Sand Volleyball Drills

Playing volleyball in the sand, commonly known as beach volleyball, is slightly different than regular volleyball. With only two players on each team, each player will have to cover more of the court and generally be more active. The sand also makes movement a bit more difficult, compared to a normal hardwood court. In order to improve your beach volleyball game, you need to not only practice normal volleyball drills, but you need to perform them on the sand, so you can learn how to move on the court.

  1. Peppering

    • Peppering is the most basic volleyball drill there is and should be done to start and end each volleyball practice. Arrange the players in a circle and give one of them the ball. That player will spike the ball, not too hard though, towards the waist or legs of a player across the circle. That player will have just a moment to get into position and bump the ball to another player on the other side of the circle, who then repeats the process by spiking the ball to someone else. This drill teaches people how to adjust their position quickly on sand and how to properly receive a ball.

    Passing Drill

    • Passing in beach volleyball is a little different than regular volleyball, since the passer has to immediately get into position to hit the ball again. Have at least one player on each side of the net, and start the drill off by having one of them serve. The receiving player needs to move into position and pass the ball to where the setter would be, and then run up to the net. Repeat the drill by having the players switch who receives and who serves. This drill will teach players to pass accurately and to not stop moving after they pass.

    Decision Making Drill

    • This drill will teach attacks to make quick decisions when they need to hit the ball, and aren't getting any verbal clues from their partner. Have two players on one side of the net, and a coach on the other. The coach will toss the ball over, and the players have to pass, set and then hit it over. During this process, the coach will move somewhere on the court and the player who hits the ball over needs to use their peripheral vision to find the coach and hit it to him. The coach then immediately throws the ball back over and repeats the drill.

    Serving Drill

    • Draw a line in the sand about half way between the net and the service line. The player should practice jump serving, or normal service if the player never jump serves, using this line as a service line. The proximity to the net will allow the server to hit the sideline and the corners a little easier, and with a little more speed than normal. Every few serves, have the server take a step backwards and create a new line, but try to keep the same velocity on the ball and hit the same spots on the court.

    Drop Back Drill

    • Beach volleyball players need to learn how to move quickly through the soft sand, and this drill aims to help them. Have the player stand right against the net and have the coach standing on the other side. The coach will throw the ball, with a little bit of an arc, over the net. As soon as the coach releases the ball, the player will have to turn, run to where the ball will be, then turn again and get into position to pass the ball before it lands. The further away from the net, and the less of an arc on the ball, the more difficult this drill becomes.