Six-on-Six Wash Drill

A wash drill is a 6v6 game where a team has to win more than one rally in a row, or win a set of rallies, to earn a "big point." If each team wins one, it is a wash and no big point is given. Small points decide each rally; big points decide the game. The format rewards consistency and makes every rally matter.

Focus

Serve receive, transition, consistency

Level

Intermediate and up

Players

12 (works with 10–14)

Time

15–25 minutes

Equipment

Full court, 10+ balls, scoreboard or whiteboard

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Purpose

Train teams to win back-to-back rallies, especially the rally after the serve. The wash makes players focus on the second ball and on transition, not just one good play.

Players and equipment

• 2 teams of 6 on court. Extra players rotate in or serve as ball feeders.
• 1 coach on the sideline with a cart of 10+ balls.
• A way to track big points (whiteboard, flip score or a player calling the score).

Setup

• Team A on one side in its normal receive formation; Team B on the other side.
• The coach stands on the sideline near the net post on Team A's side (or just off the court near the post) with the ball cart.
• Team B serves from behind the end line, the server standing behind zone 1.

How to run it

The basic "two-ball wash":

1. Ball 1, serve. Team B serves to Team A. The rally is played out.
2. Ball 2, free ball or down ball. As soon as rally 1 ends, the coach sends a second ball to Team A, the team that received serve. That rally is played out.
3. Score it. If one team wins both rallies, it earns 1 big point. If each team wins one rally, it is a wash: no big point.
4. Rotate. After each sequence, the team that won the big point rotates one position (or both teams rotate every few sequences, as the coach chooses).
5. Switch roles. Alternate which team serves so both practice receiving.
6. Play to a set number of big points, such as 5 or 7.

Common scoring variations

• Three-ball wash: serve, then two coach balls. A team must win 2 of 3 (or all 3) for a big point.
• Four-ball transition wash: the coach enters four balls, two to each side. A team that wins 3 of 4 gets the big point; on a 2-2 split, play one served tiebreak rally.
• Bonus wash: a team that wins both rallies earns the big point, and a team that wins with a block or ace gets an extra small point toward a tiebreak.

Watch it

6v6 Wash Drill - Christy Johnson-Lynch - Art of Coaching VB

Video: The Art of Coaching Volleyball on YouTube. Here the first ball is a coach attack instead of a serve. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.

Coaching cues

• "Next ball." The moment a rally ends, get ready for the coach's ball.
• "Win the first ball." The serve-receive rally sets up the sequence.
• "Transition feet." Front-row players back off the net fast for the free ball.
• "Talk." Call every ball, every time.
• "Reset in two seconds." Short talks only between sequences.

Common mistakes

• Long gaps between balls: the drill loses pace. The coach should enter the second ball quickly.
• Too hard a second ball: teams can never win both. Match the coach ball to the level.
• Same server every time: let the serving team rotate servers.
• Unclear scoring: players argue. Write the rule on a whiteboard before starting.
• No rotation: some players only practice one position. Rotate on a set schedule.

Make it easier or harder

• Regression: 4v4 or 5v5 wash on a full court, or the coach enters a free ball for both rallies (no serve).
• Regression: a team needs to win only one of two rallies to score (no washes).
• Progression 1: the coach's second ball is a down ball or attacked ball instead of a free ball.
• Progression 2: big points count only if the team also scored at least one rally with a kill.
• Progression 3: play "to 25" in big points across the whole practice and track by rotation.

Time

15–25 minutes. A short game to 5 big points can take 10–15 minutes.

Safety

This is full-speed play with lots of jumps. Warm up first, keep spare balls in the cart (not on the floor), and pause play if a ball rolls onto the court. Teach players to call the ball to avoid collisions. See common injuries and warm-up.

Health note: General information, not medical advice. Young athletes should train under a qualified coach, and anyone with pain or an injury should see a doctor or physical therapist.

Deep dive: why wash drills work

In a normal scrimmage, one great serve can give a team a point without the rest of the team doing much. A wash asks for more: the team has to win again on the next ball. That puts the focus on receiving, transitioning and attacking more than once, which is how real sets are won. Because a single split rally produces no big point, games can run long. Coaches can cap the drill by time.

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Frequently asked questions