The Art of Coaching Volleyball

Kirsten Bernthal Booth of Creighton University and Russ Rose of Penn State University talk about getting the most out of your players by meeting with them individually. Making the setting personal can create a sense of comfort for players; it can also create a more humanizing relationship between coach and player. Russ Rose says that […] The post Outside the box ways to connect with your players appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

    Clinician: Mike Sealy, head women’s volleyball coach at UCLA Purpose: To get players used to the “evolution of ball control” through different passing and setting sequences that can be adjusted to fit a team’s specific weaknesses or strengths. How it Works: The first drill starts with 2 people on each side of one […] The post Evolution of ball control drill appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Dynamic warm-up exercises: mark off 10 yards of space and line your group up in two straight lines; have them do the exercise then jog back to start (if you’re confused, check out theInjury Prevention for Club Athletes video); or use speed ladder Heel to toe walks High knees w/ slight lean forward Butt kickers […] The post Warm-up exercises appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

John Dunning feels that players these days (especially females) don't know how to make themselves better without a coach. He believes that the love of the game can disappear for athletes who only practice when coaches are around, so all players need to know how to practice on their own. Watch to hear all of […] The post The purpose of practicing by yourself appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

As a coach, the biggest thing you can do to help your team is to keep your nerves in check. Give yourself little ways to stay in control with these tips from Glenn Hoag. The post What do you control as a coach: Match preparation appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Here are 4 keys to a successful setter attack as demonstrated by Oregon State setter Dana Backlund and explained by Mark Barnard, head coach at Oregon State: Being able to jump set. Disguising the attack by having both hands up as if you’re going to set. Making good decisions on which balls to set and […] The post 4 keys to a successful setter attack appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Cathy George of Michigan State University deep dives into swing blocking form. Starting with the basics, George demonstrates proper blocking form by using the cross-strep and driving the hands across the net. Taking explosive steps and minimizing the number of small steps creates a fluid, efficient block. Determining your opposing team's offensive strategies (fast offense […] The post Swing blocking: Beating the hitter appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Christy Johnson-Lynch of Iowa State University advises against correcting technique during matches. She says the most effective coaching during a match is simple, executable tips they can make under stress. Mike Sealy of UCLA agrees, and adds that coaches should switch into the "game coaching" mode during competitive drills in practice, too. Finding a balance […] The post Practicing being a “game coach” appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Purpose: Coach Dunning dives into the psychology of coaching and the potential of harmful “over coaching.” How it works: Through years of coaching, Dunning has found the sweet spot of critiquing and coaching setters enough to maximize their play without defeating their confidence. He recommends specific, consistent feedback and avoiding vague critiques such as “too […] The post Don’t hurt a setter’s brain with criticism appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Purpose: A competitive scoring drill that teaches the importance of fighting for each and every point to increase the separation of the score. How it Works: 6 players are on each side of the net. Each time gets to receive five balls and then serve five balls. Keep score normally; when the mini-games to 5 […] The post 6 vs. 6 drill with weighted scoring appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

If your meetings are a little too quiet, here are some steps to take to liven them up. Create an interactive atmosphere. Place chairs so participants face one another, not you. Use small tables that keep people close and give them something to write on. Prompt interaction with questions such as "Who needs be involved?" […] The post 4 tactics to improve team meetings appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Skill development remains the most critical physical element in successful athletic performance. A strong, well-conditioned athlete with a poor skill level is akin to a high-performance race car with flat tires. While all coaches would concur with that observation, a consensus on the process needed to achieve optimal skill development would be more difficult to […] The post 3 stages of athletic skill development appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Purpose: Focus on the connection between a setter and one designated hitter position while competing in a competitive, rapid drill. How it Works: 5 players will be on each side of the court (there should be no middle). A third team of five players will start off the court and cycle through. Three balls are […] The post 5 v. 5 v. 5 competitive drill appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Every workout you design for your players should consist of 5 main parts: Dynamic warm-up Muscle activation exercises Strength exercises Plyometric and dynamic agility exercises Cardiovascular conditioning   Want to learn more about developing your player's strength and power? Boost court performance with volleyball-specific strength training in the NEW Sports Performance Certification! The post Your strength program: Designing a single workout appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.

Mike Sealy, Head Coach at UCLA, dives deep into blocking fundamentals. First, train blockers to keep their elbows closer to the middle of their body and extend the hands straight up. This will cut down on the number of attacks that trickle through the middle of the block. Second, penetrate the net with the hands […] The post Blocking fundamentals: Parallel blocking appeared first on The Art of Coaching Volleyball.