Volleyball Digging | 3 SECRETS for Defense if You're Struggling to Make Great Digs on the Move

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Do you want to find your true potential in beach volleyball? Click here! BetteratBeach.com

[@valentinibarra2661]

Not knowing where a hitter is going to hit is probably my challenge. I have the speed but don’t quite understand how to read and be able to anticipate the hit. Thanks for your content, it has tremendously improved my understanding on how important fundamentals are. Keep up the great work.

[@aniatomek3572]

Same thing here ! I sometimes try to predict rather than react to the shot and often get it wrong :(

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Thanks, glad you liked the video! Reading is a difficult skill! Just like you noted, fundamentals are super important - this is because you are not always going to get a great read and know exactly where the hitter is going to. Sometimes you just have to react! It's also important to note that you are not going to dig every single ball and you don't have to if you can solidly sideout and serve. Have you seen our interactive reading quiz? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIPKZoqDgbydoac Test out your reading skills !

[@makhuphukamnguni9782]

This is the best video so far🙌🙌🙌 you'll getting better champs.

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Thanks, really glad you liked it! Glad to hear we're improving haha

[@justenhansen]

When I pass it on the move, I put a ton of backspin on it, which seems like it will be hard to set. (I'm talking about 4:43) So I've actually been trying not to do that lately. Any tips for passing on the move but with less spin?

[@bloat4hk]

How do you know if you should block with hands straight up, up and over (diagonal), wide spread, block the ball, block with hands to one side, etc?

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Hi, good questions! You should always be trying to press your hands over the net, not just straight up. All these different blocks you're mentioning (blocking ball, blocking line or angle, wide-spread) are defensive systems that you can run with your defender, but your defender has to know what you are doing so they can position themselves correctly too. If you want to learn more about the different defensive systems you can run and EVERYTHING about defense, check out our Ultimate Defender Course: www.betteratbeach.com/ultimatedefender. We can help you master all of the defensive positioning, mechanics, reading and tactics for defenders. All you have to do is sign up for our Online Coaching Program, The Elite Performers Tribe (www.betteratbeach.com/coaching). We also show you the right positioning and movement for every type of defense. THEN, we’ll show you when to use different defensive play calls to beat certain types of players.

[@nikoreva2078]

I am having big trouble to dig the ball behind my body. Some tips on that?

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Hi, good question! In most cases, you want to try to cut the ball off before it gets behind you. We have WAY more information and tips on how to dig every type of ball in our Ultimate Defender Course: www.betteratbeach.com/ultimatedefender! We are going to help you master all of the defensive positioning, mechanics, reading and tactics for defenders. All you have to do is sign up for our Online Coaching Program, The Elite Performers Tribe (www.betteratbeach.com/coaching) . We also show you the right positioning and movement for every type of defense.

[@remkogerbrandij4577]

For me it's definiteley: not knowing where the attacker is going to hit. I find it hard to read the attacker and even though I consider myself to be a pretty fast defender, I still don't get a lot of digs which is very frustrating. Would love some more insight on how to read the attacker ánd what to do as a defender as you read the attacker. Do I stay into position or do I step forwards/sidewards? And when is the moment that I make these adjustments?

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Hey, great questions! Reading is a difficult skill. We often see players trying to "read" too much and actually guessing and moving around too early. If you do not know where the attacker is going, you have to hold in your position and just react. You can read the attacker by watching the way they approach (fast or slow), where they are facing when they're about to swing (line or angle), their arm coming into the ball & ball positioning (fast or slow, dropped elbow, is the ball to the right, left or center of them). It is important to note that you are not going to get a good read on EVERY play, and you are definitely not going to dig every ball. We have WAY more information about defense in our Ultimate Defender Course: www.betteratbeach.com/ultimatedefender! We can help you master all of the defensive positioning, mechanics, reading and tactics for defenders. We also show you the right positioning and movement for every type of defense. THEN, we’ll show you when to use different defensive play calls to beat certain types of players. You’re going to learn how to flat-out SHUT ATTACKERS DOWN!

[@BenjaminCNunes]

I struggle with hard driven balls. Even if I get my arms in place to touch it, I rarely get it up to my setter. More likely to end up on a roof somewhere haha. Any advice on how to receive those?

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Hi Benjamin! If your dig is going straight up in the air or even backwards, or super high, you might be swinging your arms and/or getting underneath the ball rather than behind it. With hard-driven balls, they already have a lot of pace on them, so you almost just want to set your platform at the right angle and let the ball hit you, not actively try to "get it up." We have tons of information, videos and drills on digging hard driven balls (and more) in our Ultimate Defender Course, PLUS we'll review your own film and provide personal coaching! Check it out: www.betteratbeach.com/ultimatedefender

[@perrykendrick1058]

i'm 5 foot 8 does the 2 steps and a dive theory still work for people my height or shorter?

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Hi Perry, yes (for the most part)! Coach Jo here, I'm a 5'8 female player and the ONLY shot I take 3 steps and dive to is a PERFECT high line shot (if I'm defending in the angle). Mostly everything else I can get with 2 steps and dive, so you can too!

[@romalopes]

Can I have some drills to make player jump on the sand? It looks like most of intermediate players are afraid of letting their belly dirty.

[@stobs22]

When running for the ball, does it matter really which leg is forward while passing to make it more smooth?

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

It will be easier to dig a ball if your outside leg (leg closest to the sideline or farthest from the net) is forward because then you don't have a leg in front of you blocking off space for your platform to move through. However, it is not completely necessary to have the right leg forward to get a good dig. Sometimes on defense, you have to scramble and just do whatever you can to get the ball up!

[@marcbrown5081]

Reading the hitter has always been a shot coming of my game. Sometimes a lucky guess saves the play sometims out of position completely.

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Reading is a difficult skill! Focus on just trying to watch the hitter's approach, body, arm and hand as they come in to hit - see what you see, and try to figure out what that tells you. Don't try to guess EXACTLY where they are going to hit, if your read doesn't really tell you anything, you just have to hold and react!

[@millsap40]

1:32 actual movie quality 😂😂

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

This clip acts as an audition clip for the next cop buddy movie.

[@millsap40]

@@betteratbeachvolleyball you guys keep up the great work yalls info on the game is top notch love it every time I see y’all upload

[@sergioserrano3361]

I think anticipating and reading the hand of the attacker, is the most difficult for me when in the defense position.

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Reading is a difficult skill! Have you seen our Interactive Quiz - How Well Can You Read the Attacker video? It might help you figure out exactly what to look for in terms of the hitter's arm and hand kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIPKZoqDgbydoac

[@PeterKnight75]

I was playing yesterday a dig the ball out just before it hit the ground with one hand, palm faced up. I hit it behind me to my team mate. The opposite called a foul ball. I made contact with the ball with my finger tips

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Nice!

[@bloat4hk]

My problem with digging hard hits is just barely touching the ball but not having power to send it up

[@elephantmocha4104]

If it’s hit super hard you shouldn’t have to use any of your own power

[@elephantmocha4104]

To get a good up

[@bloat4hk]

Do you have advice on hard driven hits deep down the middle? Seems I can get a hand on it but not a good angle up

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

If the attack is very hard driven, you almost just have to let it hit your platform (set at the right angle) in order to get it up. If the attack is a bit slower, you want to make sure you are behind the ball, not directly under it, so it can go forward and not just straight up, and think of giving it a little push with your whole body, not just swinging your arms, on contact. We way WAY more information, videos, drills and more on digging hard-driven balls as well as everything about defense in our Ultimate Defender Course: www.betteratbeach.com/ultimatedefender Check it out!

[@andyreidsmustache9247]

For me it's not knowing where someone is about to hit. Then if I am running for a shanked ball, I lose which direction I'm facing and where I can put it for my partner.

[@michaelmuller8494]

Pls do the pew pew pew every video. I laughed so hard.

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Glad we made you laugh!

[@selinachhay]

How great would it be if he replaced the gun sounds with Kevin Hart’s gun sounds? 😂

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Omg that would be amazing... noted for the next time we use gun sounds😂

[@tomassblekte4909]

My problem is “not knowing where somebody is going to hit.”

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

haha right?!?

[@onigiri8946]

I usually look at the hitter. Helps alot. Helps even more if you know about theirs habits and tendencies. For example, a friend of mine loves to do straights. If he see either a block or the defender on the straight, then he’ll do a poke. You know where this is going, right? So I usually sit at the cross and then run over to the straight. Of course, not all people are this obvious. Just saying 😜

[@tomassblekte4909]

@@onigiri8946 Ok, thanks!

[@Loveeball]

*Dig Quick*

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

💪💪

[@Izzy.rodfrz]

My biggest problem in defense is when I’m pulling line and then have to dig a short ball or an overhead hit or just any attack in general because I never know when to stop moving. So what happens is I pull line and find myself being in motion while the attack is coming my way and it’s just hard for me to get a good reception :/

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Super common issue, thanks for sharing!! So the rule of thumb is, no matter where you are, even if you feel you haven't pulled back far enough or you just feel out of position, you have to be STOPPED by the time the hitter is contacting the ball. Even if you are way out of position, you will still have a better chance of digging any type of attack if you are STOPPED and not still in motion. So when the hitter makes their arm swing and is about to contact the ball, just be stopped and ready to move in any direction.

[@marcorizzo6392]

catching the ball with two arms it's so difficult. Always I use only one