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JVA Coach to Coach Video of the Week: 5 Defensive Drills to Train Top Level Defense

Mike Lingenfelter • Junior Volleyball Association

Co-Director of Munciana Volleyball & 18 Open National Champion Coach

Session Overview

Munciana Co-Director Mike Lingenfelter shares five signature defensive drills designed to build low posture, relentless pursuit, floor recovery speed, and platform control against hard-driven attacks and tips.

Core Biomechanical & Tactical Principles

Train defenders to stay loaded below the plane of the ball and drive through the floor rather than popping straight up on pursuit.
Sequence rapid-fire hard swings with off-speed tips so defenders must transition from a stopped base to explosive forward pursuit.
Demand that every emergency floor dig is popped high into the center of the court so the offense can still take a full swing.

Verbal Coaching Cues for Practice:

"Stay below the ball on pursuit""Stop your feet on the hitter's swing""Dig high to the middle of the court"

Why Recommended for Coaches:

Showcases the exact defensive training progressions that have made Munciana Volleyball one of the premier ball-control clubs in the nation.

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Key Coaching Cues

"Stay below the ball on pursuit"

"Stop your feet on the hitter's swing"

"Dig high to the middle of the court"

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