Digs and defence
Ready when: Net games: 1 v 1 to 2 v 2 (b4) done.
What you are learning
Digging balls that are not hit straight at you: shuffling sideways early, setting the feet and then playing the dig with a flat platform back to the feeder. Moving first, then playing, is the habit of every good defender.
Words on this card Forearm pass, Set, Rally, Knee pads
- Forearm pass
- Passing the ball off the forearms held together as a flat surface.
- Set
- Pushing the ball up with the fingers, the thumbs and first fingers making a triangle above the forehead.
- Rally
- The play from the serve until the point is won.
- Knee pads
- Pads that protect the knees when diving and digging.
Set up
A feeder; knee pads; two cones 3 m apart; later a net.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand between the cones, knees bent, arms ready.
- The feeder tosses toward one cone: shuffle there, stop, and dig it back.
- Shuffle to the other cone for the next toss, calling "mine" before every ball.
Your part while they practise
Feed at different heights.
Step by step
- Cone to cone: shuffle between two cones 3 m apart and dig each toss back.
- First in turn, then at random.
- Then from faster and lower tosses.
- Call "mine" before every ball.
How much: 10 digs, 3 sets 12 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Catch, toss, dig
Over a net, the receiver catches and tosses to a teammate who digs it over; first to 11.
Who plays: 2 pairs over a net; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- One pair throws the ball over the net
- The receiving pair: one catches and tosses to the partner, who digs it over
- Keep going; every rally scores
- First to 11 points
- Fair play
- A grown-up digs with one knee on the floor.
- Points
- 1 point for each rally won.
- Fouls
- The point goes to the other pair
- A dropped catch
- A dig that lands out
- No "mine" call before the catch
- Winning
- The first pair to 11 points.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 8 points for 2 stars
- 11 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A soft feed.
A fast feed.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child reaches late
Move first, then play
Feet first. - the platform is tilted
Flat arms to the target
Point it.
Self-check
7 of 10 digs come back to the feeder from cone to cone.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the knees.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains digging, movement.
awiseathlete.com/sports/volleyball/volleyball-i2