Tips
- BE PREPARED! Write out drills and times need to complete each. Always have more, in case something is short
- Always coordinate practice times with parents/players/assistant coaches
- Start each practice with a series of dynamic stretches of the arms and legs for the players to get ready to play.
- Warm ups! Elbow tag, freeze tag, laps, something to get the kids moving and any more necessary stretching
- Drills! Kids love games, especially those that involve points. Make the drills into games or mini-competitions and recognize winning individuals or mini-teams.
- End with cool down static stretches. Stretching is an important part of keeping your team limber and performing at its best.
What's Dynamic Stretches? Glad you asked!
Dynamic stretching is a form of stretching that is beneficial in sports because it utilizes momentum that you cannot achieve from static stretching. You try to extend the range of motion that your muscles cannot reach from static stretching. It is a type of stretching while moving, as opposed to static stretching in which one stands still. Dynamic stretching prepares your body for movement, the physical exertion that a sport demands.
Still not understanding? Find examples here or here
Drills
Movement patterns
Example: Mirror Drill. The players stand facing you in rows. You point to a direction (left, right, forward, back) and they have to shuffle in the direction that you're pointing.
The forearm pass is an essential, but yet challenging, skill to master. You should contact the ball at waist height and the ball should hit the same part on your lower forearm (just above the wrist) each time. You should shrug your shoulders and step through the ball each time.
Serving Drills
The serve is the second most crucial part to the game of volleyball because it starts the game. There is the underhand serve and the overhand serve. Most coaches teach the underhand serve first and then move to the overhand serve once the underhand is mastered by the players.
Overhand Passing Drills
An overhand pass is like a set but if if there is a bit of force behind the ball, as from a serve. It is mainly used for high balls from a back row player.
Setting Drills
Most teams have one designated, specialized player for setting. The setter gets the second ball and normally executes a gentle, overhand pass. A major part to this skill is remembering to push with your legs, not your arms.
Attacking Drills
Attacks, Kills, Hits, Rolls, Dinks, and Spikes all fall under this category. Dinks are an open-handed push with your fingertips strategically placed on the court. Spikes are a hard hit that you take an approach and leave the floor to contact. Rolls are either a gentle standing hit or a gentle hit (leaving the ground).
Dig
The Dig is similar to a forearm pass but is the pass after a hard hit or serve. The player normally has very little time to get under the ball and the object is to cushion the ball so the setter can then set. You need to get as low as possible and just allow the ball to meet your arms.
Blocking Drills
There can be single, double, or triple blocks depending on your team and skill level. The block is all about the positioning of your body/arms. Remember three key things when blocking, strong hands, penetrate the net, and turn the outside arm in. When you jump spread your fingers, keep your arms and hands stiff, and bring your arms directly up by the side of your face. For Penetrate you want to shoot your arms as far over the next as possible and leave as little room as possible between your arms and the net. As an outside blocker you need to turn your outside hand in so the ball does not go out of bounds.
The serve is the second most crucial part to the game of volleyball because it starts the game. There is the underhand serve and the overhand serve. Most coaches teach the underhand serve first and then move to the overhand serve once the underhand is mastered by the players.
Overhand Passing Drills
An overhand pass is like a set but if if there is a bit of force behind the ball, as from a serve. It is mainly used for high balls from a back row player.
Setting Drills
Most teams have one designated, specialized player for setting. The setter gets the second ball and normally executes a gentle, overhand pass. A major part to this skill is remembering to push with your legs, not your arms.
Attacking Drills
Attacks, Kills, Hits, Rolls, Dinks, and Spikes all fall under this category. Dinks are an open-handed push with your fingertips strategically placed on the court. Spikes are a hard hit that you take an approach and leave the floor to contact. Rolls are either a gentle standing hit or a gentle hit (leaving the ground).
Dig
The Dig is similar to a forearm pass but is the pass after a hard hit or serve. The player normally has very little time to get under the ball and the object is to cushion the ball so the setter can then set. You need to get as low as possible and just allow the ball to meet your arms.
Blocking Drills
There can be single, double, or triple blocks depending on your team and skill level. The block is all about the positioning of your body/arms. Remember three key things when blocking, strong hands, penetrate the net, and turn the outside arm in. When you jump spread your fingers, keep your arms and hands stiff, and bring your arms directly up by the side of your face. For Penetrate you want to shoot your arms as far over the next as possible and leave as little room as possible between your arms and the net. As an outside blocker you need to turn your outside hand in so the ball does not go out of bounds.
