Drills for Volleyball Games

Warm-up drills for volleyball games give players some practice time before a match. More importantly, these drills help establish a rhythm to get players focused and in tune with the technical and mental aspects of the game. The key to choosing effective warm-up drills depends upon the players' skill level. Most drills focus on every aspect of the game, from blocking and hitting to serving, passing and playing balls off the net. Coaches want to make sure that the warm-up drills chosen work on both offense and defense.

  1. Block and Dive

    • The first drill should usually involve some type of aerobic activity to get the heart pumping. Start with blocking drills. In a single-file line, players run two laps around the court and then run up to net and block. Players block at the right-hitter position then backpedal to the center of 10-foot line, then they run up to the middle-blocker position to block, then backpedal to the 10-foot line again and then run up to the left-hitter position and block one final time. Once players finish, they step onto the opposite side of the net and sidestep across the front row. Then players continuously roll or dive diagonally across the court, heading toward the far corner of the court. Once they reach that corner they sprint the service line. All players run through the drill once and should begin the drill once the player in front of them completes the second block attempt.

    Passing Partners

    • Players pair up with a partner for this pre-game passing drill. First players warm up with an overhead-bounce pass. This helps loosen the shoulders and warm up the arm muscles. The bounce-pass session should last about a minute. This is followed by a series of different passes: bump, set and spike. Players pass the ball back and forth to each other until the coach blows the whistle. Each session should last approximately two minutes. When players hear the whistle they transition into the next pass. They begin with the underhand pass that uses the player's forearms, followed by a set, then a spike. The last series in this passing exercise encompasses all three. A player bumps to herself, sets to herself and then spikes the ball to her partner. The partner digs the ball up and then begins the series herself.

    Hitting

    • Players form three separate lines behind the right-hitter, middle blocker and left-hitter positions. The setter positions himself at the net. The coach feeds the ball to the setter and he sets the ball up for one of the three players. The setter mixes up the offense so that all three players get an opportunity to practice hitting. Once a player spikes the ball, he goes to the end of the line. This drill helps players practice their hitting approach, timing and arm swing before a game.

    Serving

    • It's important for players to get some service practice prior to a game. Coaches should allow approximately five minutes for this drill. Players line up behind the service line and practice hitting to different spots on the court.