What Coach Lea looks for

The checklist she runs on every attacking clip

A real email from Coach Lea: the one thing to fix, how to fix it, and a drill to start on.

Coach Lea watches every rep herself and decides what matters, in what order, and what to change first. Working on the whole position? See Hitter training.

She checks

Approach rhythm: slow-to-fast, with the last two steps the biggest
Footwork pattern (right-left for right-handers) and where the plant lands relative to the ball
Arm swing: elbow high, bow-and-arrow draw, hand finishing through the ball
Contact point: in front of the hitting shoulder, at full reach, slightly in front of the body
Landing: two feet, balanced, not into the net or on one leg
Timing with the set: early, late, or under the ball

Common errors

What usually shows up on attacking film

From Coach Lea's checklist, in plain words. Your athlete probably has one or two of these, not all six.

Hitting into the net

Contact is late or behind the head, so the hand finishes down. Often the approach starts too early and the hitter is under the ball.

Fix: wait on the set and get the plant behind the ball; contact in front of the shoulder.

Spikes going long

Contact is low or behind the body and the wrist never snaps over the top. The ball is pushed, not hit.

Fix: reach high, contact slightly in front, finish the hand over the ball.

Jumping into the net

The approach is too long or too fast at the end, carrying the hitter forward into the net.

Fix: shorten the approach, plant with heels first, and jump up rather than forward.

Goofy foot

The last two steps are reversed (left-right for a right-hander), which blocks the hips from opening and robs power.

Fix: rebuild the three-step rhythm from a standstill before adding the jump.

Dropped elbow or short draw

The hitting elbow sinks below the shoulder on the draw, so the swing is a push with no whip.

Fix: draw to a bow-and-arrow position, elbow above the shoulder, before the ball arrives.

Landing on one leg

Balance is lost at contact, usually because the approach drifts or the non-hitting arm drops early.

Fix: keep the off arm up through contact and land on two feet facing the net.

Coaching references:

How to film attacking

The angle that lets us see it

Side view, from the hitter's hitting-arm side, 20–30 feet back
Whole body in frame from the start of the approach to the landing
5–10 swings on sets from a coach, setter or tosser
Avoid filming from behind: the contact point and arm path can't be seen

Full filming guide

Coach Lea's Quick Check

$40 per clip

Coach Lea's email within 48 hours

A real email from Coach Lea: the one thing to fix, how to fix it, and a drill to start on. One athlete, one skill, one clip.

One athleteper submission

One skilla second skill is a second Quick Check

One clipa file or a shared link

30 sec – 2 minclip length

5 – 10 repsof the same skill

Whole body in frameside view for hitting and serving

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No payment on this site: after you submit, Coach Lea confirms your clip and sends payment details. Unusable clip (angle or lighting)? One free re-submission.

Every Quick Check is watched and written up by Coach Lea Conner — FHSAA Coach of the Year, 17 years coaching, with a 2018 National Championship season on the University of Tampa staff. Meet your coaches →

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One attacking clip, Coach Lea's read in 48 hours. Related: Serving analysis · Blocking analysis.

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Volleyball hitting analysis: approach, arm swing and contact