Three Pepper Variations
(From Steve Colpus of MatchPoint Volleyball)

-By Dave Cross

I've always thought it was essential to stress the importance of
playing pepper correctly.  It drives me nuts to see it done with
less than 100% effort and focus.

If done correctly, pepper provides the following benefits:

-Improves ball control skills

-Improves individual defense skills

-Improves communication skills

-Provides an excellent warm-up drill

If done incorrectly, pepper provides:

-The reinforcement of bad habits

-A waste of valuable court time

At our camps, we will many times go so far as to provide
a comical demonstration of "Good Pepper, Bad Pepper",
in which a couple of my assistants will demonstrate what
it looks like when the focus is to reinforcement bad habits
and waste time. (Bad Pepper)

We then follow this up with a demo of "Good Pepper", stressing:

-Assuming proper defensive ready position as soon as the
ball is sent to their partner.

-Calling every contact loudly

-Controlling the ball to your partner

-Giving maximum effort to play every ball

I must say the we have some fun with the "Bad Pepper" demo.
My assistants have a blast with it and really ham it up to get
the point across.  It's a very effective teaching moment that
always brings an immediate improvement in the campers
execution of "Good Pepper".

It also helps to vary the pepper drills frequently to keep
away players away from getting bored with the drill.

As players skills increase, pepper should be more and
more challenging-thus forcing them to give maximum
effort and focus to perform the drill correctly.

Here are three variations I picked up recently when
Steve Colpus of MatchPoint Volleyball did a camp
at our school:

1. Four Player Pepper

-Players in pairs, with the two pairs about 10-15 feet apart.

-The player with the ball hits a down ball at one of the other
pair.

-The partner of the "digger" steps out in front about two or
three feet to receive the pass and then sets the ball back to
the original digger who then hits a downfall to one of the
other pair, who repeats the sequences.

-The drill continues from there.

2. Three Person Pepper

-Two players line up about 10-15 feet apart, with the third
player have way in between and off to the side about three
feet.

-The player with the ball begins the drill by down balling to
the opposite player, who digs the ball to the middle player,
(the setter).  The setter then sets to the player who began
the drill, and then runs between the two end players to the
opposite side to receive the dig from this player.  

-The setter then sets to the other player, and runs back across
 to the other side and the drill continues.

3. Two Ball Roll Passing Pepper

-Players position themselves 10-15 feet apart, each with a ball.

-As one player tosses the ball to their partner to begin the drill,
the other player rolls their ball to the player that tossed the initial
ball.

-The drill continues as one player is passing a ball, the other is
rolling a ball back to the passer.

-It is a continuous drill in which each player must pass, then roll
a ball to their partner.

-This drill forces the players to stay low to pass, as they must
immediately be able to roll the other ball back to their partner.

Coaches:  

1. When first introducing each of these drills, it may
very well look like a crazy fire drill.  Give the players time
to understand the drill and get into the flow and the ball control
will improve dramatically.

2. Always make sure to demand maximum effort and focus
during any pepper drill, and be sure to mix up the pepper
drills frequently to keep the players from becoming to
comfortable.

3. This emphasis will ensure ball control, hustle and communication
skills improve, and also prevent the waste of court time and
development of bad habits.

Good luck!

-Dave Cross
National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball