Technique Study Speed:
Dynamic warmup drill to raise defensive intensity
T
Tod Mattox • The Art of Coaching Volleyball
Head Coach, The Bishop's School
Session Overview
Tod Mattox shares a high-energy defensive warmup drill where a player at the net rapidly tosses balls all over the backcourt to challenge a rotating line of defenders. To score a point toward a team goal of seven, the defender must pursue the ball, pop it up cleanly, and have a teammate catch the dig at the net target.
Core Biomechanical & Tactical Principles
- Have a player at the net toss unpredictable balls short, deep, and sideline-to-sideline to force full-speed pursuit
- Count a point only when the defender pops the ball up high enough for a teammate at the net to catch it cleanly
- Play to a team score of seven points while requiring waiting teammates to cheer and celebrate big pursuit plays
Verbal Coaching Cues for Practice:
"Dig it high enough for a teammate to catch""Sprint through the first step""Bring energy for every dive"
Why Recommended for Coaches:
Instantly raises gym energy, vocal encouragement, and floor-defense effort in less than five minutes at the start of practice.
Up NextPassing FUNDAMENTALS - How to PASS Volleyball Tutorial (part 1/6)
ContinueKey Coaching Cues
"Dig it high enough for a teammate to catch"
"Sprint through the first step"
"Bring energy for every dive"
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