From John Thomas,
Your Guide to Volleyball.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Learn names and start communication skills early.

Using the Passing drill Around the World where you start with everyone in one line at the right front defensive position, target, feeder, coach tossing easy balls. Line moves to right back, center, left back, left front then back around.

Rotation = Passer (say name) - target - feeder - go to end of line at next defensive position

The name part - Players must call out their names before they pass the ball. Then everyone (including coach) repeats the name.

The communication part - As soon as another player or the coach can call out the players name before the play, they call out the name and the player must then call the ball (I go, mine). Add a team response of “go-go”.

So it would sound like “chris” - “me” - “go-go”

Variations - Use any passing drill you like. Make the call & response mandatory by enforcing some work if they miss any part of it.