How To Play Volleyball - How to Learn Skills?

How to play volleyball? How to pass? How to learn skills in volleyball?

Volleyball training as any sports training can be divided into four categories – technical, tactical, physical and mental training. When comparing volleyball to other ball games the importance of technical skills is evident – in volleyball technical skills are more important than in other ball games. In many other ball games you can play a role by being physically talented - in volleyball every single player needs to have great skills.

Practicing volleyball skills is important specifically for the beginning volleyball players. Working on the skills requires countless repetitions, which can be boring at times.

It would be much more fun to jump into the game and start playing immediately – but unfortunately without the decent skills playing volleyball is impossible. If you mess up – the game stops immediately and playing is not enjoyable. Therefore beginning volleyball players should spend plenty of time to practice technical skills.

How to play volleyball and learn the skills?

It is beneficial for coaches to divide the particular skill into smaller pieces – not trying to practice the whole complex skill at once.

As an example when practicing basics of passing, the coach can divide the skill with the following way.

1. The coach introduces passing to beginning players. The coach shows a correct way to pass by having somebody doing it - or with the help of video or pictures.
   
2. The coach could use chair or box to assist when showing them a basic passing position. Players sit on the edge of the bench, so they have to bend their knees and take a low passing position. The coach teaches players to "push through the body" when directing the ball - instead of swinging the ball with arms - if any extra push is needed. The ball is served so hard in modern volleyball that most likely the players need to cushion the ball, not to swing it at all.
   
3. The coach teaches players to take few steps to the left or right side to pass. The coach tosses the ball a couple of feet to the side - and the player shuffles few steps to the side to pass the ball. This will teach players to shuffle sideways and stop the movement before passing.
4. The coach should move the drill to the net as soon as possible, so players learn to hit the ball which travels over the net. Players work on the same principles but the ball is tossed over the net.
5. The coach adds serve to work on passing.
6. The coach starts serving the ball to the side and teaches players to control the ball when they aren't able to move under the ball. Very often in the match players contact the ball some other position than in the front of the hips.
7. Etc.
8. Etc.
   
   

Breaking down the skills like that helps players to pick up correct techniques faster. It is very important when practicing complex skills like volleyball spike.

Repeating technical volleyball skills we mentioned above can be kind of dull at times. To make it more interesting it is a good practice to add volleyball drills which will teach you technical skills while keeping the practices fun.

One way to keep practices fun is to make players play mini volleyball games – for example 1 on 1, 2 on 2, or 3 on 3 games with an extra small court. This is very effective because in addition to technical skills, player will learn to “read the game” and play against the opponent.

Those mini games can be added to the practices of beginning volleyball players. Kids usually love playing games therefore mini games are great for smaller kids volleyball practices. You divide the courts into several mini courts and have kids play against each other i.e. 1 on 1 (one player against one player). You can just use a little piece of tape to separate the courts – there is no need to tape full lines, these games are not that serious.

When we look around at outdoor courts in the summer time, we’ll often see recreational adult volleyball players trying to play volleyball with a standard court. Due to limited skills the rallies in those games are extremely short. For them mini games and smaller courts would be a great option. Mini games are very helpful for the beginning volleyball players - no matter what age they are - to learn how to play volleyball and enjoy volleyball sessions.