Volleyball Scrimmage Drills 6v6: Comprehensive Guide
Volleyball scrimmage drills are a crucial component of volleyball training, enabling players to hone their skills and strategies under game-like conditions. These drills create an environment where players must navigate the complexities of pressure, unpredictability, and team communication.
Numerous alternative scrimmages target specific areas of the game, such as high ball setting, blocking, and defense, to name a few. In this blog, I’ll explore a variety of these drills and discuss how they can elevate your team’s volleyball performance. These insights are gleaned from some of the finest coaches in the sport, including Gianni Cretu and Slobodan Kovač.
Benefits of 6v6 Volleyball Drills
Scrimmages are beneficial for teams to work on their strategies, including offensive and defensive plays, transitions, and serve-receive, due to the opportunity for increased repetitions. Moreover, the 6v6 drill exposes players to various game situations, such as side-out, free ball, down ball, or specific rotations. Finally, the 6v6 drill fosters teamwork and competitiveness, as players have to work together to achieve a common goal and challenge themselves to perform better than their opponents.
Essential Volleyball Scrimmage Drills
Drill 1: Serve, Free ball and high ball
This drill typically begins with the score tied at 18:18. The serving team earns a point immediately upon scoring a breakpoint. If the receiving team successfully executes a side out, they receive a bonus free ball, which they must convert into a kill to earn a point. Should they score consecutively, they are then awarded a high ball set (out of system play) for an opportunity to score an additional point.
Drill 2: Score with only tip and rolls
This drill emphasizes ball control over scoring. The coach tosses high, out-of-system balls to the setter, who then sets up the attackers. Points can only be scored through tips, roll shots, pushing against the block, or soft spiking off the block. Although it may seem monotonous, this drill is crucial for players to refine their coverage systems, defense against tips and short balls, and control over their attacks.
Drill 3: Spike With or without block + Optional free ball And High Ball
This drill focuses on anticipating when to block and when to refrain, particularly in out-of-system situations where a bad set suggests not blocking. The drill commences with the coach throwing the ball near the 3-meter line for the wing spikers to initiate an attack, starting the rally. If scoring is incorporated, the team that wins the point earns a free ball. If they score again, they get another chance to score with a high ball set from the setter, further simulating an out-of-system play.
Dynamic 6v6 Volleyball Drills
Drill 4: Transitioning from Defense to offense
The drill initiates with both teams starting at the 14th point. It begins with the coach either spiking or tipping the ball towards one team. As the coach initiates the attack, the blockers must jump to block and then quickly transition from defense to offense. After the rally, the coach moves to the opposite side, and the sequence repeats—alternating one turn per team.
Drill 5: Free ball after free ball
This drill is excellent for player conditioning. Immediately after a point is scored, the coach puts the ball back into play without any break. The ball remains in constant motion, focusing solely on the game without any interruptions for cheering. Although it can be quite tiring, this drill should be shorter than others. It serves as an effective warm-up before transitioning to other scoring scrimmage drills.
Other 6v6 Drills To Check Out:
Organizing an Effective 6v6 Drill Session
- Define Objectives: Clearly outline what you want to achieve with the drill session. This could be improving teamwork, communication, or specific skills.
- Plan the Session: Decide on the drills you will use, the order of activities, and the timing for each. Make sure the drills align with your objectives.
- Brief Participants: Before starting, explain the purpose of the session, and the drills you will be doing.
- Warm-Up: Start with a warm-up to prepare the players for the drill.
- Rotate Players: Keep the session dynamic by rotating players through different rotations.
Conclusion
If you are a coach, looking to spice things up, incorporate these drills into your next practice session; they’re utilized at the highest levels and offer substantial benefits. Focus on areas your team needs to improve. Feel free to tailor each drill to suit your needs and experiment with them. The results will indicate the effectiveness of the drills. If you have questions about other volleyball drills, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below!