How to Be Good at Volleyball? A Comprehensive Guide To Get Better At Volleyball And Become a Good Volleyball Player
How to Be Good at Volleyball? Volleyball is a fun and exciting team sport that takes skill, practice, and dedication to master. Whether you want to make your high school or club team, impress at the beach, or just improve your skills for pick-up games, becoming a strong volleyball player is achievable with hard work. This guide will give you tips on how to successfully learn volleyball fundamentals, improve your technique, and take your volleyball skills to the next level.
Volleyball, like any sport, requires learning basic skills like passing, setting, hitting, serving, and blocking. Mastering the fundamentals is the key to becoming a good volleyball player. No matter your height, experience level, or ultimate goals in the sport, any volleyball player can become better with the right practice. Patience and persistence are necessary, so be ready for plenty of repetition as you work on your form and court awareness. Having the proper mindset and attitude will help you get the most out of your practices and see results more quickly.
If you follow the guidelines in this article and commit to regular training, you’ll be on your way to becoming a good volleyball player, whether you want to make the team or just improve your weekend games. Let’s get started!
| Topic | Key Points |
| Getting Started | Learn basic rules, court layout, positions. Study gameplay by watching matches. Prioritize passing, setting, serving fundamentals first. |
| Important Skills | Passing, serving, hitting/spiking, setting, blocking. Focus on form and technique for each. |
| Strength & Conditioning | Plyometrics, agility drills, weight training, sprints, cardio, core exercises. |
| Drills | Partner passing, serving lines, spiking lines, blocking drills, digging drills. Vary routines. |
| Timeline | Good progress in months, advanced in 1-2 years. Collegiate/pro players practice for 5+ years. |
| Tryouts | Attend open gyms beforehand. Train hard prior. Rest up week of. Arrive early, hustle, be confident. |
| Solo Training | Wall drills, targets, self-toss, film yourself, pickup games, strength training. |
| Mistakes | Insufficient platform, fist hitting, no arm swing, lazy footwork, off-balance, double-hits. |
How to Be Good at Volleyball? Play Volleyball as a Beginner?
If you’re new to volleyball, the first step is learning the basic rules and mechanics of the sport. Understanding game play, rotations, scoring, and positions will help you get comfortable with the flow of volleyball. Study the court lines and dimensions so you’re familiar with boundaries. Learn the hand signals the referees use to indicate things like substitutions, timeouts, and violations. Watch games online or live to start recognizing strategies and plays. The more you immerse yourself in the details of the game early on, the faster you’ll start developing volleyball IQ.
Once you have a good grasp of volleyball basics, prioritize learning the key skills of passing, setting, serving, hitting, and blocking. Aim to become competent in every fundamental to give yourself versatility as a player. Work on passing and setting first as these are vital to volleyball offense. Serving and spiking come next. As you improve, start working blocking in with a partner. Study proper form and technique for each skill. The better your foundation, the easier it will be to advance your abilities down the road. Be patient with yourself while your body gets used to the mechanics of each motion.
What are the Most Important Volleyball Skills to Develop?
Though well-rounded volleyball skills are important, some abilities deserve extra focus. Here are some of the most critical volleyball skills to master:
Passing
Bump passing or volleying the ball accurately to a target is crucial for initiating successful plays. Work on your form with your arms, hands, and body position. Aim to pass smoothly and control the ball’s direction. Consistent, on-target passing is vital for volleyball.
Serving
A strong serve can give your team offensive advantages. Practice different serve types like underhand and overhand. Work up your power. Aim for placement rather than just getting the ball in play. Go for aces when you can. An aggressive serve is a great skill.
Hitting/Spiking
Hammers, spikes, and kills are volleyball’s exciting offensive weapons. Time your approach and jump for maximum height. Make solid contact with a stiff arm and wrist. Aim strategically off the block. Work on spiking form and your ability to aggressively put balls away.
Setting(setter)
Good setters run the offense by accurately delivering the second ball to hitters. Quick, high sets to the antennae take practice. Work on precision setting to all locations. Setting ability is invaluable to a volleyball team’s success.
Blocking
Strong blocking stifles the opponent’s hitters. Work on your timing jumping off the net. Penetrate the net space with your hands and establish position. Learn to maneuver and seal blocks. Become an intimidating force at the net.
Building skills in these key areas is the fastest way to go from a novice to a noticeably strong volleyball player. Stay committed to regular, focused training for improvement.
What Strength and Conditioning Exercises Help for Volleyball?
Volleyball is both anaerobic and aerobic, requiring athletes to combine strength, speed, and stamina. Your conditioning routine should target all these elements. Here are some great options for volleyball-specific training:
- Plyometrics – Explosive jump training develops vertical leap for hitting and blocking. Box jumps, broad jumps, and bounds all apply.
- Agility drills – Footwork and reaction exercises (ladder, cones, etc.) build quickness for court coverage.
- Weight training – Full body strength training with some emphasis on upper body and core helps volleyball performance.
- Sprints – Short explosive sprints train speed and fast-twitch muscle fibers crucial for volleyball.
- Cardio – Good aerobic endurance lets you play hard through long rallies and matches. Running, biking, swimming, etc. all apply.
- Core – Strong midsection muscles support movement and power generation for volleyball. Do planks, medicine ball work, and other stability exercises.
Train these components 2-3 times a week in the off-season, ideally with team workouts. Pre-season, shift toward volleyball-specific drills. A mix of general athletic training plus skills work is ideal.
What are Some Volleyball Drills to Improve My Skills?
Drills are key tools for developing volleyball fundamentals and skills. Here are some excellent practice exercises:
Passing – Partner passing, triangle passing, serve receive lines, and digging lines all build bumping skills. Pass against a wall or to a target to work precision.
Serving – Serving lines, cross court serves, and target practice improve aim and power. Work on spin serves with a partner.
Hitting – Spiking lines, funnel and box drills, and tipped ball attacks develop hitting technique and shots. Swing at tossed balls or against a wall.
Setting – Partner setting, set situational game balls, and target practice improve hands and accuracy. Set against a wall focusing on clean contact and placement.
Blocking – Shadow blocking, 1 on 1 or 2 on 2 blocking, and solo net jumps with fake attacks build skills. Time jumps with a partner tossing or hitting.
Defense – Digging drills for all court zones improve floor coverage and ball control. Focus on form and making clean platform passes.
Do drills before or after normal team practices to get extra reps. Vary your routines to keep improving all facets of volleyball.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Good Volleyball Player Then My Teammate?
Becoming a strong volleyball player requires consistent practice over an extended time. You can make good progress in a few months, but reaching an advanced level may take 1-2 years of regular, focused training. Athletes who go on to play competitively have often practiced the sport for 5+ years before playing in college or professionally.
In your first year, concentrate on building overall skills and court awareness through regular drills and game play. As basics get established, start focusing more on higher level strategy, techniques, and positional specialization. Be patient, trust the development process, and keep striving to improve through daily focused effort. Setting specific goals and metrics helps you benchmark progress. Record your practices to spot and correct errors. Compare your performance over time and celebrate growth.
With hard work and commitment to deliberate training, you can become a good volleyball player within a year. Great players continue evolving their entire careers – always remember there is more progress to be made!
What are Tips for Volleyball Tryouts?
If you want to make your school’s volleyball team, performing your best at tryouts is key. Here are some tips:
- Attend any open gyms or clinics before tryouts to get exposure. Meet the coaches and players if you can.
- Train hard the preceding months to be in top physical shape. Work on skills, strength, and conditioning.
- Get lots of rest, hydration, and healthy food the week of tryouts. Don’t risk injury.
- Know the time, location, format and what to bring. Arrive early to warm up. Introduce yourself.
- Hustle during drills and scrimmages. Work hard, play smart, and have good energy.
- Play with confidence even if nervous. Trust your preparation and abilities. Don’t get in your own head.
- Have good chemistry with teammates. Be positive, communicate, and focus on good team volleyball.
- Talk to coaches afterwards if you have questions about the process or areas to improve. Thank them.
- Remember tryouts are just one evaluation. Keep working hard in case roster spots open later.
The keys are being as prepared as possible, then leaving everything on the court. Remember you’re being evaluated on effort, attitude, and teamwork as well as skills. Focus on your own performance and enjoy the experience!
How Can I Improve My Volleyball Skills On My Own?
If you don’t have regular team practices, you can still improve your skills through individual training. Here are some tips:
- Work on passing and hitting against a wall. Focus on form and accuracy.
- Set goals like 50 straight accurate passes or 10 in a row overhand serves. Track progress.
- Use solo blocking drills to work on approach footwork and timing. Jump to touch high marks.
- Set up targets on a wall or the floor to practice aiming serves and passes.
- Self-toss and hit against a wall or backboard. Work on swing mechanics and shot placement.
- Play “pepper” passing back and forth with a partner, family member, or friend. Move around and use different passes.
- Visualize playing in an actual game during solo drills. Mimic movements and strategy you would use.
- Film yourself practicing and review the video to spot form errors and areas to improve.
- Join pickup games at local gyms or rec centers whenever possible to play competitively.
- Do general strength training and cardio to improve volleyball-specific athleticism.
- Stretch thoroughly after solo workouts to maintain flexibility. Use foam rollers and massage balls to prevent soreness.
With a proactive mindset and consistent practice schedule, you can become a very capable volleyball player through self-driven improvement.
What are Some Common Volleyball Mistakes I Should Avoid?
As a beginner, it’s normal to develop bad habits in your form or technique. Here are some common volleyball errors to be mindful of:
- Insufficient low passing platform – Thumbs should be together andplatform flat to bump cleanly.
- Hitting the ball with fists instead of open hand – Stiff fingers and hand give better contact.
- Not hitting with a full arm swing – Use your whole arm accelerating through the ball.
- Failure to move feet and get the body behind the ball – Don’t be lazy with footwork.
- Hitting off-balance jumps – Time your approach and keep control in the air. Land safely.
- Double-hitting – Setters need clean hands. Leave your wrists firm on contact.
- Poor communication – Talk to teammates about responsibilities. Call the ball.
- Hitting out of rotation – Know the rules and proper positioning.
- Net foot faults – Be aware of the lines and net boundaries during play.
- Lack of hustle – Always play hard and pursue every ball.
Remaining mindful as you practice will help you minimize errors and develop good volleyball habits.
Closing Thoughts on Improving Your Volleyball Game
Becoming good at volleyball happens gradually through regular practice, persistence, and patience. Stick with it, focus on continual improvement, and have fun with your development. Playing volleyball well requires equal parts of skill, conditioning, and mental toughness. Train hard and get experienced coaching if possible. Stay motivated by competing, tracking your progress, and cross-training with other sports and fitness. From backyard play to the olympics, volleyball is a sport anyone can enjoy for a lifetime.
In summary, here are the keys to becoming a good volleyball player:
- Master the fundamentals – passing, setting, serving, hitting, blocking
- Refine your skills through consistent, focused drills and repetition
- Develop volleyball-specific strength, speed, agility, and stamina
- Improve your volleyball IQ through study, visualization, and in-game experience
- Avoid developing bad habits by being mindful and getting coaching
- Set goals, track progress, and regularly evaluate yourself to keep improving
Take your volleyball development step-by-step and celebrate small wins. With hard work and determination, you can become a strong volleyball player. Thanks for reading and best of luck improving your skills on the court!
