A tip is a controlled spike. Player approaches, jumps, but instead of attacking with full force, they push the ball over the net with the fingertips. Useful in real games when the defense is set deep, and a great drill for younger kids who aren’t ready for full attack.
What you need: A volleyball, a net (lowered for younger kids), a setter or coach to set the ball.
Setup: Hitter at left front. Coach setting from center. Empty court on the other side.
How to run it:
- Cue: Approach, Plant, Reach, Snap. Snap becomes “tip.”
- Coach sets the ball.
- Hitter does the three-step approach.
- Plants and reaches up high.
- Instead of snapping the wrist hard, the hitter pushes the ball with the fingertips over the net into the empty court.
What to watch: Reach height. A tip from below the net height becomes a free ball for the defense. The contact point should be above the net.
If they’re struggling: Lower the net. Or have them hit off a tossed ball instead of a set.
If they’ve got it: Add a target zone (back left corner, a cone they have to land the tip near).