Fun Volleyball Drills

Volleyball uses skills like passing, setting and hitting in combination with footwork, conditioning and teamwork to maximize team performance. While basic skills practices such as passing back and forth are important, incorporate team drills that simulate game situations so players get used to communicating and working together during a game.

  1. Team Pepper

    • This drill uses six people and only one side of the net. There are three defenders in the back row, a setter in the middle of the front row and two hitters on the outsides of the front row. The setter starts the drill by setting the ball to one of the hitters, who then hits or tips the ball to one of the three back row defenders. The defenders then pass the ball up to the setter, who sets one of the hitters. The drill helps defenders shift appropriately depending on where the ball is set and to focus on getting a good pass to the setter.

    Serve the Weak Link

    • Set up your team in serve receive formation and have all of the other players line up on the other side of the net to serve. Each server attempts to serve to the same player, whichever one is weakest in that rotation. For players who are good at aiming their serve, have them try to focus on the specific weakness of the receiver. For example, have them serve a floater or top-spin serve if either of those give the receiver problems. This drill helps your team improve its serving and passing skills. It is also good for returners who are getting picked on because another serve is going to come at them no matter what, so they have to stay focused on making a good pass each time.

    Simulated Hitting

    • Six players are on the court as they would be in the middle of a point. The coach stands on the other side of the court and hits hit the ball over the net. The players must get a good pass to the setter, who then sets one of the attackers. All players must start in their defensive positions, so hitters should be at the net as if they were going to block and the setter must be in his defensive position. All players must use good footwork to transition off the net so they are ready to hit if the ball is set to them. After each play, or a certain number of plays, the players rotate positions.