The dive is the last-resort defense. Ball is going to land 6 feet in front of the player. They dive forward, hit it with one or both hands, slide on the chest after contact. Done right, it’s a clean dig. Done wrong, it’s a wipeout. Worth teaching slowly.
What you need: A volleyball, a clean court (or knee/elbow pads on grass), two players.
Setup: Defender in the back court. Coach 20 feet away with the ball.
How to run it:
- Coach drops a soft ball 5 feet in front of the defender (just out of reach for a normal dig).
- Defender steps and dives forward, arms extended.
- Contact the ball with one or both hands. Push it up.
- Body lands flat, slides on the chest. Hands come down to absorb.
- Do 6 reps each side. This drill needs a clean court or pads.
What to watch: The landing. Hands down to break the fall. Chest slides. Knees do NOT hit the floor.
If they’re struggling: Skip the dive. Practice forward stretch with a step instead. Build the dive when the kid is ready.
If they’ve got it: Add lateral dives (left and right) instead of just forward.