Defense · Intermediate

Chase Down Line Behind a Block

This drill develops the ability of an athlete to defend the hard driven ball and chase down the soft line shot.

How to run it

1
In this drill an athlete attacks either a hard angle spike or a soft line shot after being set up by an athlete or coach at the net. The defender prepares to dig the hard angle spike or chase down the line. The dug ball could either be caught or played out by the blocker. After catching the ball analysis of the quality of the dig can be made as well as the positioning of the blocker in preparation for the set. If you have 4 athletes they could play out a rally after the ball has been dug. *The blocker can use this drill as an opportunity to learn when the attacker is playing the soft shot and try to reach up with one arm to get a touch.
2
Coach emphasis: The defender should watch the body language of the

This drill develops the ability of an athlete to defend the hard driven ball and chase down the soft line shot.

Keep building

Teach defensive base position and reading the attacker's body for shot vs. swing.

Train the diagonal defensive shift — defender reads the attacker and moves to the gap before contact.

Train the blocker-to-defender peel — pull off the net, find the seam, and play defense.

High-volume cross-court digging — defender works the diagonal between two attackers continuously.

Train the blocker-to-defender transition through a fixed 6-ball sequence covering every common attack scenario.

Train defense through coach tip chase to target with a clear rep structure and game-like feedback.

Many of our drills are adapted from the coaching resources at Better at Beach and the FIVB.

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