DefenseFundamentals

Ready Position Basics Drill

Teaches the athletic ready stance every defensive contact starts from, before ever adding a ball to react to.

Age RangeAges 6+
Duration5-6 minutes
Group SizeWhole team
SportVolleyball

Equipment Needed

  • Open space (no ball needed)

Build out your practice kit

This stance drill needs nothing but space, but a basic coaching-aid kit keeps the rest of practice moving.

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Setup

  • Spread players out facing the coach with room to move in any direction.
Ready Position Basics DrillPPPPLow, balanced stance; shuffle to the coach's callKnees bent, hands out front, weight forward

Instructions

  1. Players get into a low, balanced ready stance with knees bent and hands out front.
  2. The coach calls a direction (left, right, forward, back); players shuffle that way and reset to ready position.
  3. Mix in a freeze call to check that everyone lands in a balanced, low stance.
  4. Speed up the calls gradually as the group gets comfortable.
Coaching Points
  • Weight on the balls of the feet, not the heels.
  • Hands out in front, ready to form a platform at any moment.
  • Stay low the whole time - popping up between calls loses the ready position.

Variation

Add a coach toss to the ready position once the stance is consistent, turning it into a first-contact drill.