Offensive Volleyball Drills

A consistent attack is the centerpiece of any elite volleyball team. The ability to turn any opportunity into a solid scoring chance can make the difference between winning and falling short. Offenses can get complex as teams employ multiple setters and smashers in an attempt to confuse the opposition. Yet, even the most basic offensive volleyball drills can help a group of players work on its communication, cohesion and teamwork.

  1. Two-Blocker Drills

    • This drill is designed to give two groups of players a strong offensive workout at the same time. The coach should have a defensive player, a setter, a hitter and two blockers at each end of the net. The ball begins with the defensive players, who bump the ball to the setters. Those players set the ball for the hitters, who smash the ball into the block. If all goes well, the balls will be blocked back into the zone, where the defensive players makes digs to the setters. The hitters must run back to their original position before playing their next smashes. The coach may want to substitute hitters whenever they get too tired.

    One-Setter Drill

    • This drill is slightly different, in that it employs just one ball and one setter. The ball begins with one of the defensive players, who bumps the ball for the setter. She lofts the ball up for one of the hitters, who are positioned outside the left and right sidelines. The chosen hitter smashes the ball into the two-setter formation, with the ball ending up back to one of the defensive players. The setter should alternate hitters so that players on one side of the court aren't left doing nothing for too long. This drill could also be done with one three-man blocking rotation rather than two groups of two. The blockers would have to read the play and block the correct hitter, a drill that helps hone their decision-making skills.

    5-1 Offense

    • This drill is run with six players on the floor but just one setter. The object of this drill is to learn an offense in which any one of the five non-setters is capable of hitting a kill or solid return. The setter assumes the front right spot on the court, while the front left spot--usually occupied by a second setter--will feature an opposite hitter. The ball is played over the net to one of the players in the back row, who tries to play the ball to the setter. If hit well, the setter should have no trouble playing the ball to one of the other five hitters. If the ball is too far from the setter, the opposite hitter is responsible for playing the set shot. The setter should mix locations to give all other players on the court a chance to play a hit.