400 Focus Series Clinic

Mid-Court Mastery

Ā 
Here are your notes and homework from the clinic. Keep practicing to solidify all you learned.

Notes & Homework

Skill: Transition ZoneĀ 

  • Contact Point: Contact Point out in front. Push forward through the ball.
  • Weight Transfer: Load and rotate to allow weight to flow forward into your shot. Plantand then push through contact.
  • Body Positioning: Step into the shot using weight transfer for power. Multiple small prepsteps are better than fewer large steps.
  • Hands: Eastern grip with laid back wrist.
  • Swing: Swing through the ball like drawing a Nike swoosh to the side of you. Low tohigh swing plane. No backswing behind the body.

Drill:Ā Drop, Attack, Volley

  • Set up 3 cones on the sideline as guides: 1 at baseline, 1 at midcourt, 1 at NVZ.
  • 1 player at the baseline and 1 player at NVZ straight on.
  • NVZ player feeds a ball to each cone depth.Baseline player hits a drop from the baseline walks forward to transition, hits a swing volley attack at mid-court, then a volley from NVZ.
  • Focus is on footwork and not overrunning the attackable ball.
  • Accelerate forward to attack the ball and use your weight transfer to create power.

Skill:Ā Transition ZoneĀ Reset

  • Contact Point: Out in front, approx 12-15" in front of toes.
  • Weight Transfer: Allow weight to flow into your shot. Push the ball forward with weight.
  • Body Positioning: Stagger your feet to allow ability to transfer weight.
  • Hands: Soft hands and wrist to provide shock absorber for ball.
  • Swing: Push forward through this ball. Do not swing up at it.

Drill:Ā Transition Zone Trash Collector

  • Players stand straight on, 1 at NVZ and 1 at transition zone.
  • NVZ player feeds balls to transition zone player who has to reset/neutralize all ballsback into NVZ.
  • Feeds can be hit out of the air or off the bounce - variety is best!
  • Timed 2 min rounds - feeder counts how many TZ player can get into the NVZ.
  • Improves transition zone reset consistency and accuracy under pressure.

Drill:Ā Transition ZoneĀ Time Out

  • Players stand straight on, 1 player at NVZ and 1 at transition zone.
  • NVZ player feeds slightly challenging ball to transition zone player.
  • Transition zone player is stuck in transition zone until they hit a neutral/un-attackableball. They can then move forward and play out the point.
  • Go for timed round and then switch roles.
 

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