Beach Volleyball Training Drills

Beach volleyball is a physically demanding sport that requires both great skill and incredible athletic fitness. Professional beach volleyball players put themselves through grueling work to stay in shape to play the game. Training drills and methods for beach volleyball are much different than regular volleyball.

  1. Dive and dig

    • The game of beach volleyball involves a great deal more diving than indoor volleyball simply because the beach sand makes it more of an option. While diving into sand is not the same as diving into a pile of pillows, it allows a player to dive with fewer physical consequences than diving on a hardwood floor. Even the best players have to practice getting used to diving in the sand and doing their primary job when diving, which is to dig a ball so their team can make a play. The drill begins with a player starting on one side out line. A ball is then hit toward the middle of the court, forcing the player to do a diving dig. As the player is getting to his feet, another ball is hit at the side out line from which he started. This allows the player to get practice diving to each side.

    Sprint and Spike

    • Beach volleyball is a two-player game, and on every possession, there is a possibility of a player spiking the ball. This drill is designed to improve players' speed and finishing ability. Players line up a few feet behind the back service line. On the whistle, the first player in line will sprint toward the net. At the same time the whistle is blown, a ball will be set from the net, designed to give barely enough time for the player to perform a running jump spike. Players should focus on finding the ball in the air as quickly as possible and then timing the ball with their sprint, jump and spike.

    Recovery

    • The recovery drill is based on knowing that at some point during a match, the best move for the team will be to just get the ball over the net and do so with enough time that your team can get back on your feet. This situation is often at important set points. The drill begins with both players on the ground and then a ball is hit over the net. The players must quickly get to their feet, and whoever is closest will have to run to the ball, dive and hit the ball as high as they can while trying to put the ball back over the net, deep. In the time it takes the ball to come down, the team can get up and recover in a position to play defense. As soon as the ball clears the net, another ball is hit away from the other teammate who didn't hit the first ball and she must do the same thing, hitting the ball as high as possible while still having it clear the net.