How to Use the Handbook
Pick a subject
Volume 2 of the Volleyball Coaches Handbook is designed to be a comprehensive resource where coaches can reference specific aspects of the game and get a variety of viewpoints on how to teach and train them. If you want help with blocking, the blocking section covers everything from basic concepts to specific techniques and strategies. If you’re looking to go beyond fundamentals, you might choose Team Offense or Team Defense, where you’ll get advice on how to most effectively use your players, or Out-of-System Training, which tells you how to score the tough points. Looking for fun, effective drills? You’ll find those too. Just flip to “Favorite Drills.”
Read, then watch
Once you’ve covered the written info, you can go to corresponding videos on the Art of Coaching Volleyball website and watch live demonstrations and presentations of the handbook material.*
Go beyond the X’s and O’s
As you know, being a great coach is more than just teaching skills and strategies, so we’ve stocked the handbook with plenty of “big picture” tips. They start with John Dunning’s “29 Keys to Being a Great Coach” and continue with advice on a broad range of subjects: motor learning, error correction, practice planning, setting goals, scouting, using video, analyzing statistics, staying healthy, building a positive team culture and a whole lot more.
Check out the 4-week practice plan
To help you get the most out of a month, we asked World Champion coach Jim Stone to draw up a 4-week practice blueprint. Jim is the former head women’s coach at Ohio State and a longtime juniors coach. He guides you through each activity and drill – practice by practice, day by day, week by week. There’s a QR code on each page that links you to the corresponding videos for the planned teachings and drills.
Build your identity
Our hope is that you’ll soak up the expertise of our knowledgeable handbook contributors, then shape a coaching philosophy that’s right for you and right for your team. Get your handbook today to get started!
The Handbook includes:
- 350 pages
- 40 featured coaches
- 33 main topics
- 161 sets of notes
- 109 drill ideas
- A sample 4-week practice plan put together by Jim Stone
- An index at the back of the book so you can easily find all of the notes from a specific coach
Click the arrows below to learn more about different aspects of the handbook.
View topics
- View the full Table of Contents
- Essential Coaching Skills
- Warmup
- Attacking
- Blocking
- Setting
- Serving
- Passing
- Individual Defense
- Reading the Game
- Motor Learning and Error Correction
- Libero Training
- Middle Blocker Training
- Team Defense
- Team Offense
- Transition
- Out-of-system
- Practice and Season Planning
- Game Day
- Scouting
- Video and Stats
- Health and Injury Prevention
- Performance Training
- Coaching Philosophy
- Team Culture and Leadership
- Training Your Team to Compete
- Communication
- Managing a Coaching Staff
- Coaching High School
- College Recruiting
- General Coaching Tips
- 4-week Practice Plan
- Designing Drills
- Favorite Drills
View featured coaches
- Mark Barnard (Oregon State University)
- Ray Bechard (University of Kansas)
- Lindsey Berg (3-time USA Olympian)
- Kirsten Bernthal Booth (Creighton University)
- Debbie Brown (University of Notre Dame, 1991-2014)
- Michelle Collier (Georgia Tech University)
- Dianne DeNecochea (Recruiting Advisor)
- John Dunning (Stanford University, 2001-2016)
- Diane Flick-Williams (Western Washington University)
- Jen Flynn Oldenburg (Ohio State University)
- Cindy Fredrick (UNLV, 2011-2017)
- Cathy George (Michigan State University)
- Jen Greeny (Washington State University)
- Kevin Hambly (Stanford University)
- Christa Harmotto Dietzen (2-time USA Olympian)
- Mike Houlihan (University of Massachusetts Boston)
- Christy Johnson-Lynch (Iowa State University)
- Karch Kiraly (USA Women’s National Team)
- Ron Kordes (Assumption High School, KIVA Sports)
- Jill Kramer (Texas Christian University)
- Beth Launiere (University of Utah)
- Tammy Leibl (Wave Volleyball Club)
- Cassidy Lichtman (USA Women’s National Team, 2011-2016)
- Terry Liskevych (3-time USA Olympic Coach)
- Moira Long (Springfield College)
- Kerry MacDonald (Volleyball Canada)
- Nabil Mardini (Los Angeles Volleyball Academy)
- Tod Mattox (The Bishop’s School)
- Kimi Olson (Michigan State University)
- Caitie Ratkowski (Divine Savior Holy Angels High School)
- Salima Rockwell (Penn State University, 2015-2017)
- Russ Rose (Penn State University)
- Mark Rosen (University of Michigan)
- Dave Rubio (University of Arizona)
- Joe Sagula (University of North Carolina)
- Mike Sealy (UCLA)
- Craig Skinner (University of Kentucky)
- Jim Stone (USA Youth National Team, 2007-2020)
- Ryan Theis (Marquette University)
- Marie Zidek (DePaul University)
*Some videos require you to be a Premium member to watch.
Dave –
This new coaching book (Volleyball coaches handbook Volume 2) is the best book for volleyball on the market. I am digging in deeper, learning more on how to coach and teach the game (even though I have coached for over 35 years). Thank you for putting all this info in a great package. Coaches this is a great buy for your library reference material. A must have!
Jonathan Rodriguez (verified owner) –
This is a great handbook. As a young high school coach myself, this gave me the tools needed to become a successful coach. I highly recommend this handbook
Jonathan Rodriguez (verified owner) –
This is a great handbook. As a young high school coach myself, this gave me the tools needed to become a successful coach. I highly recommend this handbook
Carol Ramos (verified owner) –
This handbook has been very helpful for me as a first year coach for club volleyball. Great ideas for drills, practice plans, scouting, team culture, leadership, etc. Love how user friendly it is too.