Volleyball is a popular sport that is played all around the world. It can be played outdoors on the beach and indoors on a designated court. Regardless of where you’re playing it, you can use the tips that we’re about to run you through to step your game up from the start.
Serving Tips
Being able to properly serve is a crucial skill for all volleyball players. It can take a lot of practice, but once you nail it, you can have a huge impact on the game.
Start by throwing the ball ahead of the arm that you’re serving with. Ensure that your elbow is back and high up. When you strike the ball, be sure to hit the center of it using the middle part on the palm of your hand.
Follow through to produce maximum power.
Getting proper contact with the ball is one of the most important aspects for a successful serve.
Passing
When balls come over from the opponent, you may not always be able to return the shot. It’s often a better choice to pass it on to someone who’s in a better position.
To pull this off well, be sure that you remain on your toes. This will help you move quickly towards the ball and avoid conceding a point.
If you want to pass the ball to a teammate, plant your feet with a slight bend in your knees. Turn your forearms towards the ceiling with your elbows as close to each other as possible and your arms straight.
The bend in your knees should be extended upwards to pass the ball in a controlled way. Try to avoid using your arms too much as it can create too much power and be hard for teammates to deal with.
Sometimes it’s not always possible to get in the best position. In which case, aim to hit the ball in any way you can with an upwards motion to give people time to reach the ball.
Setting
Setters are usually the second person to receive the ball after a teammate has intercepted the incoming opponent’s shot. A setter’s job is usually to set the ball for an attacking player to come and hit it over the net.
Being light on your feet is crucial to meet the ball and getting in the best position. Once you’re in a position to anticipate setting the ball, use your fingers on both hands to set the ball up for another player to hit it over the net.
Attacking the Net
One of the most important skills to work on when it comes to attacking the net is your footwork.
When you’re running up to attack the ball, there are usually 3-4 calculated steps that are needed. For players who are right-handed, the run-up towards the net would include three steps.
It would be left foot, right foot, left foot, followed by a jump (if necessary) and a strike of the ball.
For left-handed players, the footstep sequence would be right foot, left foot, right foot, and a strike.
The number of steps needed will depend on the situation. However, most of the time, it comes down to three or four steps. Therefore, it’s important to work on these skills to make sure you can adapt in the game if necessary.
Beginner volleyball players find that practicing the final couple steps is helpful. Those are the most crucial steps prior to hitting the ball, so nailing those first will be highly beneficial.
Being quick and able to jump high are also vital skills. The last couple steps are the most important because those help you to get the most height out of your jump.
Right before leaping up for the jump, use your arms to give yourself momentum by swinging them backward. As you’re in the air, move both of your arms upwards to keep the momentum going.
Strike the ball using the center of your hand to generate the most power. Ensure that the ball is always in front of the shoulder that you’re hitting with.
When training to attack the net, aim to strike the ball in the same spot every time. Building up this consistency is great for developing your power.
Blocking
Successfully blocking attacks from the opponent requires you to work on your observational skills. First of all, you need to clearly know who the front row players on the other team are.
This helps you to know who the main hitters are going to be. Identifying the setters is also important, especially if they’re in a position to hit the ball over the net.
To gain the best position for blocking, a shuffle-step technique is used. This is the most effective blocking technique as it allows you to get square with the net.
Shuffling is best for situations where you’re closest to the net. Although, it’s also important to work on a crossover step technique too.
This is more useful for times when you’re further away from the net. It enables you to get into position faster to block incoming shots.
Conclusion
So, you now have a better understanding of the various skills needed to make yourself a better volleyball player.
It’s also a good idea to look into special volleyball shoes too. These shoes are purposefully designed to help minimize the shock on your joints when you land on the ground after high leaps.
They’re also effective at providing you with more traction to make faster plays without slipping over. Volleyball shoes reduce the chances of injuries in the feet and knees.
Practicing the tips mentioned above will have you well on your way to being a better volleyball player. Make sure to stay consistent and you’ll notice remarkable improvements in no time.
Just beware that even in such a non-contact sport, injuries to ankles and knees are quite common. There are some excellent support and protection products available and you can find some excellent choices here.
