CHAPTER 1 - CHAPTER 2 - CHAPTER 3 - EXTRA CREDIT - CHAPTER 4 - EXTRA CREDIT: ATTACK - CHAPTER 5 - CHAPTER 6
From Kyle Mashima of SoloStats Live, the AVCA presents at-home training concepts for a period of social isolation.
Over the course of our Homeschool series we've covered plenty of ground, from serving to attacking and much more - but for our last chapter, we turn our attention to a skill that you can work on in a variety of creative ways in all sorts of environments: ball handling
Like many of our other topics, ball handling provides a great opportunity to utilize whatever space you have access to in a creative way. There are so many ways that you can get ball handling reps in - and one of those ways starts in your own driveway. Clear the space, find some sidewalk chalk and mark out a straight path that you then have to maintain control over as you move up and down.
Mix up the touches as you progress. Start with travelling the line while bumping...then switch it up and work on setting. Try working in a change-of-direction, and work the line going both forwards and backwards - do a 180 at the end of your marked-out path. Mix up the touches by using new patterns: bump-set-set-set-set-bump, and so forth.
Think of working on your ball handling in this way much akin how basketball players develop touch and feel. By practicing these touches and movements in a variety of settings and patterns, you're developing a comfort level with the ball that will drastically reduce the amount of thinking that you have to do during the match.
Ball handling is one of the skills that can be particularly easy to work on from a remote coaching perspective. First - you can set the goals and progressions for each player depending on their own comfort and skill level, and tailor the drill to meet their specific weaknesses.
It's also pretty easy to offer valid, technical feedback via video clips. Just have a parent or sibling take a quick video of the player as they work on a variety of touches and patterns and you can instantly assess their movements and offer specific advice - and you'll be rewarded with quickly seeing results as they get more comfortable.
Video will also help you keep tabs on the execution of the drill. When working on ball handling, it's easy to make simple mistakes that the player might not notice. Watch to make sure that they aren't moving too fast or too slow, and that the ball is reaching a good height with each touch. The goal is to develop solid, smooth, consistent control.
Again, take advantage of what you already have access to. If you've got a basketball hoop, try blending some of these drills together: finish a pattern of bumping and setting by putting one last set through the hoop. Also, try using a mini-volleyball to further practice your hand-eye skill set.
Now that you've worked through the entire progression and figured out what does and doesn't work, build your own training program out of the exercises that you really felt worked for you. Once you've developed a comfort level with each set of movements, you can hone in on building consistency - and consistency builds confidence.
Re-visit the prior chapters via the links at the top of this page, and make the most out of your immediate surroundings. Be sure to visit our partners below - they need your support!