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Tip by Patrick Helmas, Babson College in Wellesley, MA.   Circle of Life Warmup Drill.Minimum of 3 players, best if done with 4-6 players. For more than 6 players, add a blocker, or a second passer, or more people waiting in each line.To get one point:Team must successfully Serve>Pass>Set>Controlled Hit to a target>Dig to self, and the digger must Catch that dig.NOTE: on each play, the Server also Digs, and the Passer also Hits.After each attempt, rotate to the next spot:Server/Digger>Passer/Hitter>Setter>back in line to Serve.We normally spend 1 minute warming up and getting used to the drill, then do a...

Tip by Shel DeLisle, Milwaukee, WI. Early in the season, we often have trouble connecting with our middles. This drill helps us work on timing and communication between the setter(s) & middles.Middle Hitter Catch, Tip, AttackThis drill can be done in one direction on the court or both. I have enough players to run it in both directions.Side A:• Setter (can have in RF or come from behind RB as a progression)• 3 players in Serve Receive positions• Middle Hitter at net• Server(s) on end line with balls & ball courtSide B:• Setter (can have in RF or come from...

Tip by Brandon Lichtie in Amarillo, TX. We call this the Modified Butterfly Drill. This drill was designed for two purposes; first, to make our OHs learn to hit different spots, and second, to teach back row coverage against an attacking OH.Setup:1.Line of tossers in right back at about 15 ft.(We start with 3)2. Line of diggers in left back on the same side as the tossers. (First person should be in base.)3. A line at target on the same side of the net as the tossers and diggers.4. On the opposite side of the net, the setter, or setters...

Tip by Anita Burns, McAlester, OK. My team's current favorite drill is "Rotating Buffs"Split your team evenly and place on opposite sides of the net. (This drill does not work well for small teams of 10 or less.) For large teams, place 6 on floor and remainder waiting to rotate into the front left position. Each side has one designated setter who remains in that position (either front or back row. I start with setter stationery on the front row then put her into back row after a few rounds. This helps her learn the difference in coming from back row...

Zig Zag Shuttle Passing Tip by Morgan Johnson from Idaho.Split the team into 2 groups.Group A will stand on either side of the net facing the back line. Each holding a ball they will be the tossers.Group B will stand on the back line facing someone from Group A. They will be the passers.Setting the timer for 2-3 minutes. Group B will run from the back line to the 10ft line to pass the ball. Once passed, they will shuffle back and to the left (clockwise), touch the back line and repeat for the next tosser. As the player reaches...