NOVEMBER Group Training with Coach April Registration is NOW open for Group Training Sessions with me Coach April For BOYS on SATURDAYS 11/8, 11/22, 11/29 For GIRLS on SUNDAYS 11/9, 11/23, 11/30 From 10-11am at the Its All Volleyball gym. Email: info@improveyourvolley.com to register or for more information

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.

'Three Spikers and One Digger" Volleyball Drill

Digging line, digging middle, digging cross court.

Working on 

• improving your digging form
• Making a playable ball inside the ten foot line that a setter can get to.
• Keeping the digging platform two inches below belly button level and not swinging the arms but freezing the platform on ball contact so you just redirect hard hits to the intended target 
• Diggers stay for 3,4,5 rounds in a row
• Hitters work on correct hitting form ...contacting the ball high... like they would if they were hitting on the net.

Is it me or does this feel like a video game?

Three Different Hits and Three Digs

The Libero workout.

Three balls to the target. A hard hit. A tip. A deep ball to the corner to chase down.

Working on...

• Libero training digging three types of attacked balls...

• digging the hard hit
• reading then chasing down the tip while trying to stay on your feet

• running down the deep shot to the far Zone 5 corner while trying to stay on your feet

• digging a settable ball (high in the court as near to Zone 3 - middle front- as possible) if not possible then to the middle of the court

• getting comfortable covering the entire zone 5 left back area of the court while taking only 3 - 4 steps to get to each ball

• reading fast and reacting fast while controlling our body parts so we can control the ball

"The Two on Two" Volleyball Drill

Working on.....Line and cross court digging reps

Hitters are in zone 4 and zone 2.

Two diggers in zone 5 and zone 6.

Two targets catching the balls while standing on the other side of the hitters ball court

First Zone 5 digger digs the line ball hit by hitter in Zone 4. (Brandon in turquoise shirt)

They dig ball to target close to Coach Brandon basket.

At the same time hitter in zone 2 hits to digger in Zone 6 who digs the ball back to the target standing in zone 3/2.

Then digger in zone 5 does a quarter turn and faces hitter in Zone 2 who hits at them to dig the ball to their target standing in zone 3/2. 

At the same time digger in zone 6 does a quarter turn to their left and digs the ball cross court that was hit from the hitter in zone 4 (Coach Brandon).

Hitters don’t hit until they have the eye contact of the digger .

• Diggers working on staying low even during their turn as they prep to dig the next ball

• Diggers working on target practice

• Diggers work on keeping hips below the level of the oncoming ball

• Do for time or do after setting a goal for perfect digs to the target

1. What is a defensive specialist in volleyball?

A defensive specialist is a back-row player who is usually the best on the team when it comes to defensive skills like digging, passing, serving and serve receive.

They're crucial team members who help defend their court by preventing opponents' attacks from hitting the floor and scoring and help to maintain the rally momentum with precise ball control.

2. How is a defensive specialist different from a libero?

While both positions focus on defense, defensive specialists follow regular substitution rules and attack the ball from the backrow, whereas liberos have unique substitution privileges but cannot serve in most leagues.

Unlike the libero, defensive specialists can jump and hit the ball from the backrow, and they wear the same colored jersey as the other members on the team and must be substituted within the substitution zone, following standard volleyball substitution rules.

3. What skills should a defensive specialist focus on?

What my defensive players focus on during private training lessons with me include:
- Reading opponent attacks and anticipating where the attacked ball once it passes the blockers hands will land in the court and be there ahead of time to dig the ball back up
- Quick upper and lower body to the a ball or to the ground reaction time in addition to being agile and quick enough to make diving saves to keep the ball off the floor
- Developing precise volleyball passing technique for serve receive and increased ball control skills during long rallies
- Excellent communication skills with teammates in order to talk about quickly what is happening and what is about to happen during a rally
- Strategic positioning and court awareness 
- Developing a consistent serving ability in order to be a dependable point scoring player on the team 
- Working on forward backward and side setting volleyball skills from the left side of the court

4. Why did you choose an alligator to represent defensive specialists?

First of all I love reptiles and I chose the alligator because of its natural defensive characteristics including

• lightning-quick reflexes 
• low-to-ground positioning
• incredible reaction speed
• the ability to barrel roll repeatedly while controlling their body parts and not get dizzy 

Just as alligators protect their territory with unbelievable laser focus and aggressive response, defensive specialists are responsible for guarding their court with similar intensity and determination.

5. What are the key defensive positions on the court?

The main back row defensive positions include:

• Position 5 (left back): Primary defense against outside hitters
• Position 6 (middle back): Central defensive coordinator
• Position 1 (right back): Defense against opposite hitters

Defensive specialists must improve all three of these player positions to effectively contribute to the team's defense.

6. How can I improve my defensive reactions?

Enhance your defensive reactions through:

• Regular agility drills
• Vision training exercises
• Platform control practice
• Quick-response drills
• Game-like scenario training
• Consistent footwork practice
• Mental preparation techniques

7. What equipment does a defensive specialist need?

Essential equipment includes:

• Knee pads for floor protection
• Comfortable, lightweight shoes with good grip
• Moisture-wicking clothing
• Position-specific training aids
• Protective gear for diving practice
• My motivational alligator shirt for mental preparation and motivation

8. How do I know if the defensive specialist position is right for me?

You might be perfect for this position if you:

• may not be the tallest on your team but love the challenge of keeping balls off the floor
• have quick reflexes and good court reading skills and enjoy analyzing which balls will be your responsibility and which ones will be for your teammates on defense
• enjoy the strategic aspects of defense which include anticipating where and how fast the opposing team's setter is going to run their offensive plays and deliver sets to which hitter 
• don't mind diving, hitting the floor, getting dirty and doing the 'dirty' work

• 
  excel in high-pressure situations which often happen in long rallies and with tie scores close to game-point situations where one point or two points needed to sideout can make a difference with a missed pass or a serve that's out 
• communicate well with teammates both on serve receive and on defense

9. What are the most important defensive drills?

Some critical volleyball defensive drills include:

• Down-ball reaction drills like the Hit and Dig drill
• Diving and rolling exercises which I include in my pre-game warmup team drills and pre-practice client drills so my players have hit the floor a number of times before we even begin our sessions or the game

• Cross-court defensive coverage in drills that focus on digging the cross court hitters because that's where the majority of the balls are attacked to
• Tip coverage drills because diggers need to be able to cover the court quickly with the least amount of steps to dig balls tipped over the block close to the ten foot line 

• Serve receive drills so that primary passers and defensive specialists know where to be in each serve receive passing rotation when running plays on offense like the 5-1 offense or the 6-2 offense 
• Out of system drills that rehearse emergency plays that happen when the first pass doesnt get to the setter 
• Team defensive formations like the man-back defense, the man-up defense or the rotation defense

10. How can wearing your position-specific gear possibly help improve your mental performance and self confidence?

My volleyball position inspired shirts, posters, aprons, stickers, hoodies and sweatshirts like my alligator shirt can:

• Boost confidence through position identity
• Remind players of their defensive mindset
• Create team unity through shared symbolism
• Reinforce defensive specialist pride
• Maintain focus on defensive responsibilities
• Inspire peak performance through visual motivation
• Improve and grow self confidence among shorter players who're often the 

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. 

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.

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From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?

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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

In the city that never sleeps, my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are your 24/7 support system.

More than just clothing, my shirts are a tribute to the tireless spirit of Vegas volleyball moms.

With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.

In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.

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!

Dear Vegas Volleyball Mom, I know that balancing Vegas life with volleyball commitments can feel like walking a tightrope, but my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are here to support you every step of the way.

As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.

In a city known for its high energy, finding moments of calm can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of volleyball life.

My volleyball mom shirts aren't just about looking good - they're about feeling good too.

With messages that promote mindfulness and positivity, they serve as a wearable reminder to breathe, center yourself, and approach each volleyball challenge with a peaceful mindset.

In the fast-paced world of Vegas volleyball, these moments of zen can make all the difference.

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