Seam passing: call it

What you need

Players

4 to 6 players

Time

6 to 10 min

Level

Beginner and intermediate

Equipment

Balls, Ball cart

Ball fed by

The coach

Space

A full court

Setup

1. Two passers side by side in the near back court, about 4 m (13 ft) apart, with the seam between them.
2. The coach behind the far end line with a cart of balls, serving into the seam.
3. A target player at the setter's spot, 1 m (3 ft) off the net and just right of center.

How it runs

Two passers stand side by side in the back court and the coach serves into the gap between them. One of them calls the ball early and loud and passes it to the target at the setter's spot. The partner turns and opens up toward the passer, ready to cover, then both reset for the next serve.

Time and reps: 8 balls per pair, then swap pairs; about one minute on to two off.

Coaching points

• Call it early and loud, once: the first clear call wins.
• If you are unsure, the player moving forward to the ball takes it.
• The partner steps out of the way and faces the passer, ready to cover.
• Recover to your base spot straight after the pass.

Ways to change it

• Add a third passer who rotates in after every five balls.
• The coach mixes short and deep serves into the seam.
• Only the outside passer may take seam balls, to practice a team rule.
• Call it early to score: if a passer calls the ball before it crosses the net, the passers get the point. A late call, or no call, is a point for the coach.

Make it easier or harder

Make it easier

• The coach tosses underhand into the seam instead of serving, so there is time to call it.

Make it harder

• Start the passers deeper in the court, so the call has to come early.

Terms on this page

Seam

The gap between two passers or defenders. A ball that lands there needs one clear call about who takes it.

Target spot

The spot by the net, just right of center, where the setter stands.

Setter

The player who usually takes the second contact and sets the ball to a hitter.

Base position

Where a defender stands before the ball is hit: knees bent, weight forward, ready to move in any direction.