Volleyball Drills

Volleyball drills are specific exercises designed to improve a player’s skill set and improved team performance. These drills are essential for improving your skills on the court, whether you’re a beginner just starting out or a seasoned player looking to refine your abilities. Drills help develop critical volleyball techniques like passing, setting, spiking, and blocking, while also improving fitness and team coordination. In this article, we will explore some of the best volleyball drills that players of all levels can use to become more effective and confident during matches.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, practicing these drills can help you master key skills like passing, setting, attacking, and more. By increasing repetitions, players can fine-tune their movements and reactions, ultimately becoming more efficient on the court.

Basic volleyball drills for beginners

For new players, it’s important to focus on mastering the basics. These volleyball drills will help develop core skills and set the foundation for future improvement.

Passing Drills

One of the first things players must learn is how to pass the ball accurately. A great beginner drill is the Pepper drill, which involves two players passing the ball back and forth without letting it touch the ground. This helps develop both control and reaction time.

Passing Drills: “Servers vs. Passers”

The “Servers vs. Passers” drill sharpens passing accuracy while also encouraging aggressive serving.

How to do the “Servers vs. Passers” drill:

• Choose three passers who will position themselves in zones 1, 5, and 6 on one side of the court.
• On the opposite side, the remaining players act as servers.
• The goal for the servers is to serve aggressively, while the passers aim to deliver accurate passes to a target, which is positioned in zone 2 as the setter.
• If the pass is within a one-foot radius of the target, the passers earn a point.
• If the pass is off-target or the server scores an ace, the server gets a point.
• The first team to reach ten points (or any predetermined number) wins.

This drill improves passing consistency and teaches players how to handle tough serves under pressure.

Another useful drill is forearm passing against a wall. Stand a few feet from a wall and pass the ball against it, trying to maintain consistent control. This drill helps with ball positioning and touch.

Setting Drills

For players looking to become better setters, practicing continuous setting is an effective way to improve. Simply set the ball repeatedly to yourself, focusing on keeping it in the air with clean touches. You can also practice against a wall to build accuracy and consistency.

Setting Drills: “Front-Back Challenge”

The “Front-Back Challenge” drill ensures that setters are comfortable adjusting their sets to various front-row hitters based on last-minute cues.

How to do the “Front-Back Challenge” drill:

• The setter stands in zone 2.
• Place targets in the outside, middle, and right-side hitter positions.
• The coach or a passer sends balls to the setter, who must respond quickly to verbal commands of “front” or “back.”
• If “front” is called, the setter sets the ball to either the middle or outside hitter. If “back” is called, the setter backsets to the right-side hitter.
• The setter must complete 30 accurate sets to the correct target.

This drill builds a setter’s ability to react quickly and make precise sets under game-like conditions.

Serving Drills:

Serving is a critical skill in volleyball, and the “Around the World” drill is excellent for practicing serving accuracy and control. This drill focuses on players serving to all six zones on the court, an essential ability when facing tough opponents.

How to do the “Around the World” Drill:

• Split the team into two groups, each positioned on opposite sides of the court.
• A designated player from each team sits in zone 1 on their respective court.
• The serving team will serve the ball to their teammate sitting in zone 1. The goal is for the seated teammate to catch the ball.
• Once the ball is caught, the seated player runs back to their team, and another player sits in zone 2.
• This continues until a teammate catches a serve in each of the six zones.
• The first team to complete the drill by successfully serving to all six zones wins.

This drill not only develops serving accuracy but also adds a competitive edge that keeps players engaged during practice.

Blocking Drills

Blocking is a crucial defensive skill in volleyball. The “Blocking Various Attacks” drill helps players practice different blocking techniques depending on the attack’s angle and direction.

How to do the “Blocking Various Attacks” drill:

• Position three blockers in the front row: left front, middle front, and right front.
• The coach stands on the opposite side of the net and slaps the ball before hitting it at different angles.
• The blockers must react by adjusting their positioning and timing to block the attack. For instance, if the coach angles the ball toward the outside, both the left side and middle blockers will work together to block. If the attack is directed toward the right side, the right-side and middle blockers collaborate to form a double block.
• To increase the difficulty, replace the coach with live hitters and a setter to simulate real game scenarios.

This drill trains players to anticipate different attacks and improves timing when going up for a block.

Digging Drills

Digging is the last line of defense and requires quick reflexes and proper positioning. The “Digging Drill” helps players practice absorbing powerful attacks from the opponent.

How to do “Digging Drill”:

• Position three players in back row defensive spots (right back, middle back, and left back).
• The coach stands in the front row and hits down balls at varying speeds towards the back row players.
• The goal for the defensive players is to dig the ball and send it accurately to a target positioned in the setter spot.
• Players practice reacting quickly to hard-hit balls and maintaining control when sending the ball to the setter.

This drill enhances defensive coordination and sharpens players’ reactions during high-speed rallies.

Volleyball Drills to Improve Passing

Passing is the heart of a good volleyball team. These volleyball drills focus on improving receiving accuracy and ball control.

Shuttle Passing Drill

In this drill, players form two lines on opposite sides of the court. One line passes to the other, moving quickly to cover ground. The goal is to keep the ball moving with accurate passes while increasing speed.

Triangle Passing Drill

Three players form a triangle and pass the ball around, focusing on speed and control. The triangle passing drill helps improve communication and quick reactions during the game.

Setting Drills for Precision and Speed

As a setter, your ability to accurately deliver the ball is crucial. Here are some volleyball drills to enhance your setting skills.

Quick Set Drill

In this drill, players practice setting a quick ball to different positions on the court. The aim is to develop fast, clean sets for hitters to spike. Start at a slower pace and gradually increase the speed as you get more comfortable.

Multi-Setter Rotation Drill

This drill involves multiple setters practicing quick rotations between setting positions. It builds endurance and ensures setters are ready to move efficiently during the game.

Blocking drills for defensive skills

Blocking is one of the most challenging skills to master, but with the right volleyball drills, you can improve timing and technique.

One-on-One Blocking Drill

This drill pairs a hitter and blocker against each other. The hitter tries to spike the ball, while the blocker focuses on timing their jump to deflect the ball. It improves reaction time and positioning at the net.

Reaction Blocking Drill

The coach throws balls at the net from different angles, and the player must block them quickly. This drill sharpens reflexes and builds confidence in defensive movements.

Spiking and Hitting Drills

Spiking is one of the most exciting aspects of volleyball, and these volleyball drills will help you spike with power and precision.

Approach and jump spike drill

This drill focuses on developing a powerful approach and jumping for spiking. Players practice the three-step approach, jumping high, and striking the ball with force. It helps build muscle memory for explosive hits.

Cross-Court Spike Drill

In this drill, players work on spiking from different angles, specifically aiming for cross-court hits. It improves accuracy and helps players learn how to place their spikes strategically during games.

Fun volleyball drills for team bonding

Training doesn’t always have to be intense. Incorporating fun volleyball drills can make practice enjoyable while still building skills.

Relay races with volleyball tasks

Set up a relay race where players must pass, set, and spike at different stations before sprinting back to their teammates. It adds a competitive edge to practice while enhancing skills.

Team Pepper with Variations

Instead of the standard pepper drill, add variations like hitting only with the non-dominant hand or requiring a specific number of touches. These twists keep players engaged while improving hand-eye coordination.

Conditioning drills for volleyball

Fitness is a vital part of volleyball. These conditioning volleyball drills will help improve agility, speed, and endurance.

Lateral Movement Drill

Players move side-to-side along the net, practicing defensive and blocking stances. It builds lateral speed and stamina, critical for fast movements during matches.

Agility Cone Drill

Set up cones in a zigzag pattern and have players sprint through them, focusing on quick directional changes. This helps build footwork and agility on the court.

Advanced volleyball drills for competitive players

For advanced players, pushing the boundaries with high-level volleyball drills can make a difference in performance.

Jump Serve Drill

The jump serve is a powerful weapon in volleyball. This drill focuses on perfecting the toss, jump, and timing needed to execute a fast, aggressive serve.

Three-on-Three Quick Rally Drill

In this fast-paced drill, teams of three compete in quick rallies. It improves reaction time, communication, and decision-making under pressure.

FAQs About Volleyball Drills

1. What are the best volleyball drills for beginners?

The best volleyball drills for beginners focus on fundamental skills like passing, setting, and serving. Drills such as pepper, forearm passing against a wall, and continuous setting are ideal starting points for new players.

2. How often should I practice volleyball drills?

Consistency is key. It’s recommended to practice volleyball drills at least 3-4 times a week to see significant improvement. However, even practicing for 30-45 minutes a day can help refine skills.

3. What is the purpose of conditioning drills in volleyball?

Conditioning drills help players build the endurance, speed, and agility necessary for volleyball. Exercises like lateral movement drills and agility cone drills improve footwork, stamina, and quick changes in direction.

4. Are fun volleyball drills important?

Yes, fun volleyball drills are important to keep players motivated and engaged. They also foster teamwork and communication, making practices more enjoyable and effective.

5. Can advanced players benefit from basic volleyball drills?

Absolutely. Even advanced players need to revisit basic drills from time to time to ensure their fundamentals are sharp. Drills like shuttle passing or quick setting can be adapted to a higher level of intensity for advanced players.

By incorporating a variety of volleyball drills into your training routine, you’ll not only improve individual skills but also contribute to the overall strength of your team. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player, there’s always room to grow with the right drills.