In pairs the players face each other, around 6metres apart.
Player 1 throws the ball to their partner accurately so the receiver does not have to move to reach the ball.
Player 2 then underhand passes the ball back to their partner accurately.
Players must be able to pass the ball where they want and this drill will help develop passing accuracy.
As players become better and more accurate get them to rally underhand, making surer they no longer catch and throw the ball.
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.