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Player Praise and Discipline: One way to improve motivation and attitude of players is to recognize their positive contributions and their good play. I learned a long time ago that it works much better to give praise in front of the team or in front of another player. Calling a player into your office or seeing her in the hall and having a brief word with her doesn’t have the same impact on her as praising her in front of her peers. Being very vocal and generous with positive feedback can lift spirits and make someone’s day. Really, this principle...

Rosie Wegrich, Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona, CA. Serving: Serving through the seams with velocity resulting in the middle back (aka prime court area) will create indecision (yours/mine), or create an inconsistent platform angle (angle of deflection), or draw the outside hitter into the seam at LB. This single feature has turned our team into serving aces or one option passes. We also finished second in block assists through our serving and blocking plans infirmity. Good luck.     

Practice Plans: Something I started doing years ago is to write out my practice plan on a 5×9 spiral notebook. I get a new one for the start of each season. I start the season with plans for our first team meeting and end the season with notes of individual meetings with the team members. I’ve felt for a long time that we as coaches need to do a great deal of preparation for practices. Using the spiral notebook helped me incredibly with organization. Each page of the notebook is dated, practice is planned by the 5, 10, 15 minute...

Tip by Lisa Manis, Dickinson HS in Dickinson, TX. DS Reaction Time Drill: When working with the DS, I have my girls face away from the net in a defensive position. As they have their backs to me, I slap the ball or have them turn to face me with any command. As they turn and face me, I serve the ball to them. I usually use our ball machine and the ball is served quickly. Your DS players must react fast to the ball movement and have a good platform as they turn. I have used this with our...

Hitter Coverage: In order to improve hitter-coverage I use a drill that incorporates the full offense and use the drill at least one or two days prior to each match. You may want to use the drill more often until the team perfects it. I use three block-its and have team members hold them, and move to be in front of the set if necessary. Then I stand in the middle back of the court and toss balls for the setter who sets outside, back and middle. The setter can already be released or release on the slap of the...