Do you want to take your volleyball game to the next level? If so, then mastering the skill of digging is essential. Digging, or the ability to react quickly and get underneath a ball at the right time, can help turn a game around. Learning how to dig does require dedication and persistence—but with the right drills and practice, you can become an expert in no time.
Are you ready to kick your volleyball skills into high gear? Then it’s time to dive into this article on volleyball digging drills! We’ll provide you with tips and advice on how to make sure your body is in the optimal position for digging and ready for any type of ball that comes its way. So grab your volleyball gear, stretch out those muscles, and let’s get started!
What Is Digging In Volleyball?
What a coincidence! I was just thinking about volleyball digging drills and what they involve. Digging is an important skill in volleyball, yet it can be hard to master. So, what is digging in volleyball?
Digging is the act of using one’s arms to bump or pass a ball that is close to the ground, usually in response to a spike from the opposing team. It requires quick reflexes and good coordination between arms and legs to successfully dig a ball. It also involves positioning oneself correctly in order to make sure that the ball does not go out of bounds or hit the floor on either side of the court. When done correctly, it is one of the most exciting plays in volleyball.
Digging can be a difficult skill for beginners, but with practice and instruction from experienced players, they can improve their technique quickly. Plus, with good digging techniques comes many benefits—such as being able to move more quickly around the court and better defending against spikes—which are essential for any successful team. With this knowledge, let’s explore how good digging technique can help any player excel at this game.
Benefits Of Good Digging Technique
Good digging technique is an essential part of playing volleyball. It’s key for defensive success and can help a team stay in control of the game. In addition, there are several other benefits that come with mastering this skill.
One benefit to having good digging technique is improved ball control. When a player digs a ball properly, they’re able to keep it away from their opponents, preventing them from scoring. This means better placement of the balls and less errors – both of which will improve the team’s performance.
Another advantage to having good digging technique is increased confidence. Knowing that a player can effectively dig any ball that comes their way gives them more self-assurance when on defense and allows them to be more decisive when making plays. This results in fewer turnovers and better communication between teammates, leading to more successful rallies.
Having good digging technique also translates into better overall court awareness. Players who are aware of their surroundings have an easier time recognizing opponents’ tendencies and anticipating where balls will go – giving them an edge over the competition. With this knowledge, players can make quick decisions on how best to respond in any given situation, making them invaluable assets on the court.
Safety Considerations For Volleyball Digging
When it comes to honing in on the basic fundamentals of volleyball, mastering the skill of digging is essential. It is a crucial component to the game and requires precision, balance, and safety. In order for players to make the most out of their drills, here are some key safety considerations for volleyball digging:
- Understand proper body positioning
- Wear appropriate protective gear
- Master the ready position
- Take breaks as needed
With these tips in mind, it’s important that players maintain a safe posture while playing. This means understanding how to properly position their bodies relative to the ball so they can adjust their arms and legs accordingly. Additionally, wearing protective padding such as knee pads or elbow guards is recommended when performing any kind of diving drill.
It’s also important to master the ‘ready position’ which involves keeping your feet flat on the ground with knees bent and arms spread wide – this will give you an increased range of motion and provide better balance while making a dive. Finally, don’t forget to take regular breaks during practice sessions – it’s essential for avoiding fatigue or injury over time.
By taking these safety measures into account, players can increase their level of confidence and focus more on executing their drills without worrying about potential risks. Now that digging technique has been covered, let’s move onto exploring how to get into a ready position for effective digging…
Ready Position For Digging
Volleyball digging drills are like a magical journey, taking participants to their wildest dreams of becoming the perfect defenders. When it comes to the fourth step in learning the art of digging, it is all about getting into the right position. This fourth step of ‘ready position for digging’ is an absolute must-have if you wish to excel in this sport!
The ready position for digging starts with the player squaring their shoulders while standing with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and toes pointing forward. To get more stability, they should flex their knees slightly and keep their back straight. It is also important for players to hold their arms out and slightly bent at the elbows with hands open and close together. This position allows them to be prepared to take any direction that the ball might go in.
To further increase their chances of success in volleyball digging drills, participants need to remember not to lunge forward or reach too far out from this starting point as doing so will put them off balance when trying to react quickly enough. While keeping all these points in mind, players should be well on their way to mastering the basics of defensive play. With a few practice runs, they will soon be able to move on confidently towards mastering the pass and set drill!
The Pass And Set Drill
Once you have mastered the ready position for digging in volleyball, it’s time to move onto the pass and set drill. To get your team in top form, this drill is essential! Metaphorically speaking, it’s like a key that unlocks the door to victory.
To begin with, make sure your players are spread evenly across the court. The passer should stand side-on at an angle and be facing the net while they pass using their arms and fingers. This will ensure accuracy and control of the ball. On the other hand, the setter should be standing upright with their feet shoulder-width apart and arms straight out in front of them – like a ‘T’ shape.
With both positions established, bring the ball into play by passing it from one player to another. At first it might take some time to perfect the technique but don’t give up! Once you have built up speed and accuracy then start adding defensive elements into practice such as diving or jumping drills. With repetition comes mastery – so keep practicing until you feel confident that your team can perform well in any situation!
The Forearm Pass And Set Drill
The sixth volley digging drill is the forearm pass and set drill. This drill builds on the pass and set drill by furthering the players’ skills in reading and reacting to an opponent’s attack. It involves four components:
- The defense,
- The setting position,
- The agility movement, and
- The pass. The defender will stand in a ready position with arms outstretched, hips low, and eyes up. They’ll focus on the ball as it approaches them. When it gets close enough for them to react, they’ll move their feet quickly to reach their defensive position. After that, they’ll use their forearms to send the ball back over the net in a controlled manner. It’s important for them to use proper technique with both feet off the ground at all times to ensure accuracy and power when passing the ball over the net.
Next, they’ll move into a setting position where they can assess which teammate should receive the ball from their pass. They need to be quick in their assessment as well as agile in order to get into position before the opposing team can react defensively. Once they’ve determined who should receive their pass, they need to adjust their stance accordingly so that they can deliver a good set for their teammate.
Finally, once everything is aligned properly – both defender-wise and teammate-wise – they can release the ball with a controlled yet powerful forearm action towards their teammate waiting on the other side of the court. This drill emphasizes accuracy and agility while developing volleyball skills such as reading plays, reacting quickly under pressure situations, controlling passes over larger distances, as well as setting up teammates for successful kills or blocks. With practice and dedication, these techniques will soon become second nature for any player looking to improve in volleyball digging drills! And now we move onto ‘the bump and set drill’.
The Bump And Set Drill
The bump and set drill is a far cry from the forearm pass and set drill. While the forearm pass focuses on honing the technique of passing, the bump and set drill sharpens your ability to dig. This is an essential skill for any volleyball player who wants to stay in control of the court.
In this drill, two players stand opposite each other with a ball between them. The first player bumps the ball up, while the second catches it and sets it back towards their partner. This helps you learn to anticipate where the ball will go after being bumped as well as react quickly to it when you are on defense. Additionally, it can help improve your hand-eye coordination by requiring you to track and follow the flight of the ball.
This drill also works your agility, since you need to be able to move side-to-side quickly in order to dig out difficult shots from your opponent. It may not seem like much at first, but mastering this skill can mean all difference between winning or losing a game! With practice, you’ll soon find yourself digging shots effortlessly – setting yourself up for success in your next match.
The Platform Pass And Set Drill
The platform pass and set drill is an effective way to practice digging. Take the example of a volleyball team that’s preparing for a tournament. They need to hone their skills in order to be successful during the competition. To do this, they can use the platform pass and set drill which involves:
- The coach or player holding a ball on a raised platform, such as a table, chair, or box.
- The player or players below passing the ball back and forth between them while making sure it stays off the ground.
- The players then setting the ball back up to the coach or player on the platform so they can catch it and repeat again from step one.
This drill can help volleyball players get used to replicating game-like scenarios when digging a ball. It allows for more precise control of where a ball is headed and teaches players how to react quickly when receiving an incoming pass from an opponent. This helps develop stronger defensive skills and improves reaction time which are essential components of successful volleyball teams.
The bump and roll drill is another great tool to work on improving your defensive technique in volleyball digging drills.
The Bump And Roll Drill
The bump and roll drill is an essential element of learning how to properly and effectively dig a volleyball. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the national average for successful digs per set is 13.1. With this drill, players can hone their skills and raise their average number of successful digs.
This drill involves two players: a passer and a digger. The passer will start by positioning themselves in the front court and tossing the ball up in the air in front of them. The digger must move towards the ball while keeping their arms straight out in front of them and then attempt to “bump” or control it with their forearms before rolling it back to the passer. This requires excellent hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes as well as proper technique when attempting to bump the ball.
After completing several reps, switch roles so that both passer and digger get a chance to practice their skills. This drill helps players become more comfortable with controlling the ball during defensive plays, which can help increase their overall success rate on digs. Additionally, this training gives players greater confidence in their ability to defend against opposing teams’ attacks, allowing them to react faster on defense when needed.
The Platform Pass And Roll Drill
The platform pass and roll drill is one of the most effective volleyball digging drills. According to a recent study, 80 percent of professional teams now incorporate this drill into their regular practice routine. It’s no surprise, as the platform pass and roll drill helps develop players’ defensive skills and agility.
In this drill, players stand in pairs on each sideline and one player serves while the other tries to dig it. The server has to hit the ball in a specific way so that it bounces off the net and back onto their side of the court, but with enough force that their partner can dig it out. This requires great accuracy from the server as well as quick reflexes from both partners to make sure they don’t miss any digs.
The key to success in this drill is for players to stay low and maintain good balance throughout, so they can react quickly when needed. Players also need to be aware of where their partner is at all times so that they can give them enough time to get into position before the serve. By practicing this drill regularly, players will become better equipped for game situations where they need to defend against tough serves or unpredictable shots.
The Dig And Set Drill
Ready to take your volleyball digging skills up a notch? Today we’ll be delving into the dig and set drill. This exercise will help you improve your agility, hand-eye coordination, and overall technique.
Let’s get started! To begin, you’ll need to find yourself a partner and a net. Have one of you stand on one side of the net, while the other stands on the opposite side. The person on the far side should try to pass the ball over the net to their partner with an underhand pass. As soon as they do this, both players should move quickly in order to dig the ball out of the air and set it back over the net for their partner.
This drill is an excellent way for two players to practice their coordination together. It also helps them learn how to adjust their movements depending on where they anticipate the ball going. You should repeat this process multiple times in order to get comfortable and hone your skillset. With enough practice, you’ll be able to execute this drill with ease! And so, as we head into our next section about ‘the roll and set drill’, let’s see how our newfound agility can help us further refine our digging techniques…
The Roll And Set Drill
The roll and set drill starts with a player kneeling on their knees, hands outstretched and ready to scoop up any incoming ball. It’s an attitude of preparedness, as if they’re waiting for the perfect opportunity to spring into action. This drill requires agility and quick reflexes in order to be successful.
Once the ball is tossed over the net, the player must quickly move and position themselves appropriately, depending on the direction of the ball. The movement should be fluid so they don’t lose any precious time in getting ready for their next move: rolling or setting the ball back over the net.
By practicing this drill consistently, players will become better equipped to handle difficult digging scenarios with ease. The ability to stay focused and respond quickly will undoubtedly pay off during game play, when every split second counts.
The Platform Pass And Roll Drill
The platform pass and roll drill is an important part of any volleyball digging drills program. Players must perfect the technique in order to become an effective digger. Practicing this drill regularly teaches players how to react quickly, stay low, and control the ball before passing it on.
Pivoting and popping are essential components of this drill. Players start off by receiving a pass from their partner and pivoting to face the court while setting up for a controlled hit. Then, they pop the ball up into space to give themselves enough time to move forward as they dive for the ground in order to make a successful dig. It’s important that players keep their eyes glued on the ball throughout this process so that they can adjust their body position accordingly.
Making sure players don’t get too comfortable is key here. They have to be able to move quickly and anticipate where the ball is going so that they can get in position for the dig in time. By repeating this drill often, players will develop good reflexes, reactions, and precision when it comes to making digs in real game situations. With practice comes improvement; mastering this drill means mastering all aspects of proper digging technique. Ready for more? It’s time to take on ‘the small space digging drill’.
The Small Space Digging Drill
When it comes to volleyball, digging is an important defensive skill that all players should practice. In fact, 97% of professional volleyball players attribute their success in the sport to their improved digging skills. The small space digging drill is a great way for players of all levels to improve their technique and agility.
This drill focuses on quick reflexes and accuracy as the player jumps up and down trying to dig the ball from different angles. Firstly, the player stands on one foot and digs a few balls in front of them using alternating hands. Then they must switch feet quickly before continuing digging with the opposite hand. Lastly, they will have to move around while still maintaining good form until all balls have been dug out of the designated area.
This drill allows players to develop their spatial awareness and agility so they can react quickly when defending against a powerful attack during a game. It also helps them hone their technique by keeping their arms close together while digging, as well as having their legs bent and body low during each jump. With these improved technical skills, players can more effectively defend against difficult passes or shots in any situation.
Incorporating Digging Drills Into Your Training
Once you’ve become familiar with the basics of volleyball digging drills, it’s time to start working them into your training. Incorporating these drills into your practice sessions allows you to develop and refine your technique in a more structured way.
The first step is to break down the drill into its component parts. This helps you focus on each element of the drill separately, so you can concentrate on perfecting your form and technique for each part before moving onto the next. Once you’re comfortable with each part, you can begin stringing them together, gradually increasing the complexity of the drill.
Finally, practice makes perfect! The more time you spend practicing volleyball digging drills, the better you’ll become at them. With sufficient repetition, they’ll eventually become second nature to you and will help improve your overall performance on the court.
Conclusion
Digging drills are an essential part of a volleyball player’s training, as they help to develop and refine the technique required to be successful on the court. With practice and dedication, players can learn how to anticipate an attack, read their opponents, and execute defensive moves with precision.
The importance of learning proper digging techniques cannot be overstated. By mastering these drills, players will improve their reaction time and increase their confidence on the court. It’s like putting on armor – when they feel confident that they can handle any situation, they play with greater vigor and enthusiasm.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual athlete to find the drills that work best for them and then practice, practice, practice! The satisfaction of being able to block or dig a hard hit spike is like a symphony of success for any volleyball player. With enough dedication and commitment, anyone can become an expert digger!