Volleyball: Matchlike Spike and Dig

Players stand on the attack line facing the net. If the player is right handed, they start with a left leg step, followed by two quick right-left steps and then jump.

Players approach and jump and imitate a spike by holding the non-hitting hand up and hitting it as it it were a ball.

In pairs player 1 stand at the net on the opposite side of the court to player 2, who is standing close to the attack line facing the net. Player 1 then passes the ball to the baseline on the opposite side of the net. Player 2 runs back and digs the ball back to the net, where player 1 is now standing after moving underneath the net into the setting position after the initial pass. Player 2 then runs from the baseline and spikes the ball. He/she then moves underneath the net to the opposite side of the court to begin the drill again. Each pair has 10 attempts, the best ratio of 'well done/missed' wins.

Starting on the attack line, the players imitate a dig. Then, they jog forward to perform a spike movement. On landing they then move forward to the net to perform a block movement, land and jog backwards to their starting point on the attack line.

2 players stand on either side of the net. One player overhand passes to their team mate who sets the ball back for a spike down the line. On the other side of the net, one blocker stands at the net and attempts to cover a cross court shot, while a digger is at the back of the court, and has to attempt to dig the ball either to their team mate or back over the net.

2 players stand on either side of the net, and the receiver starts with the ball by overhand passing it across the net. This player then passes to their team mate who overhand passes it back for the spike. The receivers are ready to dig the ball back across the court. Have receivers changing positions after every 4 attempts.

Players work in threes starting from a dig and each of them assigns a role: receiver, setter and spiker. As soon as the receiver digs the ball, they run under the net to change the side of the court. Every player changes side when they hit the ball, with the spiker being the last player to move over.

One player overhand throws the ball from Zone 3 to the left wing. Attackers approach and spike.

The spiker begins by setting the ball to the setter, who spikes the ball in return. The spiker now digs the ball in the air to the setter, who this time does set the ball up for the spiker to attack and hit over the net.

In pairs the players stand on either side of the court facing each other (note this drill requires at least two sets of pairs - four players) Player 1 has the ball facing his/her partner. The player with the ball then spikes the ball off the ground to the other side where their partners catches it. The players on the same side of the court then shuffle sideways to change positions with each other. Player 2 then repeats what player 1 has just performed.

Get players into pairs and have them standing across from each other on the court, and with a ball between them. The player with the ball jumps and baseball passes the ball to their team mate, throwing it into the floor so that it bounces high.

Standing on the attack line in pairs, one player underhand throws the ball high, and the other swings their hand back and spikes the ball into the net.

In pairs, one with a ball as a setter, the other approaches to the net and spikes.

Player 1 starts by serving from the base line and then enters the court. He/she then runs into the correct zone (zone 1), where player 2 (standing in zone 4) hits the ball to him/her around waist high. Player 1 then has to dig up the ball, and return it to player 2 as if setting up a spike. Player 1 then returns to their zone, where player 3 (from zone 2) hits the ball to them short in the middle of court. Player 1 then has to dig up the ball back to player 3. Player 1 then returns back to their zone and steps two to three are repeated.

Player 1, standing at the net, performs a block movement, and returns back to zone 1 behind the attack line. Player 2 (standing close to the net in zone 4) then hits the ball to player one to mimic an opponents spike. Player 1 then digs up the ball to player 3 (who is standing close to the net in the centre of the court), who then sets up player 1 to finish with a right side attack. The drill is then repeated.

Player 1 (setter) in Zone 3 jumps to imitate a block at the net, lands and turns to face the back of the court. Player 2 then feeds a high ball (a) to player 1. Player one will then set the ball up close to the net on the left hand side of the court (b) so player 3 (running in from zone 5) can finish with a left side attack. Players 1 and 2 then repeat steps 2 and 3. This time player 1 sets up the ball close to the net on the right hand side of the court (c) so player 4 (running in from zone 1) can finish with a right side attack. Repeat steps one and two, but this time player 2 should set the ball up (d) so player 1 can attempt a ball tipping.

This task will get your players used to receiving a serve and preparing in second fraction to dig up a spike from Zone 4 and Zone 2. Player 1 serves from the opposite side of the court into zone 5. Player 2 (acting as a back row player) then digs up the ball. Player 3 (standing close to the net in zone 4) then spikes the ball to player 1, who has to dig up the ball. Player 4 (standing close to the net in zone 2) then spikes the ball to player 1, who again has to dig up the ball.