Contested Call Drill

Composure

11 minutesintermediateteammental

Legend

player
partner / opponent
ball
movement path

How it works

Develop composure in response to disputed officiating decisions during live play.

What you need

volleyball
net
full court

Your focus

Poor officiating is a guaranteed feature of youth and club volleyball. Players who lose composure after bad calls give opponents a psychological edge and put their team at a disadvantage. Training with intentionally controversial calls prepares athletes to accept, process, and re-engage within the three-second reset window.

Run a 6v6 scrimmage with a coach serving as referee.

Every 4-5 points, the referee makes an intentionally controversial or incorrect call (ball in/out, touching the net).

Players must NOT react with visible frustration. If they do, the opposing team receives an extra point.

Coach pauses play and asks the frustrated player: 'Is that call more important than your next serve?'

Players develop and practice a private 'contested call routine', a silent, 3-second reset they can use after any bad call.

Goal

You've got it when a disputed call doesn't change how you play the next point, frustration is felt, not shown in your game.

Helpful cues

The ref already made the call, your reaction is the only variable left
Champions lose arguments and win matches
Three seconds to feel it, then you're back

Adjust the challenge

Make it easier

Strip it back

Discuss bad-call scenarios conceptually before simulating them in play.

UpLVL it

Add the next challenge

Opponents are allowed to visibly celebrate every bad call, player must maintain composure despite opponent's reaction.

No account needed

Build a practice plan

Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.

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