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10 Defense Volleyball Techniques Used To Make Digs and Defend Better
These 10 defense volleyball techniques are answered on how to dig a volleyball better, where to be in defense, and what to watch when the other team is hitting.
In advanced defense volleyball training coaches spend many hours on practice drills teaching techniques like...
- Where a player's base or starting position is in defense?
- What steps does a digger take before the spiker hits the ball?
- What steps do you take and in what direction?
- Where do you place yourself on the court so you aren't playing defense behind the block?
Read on to find out the answers below...
10 Defense Volleyball Techniques
Where's a player's base or starting position in defense?
A players base position in the back row is usually on or one step back from the ten foot line.
This will vary slightly depending on what type of volleyball defense strategy the team is running and how fast they are running it.
10 Defense Volleyball Techniques
What steps does a digger take before the spiker hits the ball?
Usually in the back court, digger's will do a series of adjustment steps to better position themselves once they see where the setter has set the ball.
A digger should follow this eye sequence "Ball-Setter-Ball-Hitter or "BSBH" which means after the opposing team has passed the ball, the digger should watch the setter to see who she plans to set to.
Then once she sets the ball, the defensive player's eyes should track or watch the Ball as it travels to the Hitter.
Now the digger should shift her gaze to the hitter, watching the hitter to get clues as to where (in what direction) she plans to hit.
All this eye sequencing (which the blocker does as well at the net) is done so that the front row blockers and the back row defensive diggers see the same action and they move according to the planned volleyball defensive strategy that was decided to use against this opponent.
10 Defense Volleyball Techniques
What steps do you take and in what direction?
If the opposing team's setter sets the middle then players on defense usually have little to no time to take steps to position themselves on the court.
They have time to take one shuffle step usually outside of the shadow of their middle blocker or outside blocker and then they just get in a low defensive position ready to dig the ball coming from the middle attack.
10 Defense Volleyball Questions
Where do you place yourself on the court so you aren't playing defense behind the block?
If the opposing setter sets the ball to either of their outside hitters then diggers have more time to take 2-3 adjustment shuffle steps to position themselves outside of the shadow of the blocker in front of them, so they can see the ball the hitter is hitting.
And so they can better "read" the ball positioning and the hitter's body/arm language which gives them clues as to where the ball is about to be hit.
Following the volleyball defense strategy the coach has established for the team against this particular opponent, the digger positions themselves to dig cross court because their blockers are taking away the hitter's ability to hit down the line.,
Or, they are digging the line because their blockers are taking away, at the net, the opposing hitter's ability to hit cross court.
10 Defense Volleyball Techniques
Where do you place yourself on the court for a free ball or down ball in defense?
Sometimes the opposing team will not spike a hard driven ball into the defensive team's court. They will give an easy ball or what's called a "free" ball over the net.
Because this type of ball isn't a fast hard driven attack it requires the defensive team to position themselves on their court in a different formation which resembles more of a serve receive formation than a defensive formation.
Many hours are spent in practice, or should be, identifying the difference between a free ball and how the team should position themselves and a spike and where the team should transition to be in the court.
10 Defense Volleyball Techniques
What kind of attitude do you need to play defense?
The attitude, girls need to play defense in volleyball can be compared to the same aggressive attitude guys are taught to have when learning how to play football.
It all needs to start with an aggressive determined attitude.
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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.
An all out, "I'm never going to let this ball hit our court floor" attitude that inspires players to go all out to recover balls in defense no matter where they've been hit on the court.
Defense is an attitude!
Watch Japan dig after dig, amazing volleyball defense!
How To Play Volleyball:
Where To Go From Here
Alright, alright, alright! Time to study something something. You still have those three options:
- Let's learn more about defense, digging and how to defend your court by exploring the Related Links below.
- Or you can choose 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.
You might like these volleyball digging pages!
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The Proper Volleyball Serve Technique, What Types of Serves Are Best?
What's the most proper volleyball serve technique to know? Learn the five serve types and terms for the let serve, sky ball, the overhand and underhand serve.
Step-by-step Instructions On Performing The Volleyball Dig Technique
Master the volleyball dig technique with my comprehensive guide. Learn step-by-step instructions, tips, and common mistakes to avoid for great defensive plays
Volleyball Hands 2 Ways To Hold Your Hands When You Pass A Volleyball
Learn 2 volleyball passing techniques on where to make contact with the ball on your arms and how to hold your volleyball hands while passing or bumping the ball.
How to Use Good Volleyball Service Techniques To Serve for Points
Learn what good volleyball service techniques in volleyball will help you score points and increase the aces you score during a game after the ref whistles.
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AUTHOR BIO
April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.
She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.
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
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