2014 NCAA Champions; back-to-back NCAA Championship Coach (2013-14);
four consecutive NCAA Championships (2010, 2009, 2008, 2007) and seven overall;
5x AVCA National Coach of the Year, over 1000 career coaching victories,
recognized by USA Volleyball as one of their All-Time Great Coaches in 2005
Get an inside look at training powerful hitters from one of the most successful coaches in NCAA women's volleyball history. Starting with the approach and swing and finishing with competitive team drills, coaching legend Russ Rose shows you how to get the best out of your outside hitters.
Characteristics of an Outside Hitter
Coach Rose begins with expectations for outside hitters and what they need to do on the court to be successful. His philosophy will provide you with a blueprint for developing great outside hitters.
Passing and Hitting Drills
Coach Rose showcases a series of drills that enable outside hitters to practice the movement patterns they need to master to be successful. Coach Rose shows you how to adjust the drill to see how movement patterns change based on where the ball is served. As the drill progresses, defenders and blockers are added and scoring is added to make the training more game-like.
Blocking and Hitting Drills
This set of drills, which includes tip coverage to attack, digging to attack and blocking to attack, gives players opportunities to block from both the left side and middle before transitioning to a good attack position. Players are trained to work hard to get a big swing coming off the block.
Drills for Hitting Out of System
Out-of-system drills offer the opportunity for players other than setters to practice setting the ball to outside hitters. These drills also teach hitters how to adjust for an out-of-system ball.
Competitive Drills
One of most beneficial drill segments in the presentation is this series of competitive drills. These drills use scoring systems to push players to compete. Coach Rose has outside hitters battle head-to-head in 6v6 games. These mini-games are scored to seven points, but only one player from each side can be set during the game. You'll see many different iterations of this drill including OH vs OH, RS vs RS, and back row attacker vs back row attacker.
Another competitive drill is played 5v5 with no middles. Only pin hitters and pipe attackers can attack in this drill. Hitters learn how to take advantage of solo blocks, players learn how to block solo when necessary, and everyone learns how to defend when the block is not perfect.
Conditioning for Hitters
All of these drills feature multiple attacks and game-like contacts in rapid succession. Though conditioning is certainly a big part of these drills, Coach Rose designs them as volleyball drills first; the conditioning is just a result of the pace of the contacts.
Coach Rose gives you numerous drills that you can start using in your gym immediately. In addition, his observation on the different roles an outside hitter must master might change how you evaluate players in the future.
56 minutes. 2015.
VD-04801B: with Joe Sagula, University of North Carolina Head Coach;
2014 ACC Coach of the Year, 4x ACC Coach of the Year; 6x ACC Champions;
Joe Sagula unveils an entire series of training drills especially for liberos and defensive specialists. He presents over 20 unconventional, fast-paced and fun individual and game-action training drills that will keep your defensive players from getting stale.
Coach Initiated Drills
Coach Sagula begins with basic individual drills that focus on the techniques and mechanics associated with the libero position. Your players will get a significant number of repetitions while working on their defensive posture, vision, instincts, reaction, movement and ball control. Overall, 13 drills are introduced in this section alone. Each one focuses on small aspects of what a libero needs, creating a total package. All of these drills are initiated by the coach who tosses or hits balls at the libero, giving quality feedback along the way. This creates a slower-paced atmosphere that allows defensive players to focus on their posture and the techniques of digging.
Player Initiated Drills
Running player initiated drills makes the drills more game-like and also helps other position players by allowing them to gain serving, setting or hitting reps. These drills will help your players build their communication skills, which in turn helps them improve their relationships during on-court play. These drills are a little more intense and game-like, requiring multiple skills to be used by multiple players.
Many of the drills work the relationship between the libero and back row setter as they defend out of the back row together. Your players will improve their space relationships and become more comfortable working with each other in serve receive. This is valuable for teams that run a 5-1 offense or 6-2 when the front row setter gets subbed out for an attacker.
Team Drills
Coach Sagula brings all the skills from previous drills together in a game-like situation through a series of 6-on-6 drills. Players compete for points while focusing on certain parts of a libero's game. The "Bounce Plus One" drill is a wash drill that works a team's out-of-system and in-system play. Different players are forced to set a second ball and run the offense. At the same time hitters get great opportunities to work on their transition.
Order now and give your defensive specialists and liberos the quality reps and drill variety they need to stay engaged in practice and the tools they need to succeed on game day.
77 minutes. 2015.
VD-04801C: with Bryan Bunn,
North Carolina State Head Women's Volleyball Coach
I have honestly never seen a video that covers so much for the setter position. - Shawn Stoliker, Millbrook (NY) High School Varsity Volleyball Coach
Take any setter with beginner, intermediate or advanced skills, and move her to the next level with the drills in this presentation. North Carolina State Head Coach Bryan Bunn covers everything you need to know to train your setter mentally, physically and technically to be successful in game action.
Setter Fundamentals
Train your setters to master the fundamentals like starting position, body position and hand position on the ball.
You will see a series of drills that gives setters reps from different locations on the court and to different attacking positions. These drills create opportunities for setters to practice in game-like situations instead of standing still. Each drill shows how to set to both left- and right-side hitters. They can be used to train novice setters and to refine the skills of more experienced ones.
Situational Drills
In this segment, you will learn how to train game-like situations that setters must master in order to run an effective offense. Skills for addressing these situations include jump setting, tight pass sets, spin moves on bad passes and setting after the block. Coach Bunn's players demonstrate each drill as he discusses the correct way to perform various skills while giving constant feedback on areas that need improvement.
These fast-paced, high-action drills cover concepts like covering hitters, spatial awareness, opponents' defensive vision, and defensive positioning.
In the drill "Nines Cover Tip," setters set a back set, turn and cover a tip, dig the tip to themselves and turn and set the high ball to the left side. This drill, performed in a controlled setting, is an amazing simulation of the of fast-paced, chaotic action of a rally.
The segment also introduces drills that work on emergency techniques, releasing from each rotational spot, ball control, speed to the ball and developing a feel for the ball-all of which are important setter skills.
Characteristics and Priorities of a Setter
Coach Bunn identifies and explains six important mental characteristics to look for in a setter. He also highlights the three most important priorities of a setter and gives four pieces of advice all setters can benefit from knowing.
Coach Bunn gives you an arsenal of setter training drills. Using these drills will provide quality repetitions for your setters and will lead to consistency and accuracy from the most critical position on the court.
75 minutes. 2015.
VD-04801D: with Dennis Hohenshelt,
University of Virginia Head Coach; former assistant coach at Penn State
Get all of the information you need to train your middles to perform their dual role as a blocking force and as an available quick attack option on every point.
Virginia Head Coach and former Penn State assistant coach Dennis Hohenshelt provides step-by-step instructions for attacking, blocking and transition footwork, arm swing, blocking hand positioning and even running slides. Every skill in this presentation includes a complete explanation and demonstration.
Throughout out the presentation, Hohenshelt coaches his players as they demonstrate the drills and gives them the type of valuable feedback you'll want to share with your team.
The first part of the presentation focuses on the offensive aspects of the middle hitter position. You'll learn effective practice drills for developing efficient footwork in middle hitters, which leads to dynamic approaches to the attack.
Warm-up Drills for Middles
Coach Hohenshelt begins with two warm-up drills that stress good approach footwork and attacking different locations on the court. He emphasizes proper approach mechanics and also tells you what to look for and how to make corrections.
Once in the correct position, middles will be able to easily hit with power to zone five or cut back to zone one.
Serve Receive for Middles
Learn drills that will help your middles understand how to transition from different locations on the court without getting trapped in the serve receive. This is important as middles tend to either get in the way of passers or don't get into a good position to be involved in the offense.
Discover a drill that will help with the confusion caused by short serves. This drill will help your team improve communication between the middle and the passer as they decide who needs to play the ball and will provide passing reps for your middle.
Blocking for Middles
The second part of this presentation breaks down the skills needed to be a great blocker. Coach Hohenshelt takes the time to discuss the technique a middle hitter uses to go from base to pin blocking positions. He covers body posture, footwork, hand work and how to be disciplined as a middle blocker.
Hohenshelt explains and demonstrates a hybrid blocking style that's similar to the swing block or what he likes to call the "elbow drive." Coach Hohenshelt advocates a bent elbow drive, which he believes makes it easier for his blockers to seal the net.
He also covers footwork and follows up with a series of drills to reinforce proper techniques. Drills include training middle hitters to use their hands independently while blocking and also teaching middles to block quick attacks by jumping into the angle.
The last drill in the presentation puts everything together. This combination drill is a game-speed drill that involves the middle passing, attacking, blocking, transitioning and attacking again. Middle hitters will get numerous game-speed reps while working on every skill they will use in a match.
In this presentation, the technique is broken down bit by bit for novice players who need to learn basic skills. For the more advanced middle, the presentation offers complicated transition patterns and drills that force the middle to use their hands independently while blocking.
The middle hitter role is difficult to train because it requires excellence in two very difficult skills, blocking and hitting. Coach Hohenshelt gives you the tools you need to train this position with confidence and to bring out the very best in your middle hitters.
58 minutes. 2015.
VD-04801E: with Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton University;
2x National Coach of the Year; 2012 MVC regular season and tournament champions; all-time wins leader at Creighton
Typically, ball control work is a player's least favorite part of practice. Kirsten Bernthal Booth shows you how to engage players in this area with a variety of drills designed to challenge them physically and mentally. She includes drills and variations that will take your players' ball control to a whole new level and will introduce on-court problem solving. In addition to forearm passing, these drills will test the abilities of your players to set, tip, roll, swing with control and even use other body parts to win points!
Warm-up Drills
Help your players get a feel for the ball! Use these drills at the start of practice to get players working on their passing and setting techniques. Unlike conventional "toss, pass and catch" at a standstill, these drills are executed while players are moving, which makes them more game-like.
Looking for an innovative way to warm up while focusing on improving ball control? Coach Bernthal Booth shares a creative and fun partner game called "Golf" that requires players to complete different ball-handling challenges before advancing to the next hole. This drill challenges players' ball-handling skills while also requiring them to problem solve.
Pepper Drills
Discover a variety of pepper options including two-, three- and four-player options as well as an over-the-net series. As players collaborate to keep the ball in play, they're also working on a variety of ball-handling skills such as passing, setting, digging, tipping, rolling and attacking. Many of the drills involve progressions that are great for athletes of all skills levels, from beginners to the most advanced players. With no less than 20 variations, this presentation gives you enough drills to fill a season's worth of practice plans with fresh warm-up games!
Competitive Ball Control Drills
Learn five short-court competitions that can be used to start or finish practice. In these 2v2 drills, players play to win, not to keep the ball in play. Each game includes a series of progressions that require players to really focus on ball control as they contact the ball in different ways. These short-court drills emphasize problem-solving skills needed in the chaotic situations that often occur in evenly matched games.
One example of Coach Bernthal Booth's short-court competitions is the "Antenna Game." This creative set limits how players can contact the ball while working on defending and attacking different angles. It's a great drill to help players recognize and react to attacks from different angles, which is something that coaches often have difficulty getting players to understand.
Coach Bernthal Booth showcases a fresh set of drills to challenge and develop your players' ball-control skills while bringing an atmosphere of fun into practice. This presentation includes drills that can be adapted for all levels and is a must-have for coaches looking for new ways to teach basic volleyball skills.
50 minutes. 2015.
VD-04801F: with Kent Miller, St. Louis University Head Women's Volleyball Coach;
1992 U.S. Olympic Team Assistant Coach, Assistant Coach to Team USA World Grand Prix (Gold Medal)
Every rally begins with the serve, but is your team gaining an advantage every time they serve? In this presentation, Kent Miller takes a comprehensive look at serving and how you can train your team to serve more efficiently and aggressively. You will learn 13 drills that focus on serving technique, tactical serving and team play.
Serving Strategies
Using a whiteboard, Coach Miller stresses the significance, objectives and strategies of serving. His in-depth analysis of serving styles and how to best use personnel are more valuable than any drill. His philosophical approach to serving will be an eye opener for any coach who ranks serving low on his or her strategic priorities list.
You will learn what to work on to give your team a strong advantage from the service line. And how working on serving time, pace, profile, contact, metrics and drill design can play a huge role in your team's serving success.
Serving Mechanics
On the court, Coach Miller focuses on mechanics. You will learn how to perform the float serve, jump float and jump spin serve. Miller shows the essential techniques for the toss, footwork, contact and body mechanics for each serve, using an easy-to-follow format that simplifies the teaching process.
Serving Drills
The last segment of the presentation includes a series of drills for working on everything that has previously been explained. Coach Miller begins with a warm-up drill and then proceeds to technique and tactical drills.
The technique drills use partners to provide feedback since a coach cannot always be present. The techniques of each type of serve are practiced while serving lines and diagonals are short and deep.
The tactical drills work on teaching the strategies of the game while giving players the necessary repetitions for mastery. These strategy drills cover such things as zone serving, serving at passers, serving between passers, serving to specific passers and avoiding certain passers. The last drill is a competitive drill that not only works on serving strategies but also gives a team's serve receive passers some competition. This drill may be well known but Coach Miller adds a unique twist on how to score it that is realistic to the game of volleyball.
Pressuring your opponent with a tough serve is critical in today's game, with offenses becoming more dynamic and complex. Using classroom sessions, technique drills and tactical drills, this presentation gives you a full toolbox for making your team great at the skill of serving. Covering everything from fundamentals to higher-level strategy, this presentation will help any program improve in the practice gym and on the competition court.
59 minutes. 2015.
VD-04801G: with Mike Johnson, University of Notre Dame Associate Head Coach;
former Xavier University Head Coach; averaged more than 20 wins per year the last five seasons; three consecutive runner-up finishes in the Atlantic 10 Conference
Notre Dame Associate Head Coach Mike Johnson presents an effective, comprehensive tool for developing the two most critical aspects of defense: skill and heart. Coach Johnson introduces a series of warm-up drills and competitive game-like drills for maximizing reps and cultivating a "never quit" defensive spirit.
Every drill in this video revolves around players hitting or attacking balls to defenders. Defenders work on different types of digs but everything is realistic to the game or game situations. All of these drills help to develop defensive skills while also allowing players to work on offensive skills.
Defensive Posture, Floor Skills & Warm-up Drills
Coach Johnson emphasizes the need for good defensive posture and the importance of "building your platform" behind the ball. He provides an organized presentation on how to teach both of these skills and he demonstrates effective drills for training these skills.
You will also learn basic floor skills such as digging high and low balls and digging balls outside the body. Since not every ball can be played with a forearm pass, you will also see defensive techniques such as the sprawl, pancake and fist.
Coach Johnson pulls it all together with a warm-up drill that forces players to randomly use each skill as they would in a game.
Competitive Games & Drills
In these drills, players are rewarded by either performing correct techniques or based on the outcome of their action. While fun and competitive, these drills also teach basic defensive skills and build a defensive mindset in players. Here are a few of the drills that you will see in this presentation:
- Coaches on Boxes - Emphasizes the need to be "stopped and balanced" and to make a "good first step" while playing defense. Performed in a game-like setting, this drill rewards a player for making the right defensive moves or rewards the outcome of a good pass.
- Going for a Run - Building on the theme of being "stopped and balanced" and taking a good first step, this drill adds live hitters so that defenders can learn to read hitters. Coach Johnson shares cues you can use to help defenders make the correct reads.
- Step-Play-Swing - This is an effective drill for getting all your players involved, offensively and defensively. Hitters toss to themselves and then attack a group of defenders who need to read the hitters' intent. This requires the defender to call out and communicate with the other defensive players. This game-like drill that can be used to teach skills or used as a warm-up drill.
Coach Johnson covers individual defense in a very unique way. All you need to do is emphasize the defensive process and give feedback as the players are engaged in game-action drills. Even experienced coaches will find a new way to improve players' defensive skills using the techniques given in this excellent presentation.
By teaching and performing these drills, your team will develop the two elements needed to play successful defense: heart and skill.
72 minutes. 2015.