Basic serve-receive positioning for liberos

In this video, Natalie Hagglund demonstrates serve-receive with a libero and 2 outside hitters. Natalie
explains how players should communicate, who takes what and how the primary passers (the libero and
one of the leftsides) can lessen the passing load of the the primary attacker.

Serve-receive posture and routine

As Natalie Hagglund discusses, it's important to develop a serve-receive routine that prepares you to
pass well. Natalie talks about the importance of having short, concise cues that help you focus. She also
covers serve-receive posture.

Passing platform: ‘Pancake, pancake, sausage, sausage’

In this clip, Natalie Hagglund demonstrates how to position your hands and arms to form a good, stable
platform.

Towel drill to keep your shoulders forward

Purpose: Helps you remember to keep your shoulders forward, which helps you pass more consistently.

How it works: A passer has a towel on their shoulders and tries to keep it from falling off when passing.
If it does, the passer knows they are not keeping their shoulders forward.

Requirements: At least two players, a towel, a cart of balls and a full court

Drill for forming better platform angles

Purpose: Learn how to quickly create a good angle with your platform.

How it works: When the serve is in the air, a coach calls for a specific target and the passer has to adjust
to try to hit that target.

Requirements: Four or more players, a coach, targets (cones, disks, volleyballs), a cart of balls and a full
court

Minimizing head and body movement when passing

Unnecessary motion can lead to inconsistent passing. In this video, Natalie and former Northwestern
libero Caroline Niedospial demonstrate how to move to the ball while maintaining an even plane with
their bodies.

Adjusting serve-receive to the strength of passers

Watch to learn how to switch up your serve-receive if a server is giving you trouble. Natalie Hagglund
covers 2, 3 and 4-person serve-receive formations.

How many passers for serve-receive?

How many passers should you use in serve-receive? Depending on your players and the team's
experience level, you might choose to use anywhere from 2 to 5 passers in serve-receive. Natalie
discusses it here with former University of Oregon setter Rachel Morris.
Cambio de posicionamiento servicio / recepción para adaptarse al servidor.

Natalie Hagglund habla sobre las diferentes maneras en que los pasadores pueden posicionarse para
manejar mejor las tendencias de un servidor.

Dealing with high serves as a passer

Watch as Natalie Hagglund and former University of Oregon setter Rachel Morris talk about proper form
when retreating to play a deep serve or taking a ball overhand.

Creating a platform as you move

This is a simple drill that requires players to create a platform as they move back for deep serves. As
demonstrated by Natalie Hagglund, it teaches players to form early platforms on deep serves so they
don't swing their arms right before contacting the ball.

Overhand serve-receive

Overhand passing is a good alternative to platform passing when taking a high ball on serve receive.
Natalie Hagglund discusses some keys to taking a serve overhand, including having hands out in front,
firm/stiff fingers and a stable body position.

The Fire hydrant move for deep serves

Natalie Hagglund introduces the "fire hydrant" move, which is often a good choice when playing serves
that are deep and up high. Natalie and other players demonstrate how to retreat, stop and lift one leg to
get in a good position to play a high, deep ball.

Libero communication before, during and after the play

Does your libero know what they should be saying to their teammates to improve team defense and
serve-receive? Natalie Hagglund explains what should be communicated by the libero during serve-
receive and other situations in the match.

Defensive starting posture and hand-positioning

Natalie and former University of Oregon setter Rachel Morris talk here about the body positioning and
hand positioning you need to be best prepared for handling hard-driven balls on defense.

Bosu drill for better balance on defense

Purpose: Helps players stay in a neutral position, then quickly react to the ball.

How it works: First, the tosser bounces a tennis ball off the Bosu ball and players try to catch it with one
hand. Next, the defenders go for digs from spikes bouncing off the Bosu ball.

Requirements: At least two players, a Bosu ball, a tennis ball, a cart of volleyballs and a half court

Digging under the net drill

Purpose: Helps players learn how to take a "jab step" to get a quicker jump on low balls.

How it works: One player stands under the net and reacts to tosses from a partner.

Requirements: Two players, a cart of balls and a half court

Ball-control drill to improve decision-making

Purpose: Teaches players how to take a good first step and make quick decisions on how they're going
to play a ball.

How it works: This is a two-part drill where players dig balls off tosses from a partner. Overhand digs, 2-
armed digs and pancakes are all options. In phase 1 of the drill, the digger starts on her knees. The next
progression has the digger standing deep in the backcourt, sprinting to make plays on balls tossed from
the net.

Requirements: At least two players, a cart of balls and a half court

Defensive court positioning between middle and left back

In this video, Natalie Hagglund teaches who is responsible for what ball on defense between the libero
and the middle back. To practice this, a coach on a box hits crosscourt while two defenders (a middle
back and a left-back libero) communicate and play defense.

Playing defense behind the block

Purpose: This drill focuses on several keys for a libero playing defense, including seeing the hitter at all
times, lining up outside of the middle blocker's inside hand, looking for the seam if the inside blocker
doesn't make it all the way to the outside, getting stopped before contacting the ball.

How it works: Two right-side blockers stand in against a hitter on a box. The hitter rips balls in the seam
and crosscourt while a libero reads, reacts and goes for the dig.

Libero setting when the setter digs

Purpose: Liberos are often responsible for setting the second ball when the setter digs. This drill helps
them practice that skill in different scenarios.

How it works: A coach or player hits balls from the net at a line digger (the setter). When the setter digs,
the libero steps in from left back and sets the hitter.

Keys to covering the hitter

In this video, Natalie discusses the different aspects and keys of covering a hitter when they attack.

Taking a direct path to the ball

Purpose: Work on moving more efficiently from Point A to Point B.

How it works: The tosser delivers balls short, deep and to the side while the defender tries to take the
most direct path possible to the ball.