Volleyball coaches can increase the level of relevant training in their practices with an honest self-evaluation or assessment from another coach. The following questions can be used in such an evaluation.
- Do you have a practice plan? Do you post it or share it with the athletes?
- Do the drills in your practice plan address the needs of your athletes?
- Have you established the time to be allocated for each drill? For example, some coaches will plan for 4 to 5 drills in an hour (12 to 15 minutes per drill). This allows them time for a 20 to 30 minute scrimmage.
- Do your coaches have the same expectations of the players in practice and matches? For example, are the players told to serve aggressively in practice then told to just get it in when they play matches?
- Do your drills maximize use of the space in the gym? For example, in the practice shown in the photo below, the coaches had 18 players. By setting up the gym differently they would have played on two courts and better met the needs of the athletes.
- Have you optimized touches while allowing for necessary discussions, drill changes, and water breaks? Coaches can practice conveying a message in 30 to 60 seconds or the length of a time they have to talk during a time out.
- Do you have names for your drills? This eliminates the need to describe them every practice.
- Have you incorporated the mindset of kids teaching kids into your practice? Juniors learn good and bad things by watching their peers play. They also learn when they are asked to teach their peers to play.
- Have you taught the athletes to feed or toss the ball to start drills? Feeding is a physical activity that it better than standing and watching. When athletes are initiating the drill it allows the coaches to be in a position to help the athletes.
- Do you practice what happens in a match? For example, do you your setter practice setting when the pass is out of system?
- Have you included scoring systems in your drills to make them competitive or game-like?
- Do you have a backup plan when drills go really well or horribly?
- At what point should you make a drill tougher or easier? A general guideline is to make the drill more difficult If the players’ success rate is 65% to 70% or higher and make it easier if the success rate is lower.
- How many drills include multiple balls in the air at the same time?
- Do you keep your practice plans and make notes of what worked and how your players performed?
Most coaches will find that after they have answered these questions they are excellent in some areas and can improve in other areas. Changes can be made as appropriate.