Skills & Drills

Just getting into volleyball or been around for a while but looking to revisit some fundamentals, refine your skills or take them to the next level? Join us for PCV’s Skills and Drills Program led by James Battiston, former professional volleyball player and member of the Canadian Beach National Team. James has coached for several years with the Mavericks Volleyball Club as well as 15+ years at Madawaska Volleyball Camp. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and expert guidance that players of all levels from beginner to competitive can benefit from.

2024-25 Indoor Season

• Time: 6PM -8PM.

• Where: École Secondaire Franco-Cité (623 Smyth Road, Ottawa ON K1G 1N7)

• Cost: $25 per session

• Registration: Winter sessions open November 23rd at 8pm, closes at noon on the day of

• Sessions:

  • January 12: Fundamentals

  • January 26: Playing Middle

  • February 9: Attacking 

  • February 23: Defense/Blocking

  • March 9: Libero/Defense

  • March 23: Setting

  • April 6: Playing Middle

  • April 13: Strategy/Gameplay

Fundamentals  

For players at any level, this is an opportunity to develop your skills whether you’re newer to the game or have been playing for years and looking to refine your technique.  

We will touch on each of the main aspects of volleyball: Passing (overhead and underhand), attacking, serving, defense (front and back row). Drills will aim to maximize the number of contacts for each athlete. We will also play small games to stress and grow skills with in-the-moment feedback.  

Reception  

When it comes to reception, the outcome of a play is often dictated by the quality of the first pass. This session will focus solely on the first contact, whether overheard using hands, or underhand using forearms. We will walk through techniques and when to apply them. We will also look at reception forms and strategies to help maximize the success of your team’s first contact.  

Setting

This session is designed to help players develop the essential techniques and strategies needed to excel in the setter position. Athletes will focus on improving their footwork, hand positioning, decision-making, and court awareness, with an emphasis on accurate sets and quick, smart decisions under pressure. Through a combination of drills and personalized feedback, players will learn to become more effective at controlling the tempo of the game, setting up offensive plays, and building chemistry with their hitters. Whether you're looking to refine your skills or take your game to the next level, this clinic will provide the tools and guidance to elevate your performance.  This session will have a maximum of 16 participants. 

Attacking

This will include work on arm swing, approach, hand contact and timing of attack as well as attacks from all positions on the court (front and back row).  Small game situation drills may also be implemented based on the group's skill level. 

Defense/Blocking  

In this session, we will focus on blocking and back row defense. For blocking we will cover reading where the ball is being set to, moving to the ball efficiently and with the best footwork to produce a stronger block jump, blocking position and hand placement. For backrow defense, we look at starting position (on the court as well as body posture), seeing/reading the attacker, arm placement and movement. Strategy and placement of defenders will also be covered before full court drills are introduced when groups are combined.

Libero/Defense

In this session, we’ll focus on skills specific to the Libero or defensive specialist positions while exploring key responsibilities and essential skills of the roles. Participants will have an opportunity to improve floor defense by learning digging techniques including diving and pancakes through drills designed to enhance hand positioning, body control, and quickness to get low and cover unexpected attacks. The session also emphasizes defending a range of attack hits, teaching players how to anticipate, adjust their platform, and read hitters for better positioning. This session will have a maximum of 16 participants.

Playing Middle

If you have been looking to learn more about playing middle, this is the session for you!  In this session, we will focus on developing the skills and responsibilities of the middle position. Players will work on key aspects such as quick transitions from offense to defense, effective blocking techniques, and timing for attacking in the middle. We'll emphasize the importance of reading the setter, reacting quickly to tips and off-speed attacks, and improving the speed of the middle hitter’s approach. Drills will incorporate both offensive and defensive scenarios, including fast-paced setter-middle connections and positioning for blocking against the opponent's attackers. By the end of the session, players will have a stronger understanding of their role and be more confident in executing the skills essential for success in the middle position.  This session will have a maximum of 16 participants.

Strategy/Gameplay

This strategy and gameplay session will allow players to apply skills that have been developed over the course of this season’s focused skills sessions.  We will provide drills designed to practice core skills such as passing, setting, attacking and defending in modified game situations. Players will work on quick transitions, positioning, communication, reading the opposing team's movements and determining appropriate strategies.  There will be minimal personalized instruction on technique in this session so players are expected to have a minimum level of ball control which will allow for meaningful rallies and continuity drills to be executed.

We pride ourselves in fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe and welcome to step onto the court and participate. Every single player and volunteer shares responsibility in making this a reality. To help maintain this standard, all participants must abide by PCV’s Code of Conduct and Policy on Safe Sport.

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