Penny Lucas-White: Training Middle Hitters

with Penny Lucas-White,
Alabama State University Head Coach;
6x Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships;
2014, 2016 SWAC Conference Coach of the Year;
Air Force Head Coach from 1996 to 2009;
University of Memphis Head Coach from 1991 to 1995;
1994, 1995 Great Midwest Conference Coach of the Year;
played on the USA National Volleyball Team from 1985 to 1986;
played for LSU and then professionally in the US & Europe

Alabama State's Penny Lucas-White takes you inside an early team practice session to focus on middles.  She starts with blocking technique to develop timing while showing how the entire team works as a single defensive unit.   Lucas-White demonstrates transition options and three different hitting tempos for the middle.  She finally shows a scrimmage drill to focus on the middle play.

Train your middles to use their eyes and feet to be more effective blockers

Lucas-White shares a drill to teach your middles to keep their eyes on the opposing setter before exploding with good footwork to transition to the hitter.  She demonstrates the footwork and uses her team to show how the middle block and floor defenders work as one unit to stop the opponent.  Lucas-White explains where to focus coaching emphasis to improve your middles' blocking efforts.

Transition from defense to offense with a variety of attacking options

Lucas-White discusses alternate "home" positions that allow your middles to transition into offense more effectively while learning to attack from various starting points.  She shows how to hit various middle hit tempos while her players demonstrate transitioning and attacking options.  The video shows side and end camera angles to help coaches see various aspects of the attacking technique to help you understand how to train middles as well as the setters.  

Watch a variety of middles execute blocking and hitting techniques

Lucas-White uses various players on a rotational basis to show different options adjusted for individual players.  She consistently rotates four different players and provides general and specific feedback to help other coaches learn the middle techniques.   Lucas-White explains areas of focus for training middles with their blocking and hitting skills.  

Coach Lucas-White brings an upbeat and positive energy to coaching her team.  She pushes her players with key phrases and feedback that is explained in the video.   Lucas-White shows how to keep an entire team involved while focusing on the middle play and keeps the action going throughout the practice.  She breaks down specific feedback for coaches watching the video and then utilizes that information within the drills. This is a must-have video for every volleyball coach!

36 minutes.  2024.