Volleyball and Quickness Drills

Volleyball players need to be quick and have enough endurance to last an entire match. Especially during long rallies, volleyball players need to have the quickness to keep up with the play. There are several drills that work to increase a player's quickness, including those that help with transitions and reaction time.

  1. Figure Eight

    • Set up two cones at your desired width. The further the cones are from each other, the more effort the player has to exert. Stand at your desired distance from the player and have a volleyball in your hand. Have the player stand between the cones then blow your whistle or say "Go." Have the player make a figure eight around the two cones. She should shuffle (always facing forward) in front of one cone, go behind it, back to the center of the cones and in front of the other cone and behind it. As she approaches the middle of the cones, toss the ball her way and have her pass the ball back.

    From The Floor

    • Have players lie on their stomachs in a line, facing you. Begin with the first player and say "Go" or blow your whistle. As you do so, toss the ball to the first player as the player gets off her stomach. Have the player pass the ball back to you. You can choose to continue down the line or hit back at the player for a defensive dig. A dig is when a player successfully passes the ball before it hits the ground. A dig usually occurs after the ball has been hit or spiked.

    Gym Shuffle

    • If you don't have a ball, have players stand throughout the gym floor with enough room between each player to move around. Have players get into ready position by bending their knees, with feet about shoulder-width apart. Have them shuffle around the gym to your commands. Shout out commands like "Right," "Left," "Forward" and "Back." Players should be in ready position the entire time. Have them go on as long as needed.

    Crossover Drill

    • Begin with two cones about five yards apart. Have each player begin at the left side of the cone in a ready position then have the player cross her left foot in front of her right leg. Have her straighten her legs out by moving her right leg back from behind her left leg. As she's standing in ready position, have her continue to the other cone by shuffling. Then have her continue by traveling from the right cone to the left cone, with the opposite feet. Add some reaction conditioning by tossing a ball at a player and having her pass it back.

    The Box

    • Mark out five places on the gym floor, with spots in the shape of a box and one spot in the center of the box. The distance from each spot should be close enough that the player can hop from one place to the next. Have the player hop from one corner to the next corner and around the box, hopping each time. Have the player do it as fast as she can for a designated amount of time. You can also have the player jump to the middle of the square.