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Tip by Karen Donovan, Barstow High School, Barstow CA. I coach Volleyball and softball, and something that I do during every post game discussion is Ata-babies and ownership. I go around to each player and if the player made an error or struggled with something during the game, she takes ownership of it and says what she needs to do to improve in that area. She follows that with an Ata-baby, recognizing something that her teammate did well. This keeps the players accountable as well as supporting her teammates.   

Tip by Scot Stacey, Honeyville, Utah. I coach a lot of different ages, so I try to have drills that work at different levels. This one works better for older, obviously, but it works well for younger ones too. I call this drill 'Release'. You start with all kids in three lines on one endline. The coach stands at the net and either tosses, bounces, or free balls to the team to get it started.  The first player calls it and passes it for their teammate. That player 'releases' and heads over to the other side of the net. The...

Tip by Jacob Ostema, Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. A fun drill we like to do in the spring (especially if working with lower numbers): Tiger Pepper (Or name of your mascot) Score starts at 0. End is 15. 3 back row players. Setter is front row Middle is front row NO LEFT FRONT! Introduce ball from down ball or free ball (coach can do it to keep it fast).  WINNER OF RALLY gets next ball.  One side gets ball, rally out. Point for winning. Easy there. Middles can run anything in range what a middle can block or...

Tip by Tammy Swearingen, Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA.  When working with younger players who struggle to keep their platform away from their body, we put a backpack on them with the pouch on the front of them. I place a ball in the pouch so it protrudes and forces the young players to keep their platform away from their body. It has proven to be a helpful tool to get them the feel of creating space between their platform and their body when passing.

Tip by Stephanie at Crutcher Indian Creek MS in Waterman, IL Drop Shoulder Passing Practice  This drill you will use the basketball hoops. I have a player at the elbow of the free throw line. I have them face into the lane. Then I have another player on the opposite side of the lane on the block by the basket. This person tosses the ball to the inside of the player on the free throw line who then uses a drop shoulder pass to try to lift the ball up and into the basket. I have the passer switch sides...