How to Run a Volleyball Team

Post a schedule of team practices with dates and times. If very competitive, choose a schedule that meets every week day. If intramural or off-season, set a schedule for alternating days of the week. During practices and training, observe strengths and weaknesses in your players. Watch for natural jumping and defensive abilities. Direct players to wear appropriate attire for practices, which includes spandex shorts, cotton shirt, knee pads, socks and volleyball athletic sneakers.

Talk to your players before and after every practice. Update players on game schedules and relevant information for the sport. Talk about fundamentals or answer questions that the players have about the game; attempt to solve their problems or other issues.

Explain the fundamental rules of volleyball to beginner teams. Some basic rules include positions, court rotation, when to touch the net, acceptable serving styles, substitutions, double hitting, scoring, rally scoring, foot faults and siding out.

Assign positions to your team members according to skill level and body type. Positions include outside hitter, middle block, right-side hitter, setter and libero. Most volleyball players must be tall to hit and block. However, a setter and libero can be shorter to get under the ball. Outside hitters play both front and back row, which means they must be very strong in attack and defense. A libero is a special defensive position and only plays back row.

Start every team practice with stretching and running. The team forms a circle with a volunteer player in the center to lead the stretches. Leg, arm, back, shoulder, stomach and neck muscles must all be stretched appropriately before rigorous training. After stretching, the team runs laps around the gym to warm up for activity.

Teach stances and footwork during drills. The volleyball stance places the feet slightly wider than the shoulders with knees bent and weight on the balls of your feet. Hands come together with elbows locked, thumbs together and the knuckles of each finger pressed together. Shuffling exercises teach players how to move quickly from side to side without crossing over the feet in passing drills.

Conduct volleyball exercises that teach understanding rotation, serving, attack and defense zones. A volleyball court is separated into three zones. From the net to the first line is the attack zone. From the first line to the back line is the defensive zone. Past the back line is the serving zone. Positions rotate after a side-out, or when your team gets the ball to the serve. Once the ball is lost, you stay in the position until you get the ball back, then you rotate to the next position on your right. A person rotates into position one, or serving position, at the bottom right corner of the court.

Direct defensive training drills by setting up hitters on one side of the court and a defensive team on the other side of the court. Players stand in a line at the back of one side of the court and fill in three positions in the back line, position five in the bottom left, position six in the center and position one in the bottom right. The hitters form another line on the other side of the net on the left side of the court. They toss the ball to the setter, who sets up the ball and the hitter strikes the ball to the defensive players. The defensive player digs the ball and passes it up, then runs out. The players rotate and a new player runs in. The hitter runs to the defensive line and the player who dug the ball runs to the hitter line on the other side.

Direct attack training activities by conducting three-on-three games. Players group up into teams of three. Each time needs a designated setter, hitter and digger. Each game plays to five points. The teams compete against one another by serving the ball in, digging and setting up the hitter, the hitter strikes the ball to the other side and the other team must dig and hit back. Coaches often introduce other rules to this game, like enforcing a three pass minimum, in which your team must pass the ball three times before it goes to the other side, or players at the net must try to block the hitter on the other side.

Alternate drills and scrimmages regularly. Scrimmages are very important to understanding gameplay and testing knowledge, but drills teach correct technique and footwork. Continuously incorporate new drills to keep your players interested.

Choose a team captain and optional co-captain. Captains must pick during the coin toss for games, but more importantly, your team needs a leader who rallies players whether up or down. The captain holds a lot of responsibility, so choose someone respected by the team but who also exhibits skill and spirit for the game.

Talk to your local school league about signing up for games and tournaments in your area. If an intramural league, fill out any necessary paperwork to enter tournaments. If setting up a club for USA Volleyball, read through the "How to Start a Junior Olympic Volleyball Program" on the website.

Order a team uniform if you do not already have one, according to chosen colors, sizes and numbers for your players. Volleyball uniforms come with a collared two-tone jersey and spandex shorts. Teams also normally order special volleyball sneakers.

Hire an assistant coach to keep track of scheduling games, practice and game attendance, team fees and expenses, record contact information for each team player and take photos of the team practices and games.