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Purpose: 

To teach your players how to defend the outside hit in a rotation style defense. 

Setup:

Have 6 players line up in base position on the court.
You will also need a sturdy box, a ball cart, and an assistant coach or 2. 

This drill instructs players on defending against outside hits using a rotation-style defense, focusing on the positioning and responsibilities of each player on the court.

Instructions: 

  1. The right side blocker (2) will set the block in front of the hitter. 
  2. The middle blocker (3) will come to the right side blocker once the block is set. 
  3. The right back (1) will move up to the left of the middle blocker, ready for the tip or the off-speed shot. 
  4. The middle back (5) will move over to the right corner. 
  5. The left back will drop back to the left corner. 
  6. The left blocker will come off the net and get ready to dig anything hit at an angle.

Coaching Tips:

  • This defense excels at taking away off speed shots short to the middle as well as hits along the sideline, but is vulnerable to balls hit down the seam or off speed shots into the back center of the court. 
  • If you are having a hard time defending that deep middle shot, we can make the adjustment and move our middle back more to the center – about 8 feet from the sideline instead of right up on it.

Tips for Younger Athletes:

  • For younger athletes, focus on the fundamental positioning of the rotation defense, ensuring they understand where to be when the ball is set to the outside.
  • Encourage young players to always keep their eyes on the ball and the hitters, helping them to develop their anticipation skills.
  • Introduce the concept of shadowing the hitter, where the defenders adjust their position in relation to the movement of the hitter, which teaches them to be proactive rather than reactive.

Tips for Older Athletes:

  • Challenge older athletes by increasing the pace of the drill, which simulates the speed of a real game and tests their ability to quickly get into position.
  • Incorporate situational drills where the outside hitter varies their attacks, using a mix of power hits, off-speed shots, and tips to challenge the defenders’ adaptability.
  • Implement defensive scenarios where the initial block is missed, training the back-row players to effectively adjust and cover the open areas of the court.
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