Community | Defensive Patterns

February 2026 Sportplan Coaching

Physical preparation for volleyball must address the sport's specific demands: repeated explosive jumps, quick lateral movements, diving recoveries, and the endurance to maintain performance across five sets. AI-driven training load monitoring can reduce injury occurrence by up to 30%.

Power Development

Volleyball is a power sport:

Vertical jump: Plyometric training develops explosive leg power for attacking and blocking.

Arm swing speed: Upper body power for serving and attacking velocity.

Core stability: Transfers power from legs to arms and maintains body control.

Landing mechanics: Proper technique prevents knee and ankle injuries.

Agility and Movement

Lateral quickness: Blocking footwork and defensive slides.

Change of direction: Transition plays require rapid movement changes.

First-step speed: Reacting to serves and attacks.

Diving technique: Safe floor recovery to maintain rallies.

Endurance for Matches

Intermittent demands: Short bursts of high intensity with brief recovery.

Match duration: Five-set matches can last over two hours.

Mental fatigue: Physical conditioning supports concentration late in matches.

Tournament play: Multiple matches per day requires recovery capacity.

Injury Prevention

Jump monitoring: Track jump loads to prevent overuse injuries.

Shoulder care: Rotator cuff and shoulder blade exercises for attacking demands.

Ankle stability: Proprioception training for landing on uneven surfaces.

Recovery protocols: Sleep, nutrition, and active recovery between sessions.

Key Coaching Points

  • Training must be volleyball-specific, not generic fitness
  • Power development supports all volleyball actions
  • Injury prevention through proper technique and load management
  • Recovery is part of training, not separate from it
  • Monitor training load to prevent overuse injuries

Drills for Physical Development

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Harry Hendon Coach, United States of America

DESCRIPTION

This is a combination drill that works on conditioning while reinforcing the movement patterns needed to play defense. This is a great drill for working on a small or half court. It also is good as a productive consequence. Players start off the court near the Outside. Players enter the court @ left back base. (1) Read & transition to defense, then dive for an imaginary tip while calling mine. Move to left back base, read & transition to defense and dig an imaginary ball hit down the line. Run through pass an imaginary ball to the middle of the court while calling mine. Drop to middle back dig an imaginary ball to target. Read, shuffle to left middle angle, run through pass an imaginary ball hit to left back corner. Shuffle back to middle in posture. Read, shuffle to right middle angle, run through pass an imaginary ball hit to right back corner. Move up to right back base, read & transition to defense, then dive for an imaginary tip while calling mine. Move back to right back base, read & transition to defense, dig an imaginary ball hit down the line. Run through pass an imaginary ball to the middle of the court while calling mine, then transition to OH. Approach the net and block. Transition quickly outside. Approach, hit an imaginary ball, then immediately block. Move to middle and block. Transition to middle. Approach, hit an imaginary ball, then immediately block. Move to right side and swing block. Transition to right side hitter. Approach, hit an imaginary ball, then immediately block. Jog off and around the court back to the starting line.

COACHING POINTS

Look for players to take this seriously and work hard. Fast pace. Moving in good athletic posture. Max jumps on blocks and attacks. Good floor moves. Being loud when calling the ball. No loafing. Make sure players understand what these moves / patterns are and how they are important / used during real game play. This isn't just a movement exercise or a conditioning drill. This is an opportunity to practice your on-court defensive movement. Especially pay attention and make sure players understand 14, 16, 18, and 20. These moves are in the drill to emphasize players moving to cover natural weakneses in a perimeter defense. When a ball is hit to the deep corner, middle back and the appropriate side should both try to cover that ball via a run through, reach, or dive. Players often just go through the motions on this drill. Emphasize the linkage to real-game movement and help them use this to focus on improvement that can translate to the game.

This practice has no coaching points

PROGRESSION

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  • or access our tried and tested plans
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