First to 25 (Passing and decision making)

Purpose: To train passing and decision-making in a competitive environment
 
How it works: Players split into two groups. Each group positions three passers, a setter and a target on the court and remaining players at the end line. Teams alternate serve until one team reaches 25 points. A Perfect pass receives one point, and a perfect set receives one point. A missed serve gives two points for the receiving side.
 
Variations: Add a middle and outside attacker on each side of the net and award two points for a successful middle attack and one point for a successful outside attack.
 
Requirements: At least ten players, cart of balls and a full court

Aces and Nails (avoid the best passer)

Three passers- trying to serve tough- if you get aced as a passer- you become a server- rotate to the left every serve (three passers and extra is standing at sideline next to the right back passer). Passers count how many 3’s they get- game to seven.

Blind man block

One blocker and one hitter on either side of the net (spares behind)

Coach tosses ball from behind the blocker to a hitter on the other side of the net. Hitter must hit the ball line if coaches tosses to the pin or cross court if he tosses inside (almost to middle). Works on the blocker watching his hitter and moving accordindly.

Challenge Three (Individual Serving and Passing)

Passing on left- serving on right- groups of three- narrow courts

server vs passer (target for passer)- winner can serve or pass- if you ace- it’s a big point- if passer wins (game to 2) then server and target switch. If server wins- can decide if he or she passes or serves.

Golden Egg (warm-up drill)

Purpose: To work on ball control, communication between players, and managing complexity

How it Works: Four players set up for short court with two players on each side of the net. Each pair is given a “golden egg” ball which they cannot let touch the ground. What makes this so hard? The “golden eggs” aren’t the only balls in the drill. The third ball introduced is the ball which is used for rallying. One team initiates the rally by “serving” the playing ball over the net with a set. Whoever passes the ball on the other side cannot be holding their team’s golden egg, and must toss it to their partner so they can pass the rally volleyball but not drop the golden egg. The rally continues until someone wins the point with the rally volleyball, or until one team drops their “golden egg.” One point is rewarded for a point made with the rally volleyball, and two points are rewarded for a “golden egg” dropped ball.

Requirements: 4 players, 3 balls and at least half of a court

Mini Games Drill (Team play)

Purpose: To train teams to play under pressure

How it works:
This mini-game drill sets up with six players on each side with the score tied at 20-20. The coach tosses in a free ball and both teams play to win the point. This continues until a team reaches 23. At that point, they earn the right to serve. The winner is the first team to 25.

Variations: After one set, you may want to swap front and back row players. You may also want to give teams time to discuss strategy between sets.

Requirements: 12 players, a cart of balls, a full court and a coach

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5 before 2 (Defensive Drill)

Purpose: To pit hitters and defenders against one another in a quick, engaging drill
 
How it Works: Three outside hitters line up in left front. A coach tosses a free ball to a setter, who sets to the outside. The hitters get a point if their swing is a kill. The six defenders on the opposite side get a point every time they dig a ball that is playable. The outside hitters must get 5 points before the digging team gets 2 points! The players aren’t the only ones who get to have fun in this drill. For the losing team, the coach can opt to make a consequence (like 5 push-ups or sit-ups, sprints, etc.)
 
Variations: Instead of having your outside hitters be the offenders, ask your right side hitters and middle hitters to have a go at the drill, as well.

Bundle (Serve Receive)

To set up, assign one team to serve and the other to receive. The goal is to earn points for passes and kills. The better the pass, the more points earned. As a bonus, teams can add 2 more points if they make the first ball kill.

For example, let’s say the receiving team earns 3 points for the pass plus 2 for the first ball kill. Bundling the points together, they get 5 points for the play.

The serving team can earn points too. When they stop the attack, they get one point and the chance to serve-receive to boost their score. The game ends when one team scores 25 points.

4 Corners Serving and Passing (Warm-Up Drill)

Purpose: To warm up a team’s passing and serving in a short amount of time. This is a great drill to do as a warm-up as it targets the basics of the game but progresses every ten reps or so.

How it Works: Have a passer in each corner of the court. Have at least one or two players behind those passers whose job is to give reps to the passer across the net. The progression is simple; each passer will pass a certain number of free balls, then down balls (hitters are still standing, warming up their arms), then real serves from behind the end line. 

Requirements: A full team, a cart of balls and a full court

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Dig set/Box Drill (Warm-up Drill)

Players divide in two lines- one line in position 5 and one line in 1

Targets in positions 4 and 2

Coach or player hitting ball at alternating lines from position 3

Digger must dig ball to middle of attack line, non-digging player must move in and set a high ball to opposite side. Ball is caught by the target.

Setting player must move to be next target. Digger goes to the other line.

Target to receive Set goes to back of line on their side.

Progression: Targets now approach and catch or easy hit)

Next- targets become blockers- targets are game speed hitting

Next- blockers move to diggers etc. Must have full compliment of players to do this.