Top 7 Youth Volleyball Drills

Skill development, physical fitness, confidence building, and tactical awareness. These are just a few reasons why youth volleyball drills are essential for the overall development of young athletes.

In order to help your young athletes improve their game, we have outlined 7 youth volleyball drills that are perfect to incorporate at any practice, tryout, or combine!

1. Low Squat Catching Drill

Set up:

• Place players on the court. In no specific order, ensure players have sufficient space between them.
• Each player will have one volleyball.

Execution:

• On the player’s count, they will toss the volleyball into the air and allow it to bounce once.
• Before it bounces on the floor a second time, the athlete will get into a low base position and catch the ball.

Note: A low base position will allow for quick and agile movements. In this position, hips are shoulder-width apart, knees are bent, hands are in front, and elbows are slightly bent.

2. Pass & Run Drill

Set up:

• Line up players in a single file line behind one side of the net.
• Each player will have a volleyball.
• The first player will be 8 feet behind the net. The next player will be closely behind (a couple of steps behind the first player for reference).
• A coach will stand on the other side of the net with a bucket beside them to collect the balls.

Execution:

• The first player in line will pass the ball to the coach on the other side of the net and quickly run to the back of the line.
• The next player in line will take their turn.
• After each pass, the coach will quickly place the volleyball in the bucket.

Note: The pass & run drill helps players practice accurate passing and quick transitions.

3. Jump Blocking Drill

Set up:

• A coach will stand closely behind one side of the net (a couple of steps behind for reference).
• Players will line up in a single file line behind one side of the net.
• The first player should be standing only a couple of steps behind the net.

Execution:

• The coach will assume the same position for the entirety of the drill, holding the ball above the net firmly with both hands.
• On your call, the first player in line will jump from a standing position and try to touch the ball that is held above.

Note: This drill assists young players in developing their jumping skills, timing, and blocking technique.

4. Self-Setting Drill

Set up:

• Place players on the court. In no specific order, ensure players have sufficient space between them.
• Each player will have one volleyball.

Execution:

• Players will stand with one foot slightly in front of the other.
• On the player’s count, they will toss the volleyball directly above their heads.
• Players will then catch the ball with their fingers spread.

Note: This drill teaches players proper ball & body positioning when setting.

5. Partner Serve Drill

Set up:

• Pair up your players. One player will start with a volleyball.
• Both players will stand on opposite sides of the court, each positioned on the attack line.

Execution:

• The player with the volleyball will start first. On their count, they will serve the volleyball to their partner.
• If their serve is successful, they will take one step back on the court.
• The next player will take their turn serving and follow the same rules.

Note: As youth players can struggle with serving at a distance, starting close to the net at first will help them focus on technique (and improve their confidence!).

6. 3-Step Spiking Drill

Starting notes:

• For a right-handed player, their right foot will be the forward foot (and vice versa for a left-handed player).
• *This three-step approach, compared to a 4-step approach, will help youth players create more momentum, leading to a higher jump.
• No ball will be needed for this drill. The 3-step spiking drill will solely focus on foot placement and arm movement.

Execution (foot placement):

• Assuming the player is right-handed, here is what the step progressions will look like:
• First step: A big step is taken with the left foot.
• Second & third steps: The remaining two steps will be right then left. Most importantly, these steps will be quick in succession.

Note: When the player’s foot makes contact with the floor on the third step, the foot should be slightly pigeon-toed. This foot placement helps halt forward motion and redirect momentum upwards, resulting in a higher jump.

Execution (arm movement):

• First step: Arms should be pointed down to the floor before the player takes their first step. As the player takes their first step, both arms will swing forward.
• Second step: Both arms will swing backward
• Third step: Both arms will swing upwards. The non-hitting hand will extend straight into the air while the hitting arm is slightly back and bent at the elbow.

7. Angle Dig Drill

• Pair up players anywhere on the court, with sufficient space between each pair.
• The receiving player will begin in an athletic stance, with their knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart and arms extended in front of them.
• The other player will toss the volleyball at various angles. The receiving player must then move laterally and dig.

Note: This drill encourages players to take small steps and position themselves behind the ball to successfully prevent it from hitting the floor.

Wrapping Up

As younger athletes will still be mastering fundamental skills such as spiking, blocking, and attacking, these volleyball drills are essential for teaching the basics. Therefore, when athletes perform drills that align with their physical capabilities and cognitive development, their skill set has the potential to thrive.

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