Hitting line over three positions

Three lines at once, at positions 4, 3 and 2, and the setter serves them one after the other. So back to back they put up a high outside ball, a quick in the middle and a back set. For the setter this is about as demanding as a drill gets; for the hitters it is mostly waiting and then going all out.

11 players 12 phases ± 20 min 8 balls, half court with net From U17 upwards

Phase 1 of 12Three lines at positions 4, 3 and 2; the catcher across the net has the ball

Your own team (S = setter, P = outside hitter, M = middle blocker, D = opposite, L = libero) Ball

This animation comes straight out of the Koach app. In the app you play it at your own pace and the positions carry your players' real names.

Open in the app

How the drill runs

What you are training

Attack-set combination: the setter feeds positions 4, 3 and 2 in turn while the line keeps rotating.

Three types of set back to back: high to the outside, quick in the middle and a back set.
Approach direction and start timing that differ from position to position.
Keeping three lines flowing without players getting in each other's way.

Coaching points

On the back set only your hips turn, not your head.

Look back over your shoulder and you give the ball away, and you push it too far as well. Feet parallel to the net, ball above the forehead and drive the hips through.

Every position has its own moment to leave.

Position 3 goes before the set, position 4 after it and position 2 somewhere in between. Have players say that out loud before they run, otherwise they copy the rhythm of the line next to them.

Peel off to the outside after your attack.

Three lines walking back through each other is the reason this drill usually grinds to a halt. Everybody exits to the side, never through the middle.

Give the setter a break.

Three different sets back to back is technically demanding and gets visibly worse after five minutes or so. Let a few balls go by after a full round through the lines, or swap in a second setter.

Variations

Easier: Two lines instead of three: positions 4 and 3. Only add position 2 once the flow is right.
Harder: The setter picks the order and says nothing, so all three lines have to approach on every ball.
With six players: Two players per position and one setter; everyone hits in turn and the setter is swapped after a full round.
As a game: A round of three attacks only counts if all three balls land in the court. Can the group put together five clean rounds?

Volleyball drills

4 players · 6 phases SafeVolley base round Warm-up 3 players · 5 phases Shoulder activation with band Warm-up 2 players · 6 phases Dynamic movement patterns Warm-up 5 players · 5 phases Core plank with rotation Warm-up

Read on in the knowledge base: the three attack tempos side by side · the technique of overhead setting · what happens at positions 4, 3 and 2