters.
After all players display good reaction and safe diving, coach hits balls
closer and closer to being in reach.
Players continue to dig and dive.

Team Dig Drill

Goal: Learn to dig hard hits by positioning properly.

 
How to do it:
Set up full 6 players.
Coaches or a more-experienced player attack from a set.
Team does its best to take position properly and dig hard hits.
Set a goal – like 50% good digs.

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5th Focus: Hitting

At this level of play, it’s important to have good technique and generate power on spikes. The defense is
getting better, so unless the ball is hit hard, it will be dif cult to score.
 
Technique:
Hand contact
Big hand
Thumb to the side, ngers wide and loose.
Solid contact with middle of palm.
Snap with wrist.
Arm swing
Elbow high, ear level behind head.
Twist at waist.
Lead with shoulder, then elbow, then forearm snap.
Approach
Right handers – 3 step: left, right, left
Small to big steps
Slow to fast steps
Swing arms back on Step 2 and drive them upwards

Skill Drills - Hitting

Wall Hit with Bounce

 
Goal: To make strong, controlled contact of a ball that’s in the air.
 
How to do it:
Stand 15 feet from a wall.
Toss ball up high and hit it to the oor just in front of the wall so the
ball bounces back up.
Make sure to pull elbow back and swing through the ball, full hand
contact and snap.
Learn to hit in a controlled manner so you can hit the ball again.
Try to hit 4 in a row. Ball should be above the head. If not, stop and
start over.

Wall Hit Drill

 
Goal: Learn to swing high and hard to drive the ball above the net like a
Down Ball hit.
 
How to do it: 
Start 10 feet from a wall, mark a spot about 9 feet up.
Toss the ball high (basketball rim height – 10 feet.)
Swing and hit the ball to the spot.
Try to have power and accuracy.
If it’s easy, move back 3 steps and repeat.

Down Ball Hit, Player Toss Drill

 
Goal: Hit an actual down ball over the net.
 
How to do it:
Form 2 lines at the end-line.
First player moves to the 15-foot line and has a ball.
All players should grab a ball.
Front player tosses ball vertically about 10 feet straight up.
First player in line approaches and hits a Down Ball standing on the
oor, swinging high and over the net into the other court.
Tosser shags, hitter gets ball from ball cart and tosses the next ball.
Coach should walk around and help hitters and tossers, guide the
ow.
Set a goal – for instance, 10 balls hit into the court. Everyone counts.

3-Step Footwork Drill

 
Goal: Learn proper footwork before learning to hit the ball.
 
How to do it:
For right-handers, 3-step approach: Left, Right, Left.
Small to Large steps, Slow to Fast.
PLACE VIDEO HERE
Use arms to drive forward speed upward.
Practice this at home until it’s completely muscle memory.

Toss and Hit Drill

 
Goal: Learn to use proper footwork and armswing to hit ball.
 
How to do it:
Do the “Down Ball Hit, Player Toss” drill
Next progression: player JUMPS and hits the down ball.

Note: Players’ ability to toss the ball is very important.

Use 2 hands and learn how to make accurate, consistent, controlled tosses. Practice tossing ball
into a basketball hoop from about 5 feet away. This will free up the coach to provide feedback
without being the primary tosser.

Deep 2 Sets Drill

 
Goal: Learn to swing through ball. Learn to use hands to set simple, vertical
sets under control.
 
How to do it: See image below.

Transition Hitting Drill

 
Goal: Learn to transition off the net, pass the ball and attack.
 
How to do it:
Set up 6 players on one side with extra player ready to ll.
Coach or player toss or down-ball hit from opposing side.
Libero/DS passes the ball. You can also have OH in the back row.
Pass, setter sets and set 3 hitters.
Hitters hit and shag ball. Next player lls in.

 
Defensive Transition Drill
 
Goal: Learn full 6 on 6 defense to attack transition.
 
How to do it:
Two teams, one on each side.
From coach toss in, one side attacks.
Defensive side goal is to dig and transition and attack.
Scoring
Many different possibilities depending on your emphasis.
Simple Scoring – 10 toss-ins to each side, rst team to 10 wins.
Middle emphasis – 10 toss-ins to each side, middle kill worth 2
points, rst team to 10 wins.
Tempo emphasis – 10 toss-ins to each side, each tempo set kill
gets 2 points, rst team to 10 wins.

Zone Hits Drill

 
Goal: Hit only Zone 51, 55. From left hit 25, from right hit 21. Tip 11, 15. Roll to 33 from all 3 positions. Avoid
hitting the obvious places – straight cross court and to Zone 6, where the defense is waiting.
.
How to do it:

From free-ball or down-ball pass.

Hit into each zone 3 times, subtract 1 from previous hit for hitting into 6 or easy cross court.
Put up blocking device or blocker to make it harder.

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Final Focus: Team Play

Team Play Drills

Toss-ins Drill
 
Goal: To practice the rally from rst, second and third touch. Get player
accustomed to thinking and playing. Keep the scrimmage super active.
 
How to do it:
Two teams, 6 on a side.
Coach calls out rst ball or second ball or third ball, which indicate the
number of contacts. “First ball” = 3 contacts, “Second ball” = 2
contacts; “Third ball = Ball has to be sent over the net.
Coach tosses to various players and different locations to improve
control from different spots on the court. 
Rally is played out.
Points can be set to any format.

 
Wipe Out Game
 
Goal: Execute certain offensive plays. For example:
2 hits down the line from left side.
3 quicks to the MB.
2 tips to Zone 15 from the right side.
Etc.
 
How to do it:
6 on 6
Coach tosses to side that scores the kill.
First team to “wipe out” the list of attacks wins.
Scoring a kill does not count as a point.

 
Big 3 Drill
 
Goal: Score the last 3 points in a row from 22-22.

How to do it:
6 on 6, normal volleyball.
The score starts at 22-22. Whichever team wins the rst point takes a
23-22 lead. If that team loses the next point, the score ips to 23-22 for
the other team.
Three consecutive points wins the game.
Serving options: 1. Regular serving; 2.  Stay in one rotation; 3. Servers
can only serve once. (This gives more players practice at serving
under pressure.)

 
Scrambled Eggs Drill
 
Goal: Score the last 3 points in a row from 22-22.
 
How to do it:
6 on 6, coach initiates.
Win a point, the coach throws the ball to your team. Lose the point,
the coach throws to the other team.
Once a team scores 3 points in a row, it serves at 22-20. Regular
scoring ensues to 25, win by 2 points.
You can rotate normally or stay in one rotation for both the initiated
balls and the serving sequences.

 
Activation Drill

Goal: Focus on a speci c skill – for instance, a middle kill – that will activate
scoring for your team. Once a team is activated, it gets consecutive free balls
to score points until the opponent stops them.
 
How to do it:
 6 on 6 with a speci c skill highlighted. Play starts with a free ball
tossed in by the coach. The team that wins the rally gets the free ball.
When a team executes the highlighted skill, it earns 2 points and is
activated.
Once a team is activated, it gets every ball – a free ball from the non-
activated team off a coach’s toss – and can score points.
The activated team gets a point for every kill and 2 points for kills that
come from the highlighted skill.
If the non-activated team wins the point, the game returns to the
beginning with both teams once again trying to get activated.
Play either continues to a certain score – maybe 15 – or a set amount
of time: maybe 8 to 10 minutes.
2 Way Scoring Variation: When the defense stops an activated team,
it becomes activated. However, it can only score with the highlighted
skill.  

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Establishing Performance Benchmarks

You have to know how good your stats need to be to achieve your goals. That means answering two
questions: Are your stats good enough to be competitive locally and nationally? How well do you need
to SERVE, RECEIVE and ATTACK to win?
 
Click here to get more information about how to set statistical benchmarks for your team.

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