The art of digging is like a derivative of passing. It differs that it's like taking the well formed boxed thought of passing and opening that box up. There will be situations that which you wont be able to center yourself on the ball to make a pass. At other time you may need to slide onto the floor and pancake or air pancake the ball. Sometimes you will have to run full speed and pass that ball 180 degrees in the direction of your travel. You may even be in situations that all you can do is protect your face from injury, yet the results and intentions may even be a dig. What more is there to digging? It's making a pass out of the dig. The train of thought would be attacking the ball, only to keep the ball on your side of the court or better to feed your setter the pass. Whether you use your foot, your hand, or even your head, you could always somehow react in a manner that directs the ball away from the floor.
You should also check out:
http://www.volleyball-training.de/vo...1.htm#seitlich
For other "German" techniques click here - mouse right, "open a new window":
http://www.volleyball-training.de/vo...te_gif.htm#Top