Volleyball Practice Drills

Whether playing as a back-row specialist or as middle blocker, all players focus on volleyball drills during practice in order to fine-tune their ball-handling skills, power, conditioning, speed, agility and tactical abilities. Perfecting practice drills help develop a beginner’s skills and improve upon a more-experienced player’s performance level. The goal with practice drills consists of developing good habits. This helps maintain a high performance level that becomes second nature to volleyball players during match-play.

  1. The W

    • This fast-paced drill, when performed correctly, focuses on player’s defense, footwork and ball-handling skills. It tests a player’s ability to think and react quickly. Players begin in the back row in the serve-receive position and then move in a “W” formation across the court, covering both front and back rows defensively and offensively. The coach stands on a chair or ladder on the opposite side of the court spiking the balls over the net at different angles and speeds while the player dives, rolls, and digs each attack. At the end of the circuit, when the player reaches the front row, she must block a ball, set a ball and spike a ball over the net. Once the circuit is complete, the next player rotates and the drill begins anew. This type of drill allows coaches to use repetition to build good habits.

    2 on 6

    • This drill allows players to work on both offense and defense. Two players play against six players. When a team reaches five points, the duo switches sides and two new players begin a six-on-two game. The drill works on communicating with teammates about the opponent’s offensive strategy, reading the setter and hustling to make defensive and offensive plays.

    Blocking

    • The type of blocking drills that a team performs during practice depends upon the team’s skill level. To improve upon footwork and timing, a coach stands on a chair and hits the ball over the net. The player jumps up to block the ball, making sure to work on the timing and reading the opponent’s armswing. The coach can begin by consecutively hitting the ball at an angle, then switch to hit down the line. This allows a player to get a feel for blocking balls at different speeds and angles.

    Target Practice

    • This serving drill tests a player’s ability to serve to a specific spot. Players line up on each side of the court behind the service line. The coach lays out targets on the court. The servers attempt to hit those targets. If the player hits the designated target, she takes that spot and receives any volleyballs that are served to her. If she misses she runs a lap, or does push-ups, and must get back in line. The first team to hit all their targets wins.

    Game Hits

    • The goal of this type of hitting drill focuses on improving a player’s ability to spike the ball during game situations. The drill requires at least six players on one side and two blockers on the opposite side. The coach throws the ball to one of the back-row players to start off the rally, the setter sets it up to one of her three attackers, who spikes the ball. The two blockers try to anticipate the shot, continuously communicating with each other and present a strong defense. If the shot is blocked, play continues, if it is not, the players rotate in order to give everyone an opportunity to work on hitting.