Position vs. position drills are a good way to help players get multiple reps on specific skills in a short amount of time. In this video, Ken Murczek shares a 6 v 6 drill that focuses on middle hitters.
How the drill works
Rule number 1: Only the middle can get set.
Begin with a coach-entered ball (bowling style). The ball goes to a different side after each rally, no matter who wins the point. To vary the drill, you can run it with a live serve.
The winner is the first team to 3. You can decide if you want to award points for blocks or just give points for kills. Remember, all sets need to go to the middle.
As Murczek points out, running fast is fun for the setter, but fast is often not as effective as slower because it’s higher risk and the reward may not be there. If, for instance, you’re 12 feet off the net and trying to run the middle, it’s probably not a great idea to deliver a fast set.
On the topic of setting the middle, check out this video from high school coach Tod Mattox on who should set when the setter digs.
For a more detailed look at middle hitting, here’s a video from Volleyball Canada’s Kerry MacDonald on remedies for common middle attack issues.
