Bobbi Petersen: Volleyball Ball Control Drills & Training Concepts

with Bobbi Petersen
University of Northern Iowa Head Coach;
2025 MVC Coach of the Year (fourth straight year);
13x MVC Regular Season Champions;
12x MVC Tournament Champions;
10x MVC Coach of the Year;
2002 AVCA National Coach of the Year;
4x AVCA Regional Coach of the Year;
Played for UNI from 1986-1989;
3x First Team All-Conference;
Her 40 kills in a 1989 match remains the all-time Missouri Valley / Gateway Conference record

Championship volleyball teams are built on a foundation of elite ball control. In this comprehensive coaching video, University of Northern Iowa's Bobbi Petersen shares her philosophy, teaching methods, and practice-tested drills designed to help teams develop consistent, confident, and reliable ball control.

This video shows how to train ball control intentionally so it becomes a competitive advantage rather than just a warm-up activity. Coach Petersen believes ball control is one of the most important indicators of team success. When teams control the ball at a high level, they create more scoring options, reduce unforced errors, and play with greater confidence in every phase of the game.

Throughout the video, Petersen shares a wide variety of drills including Serve Receive with a Goal, Ball Control Game to 10, Wash Drills, and Competitive Ball Control exercises. Each drill is explained with clear purpose, teaching points, and competitive constraints so coaches understand not just what to run, but why each drill matters. These drills are designed to challenge athletes mentally and physically while reinforcing discipline, communication, and focus.

A key emphasis of this video is giving every drill a specific objective. Coach Petersen shows how to structure ball control training with measurable goals, time constraints, and performance standards that create urgency and accountability. This approach builds confidence, mental toughness, and consistency while preparing players for the pressure and unpredictability of competition.

This video goes beyond mechanics to address practice design, mindset, and culture. Coaches will learn how to create a training environment that pushes athletes to be uncomfortable in practice so they can remain composed in matches. By incorporating these drills and concepts into daily practices, teams develop better habits, improved volleyball IQ, and a higher level of trust in their execution.

This video provides coaches with practical tools, proven drills, and a clear philosophy for building ball control that translates directly to match performance. Coach Petersen's passion for the game and attention to detail shine throughout, making this a valuable resource for coaches looking to strengthen the foundation of their program and build sustainable success through purposeful training.

58 minutes. 2026.