Clinic by Redbad Strikwerda and Frans Bosch for the NVVO

Coach:: Luc Engelen
Posted on:: March 29, 2015

On Saturday the 8th of June 2013, Redbad Strikwerda and Frans Bosch ran a practice session during a clinic for the Dutch association of volleyball coaches (NVVO). During the practice session, examples were shown that illustrated the theory presented during the previous evening.

Redbad Strikwerd is the head coach of Landstede Volleybal from Zwolle, who compete at the highest level in the Netherlands. Frans Bosch is a teacher at the sports department of the Fontys university of applied sciences and a top-level coach. During the theoretical part of the clinic, he spoke about the newest insights concerning motor skills and motor learning.

1. Warming up

1.1. 2x2 with a team ball

Diagram for the volleyball drill '2x2 with a team ball'

There are three balls in play. Each team has a so-called team ball, that has to be tossed from one team mate to the other. The third ball is used to play two against two.

In the diagram, the ball is played to the player holding the team ball. To be able to play the ball from the opponent, this player has to toss the team ball to his team mate.

Variations:

The ball has to be played to the opponent with at most two touches.
The ball has to be played to the opponent immediately.
Players have to hold the team ball above their head all the time.

1.2. 2x2 with assignments

Two teams of two players play against each other without serving. De ball is put in play with a toss. Each team is allowed to touch the ball at most three times.

Assignments:

The first ball is played back over the net. The other player in the team moves underneath the net and spikes the ball back into his own court. Afterwards, the player who played the first ball tries to score.
The players have to spike at the left side of the court.
The players have to spike at the right side of the court.
The last ball has to be spiked.
The first ball has to be played over the net outside of the antenna.

2. Core I

2.1. Serving with assignments

A serves, B passes and C catches.

Assignments:

A moves two steps to the left, two steps to the right, and serves.
A tosses the ball, dives underneath the ball cart, and serves the ball that he just tossed up.
A dives underneath the ball cart and serves a ball that is tossed up by someone else.
B waits in a deep squat until A tosses the ball.

2.2. Last-minute serving

Diagram for the volleyball drill 'Last-minute serving'

S serves, and P1 and P2 pass. When S tosses the ball, T indicates where S should serve.

2.3. Move before passing

Diagram for the volleyball drill 'Move before passing'

S serves, and P1 and P2 pass the ball. P2 stands behind P1 in the middle of the court. When S tosses the ball, P1 and P2 move towards their passing positions.

2.4. Spiking after passing

Diagram for the volleyball drill 'Spiking after passing'

T serves to PL. PL passes to SV. SV sets the ball for T. T spikes along the line. PL fetches the ball and the next in line takes PL's place.

Variations:

There's a blocker on position 2 that blocks the line or the cross-court spike. The spiker adapts to the block.
The spiker spikes on the right-hand side of the net.
Two players try to block the spiker, both starting at the middle of the net.

2.5. Offense versus block

Diagram for the volleyball drill 'Offense versus block'

T tosses the ball into the opposing court. The player who passes also spikes. The blockers perform a three-person block.

3. Core II

3.1. Moving, passing, and spiking

Diagram for the volleyball drill 'Moving, passing, and spiking'

S serves to the right or the left of the opponent's back court and moves into the court afterwards. One of the two passers moves to the left or the right, depending on the direction of the serve. The player who doesn't pass, spikes.

If the team of five is unable to spike and is forced to play a free ball, the middle blocker must perform a commit block.