Drill Creation 10,000 Drills in 60 Minutes Kerry MacDonald BKin, MEd, PhD Candidate Level III NCCP
Top down approach Drill Creation Seasonal Plan Practice Plan Drill Design
Drill Creation Every practice should have a clear objective Driven by a seasonal plan Modified by recent performance Avoid panic on areas that you have yet to address The road to the top is long Create drills that address your objective in a systematic method Simple to complex
Drill Creation 1Select the Cycle of Actions 2Determine Ball Initiation Technique 3Divide the court 4Rotation Pattern 5Determine Metrics for success
Drill Creation Write down 2 of your favorite drills, most used, etc. 2 current areas of weakness within your team For each: What should the drill objective be to address this area of weakness
Step 1 Cycle of Actions Set Serve Pass/Dig Hit Block
Step 1 Cycle of Actions Consider: What is the most appropriate cycle of actions to accomplish the objective Too few and you are not simulating the game Eg. Passing with no setter, setting with no hitter, hitting with no block Too many and Perhaps the focus is lost The cycle breaks before the skill is performed Fatigue or overtraining
Step 1 Cycle of Actions Do your favorite drills follow the cycle of actions? Pick the cycle of actions most appropriate to your 2 objectives
Step 2 Ball Initiation Simulating a skill in the cycle of actions Completed by coach or athlete Can have multiple balls with differing initiation techniques
Step 2 Ball Initiation Serve Pass Set Attack Box Toss Toss Box Endline Bounce Front/back row Sideline Standing/jumping Mid-court Self-toss Throw Throw Machine Machine
Step 2 Ball Initiation Consider What role is more important for you or your coaching staff? Ball implementation or error detection correction? Having the athlete initiate the drill gives them the reps Drill initiation techniques as an early season skill focus Or as arm warm-up in practice Coach initiation when very specific replication of skill is required And the coach is better at it than the athlete
Step 2 Ball Initiation Other examples of ball initiation techniques? Choose appropriate method of ball initiation for your two drill objectives
Step 3 Drill Replication/Division Diving the court allows for the same drill to be multiplied OR multiple drills to be performed simultaneously Results in a large increase in training contacts Use antennae to divide the net Use small cones, other floor lines or floor tape to divide court
Step 3 Drill Replication/Division
Step 3 Drill Replication/Division
Step 3 Drill Replication/Division
Step 3 Drill Replication/Division
Step 3 Drill Replication/Division Examples of court division? Drill replication, multiple simultaneous drills? How to best replicate your drill to best accomplish the listed objectives (if at all)?
Step 4 Rotation This is what often makes simple drills feel complex, and often the part that confuses athletes Can rotate after every contact, every 3 contact, when the drill is done When first teaching a skill I rotate less often, high volume with with limited recall time of motor pattern
Step 4 Rotation If rotating every contact I tend to use 3 options: Follow the ball (passer becomes setter becomes hitter, etc.) The shortest distance (Set to attack to block) Increased complexity does not make the drill better Rotate after a realistic duration of repetitions
Step 4 Rotation Outline how the athletes rotate through the drill. Does the rotation allow the drill objective to be completed?
Step 5 Metrics What is the target, goal, or outcome measure? Specific Measurable Attainable/Realistic Timelines Remember that volleyball is a power sport, not endurance
Step 5 Metrics Scoring is most common and can be an effective motivator Works best when competing between players and less so when within players (depends on the athlete) Can also take the focus off of the process and place it on the outcome Often, technical changes result in a lower immediate success rate Different outcomes can have different values Isolate your objectives Score can be known to the athletes or not
Step 5 Metrics Objective: Improve non-setter set location Drill = Athlete initiated Dig-Set Scoring: 1 point = Ball is off the net -1 point = Ball touch net 1 point = Ball lands inside the antennae -1 point = Ball lands outside the antennae 1 point = Ball is above the height of the antennae -1 point = Ball below height of the antennae
Step 5 Metrics Objective: Improve non-setter set location 3 Ball wash: Serve, downball, downball Downball at setters Scoring: Serve ball win = +1 point Downball win = +2 point
Step 5 Metrics Don t be afraid to put goals on the process Example, correct 1 st step for middles Peer evaluation of process is a great technique Learn by teaching Visual learners Duration of time is a measure of volume and poor outcome measure (poor motivator) Important to consider from an energy systems standpoint
Step 5 Metrics Examples of metrics for your favourite drills? Select the metric that best assesses if the drill objective has been accomplished?
Variations Easy to modify and adjust drills Add or remove cycle of action Change the ball implementation Adjust the playing area Modify the goal, scoring, etc. Does the drill address the objective?????
Questions? The UofC Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre is one of the International Research Centres for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health supported by the International Olympic Committee