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Teaching Spiking to Beginners with Tod Mattox
T
Tod Mattox • The Art of Coaching Volleyball
Veteran High School & Club Head Coach, Art of Coaching Faculty
Session Overview
Veteran coach Tod Mattox demonstrates a structured progression for teaching the spiking approach and arm swing to youth and beginner players. Using simple verbal rhythms, self-toss drills, and footwork checkpoints, he builds coordinated 3-step and 4-step approaches.
Core Biomechanical & Tactical Principles
- Teach the final two steps ('right-left' for right-handers) as a fast, rhythmic plant that converts forward momentum into vertical lift.
- Use standing bow-and-arrow throwing and self-toss hitting progressions before introducing live sets at the net.
- Cue hitters to keep the ball in front of their hitting shoulder so they can see both the ball and the court at contact.
Verbal Coaching Cues for Practice:
"Slow to fast rhythm""Bow and arrow high""Keep the ball in front"
Why Recommended for Coaches:
One of the clearest pedagogical progressions available for teaching young players how to coordinate their feet and arms when learning to hit.
Up NextPassing FUNDAMENTALS - How to PASS Volleyball Tutorial (part 1/6)
ContinueKey Coaching Cues
"Slow to fast rhythm"
"Bow and arrow high"
"Keep the ball in front"
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