Digging is how you save a hard attack and keep the ball off the floor. Diggers are the team's heroes!
Feet wider than your shoulders, knees well bent, hips low, and chest leaning forward. Keep your arms out in front, away from your body. Your weight is on the balls of your feet.
🧢 Coach's Tip
Low and wide makes you a defensive wall!
⚠️ Watch Out!
Don't stand tall. Hard-hit balls come in low and fast.
Watch the attacker's run-up and their hitting shoulder. Whichever way their shoulder and arm face is usually where the ball is going.
🧢 Coach's Tip
Read the hitter's arm like a book!
⚠️ Watch Out!
Don't only stare at the ball. The hitter gives you clues.
Decide early where the ball is heading. Stay still and balanced at the moment the attacker hits the ball, so you can react quickly in any direction.
🧢 Coach's Tip
Be still when they hit. A balanced body reacts fastest.
⚠️ Watch Out!
Don't guess and run before the ball is hit.
Take one or two quick steps to put your body behind the ball. Try to get the ball in front of your belly button, in the middle of your body.
🧢 Coach's Tip
Body behind the ball beats arms reaching for the ball!
⚠️ Watch Out!
Don't dive or throw yourself on the floor. Use quick steps instead.
Join your hands and straighten your elbows just like a pass, but keep your arms low and a little relaxed. Hard balls need soft arms, so let your arms give a tiny bit on contact to absorb the speed.
🧢 Coach's Tip
Soft arms for hard hits, like catching an egg!
⚠️ Watch Out!
Don't swing at a hard-hit ball. It will fly off the court.
Angle your platform so the ball goes high and toward the middle of your court. A high dig gives your setter time to get to it. Then get back up and ready!
🧢 Coach's Tip
Aim high and to the middle. Your team will do the rest.
⚠️ Watch Out!
Don't aim straight back over the net. Keep the ball on your side.