| Step #1 — Have two players stand one step behind the service line in the ad and deuce courts. They will face two players who are lined up at the opposite baseline.
Step #2 — The coach or feeder feeds the ball from the baseline behind the two attacking players, feeding the ball deep to the baseline team. The feeder yells “Go!” to alert attacking team that the ball has been hit.
Step #3 — Baseline team must put ball back in play. The first ball they hit may NOT be a lob. Players play out point.
Depending on number of players per court, play a game to 7 or 11 points.
Depending on number of players per court, players rotate to play deuce and ad courts before switching.
If you have more than two players at the baseline waiting in line for a turn, the players either move in and out as a team, or rotate clockwise in and out, playing one point from the deuce court, then one from the ad court before switching.
Step #4 — After players have played one rotation as attackers, re-play the drill, this time yelling “Go!” to start then point, then yelling “Split!” prior to the baseline team hitting the ball to teach the attacking team when to stop rushing forward during a point.
Step #5 — After a number of points of yelling “Go!” and “Split!” to teach the attacking team this timing, eliminate the “Split!” to see if the attackers can figure it out on their own.
NOTE: The formation and situation in this drill (a ball coming from behind two players) never happens during a match. However, the drill does have some realism for these players. In a doubles match, for example, the ad court player wold approach as the ball comes from behind him when his partner (at the baseline) returns serve, and vice versa. |
