Approach jumps for height

What you need

Players

1 to 6 players

Time

5 to 8 min

Level

Intermediate

Equipment

None

Ball fed by

Not needed

Space

Half a court

Setup

1. A line of hitters behind the attack line, near the middle of the court.
2. Optional: a strip of tape on the antenna or a marked reach board to aim for.
3. Walk back around the right of the line after landing, clear of the next hitter.

How it runs

Hitters take a full approach from behind the attack line and jump for maximum reach at the net, with no ball. The focus is the footwork, the arm swing and the landing. Each hitter walks back around the outside to the end of the line.

Time and reps: 3 sets of 5 jumps, about 90 s rest between sets.

Coaching points

• Start slow and finish fast: the last two steps are the quickest and longest.
• Swing both arms back on the plant, then drive them up hard as you take off.
• Reach high with the hitting arm at the top of the jump.
• Land on both feet with soft knees, in balance, without touching the net.

Ways to change it

• Reach for a ball held up by the coach on a box.
• Use a two-step approach to work on the last two steps only.
• Note your highest reach in each set.

Terms on this page

Attack line (10-foot line)

The line about 10 feet (3 m) from the net. Back row players take off from behind it when they attack.

Pin and antenna

The pin is the end of the net where outside hitters attack, and the left pin is on your left as you face the net. The antenna is the striped rod above each sideline; the ball has to cross the net between the two.

Approach

The steps a hitter takes before jumping: a slow first step, then quicker steps into the jump.

Safety