One of the worst situations that a volleyball team could be in is to show up at a game without being able to perform the skills they needed to win the game.  Hitting the ball, being in the proper position, physical conditioning, and a player’s ability to jump can help to be competitive as well as gain confidence in the sport.  Focusing on the basics for volleyball can position you to gain the skills necessary for every game.

General Playing Skills That Should Be Developed

1.  Serving.  This is where the game starts and is a skill that must be mastered.  There are two basic types of serves.  The first is overhand; where the player will throw the ball above their head, then hits it on the way down.  The second is underhand, where the server cradles the ball in one hand and swings the opposite arm underneath the ball to hit it. Once the one of these basic serves is learned, a player can the learn variations of both of these.

2.  Pass or reception.  This is usually set up by the setter of the game.  It is used in order to receive the ball and give it to the another player on your own team.  Your teammates will then have the ability to put the ball to the other side like they want to.

3.  Tip.  A tip is used as a way to fool the other team into believing that the ball is going further than it will.  The player will hit the ball lightly, making it barely go over the net but not too far into the other team’s area so that they can’t hit it back. 

4.  Dig.  This is the ability for a player to keep the ball from striking the floor after it has been spiked by an apponent. A player may often slide underneath the ball and extend his/her arms to make the save.

5.  Rebound.  This happens when the ball stays on one side (from a block), making the players “rebound”, or take the ball back.

Physical Skills That Should Be Developed

1. Quickness.  Quickness is often mistaken for “being fast”. A volleyball player does not require the speed of a sprinter, but having quickness is a big plus.

2. Vertical Jump. All things being equal, a volleyball player that can jump higher than an opponent has a great advantage. Being able to jump up to hit a ball before your opponent does can help to win more points.

Developing the physical skills often leads to the further development of the game skills. Increasing a player’s quickness will help them respond more quickly and let them get to more “digs”. A player that can jump higher will be able to tip and spike the ball over the opposition easier. And the development of both sets of skills work together to provide the player with more confidence in his or her game.

For further information on how to improve your physical skills, check out How To Jump Higher.