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Tip by Cheryl Burris-- Panama City, FL.Tug o'War - A good competitive game for serving/serve receive. Divide teams equally. One team is serving, the other team has a target, and three players in serve/receive, any extra players form a line behind the end line, they will fill in for the person who passes. That passer becomes the target and target goes to the passing line.The "flag" in the middle is 5 points. The servers are trying to get to 10 points, passers to 0. There is only one score, it changes up or down based on play. Servers are trying...

Doghouse: A Twist on Queen of the Court Tip by Coach Charlie Buzogany.Set-up: Doghouse is essentially set up exactly like Queen of the Court with three back row players and a setter on each side of the net. Players that are off wait behind the endline on the “challenger” side of the net. The other side of the net is the “doghouse”.How to play: The goal of the game is to accumulate points and reach a predetermined score, or have the most points at the end of a specified amount of time. Players can only earn points by winning on the...

Tip by Rebekka Bonnaffee, Hannan High in Covington, LA. DEFENSIVE FLOWPurpose:Great as a warm-up to get team competing immediately. Quickly becomes competitive. Gets team moving in transition from any position on the court. All players play and learn all positions. Great drill to work on communication.Explanation:6 v 6. Initiate with free ball to either side. Every time ball goes over the net, everyone rotates a position. Can have setter stay in her position or designate position as setter’s position (everyone sets). Game progression is as follows: pass, pass, pass – pass, set, set – pass, set, roll shot – pass,...

Tip by Kerri Molitor Oak Harbor, WA. WIN BY TWO!--QUEEN'S COURT A twist on a long-time favorite drill. Traditionally, Queen's Court games plays out 1 ball before rotating a new challenger into the game. To make the drill more realistic, and emphasize the competition and completion of a close game, the Queen's side must defend the serve to score a point, but then score again by defending a Free Ball given to the challengers. The challenging side will always initiate the round with a served ball, but will always be given a "second chance" Free ball to tie the round....

Tip by Holly Postlewaite, Navarre, OH.  Always have a plan to help motivate your players during a time out. Each week leading up to a tournament or game, I pick a word that we use to focus on througout our drills. If I need to refocus or motivate by calling a time out. This is the word I use to regain focus and it gets the team hyped up. Keeps spirits up and energy levels during some of the tougher mental parts of competition. This week our word was passion. AT PRACTICE WE PLAYED WITH PASSION, HIT WITH PASSION....You could...