Defense · Advanced

The Pit

Defense-only timed scoring drill — one team pinned in 'The Pit' for 3 minutes hunting digs and stuff blocks.

How to run it

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The Pit is the only team that can score. Scoring: (1) Digs — any ball from over the net they get 2 touches on; even a fingernail counts. (2) Volleyball points — transition kills, opposing errors. (3) Stuff blocks = 2 points (continued blocks = nothing). After 3 minutes, total The Pit's score. Next team takes The Pit. Highest 3-minute score wins.
2
Coach emphasis: Reward hustle. Even a fingernail counts as a touch.

Defense-only timed scoring drill — one team pinned in 'The Pit' for 3 minutes hunting digs and stuff blocks.

Keep building

King/Queen with a transition emphasis — points only count when won on a transition swing (not on the first sideout attack).

Train defense through hard-driven outside-body digs with a clear rep structure and game-like feedback.

Train defense through hard-driven outside-body high digs with a clear rep structure and game-like feedback.

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.

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.