Passing is very much a skill where repetition is crucial to success. Most college players will tell you that passing a few hundred balls a day is necessary to become skilled and comfortable. With this in mind, it is usually the most simple of drills which will get the most repetitions and, consequently, the best results for you.

Because of its simplicity, effectiveness, and versatility this drill should be a standard for most teams. It allows for a lot of passing and serving reps. Also, because the tempo of the drill is easy to tweak it can be used as a great warm up drill. If you haven't already integrated this drill into your daily practices, you need to do so.

If you are an athlete and you are not getting enough sleep, then it is crucial that you make some lifestyle changes. The average adult needs around 8 hours of sleep per night and teenagers need slightly more. If you aren't getting this much or if your sleep does not leave you feeling well-rested, then a few simple changes will go a long way. Adequate sleep translates into improved performance both in your physical performance on the court and in your mental game and concentration.

Get some sleep, your body will thank you for it.

If you are a recent college grad and you would like to continue playing volleyball, then you should go to Europe. European leagues allow for players to continue their volleyball careers while honing their skills by playing with some of the best players in the world. Also, you will be able to earn a little extra money along the way. Not to mention, having the opportunity to travel and see a beautiful continent.

Familiarize yourself with some of the details of playing in Europe.

If you are a senior then your high school career will soon come to a close. But now is not the time to reminisce. You must set your sights on college ball and get ready to play at the next level. Here are some tips to optimize your time this summer to help ease your transition into the college game.

It is a subtle and delicate art but all good coaches are able to use time outs to sway the direction of the game. Whether it's squashing the rhythm of the opposing team or giving your team a much needed breather, using time outs correctly is a crucial part of your role as a coach. A coach should never be a passive observer of an ongoing game but an active participant. You can hold incredible sway over the direction of a game by learning to manipulate morale, momentum, and rhythm.

Here are some tips for when time outs should be used and when they should not.

So often, younger players simply want to learn how to bounce a ball up to the ceiling when they hit and who can blame them...it is invigorating. Unfortunately, some coaches feed into this and place an emphasis on hitting, much to the players' misfortune. Younger players need to develop a solid foundation which will allow them to grow into well-rounded players. The most crucial aspect of this development is learning how to pass properly and effectively.

Without accurate passing, your team will never have the opportunity to hit effectively. While this is true for all levels of the game, it is especially true at the younger levels. The team which can receive serves efficiently and dig balls will almost always win. It is easy for younger players so slip into "jungle ball" so injecting as much control into the situation as possible is crucial...

If you are like most volleyball players, then you pepper at least once a day. If you are new to volleyball then you will want to familiarize yourself with this drill as soon as possible. It is fortunate that peppering is a daily occurrence because it such a convenient and productive drill. It is a quick and simple way to practice your ball control.

Also, peppering is perhaps one of the best ways to warm up. It allows you to practice the major skills (hitting, passing, and setting) while getting your blood pumping. After peppering, your hitting shoulder should be warmed up sufficiently and you will be ready to play.

As with any sport, it is only a matter of time before you injure something. Of course, that being said, injury is never welcome and it is always frustrating. With this in mind, as a player or as a coach, you can take actions to prevent injuries. One of these is to take the time to familiarize yourself with some of the possible hand injuries.

Diving is a valuable skill in volleyball. While diving should not be a substitute for moving to the ball and getting in the proper position, there is not always sufficient time to do so. Diving allows for the effective digging of balls that would ordinarily be out of reach. For that reason, diving should be a part of every player's repertoire.

A large part of volleyball is anticipating what your opponent will do next. Knowing where the setter will send the ball, if the hitter will go across court or down the line, or where the ball will be served is a huge asset. Most good players have at least one thing in common; they are able to read other players.

Often, reading a player hinges on noticing small details. If you want to be able to read other players you must start to look for things such as the direction of a hitter's approach, which direction a hitter's shoulders are facing, or if a setter opens his shoulders to the court when setting behind him. Simply pay attention to what is going on around you and you will be surprised with how much you pick up on.

This is also one area where doing your homework on a particular team is key. Scouting a team will give you a players tendencies (all players have them). Simply knowing what a player feels more comfortable doing will make it that much easier to shut him down.

Reading other players is a subtle art, but one that is well worth the effort to learn.