How to Get Better at Volleyball: A Player’s Guide

Whether you’re spiking at the net, diving for a dig, or setting up your teammates for success, becoming a better volleyball player requires dedication and practice. We have used our knowledge and best research to create a comprehensive guide, so you can always improve your volleyball game.

In this blog, we will cover:

1. Perfect Basic Volleyball Skills
2. Volleyball Specific Fitness
3. Volleyball IQ and Tactical Awareness
4. Psychological Preparation
5. Tracking Volleyball Performance

1. Perfect the Basic Volleyball Skills

a) Serving

The serve is your first chance to control the play, and mastering it will surely give you an edge.

• Consistent Toss: The key to a strong serve is a consistent toss. Keep the ball directly in front of your hitting shoulder and at a height you’re comfortable with.
• Serving Techniques: Learn different serving styles, like the float serve, jump serve, and topspin serve. Each of them has a different advantage, and the ability to use several will make you more versatile in threatening your opponents.
• Aim and Precision: Serve to different zones on the court to challenge your opponents. Practice placing your serves in strategic locations to force bad passes or target weaker receivers.

b) Passing

Great passing forms the basis of every successful play; it’s digging that tough serve or steering a spike.

• Ready Position: Knees bent, low center of gravity, arms extended in front. Be strong and balanced in this position to enable fast reaction.
• Bumping Technique: Work on contacting the ball with your forearms and not with your hands while passing the ball. Emphasize directing the ball to the setter using light-controlled touches.
• Agility Drills: Quick feet mean good passing. Practice shuffling and moving forward and backward in order to increase your speed to the ball.

To learn more tips about passing, see 7 Tips for Better Passing.

c) Setting

The setter is the quarterback of the volleyball team that runs the plays and develops opportunities for hitters.

• Hand Position: Hands need to be in a diamond above the head, enabling the fingertips to push the ball straight up and clean for an accurate set.
• Set Accuracy and Timing: Setting to different positions on the court, ensuring that the ball is set high enough and close enough for hitters to attack. Timing matches the hitter’s approach.
• Setting from Different Angles: Make sets from different areas of the court, such as out-of-system plays, where the ball is not perfectly passed to you. It prepares you for game situations that are less predictable.

d) Spiking

A strong spike can turn the momentum of a game your way.

• Approach: You have to work your three-step or four-step approach out and perfect timing for a jump. Start slow in your approach and then explode into the jump.
• Arm Swing: The thought here should be in terms of an efficient quick arm swing that will generate the power. Remember to keep your hitting arm high and snap at contact.
• Placement: Spiking isn’t all about power; it’s all about placement. Aim for open space on the court or attack your opponent’s weaker defenders.

e) Blocking

Blocking is one of the most important touches in volleyball.

• Timing: This means making a prediction about the opponent’s spike. Follow through with your jump, timing the height of the jump to match the moment the hitter makes contact with the ball.
• Hand positioning: Hands over the net with fingers as far apart as possible for more space being covered, and thus having a better chance with the block.
• Lateral Movement: Practice moving along the net quickly to get into position for the block. Footwork drills such as lateral shuffles will improve your blocking range.

2. Volleyball-Specific Fitness

a) Explosiveness and Vertical Jump

Volleyball requires fast and explosive movements, whether it is jumping for blocks or spiking.

• Strength Training: Work out your lower body by doing exercises like calf raises, squats, and lunges. These will help to build power in your legs and make your game that much stronger. The key to jumping and being able to maintain stability would be through strong legs.
• Core Strength: This will be accomplished with plank exercises, Russian twists, and medicine ball throws, which develop balance and control during fast movements on the court.

b) Stamina and Agility

• Agility Drills: Ladder drills, cone drills, and fast footwork will develop the ability to change direction and react more quickly to the ball.
• HIIT Training: Interval training like HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), can really help build stamina as it simulates how you are constantly stopping and going in a volleyball game.

3. Development of Volleyball IQ and Tactical Awareness

a) Court Awareness

A clever volleyball player can read the game and make decisions in an instant.

• Defence: Learn to judge where your opponents are situated and arrange your attacks and placements in accordance with that.
• Communicate with Teammates: Volleyball is a team sport and requires clear communication for success. Be sure to call every play, signal, or defensive move.

b) Game Plan Execution and Strategy

Great players know not just the technical sides of the game but also how to apply strategy to it.

Watch professional volleyball games; study your own games using resources like SkillShark. It will allow one to learn the team’s strategy and formation while exploiting the opponent’s weakness in defense.

Practice in Game-Like Situations: Within the practices, high-pressure situations should be replicated by running a specific play or drill with competitive intensity.

Find The 15 Best Volleyball Drills for Performance here.

4. Psychological Preparation for Volleyball

a) Confidence

Confidence plays a huge role in volleyball because one play can flip the script of a match.

• Positive Visualization: Mentally visualize yourself succeeding at key moments, such as making that perfect dig, setting up a spike, or serving powerfully.
• Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with constructive affirmations. Maintain a focus on your role and your abilities to handle challenging plays.

b) Focus and Composure

Staying composed during high-stakes moments will keep you performing at your best.

• Being Mindful and Breathing: Deep breathing and practicing mindfulness can really help to calm your mind and focus better when you feel under pressure in a game.
• Develop a Pre-Game Routine: Having a planned routine before your game can be great for focus. Preparing successful plays and doing drills can all contribute to having a great volleyball game!

5. Tracking and Volleyball Performance

SkillShark is something no serious player should ever have to go without. By using SkillShark, you are going to be able to:

• Performance Indicators: Monitor key statistics such as serving percentage, blocking accuracy, and explosiveness.
• Video Analysis: Coaches can upload game footage so you can review & analyze where your strengths and weaknesses are.
• Coaches’ Feedback: You have the capability to get personalized feedback from your coach or trainer on where you should focus your energy for the next level in your game.