Two Diving Volleyball Drills I Do So Players Get More Balls In Defense

Remember when Rocky’s trainer had him chase chickens in the chicken coop to work on fast feet, read and react quickly, eye-hand coordination in a low position?

I know you're asking yourself what does that scene in Rocky have to do with practicing how to dive in volleyball?

You know me by now ..I like to think outside of the box when it comes to working on improving volleyball skills by tweaking volleyball drills that work on specific elements players need to improve upon. 

ICYMI..oops let me say that in English...in case you missed it I'll repeat my question. 

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A post shared by April Chapple (@coach_apchap)

Remember when Rocky’s trainer had him chase chickens in the chicken coop…to work on

🏐fast feet
🏐quick read and react without thinking
🏐eye-hand body coordination in a low running position

✔️……..similar concept.

The goal of these two diving volleyball drills is Not to be pretty while hitting the floor with a picture perfect or technically correct dive in this instance.

What I tell my players repeatedly is that we are just working on

✔️getting comfortable with becoming🙏🏾what I call "zen with the floor"

✔️in other words just becoming ONE with the floor and the concept of lowering your body to the floor after launching yourself in the air to dig a ball

✔️adopting “the floor is my friend” attitude ( my client Izzy isn’t crazy about hitting the floor if there’s sand on it🤣)

Player starts in defense position in front of end line and cannot take a first reactive step until they see the ball pass them.

👉🏾If I bounce the ball- player goal is to get it after only one bounce with the least amount of steps.

👉🏾If I roll-player has 3 steps or less, practicing how to lower themselves closer to the ground with each step so they’re inches above the floor before they sprawl/collapse while reaching for the ball

👉🏾If I roll lthe ball long-player tries to grab/catch/stop the ball with two hands BEFORE the ball passss the half court line..

I insist for younger players no penalty for not grabbing/stopping the ball .. just keep getting #repsonrepsonreps and keep that 💯energy up until they get faster footwork and build speed in that lower position.

The focus of these diving volleyball drills is:

🏐on a Big fast first step
🏐run with sprinter armwork for first two steps to get you closer to the ball …faster
🏐run and stay on your feet for as long as you can and (if you don’t HAVE to hit the floor then don’t)
🏐scramble and work on building speed on each rep

Follow me on Instagram @coach_apchap 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. 

Defense is an attitude!
Watch Japan dig after dig, amazing volleyball defense! 

Thanks for visiting. Be sure to check out more of my volleyball passing articles by clicking one of the links below! (April Chapple)

Alright, alright, alright! Time to study something something. You still have those three options: 

1. Let's learn more about defense,  digging and how to defend your court by exploring the Related Links below. 
2. Or you can choose the suggested reading on our Sitemap page   Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. 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. 

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