Register TODAY! for my
Coach April's
May 16 -17 and 30 -31
Spiking and Hitting clinics
Email: info@improveyourvolley.com for info or to register for this weekend's clinics!
- Improve Your Volleyball with Coach April
- Basic Volleyball Terminology.
- How To Dig in Volleyball
How To Dig in Volleyball, What's A Double Hit, When To Dive in Defense
Learn how to to dig in volleyball by creating a platform with forearms holding hands together that're used to deflect a spike up in the air to be re-played.
How to dig in volleyball?
To dig you need to create a platform with your forearms which you use to deflect or redirect a spike, tip or hard driven hit back up to your setter, libero or teammate so they can continue play.
How to Dig In Volleyball
Is "Dig" A Technical Term or Volleyball Slang?
"Dig" the ball is a volleyball slang term used to mean "defend" the ball up in the air which requires you
- to stay in a low athletic stance with your knees bent
- while using your forearms to deflect the ball up into the air after its been hit by a member of the opposing team
- in order to keep it from hitting your court floor.
The key to digging is to get your hips below the level of the ball just before you make contact.
How To Dig In Volleyball
Is the dive in volleyball a way to dig in volleyball?
What's a dive in volleyball?
When you "dive after a ball" you are using one type of defensive technique used by players to land on the ground after they've contacted the ball in order to keep it off the ground.
When you dive, it's because you have to
- run after a ball that's more than a few feet from where you are playing and
- you need to go airborne diving head first with your platform arms outstretched in front of you to "dig a volleyball" up so that it can remain in play.
How To Dig in Volleyball
The Dive
Usually to do this with balls that are more then 4-5 feet a way from you,
- you will have to lift both feet off the ground before
contacting the ball with your extended platform in order to contact the ball before the ball contacts the floor.
Once the ball has been lifted up high enough for a second player to make contact,
- now you the diver, will now have to quickly put your hands on the floor.
This is followed by
- lowering your chest and then hips
to maintain control of your body weight while pulling yourself through your arms.
This motion is helped by the forward momentum gathered by running forward when chasing the ball.
How To Dig In Volleyball
What's a Double Hit?
A double hit is often done when you are first learning how to dig in volleyball.
It is called by a referee because your body made contact with the ball twice, before someone else was able to contact the ball.
This action according to official volleyball rules is illegal and is called a fault.
If a hitter spikes a ball to a defender on the opposing team who digs it with her elbows bent so the ball hits her forearm and then hits her bicep before the setter has a chance to touch it, then that's a double hit.
The ball contacted the defender twice before any other teammate could touch it.
The referee blows the whistle, the other team gets the point and the serve.
This is a major reason why you want to keep your elbows as straight as possible when you form your platform to dig a ball.
You're more likely to commit a double hit when your elbows are bent while digging. Now a hard driven spike will hit your forearm and then your bicep before being deflected into the air.
Those two contacts are counted as hits and are illegal. The ball can only contact your body once.
The Volleyball Dig
Where do you need to go now?
Here are three options:
- Learn more about the volleyball words, terms and terminology in the Related Links below.
- Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
- Or visit the pages in the Information section in the drop down menu at the top of the page.
If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.
Struggling with passing consistency?
I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.
Download my eBook for $17.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.
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
Coach April's 2026-27 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training
Pre-Registration now open for 2026-27 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 2026-27.
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
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
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!
Can't hire a private trainer?
Get my Targeted Volleyball Checklist Bundles by Skill Level
(only $27 each)
Bundle #1:
Complete Beginner Serving System - $27
Complete Beginner Serving System: The Ultimate Support System for Beginners
Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:
🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide - $7
Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon
Stop letting pressure situations destroy your serves?
You'll Get
- ✓3-bounce physical preparation setup system
- ✓Mental routine for target pre-selection and visualization
- ✓Technical execution checklist for automatic consistency
- ✓Proven tips for bulletproof toss consistency
- ✓Pressure-proof strategies that eliminate serving errors
Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Guide Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played) Checklist pdf:
🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Guide Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves Guide - $7
You'll Get:
✓Learn exactly what to look for in your player's serving form so you can provide meaningful feedback.
✓Discover how to provide encouragement that actually improves performance and mental toughness.
✓Know exactly what to ask coaches to show you're engaged and help your player develop properly.
✓Simple, effective drills that don't require a gym or expensive equipment.
✓Understand the language coaches use so you can better support your player's development.
✓Help your player develop the psychological aspects of serving that many coaches don't have time to address.
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?
What Are You Looking For?
Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:
🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide -
Players! Learn How To Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon
Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist pdf
🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist Guide
Parents! Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played)
Hi there!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.
Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you can learn more each week!
Stay strong! Stay motivated!
-Coach April
SUSCRIBE to my email newsletter below!
Click to learn more about the weekly volleyball classes and clinics or email info@imrpoveyourvolley.com for information
Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!
A-1 Vegas Volley VBC
In It To Win It Tournament
May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament
Gold Medalists
18s Premier Division
Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts
Ready to energize your volleyball mom journey?
Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list above on ImproveYourVolley.com.
You'll receive energy-boosting tips, exclusive insights from me, Coach April Chapple on maintaining momentum in volleyball.
Let's power up the Vegas volleyball scene together!
Recent Articles
-
The Underhand Volleyball Serve How Should A Beginner Serve The Basics
May 15, 26 03:57 AM
Here's a ten step check list for beginners who can easily learn in ten steps how to perform the underhand volleyball serve. -
What's The Block in Volleyball?: Where Do Blockers Place There Hands?
May 15, 26 03:55 AM
Another way to learn how to block in volleyball efficiently is to keep the palms of your hands up close to your shoulders in a ready position before the rally. -
Volleyball Ball Handling Begins With Ball Control and Faster Footwork
May 15, 26 03:54 AM
Improve your passing skills with great ball control and volleyball ball handling skills along with faster footwork when moving to a served ball on your court.