Hold the ball in the palm of your hand and stand in a good ready position.
Using your bodyweight and movement side-step taking the ball with you, letting it bounce, catching the ball with the other hand and changing direction (don't throw the ball, use the whole body movement to move the ball side-side).
Progression:
You can instruct your players to move the ball faster or get them to keep their knees bent so that they are moving from a low position - this will make the drill a lot harder and more tiring for your players.
Most teams win the dig and then hand the point straight back with a slow, predictable transition swing. The best 2026 sides treat the moment after the dig as their sharpest scoring chance, feeding the middle in transition and running first-tempo attacks off a defensive ball.
When the first pass breaks down, most teams collapse into a high ball straight into the opposing block. The best 2026 sides are building structured out-of-system offences that turn broken plays into scoring chances using libero sets, left-side options and disciplined hitter routes.
The modern pipe attack has evolved from a high middle-back set into a flat, fast weapon that arrives at quick tempo. Coaches at every level are now drilling it as a primary scoring option, forcing blockers into impossible decisions and unlocking four-hitter offences.
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