Turn and chase

What you need

Players

6 to 14 players

Time

5 to 8 min

Level

Beginner and intermediate

Equipment

Balls, Ball cart

Ball fed by

The coach

Space

Half a court

Setup

1. Two lines on the back court, about 3 m (10 ft) apart, players facing the end line.
2. The coach at the net, a little to one side, with a cart of balls.
3. The lines wait toward the sidelines, and the front two step in.

How it runs

Two players stand in the back court with their backs to the net. The coach, at the net, slaps the ball as the signal and tosses it somewhere between them. Both turn, find the ball, and one calls it. The pair then has three contacts to get it over the net: pass, set, and send it over. They go to the back of their lines and the next two step in. The whole team chases a goal, such as 20 balls over in 4 minutes.

Time and reps: 4 minute rounds; team goal of 20 balls over in a round.

Coaching points

• Turn on the slap and look up right away; the toss comes right after.
• The player who will reach it calls it loud and early. The partner answers by moving to set.
• Pass high to the middle of the court so the partner can get under it.
• Third ball goes over, even if it is a free ball.

Ways to change it

• Start the pair sitting or kneeling, facing the end line.
• The coach tosses short, deep or wide, so the pair never knows where to look.
• Make it three players: a passer, a setter and a hitter who has to attack the third ball.

Make it easier or harder

Make it easier

• Start the pair facing sideways so they can see the coach from the corner of their eye, and toss higher.

Make it harder

• The coach tosses right after the slap, lower and farther from both players.

Terms on this page

Free ball

An easy ball the other team sends over without attacking it, usually a pass or a set. It gives you time to set up your own attack.

Setter

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

Attack

Any hit that sends the ball at the other team, other than a serve or a block. A spike, a tip and a roll shot are all attacks.