This drill is effective practice both for serve receive and serving. Because of the amount of jogging involved, it can be used as an effective warm up. Also, it allows players to practice their hitting approach and the transition from serve receive to attacking.
Set Up
One side of the court will have a line of two to three players waiting to serve. The other side will have a setter at the net and three passers in serve receive with a line of players waiting to pass.
The Concept
One player will serve the ball, forcing the players on serve receive to make an accurate pass to the setter. The player who passed the ball will transition to hit a back row attack. Rather than taking a full swing, the player will either catch the ball or hit an easy down ball. The player then shags the ball and joins the serving line. The next player in the passing line fills in the hole on the serve receive side.
Player Transitions
- After a player serves he goes to the end of the passing line.
- After a player passes and hits the ball he goes to the end of the serving line.
- The setter does not transition. If your team has multiple setters you can rotate them at appropriate intervals.
Adjustments and Tips
- You can add a hitting line for any of the positions. For example, you can add a line of middle blockers waiting to hit quick sets or a line of outside hitters waiting to hit balls on the antenna. Passers will transition to the hitting line after they pass. Alternately, if you want to give a specific two or three players hitting practice, passers can transition directly to serving.
- Having players catch the ball while hitting will reduce the number of balls rolling around the gym. Loose balls greatly increase the risk of injury.
