Seven defenders around the mat

A crash mat in the middle of the defensive court and seven players around it. The attackers place the balls so that somebody has to dive over it every time, and every dig goes to the libero at the back. Diving in a real defensive situation, then, instead of in a line on a mat.

11 players 7 phases ± 20 min 6 balls, a crash mat, full court with net From U15 upwards

Phase 1 of 7Seven defenders around the landing mat, four hitters ready with balls

The defending team around the mat (L1 to L3 = the back players, D1 and D2 = the corners, P1 and P2 = at the front) Four attackers placing the balls Equipment 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

Defense with diving technique: the hitters place balls, the defenders dive over the mat and play them up.

Diving from a real defensive position instead of from a line.
Giving the dig a direction: always to the libero at the back.
Still getting plenty of reps with seven players around one mat.

Coaching points

The mat goes where the balls fall, not the other way round.

If the attackers place the ball everywhere, this becomes a defensive drill without any diving; if they only aim at the mat, it becomes falling practice without any defense. Put the mat where the balls actually fall in your team.

Only the player whose zone the ball comes into dives.

With seven players around one mat you otherwise get three going at once. That is dangerous, and it teaches nobody where his own zone ends.

The dig goes to the libero at the back, not just anywhere upwards.

Playing a ball with direction from the floor is the difference between a spectacular dig and a useful one. A fixed target makes that visible straight away.

Anyone who does not dare starts at the edge of the mat, standing.

From sliding to diving is a small step, from standing to diving a big one. Let players move up themselves as soon as they trust the landing — forcing it backfires here.

Variations

Easier: The attackers toss the ball underhand close to the mat, so the defender already knows the spot and only has to make the fall.
Harder: The attackers hit instead of place and alternate between short by the mat and deep in the corner.
With six players: Four defenders around the mat, two attackers at the net; swap after every set of ten balls so that everyone attacks as well.
As a game: Ten balls per attacker. A point for the defense for every dig the libero can take, a point for the attackers for every ball on the floor.

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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: diving in a defensive situation · defensive drills with a mat · keeping the landing safe