Practice Design: Contacts Per Hour

After attending a USA Volleyball CAP I clinic, I began to ponder the significance of contacts per hour and how to maximize it. To explore this further, I conducted research on the varying contacts per hour facilitated by popular drills. I focused on serving and passing, while also tracking hitting, setting, and other touches.

To conduct my research, I analyzed a friend’s 17s club team practice. The drills I tested included Queen of the Court, Speedball, Modified Butterfly, two versions of hitting lines, and a simple 6 vs 6 freeball drill. These drills were chosen for their simplicity and common usage.

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Drill Descriptions

• Queen of the Court: This drill involved two permanent setters on each side, with an additional three players on each side. Using standard rules, winning teams stayed on or moved to the “queen” side, while losing teams rotated off.
• Speedball: Similar to Queen of the Court, this drill featured two permanent setters on each side, with two teams of three players on each side. One team played at a time, with the off teams ready to serve if their side lost the rally. This drill was designed to be even faster-paced than Queen of the Court.
• Modified Butterfly: This drill focused solely on serving and serve-receive passing. One side served to a side with three passers and a target. After passing, the player became the target, and the target then served. Players rotated to fill in for the passers after serving.
• 6 vs 6: This drill involved six players on each side, with a coach on each side initiating freeballs. The winning side of each rally received the next freeball. Each rally counted as one point, and this drill could be modified in various ways.

Contact Type Descriptions

• Passes: Serve-receive passes only
• Serves: Players serving the ball
• Hits: Players hitting a ball over the net using an approach, jump, and swing
• Sets: Players setting the ball to a hitter
• Digs: Players digging the ball from an attack
• Other touches: This included passing a freeball, sending a freeball to the other team, or making the second or third hit on a scramble play

Analysis

The results of my experiment yielded some unexpected findings. Each drill demonstrated advantages in specific areas.

For instance, the Modified Butterfly had the highest serves and passes per hour, despite having the lowest number of total contacts per player. This drill proved ideal for focusing solely on serving and passing.

Hitting lines on two sides had the most contacts per hour, although only two skills were performed: setting and hitting. However, this drill lacked the back-and-forth exchange over the net, which is crucial in game-like situations.

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Interestingly, Speedball had slightly fewer contacts per hour than Queen of the Court. This was surprising, considering that Queen of the Court was a drill frequently practiced by the team, while Speedball was relatively new to them. This unfamiliarity with Speedball may have slowed down the drill initially.

Another noteworthy observation was that Queen of the Court resulted in a higher number of missed serves compared to Speedball. Consequently, Queen of the Court had fewer quality reps despite having slightly more contacts per hour.

In terms of hitting lines, using only one side with three lines resulted in only slightly fewer hits per hour compared to lines on each side. However, using three lines allowed players to hit from all positions on the court. The coach’s role in tossing the balls and maintaining a high contact rate per hour did not provide feedback to the players effectively.

Notably, the 6 vs 6 drill had a high number of contacts per hour, surpassing both Queen of the Court and Speedball. This drill closely resembles actual gameplay, although it does not incorporate serving or passing, which are crucial aspects of the game at every level.

To further enhance my research, I would consider counting the contacts per hour in a 6 vs 6 drill that incorporates serving and passing, as well as tracking contacts during regular matches or scrimmages. This would shed light on the drop in contacts per hour when players take the time to retrieve the ball and return to serve.

While some of the statistics may seem insignificant, these numbers accumulate throughout the season. For instance, if a club team practices twice a week for two hours over a five-month season, even a modest increase of five more contacts per player per hour would result in 440 additional touches per player.

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From my experiment, I realized the importance of understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different drills and activities during practice. While increasing contacts per hour is a worthy goal, it is essential to have specific objectives for each practice session that align with the broader goals for the season.

Coaches should meticulously select drills that suit their team’s needs, considering factors such as game-likeness, contacts per hour, and team-specific requirements. A well-rounded practice incorporates various drills and activities that strike a balance between these factors.

FAQs

Q: How can I increase contacts per hour during volleyball practice?
A: To increase contacts per hour, consider drills like Queen of the Court, Speedball, Modified Butterfly, hitting lines, and 6 vs 6. Each of these drills offers different advantages and focuses on specific aspects of the game, such as serving, passing, hitting, setting, and other touches.

Q: Can you explain the Modified Butterfly drill?
A: The Modified Butterfly drill is designed to improve serving and serve-receive passing. One side serves to the other side, where three passers and one target player await. After passing, the player becomes the target, and the target then serves. Players rotate to fill in for the passers after serving.

Q: What are the benefits of the 6 vs 6 drill?
A: The 6 vs 6 drill provides a high number of contacts per hour and closely emulates game-like situations. It allows players to practice their skills in a competitive setting. However, it does not incorporate serving or passing, which are crucial elements of the game.

Summary

In this article, we explored the concept of contacts per hour in volleyball practice and its significance for players and coaches. Through research and experimentation, we examined various drills, including Queen of the Court, Speedball, Modified Butterfly, hitting lines, and 6 vs 6.

Each drill offers unique advantages and focuses on different aspects of the game, such as serving, passing, hitting, setting, and other touches. Coaches should carefully select drills that suit their team’s needs, considering factors like game-likeness, contacts per hour, and team-specific requirements.

By understanding the benefits and limitations of different drills, coaches can create practice sessions that maximize contacts per hour while working towards their goals for the season. Ultimately, balancing the quantity and quality of contacts in practice contributes to the overall development and success of a team.

For more information and practical insights on improving your volleyball practice and achieving optimal contacts per hour, visit Alpinetgheep.com.

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Danh mục: Volleyball