Eyes on the Ball
Focus
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Train young players to track the ball with their eyes from the moment it leaves a partner's hands.
What you need
- volleyball
- open gym space
Your focus
Young athletes often look away just before contact, leading to mishits and errors. Building the habit of continuous eye contact with the ball is the foundation of all volleyball skills. This drill isolates visual tracking in a low-pressure setting so the habit forms early.
Players pair up and stand 6 feet apart, one ball per pair.
Partner A holds the ball at chest height and says 'watch' before tossing it underhand.
Partner B must say 'now' the instant the ball touches their hands to confirm they tracked it all the way in.
Switch roles every 10 tosses and gradually increase distance to 10 feet.
Helpful cues
- Watch the ball all the way to your hands
- Say 'now' the moment you feel it
- Soft eyes, see the whole ball, not just a spot on it
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Use a balloon so the ball moves slowly and gives more tracking time.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Partner A spins the ball before tossing so the seam lines create a visual reference to track.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.
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.