Players stand on the sidelines with a ball on the floor ahead.
On the coaches signal, they pick it up and attempt to run sideways to the other side of the court faster than their partner.
Players then place the ball on the floor and sidestep back to their side to start again.
If you want to work players really hard get them to race there (with the ball in hand) and back (without the ball).
For a variation on this exercise you can get players to work in small teams - racing each other in a relay race.
Most teams win the dig and then hand the point straight back with a slow, predictable transition swing. The best 2026 sides treat the moment after the dig as their sharpest scoring chance, feeding the middle in transition and running first-tempo attacks off a defensive ball.
When the first pass breaks down, most teams collapse into a high ball straight into the opposing block. The best 2026 sides are building structured out-of-system offences that turn broken plays into scoring chances using libero sets, left-side options and disciplined hitter routes.
The modern pipe attack has evolved from a high middle-back set into a flat, fast weapon that arrives at quick tempo. Coaches at every level are now drilling it as a primary scoring option, forcing blockers into impossible decisions and unlocking four-hitter offences.
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