Ball Control · Intermediate

Hot Potato

Train ball-rhythm awareness, force technical simplification under pressure, and develop team timing.

How to run it

1
Progression 1: P1 tosses playing ball to P2. P2 throws the Potato up, sets the playing ball back to P1, then catches the Potato. 10 reps, switch. Progression 2: same but use a forearm pass. Progression 3: both players have a Potato. Progression 4: 2v2 over the net — each team has a Potato; players must throw the Potato to a teammate before contacting the playing ball. Goal: 3 touches per side, never drop the Potato.
2
Coach emphasis: If your technique is too complicated, you can't manage the Potato. Simplify the platform / hand-set.

Train ball-rhythm awareness, force technical simplification under pressure, and develop team timing.

Keep building

Layer emergency touches into a continuous over-the-net exchange so they're trained in a rally context.

Long-rally control drill — two simultaneous rallies on the same court force constant focus and ball control.

Train ball-control through six-touch emergency pepper with a clear rep structure and game-like feedback.

Train setting through cross-court bump-set pepper with a clear rep structure and game-like feedback.

Train setting through cross-court hand-set pepper with a clear rep structure and game-like feedback.

Train passing through server vs passer hard-serve challenge 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.

Give us a call, send an email, or just stop by one of our events and chat with a coach.