The squeak of sneakers on polished hardwood. The satisfying thwack of palm meeting volleyball. These sounds transport me from my first fumbling attempts in our backyard to my days as a coach. I’ll never forget Sarah, a shy freshman who joined our high school team with zero experience. Through consistent practice with basic drills, she transformed from a hesitant newcomer to a confident player who scored the winning point in our district finals.
Her journey reinforced my belief that with the right foundation, anyone can fall in love with this exhilarating sport. If you’re at the starting line of your volleyball adventure, you’re in for a treat. In this guide, we’re going to explore five game-changing drills that will set you on the path from novice to knows-it-all. These aren’t just any drills – they’re the building blocks I’ve seen transform countless beginners into skilled players.
Drills for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you new to the sport of volleyball? You’ve come to the right place!
For those just starting out, mastering the basics through targeted drills is key to boosting their skills and enjoyment of the game. These exercises will help them bring their A-game to the court and could even make them the team’s MVP.
Whether you’re looking to impress at your first team tryout, aiming to hold your own in a beach volleyball game, or simply want to understand what all the fuss is about, these drills will give you the solid foundation you need. So, lace up your shoes, tape up those fingers (yes, we do that, and you’ll learn why soon enough), and let’s dive into the wonderful world of volleyball fundamentals!
In this piece, I’ll walk you through the five basic drills to jumpstart your volleyball journey and prepare you to hit the court confidently.
5 Essential Beginner Volleyball Drills to Know About
Before I dive into the drills, do you know what exactly it means? Well, to be clear, these are specific exercises that help players and teams sharpen their skills in different areas of the volleyball game. Let’s check these out now!
Warm-Up Drills
Before diving into those intense drills, let’s talk about something super important: warming up and stretching. Trust me, it’s not just a waste of time – it’s your secret power to prevent injury and give your best to the game!
Think about it: volleyball is all about quick and sudden movements, jumping high, and twisting your body in all sorts of directions. That’s a lot for your muscles and joints to handle. That’s where a good warm-up comes in.
Warming up prepares your body for action. It pumps more blood and oxygen to your muscles, helps you focus, and mentally prepares you for the game.
Pretty cool, right? So, let’s see some simple exercises to get started:
- Jog it out: Take a few laps around the court. Just to get those legs moving.
- Shuttle run time: Do some back-and-forth sprints to take your heart rate up a notch.
- Big arm circles and gentle swings: Don’t forget your upper body. Arms are crucial for hitting and serving right. Try these to get your shoulders to loosen up.
- Side shuffle: Shuffle sideways across the court with quick, low steps, keeping your stance wide and knees bent. This improves your agility and footwork, preparing you for those fast-paced directional changes during the match.
Remember, a few minutes of warm-up can make a huge difference in how you play and how you feel after the game.
Serving Drills
Serving is the opening move that sets the tone for the entire volleyball game. It’s your first chance to gain an advantage and steer the match in your favour. To really make your serve a game-changer, dive into these drills:
Underhand and Overhand Serving Drill
Mastering your service starts with the basics. The underhand serve is a great place to begin – it’s easier to control and target specific court areas. Stand behind the line and hold the ball in your non-dominant hand. Then, swing your dominant hand back and forward, striking the ball with an open palm or closed fist.
Once you gain an upper hand here, move to the overhand serve. Toss the ball up with your non-dominant hand and hit it with the heel of your dominant hand’s palm. Focus on form and aim – power will come with practice.
Target Serving Drill
Start by placing big targets on the court – you can reduce the size as you get comfortable. Your goal should be consistently hitting those targets to build that crucial muscle memory. Don’t forget to mix it up!
Try different angles, toss heights, and body positions. This way, you’re not just developing a well-placed serve but crafting a versatile weapon for your arsenal.
Float Serving Drill
Float serves are a key part of your volleyball game. Why? Because their lack of spin throws off opponents. Here’s how to nail them:
- Hit the ball dead center with a flat hand
- Focus on hand position and follow-through
- Keep your hand open and relaxed on contact
- Stay balanced throughout the motion
By practicing on a regular basis, it becomes second nature. And before you know it, you’ll be serving floaters that leave the other team scrambling.
Passing Drills
You can’t imagine a volleyball game without a pass, isn’t it? That’s why it would be great for you to focus on the passing skills next.
Good passing sets up your team’s offence, strengthens your defence against opponent attacks, and improves your overall ball control. By focusing on passing skills, you’ll develop the ability to receive and direct the ball accurately.
Take a look at some effective drills to sharpen this essential skill:
Wall Passing Drill
Take a position a few feet from the wall. Hold the volleyball with both your hands, then toss it gently against the wall. As it bounces back, get into your passing stance with your knees bent and arms out. Use your forearms to bump the ball back into the wall.
Try to see if you can hit the same spot each time. The goal should be to maintain a steady rhythm. Don’t worry if you miss out the first few times – it is said that practice makes a man perfect.
Focus on hitting the ball with your forearm’s flat part, not your wrists. Keep your arms straight and move your whole body to control the ball’s direction. This drill hones your control and accuracy, developing a reliable forearm pass for your game.
Partner Passing Drill
Let’s dive into dive into another drill that’ll sharpen your passing skills: the Partner Pass Drill. Here’s how it works:
- Find a partner or teammate and stand about 10 feet apart
- Using the forearm pass, take turns passing the ball back and forth
- Focus on clean passes with proper hand positioning
When starting out, concentrate on syncing your movements with your partner. Try to hit specific targets, such as aiming for a particular area or hitting zone on your partner’s body (Chest and shoulders). Make sure that you call the ball! It might feel awkward at first, but it’s crucial in real games.
Remember, this drill is just not about keeping the ball in the air. You’re building a foundation for team play. Every clean pass you make here translates to better ball control during a match.
Shuttle Passing Drill
It’s time for another trick to improve your communication, precision, and movement in passing. Here’s how it works:
- Players get into lines facing each other across the net near the 10-foot line
- Player 1 passes the ball to player 2, then sprints back to the opposite line
- Player B receives, passes back, and follows suit
To make the drill more challenging, try these variations: increase passing speed, add a setter for attack transitions, or mix in overhand and underhand passes. Remember, your aim is to practice smooth passes and quick footwork.
Setting Drills
Let’s talk about setting – a crucial skill for every volleyball player, not just designated setters.
By focusing on setter skills, you develop the ability to deliver precise sets to hitters and adjust quickly to different situations while presenting deception to the defense.
Even if you’re not planning to become a full-time setter, mastering these skills makes you a more versatile, well-rounded player.
Wall Setting Drill
Stand an arm’s length from a wall, toss the ball up, and set it against the wall. Focus on your hand position and aim for a smooth, controlled motion. Try to keep the rally going without dropping the ball.
As you build confidence, take the drill up a level! Alternate between high and low sets, speed up your sets, change your distance from the wall, or practice from different angles. This drill is all about building consistency and control.
Partner Setting Drill
Find a buddy and spread out with enough room to move. Next, one of you tosses the ball, and the other sets it back. Then, keep setting back and forth.
You’ll naturally start to sync up as you play, improving your coordination and timing. Remember to communicate by calling the ball, giving feedback, and encouraging each other. This drill perfects your sets and helps build the crucial on-court team playing and communication expertise.
Quick Set Drill
With this drill, you’ll learn how to change the tide of the game – these are fast, low sets that catch opposing blockers off guard. Here’s how it goes:
- Stand in your setting position near the net
- Set up a target (a teammate or specific spot) where the middle hitter would approach
- Get another teammate to toss the ball to you from the back row
- Move quickly to the ball and deliver a fast, low set to the target area
Repeat the drill multiple times, focusing on the speed and accuracy of the set
As you improve, bring in a middle hitter to spike. This helps nail down timing and coordination. Mix it up with different toss locations and set types to mimic game scenarios. Remember, quick sets are all about surprise and speed.
Spiking Drills
Let’s finally talk spiking – the powerful move that puts points on the board. It’s all about combining timing, power, and precision to send the ball rocketing into your opponent’s court, making it difficult for them to recover. To nail that perfect hit, here are certain spiking drills that you can consider:
Controlled Spiking
It’s a basic drill to help you with control, and it goes like this:
- Get a partner to toss the ball for you
- Focus on hitting with your palm – that’s key for a good spike
- Aim for specific spots on the court. Maybe start with the back corners?
Remember, we’re not going for hitting with force yet. It’s all about precision at this stage. Because the more precise you are, the tougher you’ll be to defend against.
Approach and Hit Drill
Next, work on your spiking approach – it’s key for defining those powerful attacks. No need to use a ball for it, but once you gain confidence with your movement, you can. Here’s what to do:
- Start 4-5 feet behind the attack line
- Practice your three-step approach: left-right-left for righties, reverse for lefties
- Once your footwork feels natural, add the arm swing. As you take that final step, swing your arms back and then forward to boost your jump
- Now, plant your feet and focus on how to explode upward at enough height to make the hit
Note this drill isn’t just about jumping high – it’s about timing, footwork, and strength. With time, you’ll be soaring for those killer spikes that get you a score!
Box Jump Spike Drill
This drill is all about building that explosive power for higher leaps. It trains your muscles to react quickly, just like in a real game.
Start by picking a polymetric box that’s sturdy and can support your weight. Try with a lower box (12-18 inches) and gradually increase the height as you progress. Now move forward with the given steps:
- Get inside the box with both feet
- Immediately jump straight up with all your strength
- Get your partner to toss the ball as you jump quickly
- Spike at your peak height, focusing on arm swing and wrist snap
- Land softly by bending your knees to protect your joints
Perform several repetitions, aiming for 8-10 reps per set, 3-4 sets total. Don’t forget to rest between sets – this is intense stuff!
Wrapping Up
There you go, we’re finally done! These best five volleyball drills for beginners are your ticket to mastering the game. By dedicating time and effort to practice these drills regularly, you will develop a solid foundation for success, honing all the key skills you need on the court.
Remember, becoming a great player won’t happen overnight. It takes practice, patience, and, most importantly, you gotta have fun. So, grab a ball, find a court (or even just a wall), and dive into these drills.
Stick with it, and before you know it, you will be the one putting the most scores on the board from your team.
FAQs
How often should beginners practice volleyball drills?
As a beginner, you should practice volleyball drills at least two to three times a week, depending on your lifestyle. Regular practice will help you develop muscle memory, improve volleyball techniques, and gain confidence in your gameplay.
What are the five basic skills in volleyball?
While there are many skills in Volleyball to develop, here are the five basic ones:
- Serving: Hitting the ball over the net to the opponent’s side with an underhand or overhand serve
- Passing: Receiving the ball and directing it to the setter, which is important for maintaining control of the game
- Setting: Placing the ball in the air in a position that makes it easier for the attacker to hit
- Hitting: Attacking the ball with force to by getting the ball past the opponent’s defense
- Blocking: First line of defence against a hit, where players jump at the net to stop or change the path of the opponent’s hit.
Can you practice these drills alone?
Of course, you can practice these drills alone like the wall passing drill, wall setting drill, approach and hit drill, and more. However, practicing with a partner or in teams enhances communication skills and simulates real game situations more.