Tip or Attack Choice

Decision-Making

11 minutesbeginnerteammental

Legend

player
defender
ball
movement path

How it works

Introduce young players to the concept of choosing between two options (tip vs. push) based on a simple visual cue.

What you need

volleyball (soft/foam)
net (lowered)
two floor targets

Your focus

Strategic decision-making starts with binary choices. When young players learn that the blocker's arm position tells them which shot to take, they begin developing the cue-reading habit that underpins all tactical volleyball decisions. Starting with two clear options reduces cognitive overload while still building the foundational if-then reasoning structure.

Place two floor targets on the far side of a lowered net: one close (tip target) and one deep (push target).

A volunteer blocker stands at the net with arms either raised (block is up) or arms down (block is away).

Player approaches the net with a tossed ball; if arms are raised, they tip over; if arms are down, they push deep.

After each attempt, coach asks 'What did you see?' to reinforce the cue-reading habit before the result is discussed.

Goal

You've got it when you pick tip or push based on what you see, not just habit, you looked at the defense first.

Helpful cues

Look at the arms before you swing
Arms up means go over them
Arms down means go past them

Adjust the challenge

Make it easier

Strip it back

Blocker's arms stay in one position for the entire set of 10 reps; players can practice one decision pattern before mixing.

UpLVL it

Add the next challenge

Blocker changes arm position at the last moment as the player approaches, requiring a later and faster read.

No account needed

Build a practice plan

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

This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.

After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.