7 Dig Drills Volleyball Players Do For Balls That They Take A Step For

Dear Volleyball Mom, Do You Know What Sets My Private Volleyball Training Apart From Anyone In Vegas? I invite You to read what my private volleyball training mission says before considering hiring me as a private volleyball coach because I'm not available for everyone.

7 Dig Drills Volleyball Players Do For Balls That They Take A Step For

Seven dig drills volleyball players do with me to quicken their hand-to-ball reaction, read the hitter, trust what they see and chase balls down on the court.

What dig drills volleyball players do and why?

In a perfect world balls would be hit right at you and you make the perfect dig right to your setter so they can make or run an offensive play.

But more times than not that doesn't happen.

You have to take one, two or three steps to move out of your comfortable adjusted defensive position to lean, step laterally to the ball, sprawl to the floor or dive for a ball in order to get it up and make it a playable out of system (or in system) ball that someone hopefully your setter, can do something with, in an attempt to score a point.

These dig drills volleyball players do in my trainings work on lateral movements (step left or step right) or linear movements (up and back) needed to get closer to a ball

reading a ball that's about to land to the right or left of the digger
how to stay low while taking a lateral step to the side the ball is going to fall on
quickly form your platform that's correctly angled so the ball goes 10 feet up in the air and lands on and just inside the ten foot line

We work on this technique with myself and/or my assistant coaches and even the player pepper partners purposefully hitting a controlled down ball to the right or left of the digger who then performs the dig step technique we work on to get to a ball to dig it up.

Barrel Roll Volleyball Defense Drills:
Full Body Extension You Have To Go To The Floor For

We first started doing my barrel roll dig drill at Stupak where they have these awesome rainbow colored mats for players to learn how to land on before they have to do the same drill on the floor.

Here's what we work on and what I remind players...the emergency landing movement drills are not what gets the ball up.

These are ways to get closer to the ball and land to the floor (like gymnasts do ..when they practice how to land on the floor after a tumble or a lift) without crashing and hurting body parts.

In the above video you see Cass Nyi with a group of players doing the one step extend warmup floor work we always do at the beginning of practice so that hitting the floor is no big deal in subsequent practice drills.

In the below video you can see Cass (a former gymnast by the way, use the step and extend move to dig balls that are hit to her side and then comfortably land to the floor) on either side of her body.

Like gymnasts and even ice skaters who jump in the air, volleyball players who plan to run down balls need to practice their landing to the floor because when they dive they're lifting their bodies off the floor and into the air depending on the type of defensive landing technique they choose to use.

That's what I do with these specific floor work based volleyball movement warmups.

I'm comfortable teaching these movements because I did this floor work for years.

I learned as a high school player that if I wanted to accomplish my three primary goals I was going to have to become a six rotation player and that meant I had to really develop my passing and digging skills in the backrow in order to stay on the court and not be taken out of the game.

This is how I stayed on the court by working as hard as possible to be the best passer and digger on my team.

And that meant... I had to learn as a tall player to be able to hit the floor and get as many balls up ..regardless as to where those balls were landing on the court ...close to me or far from me.

That's why I'm passionate about passing on this mindset information to my players.

How Often and For How Long Should You Do Drills At Home?

Before diving into the specific drills, it's critical to establish the fundamentals.

Ensure you have a good understanding of what a dig is in volleyball and why it's such a foundational skill for aspiring and progressing volleyball players.

Remember, drills are just part of the picture - you need a court, a ball, and a positive attitude.

Let's start!

Dig Drills Volleyball Players Who Train At Home Can Do

1. Reach and Dig Drill:

This drill is great for working on the player's extension and reach while digging. Set up a line of cones on both sides of the court. The player will shuffle sideways to touch the cone, then shuffle back to the middle to dig the incoming ball. Repeat this for 20-30 minutes daily, to increase agility and quick reactions.

2. Wall Dig Drill:

A fantastic drill to practice on your own at-home.

Stand about two feet from a wall and toss the ball to hit the wall and bounce back towards you.

Your goal is to dig the ball back up to the wall. Not only does this drill improve your digging, but it also enhances your ball control skills. We recommend doing this drill for 15 minutes every day.

3. Pepper Drill Exercise:

Pepper is a common volleyball drill used for warming up and improving ball control. It involves two players standing 20 feet apart - one partner starts by setting the ball, and the other partner receives, then the first partner controls a hit to the second partner who returns the ball with a controlled dig. Continue passing, setting and hitting the ball back and forth.

4. Dive and Roll Drill:

Dives are essential in volleyball for reaching fast and low balls. This drill helps increase flexibility and quick decision-making skills. Players start at one end of the court, a coach slams the ball from the other end, and the players have to dive to dig the ball and make a pass, then roll and get up quickly.

I recommend running this drill for 30 minutes, three times per week.

How Do You Schedule Your
At-Home Drill Frequency and Duration

To get the most out of these digging drills, it's crucial to establish a regular practice routine.

Here's my suggested schedule for young players looking to regularly do at-home drills:

- Three Hits And A Tip Drill:

Start with a 15-minute session, gradually increasing to 30 minutes as you get comfortable with the movements. We recommend doing this drill four to five times a week.

- Cross Court Digging Partner Drill:

Aim for three 10-minute sessions with a 5-minute break between each session to allow for rest. Perform this drill three times a week.

- Controlled Hit and Catch Your Dig Drill:

Ideal to do for about 15 minutes every day. Consistency is key here, as the drill focuses on ingraining controlled hitting and catching into muscle memory.

- Barrel Roll Volleyball Defense Drills:

These intensive drills can initially be done in 10-minute intervals, three times a week. As endurance builds, increase the practice time to 20 minutes per session.

Remember, every player is unique, so adjust the frequency and duration based on individual comfort and growth rates. These are guidelines, not rigid parameters. The most crucial element is regular, consistent practice.

Please do consult a physiotherapist or a fitness trainer to ensure these workout durations are suitable for your specific age and fitness level.

I care about your safety and growth in skill!

And finally, always allocate time before and after your practice for a proper warm-up and cool-down to prevent any muscle strains or injuries.

This is just as important as the drills themselves.

Practice hard but practice safe!

Tips for Effective Drilling

-Start Slowly:

Don't try to perform the drills at high speed from the get-go. Start slowly, focus on your actions, and gradually increase your speed as you feel more comfortable with the movements.

- Consistency is Key:

It's better to practice a little bit every day rather than cramming everything into one long session per week.

- Listen to Your Body:

Avoid over-drilling, which can lead to burnout or injury. Listen to your body and take a rest day when needed.

Conclusion

In volleyball, a well-placed dig can be a game-changing play. With consistent practice of these drills, you'll be making those plays more often.

Remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. Always prioritize technique and accuracy over speed and power.

Remember, practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Do You Follow Me on Pinterest?

Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!

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.

You might like more of these dig drills volleyball players do.

Best Volleyball Drills For Setters, Hitters, Liberos, Passers Blockers
Best volleyball drills are essential exercises in the learning process for players to improve your serving, hitting, passing, spiking, setting, blocking skills.
Volleyball Digging Drills That Will Help You Keep Balls Off The Floor
We do alot of progressions for volleyball digging drills in our boot camp classes to cover different scenarios from hard hits to balls you need to chase down.
4 Volleyball Blocking Drills Players Learn To Stop Balls At The Net
These are four volleyball blocking drills players learn at our classes and training so that they learn to move quickly while staying close to the net.
Beginner Volleyball Drills You Can Do At Home To Improve Ball Control
These beginner volleyball drills are a series of setting and passing exercises to do to increase your reading and anticipation and your ball control skills.
7 Fun Volleyball Drills To Do At Home, Camp and In Volleyball Practice
Fun volleyball drills we do in Volleyball Voice Boot Camp class which you can do at home to improve your basic volleyball skills including digging and passing.
Volleyball Defensive Drills You Can Do To Help Your Dig Ball Control
3 hitting and digging volleyball defensive drills that you can do at home to help increase your ball control skills when playing defense in the back court.
Volleyball Skills Drills To Improve Digging and Spiking Ball Control
Here is a collection of volleyball skills drills that you can do in order to work on spiking and digging technique along with improving your ball control.
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 Beginners To Improve Volleyball Bumping At Home
For newbies who want to learn about at home volleyball drills for beginners looking to improve their ability to read the ball during their passing drills.
Volleyball Drills For Youth 8 Fun Drills To Improve Your Ball Control
8 volleyball drills for youth you can use to help you get your pass to your setter, your serve over the net, and good hand placement on the ball for your spikes.
Volleyball Passing Drills for Beginners For Players To Do At Home
Here are several volleyball passing drills for beginners to do at home with the focus being on beginner passers who need to pass the ball being served consistently
Setter Volleyball Drills - How To Improve Your Setting Skills at Home
These setter volleyball drills are great for setters and non setters who need to work on getting soft setter hands and setting repetition touches.

Dear Volleyball Mom, Did you know your player can Upgrade their volleyball skills with an expert college volleyball prep coach Las Vegas based April Chapple (that's me!) creator of the Breakfast Club for College Players.

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.

utkaprilcollegepiconneylandstadiumvideoboard

Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee, Coach April Chapple is

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.

kamiminerpac12setteroftheyearformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

Tommi Stockham All Big West Conference sophomore former Coach April Chapple private client 3 years

katepriorallwestcoastconferencebyufreshmanformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

I have my own special QR code to my Linktree profile!

Scan to find out what you shouldn't be missing!

Click For More Info

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

(affiliate disclosure).

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!

cash.app/$apchapvcevbc

Dear Vegas Parent

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