Using competition in training, even for skill development
Competition in practice is great, but it can also sometimes stunt player development if you don't keep them focused on what they are trying to improve.
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Game Play
Drill: 6 v 6s
This is a 6 on 6 volleyball drill/game that you can use to keep many players active and not sitting out for long periods of time.
Game: 2 v 2 side switch
This fast-paced game features a lot of player movement and encourages communication and problem-solving. It's good for warm-ups or regular game play work.
Game: Win 2 Out-of-System Rallies
This volleyball training game focuses on attacking in a setter-out or out-of-system situation. It can be used to get hitters to make good decisions.
Working on out-of-system play
I was recently asked by a coaching friend for some ideas to help train his team to be better in out-of-system offense. Here are some thoughts toward that.
Scoring System: 25 or reset
Want to work on your team finishing out a set? Here's a game scoring system that works in that direction you can easily adapt to your needs.
A 1-hour practice plan
One day in practice we had an hour, half of which we wanted to devote to 6 v 6 game play. Here's the practice plan we developed.
Game: Positional winners
There are a number of variations on winners (a.k.a. King/Queen of the court). I started using one that introduces more positional specialization.
Some thoughts on practice planning
A recent article on the subject of volleyball practice planning offers some interesting ideas for future training plan development.