The “Pepper” is probably the most simple control drill in the book. Many coached criticise it because it does not create a game like situation for the players due to the fact that you will only play the ball in a straight line. I still think it’s a good way to warm up because it gives you more touches that almost any other drill and for a beach volleyball team of only two players, it’s pretty important.
Here is a very simple variation on the Pepper that will make each ball you play a lot more realistic and it will also help you to get used to a new court very quickly.
Divide the court into four quarters, and move to a new quarter every time you set the ball. This changes a lot of things. Firstly, the hitter needs to see you and hit to you. Second, the hitter needs to change the direction of the ball when they hit. Third, it will result in you moving around the court so that you play balls in a lot of different directions, which will give you a very good ides of how the wind is affecting the ball.
Here are a couple of variations which can make it even more game realistic.
- Move after every set and every dig.
- Move one quarter space to the left (or right) after every touch. (This may the player making the dig knows where to aim)