The Volleyball Company

Setter Cues for Running a 1‑Ball

🟩 You want the ball to peak about a ball and a half above the net

This keeps the tempo fast and gives the middle a clean, hittable window.

🟩 Connect your hands higher than a traditional set
A 1‑ball requires a higher hand position so the ball leaves fast and clean.

🟩 Push the ball straight up, not out
The ball should travel vertically into the middle’s hitting shoulder — not drift toward the antenna.

🟩 Deliver a flat, fast tempo
This keeps the block from fully forming and lets the middle beat the ball.

🟩 Place the ball 1–2 feet off the net
Tight enough to score, safe enough to avoid getting stuffed.

🟩 Find the middle’s opposite hand
This creates a consistent window and eliminates last‑second adjustments.

Don’t Drop the Baby — Communication Drill 🏐

If you want athletes to communicate under pressure, give them a drill that forces it.

In this version of Don’t Drop the Baby, your team has two volleyballs — but only one is being played. The other is the “baby,” and if it hits the floor, the round ends.

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ One ball is played normally
Pass it, set it, keep it alive — standard ball control.

2️⃣ The second ball is the “baby”
A teammate must hold the baby unless they need to contact the real ball.

3️⃣ If they need to play, they must toss the baby
Before they go for the real ball, they have to toss the baby to someone else so both balls stay alive.

This drill teaches athletes to:

• Communicate loudly and early
• Read each other’s movement
• Stay calm in chaos
• Make quick decisions
• Trust teammates to handle responsibility

It looks silly — but it builds elite-level communication and awareness.

Questions?👇🏼

Have to have the best seats 😅

🎉 Improve Your Serving Toss

Here are 3 things every volleyball athlete can level up:

1️⃣ Keep the toss in front of you — not over your head, not drifting sideways. When it’s in front, your whole motion stays clean and controlled.

2️⃣ Place it in front of your dominant/swinging arm — this puts the ball right in your hitting lane so your contact stays strong and consistent.

3️⃣ Don’t toss higher than your arm height — a lower, controlled toss gives you better timing, better rhythm, and a predictable contact point.

A great serve starts with a great toss.
Dial this in, and everything else gets easier.

Tug‑of‑War Serving 🏐🔥

If you want athletes to serve with purpose, give them a reason to compete.

In this variation of tug‑of‑war serving, each team has their own tennis ball, and the only way to move it is to win your serve — by putting the ball over and in.

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Each team gets one tennis ball
Place it on the center line. Their job is to move it one spot to the right every time they win their serve.

2️⃣ Serve it over and in
No aces required. No fancy zones. Just clean, consistent serves under pressure.

3️⃣ Win your serve, move your ball
Miss your serve? Ball stays put. Make your serve? Ball moves right. First team to push their ball all the way across wins.

This version teaches athletes that consistency wins battles — not power, not luck, not hoping the other team messes up. Just clean, confident serving under pressure.

There are a few different variations for this game,
This is one of our favorites!

Questions?👇🏼

Don’t mess with their morning coffee 😵‍💫

🔥 3 Coaching Habits That Build Confident & Coachable Athletes

1️⃣ They give clear, simple corrections
Confidence grows when athletes know exactly what to fix. Great coaches don’t overwhelm — they give one clear adjustment that creates instant progress.

2️⃣ They coach tone and timing, not just skills
Athletes learn faster when correction feels calm, direct, and purposeful. The right tone keeps them open, not defensive — which makes them more coachable.

3️⃣ They show belief through consistency
Belief isn’t hype — it’s follow‑through. When coaches stay steady, present, and invested, athletes feel supported enough to take risks and grow.

Confident athletes aren’t born — they’re coached.
And coachable athletes thrive when standards and support work together.