BEHIND THE SCENES: NTDP Boys Training Series | Maximizing Touches & Time on the Ball with John Hawks

Volleyball

Year2026

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Practice planning presents a unique challenge to coaches, as they seek to efficiently maximize the touches athletes have on the ball while dealing with time and court restrictions. In this “behind the scenes” look at the Boys NTDP Training Series, John Hawks, UCLA Head Coach and NTDP Age Group National Team Coach, provides guidance to coaches as to how he maximizes touches on the ball through a fast-paced practice design. Hawks recommends incorporating positional work within wider 6v6 game play, allowing athletes to self-assess on errors rather than overcoaching, and starting practice with 6v6 game play (a “reverse” practice) before working on isolated skills. 0:00 – Introduction 0:30 – Inside NTDP Training: Focus on Reps 1:40 – Why Maximizing Ball Contacts Matters 3:00 – Structuring Practice for High Volume Touches 4:25 – Drill Design for Efficiency 5:50 – Keeping Athletes Engaged and Moving 7:10 – Coaching Cues During High-Rep Drills 8:35 – Observations from Live Training 9:55 – Translating Reps to Game Performance 11:15 – Key Takeaways for Coaches