Training Middle Attackers
Posted on Dec 09, 2007 under Individual Skills |Purpose: To train middles to keep their eyes on the ball and to correctly position themselves to receive the ball.
Set-up: one middle, one setter, one tosser, one shagger, basket of balls.
1. This very simple drill has the middle starting at the 10 ft line in the middle of the court. The middle will start in an aggressive ready position with eyes on the ball which is in the tossers’ hands.
2. The tosser should stand in various places on the court (to simulate digging the ball from different areas). When the tosser tosses the ball to the setter the middle should keep eyes on the ball, let it just pass and then explode into an approach to get to the setter and be in the air when the ball is in the setter’s hands.
3. If a delayed quick in the middle is used, have the middle let the ball pass and wait a split second. The setter should set the ball just before the middle jumps.
4. Emphasize to the middle to keep eyes fixed on the ball while approaching. The middle should make 10-15 approaches/swings and then switch with another middle. Make sure that the middles’ approaches are extremely explosive.