Basic Skills Needed For Volleyball

The worst situation that a volleyball team could be in is to show up at a game without being able to perform the basic skills they needed to able to be competitive. How to hit, being in the right place, physical conditioning, and a player’s ability to jump can help to win the game as well as gain confidence in the sport. Focusing on the basics for volleyball can help a player 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 throws the ball above their head, then hits it on the way down. The second is underhand, where the server will hold the ball in one hand and swings their opposite arm underneath the ball to hit it. Once the basics are learned, a player can the learn variations of either one of these.

2. Pass or reception. This is usually set up by a player called a “setter”. It is used in order to take the ball and set the ball up to the other players 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 a method to fool the opponent into believing that the ball will go further than it will. The player will hit the ball gently, making it just 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 a player’s ability to save the ball from striking the floor after it has been spiked by an apponent. It usually requires a player to dive underneath the ball and extend his/her arms to save the ball.

5. Rebound. This happens when the ball is blocked, making the players “rebound”, or continue to play the ball.

Physical Skills That Should Be Developed

1. Quickness. Quickness is often mistaken for “being fast”. A volleyball player does not require all out speed, but having quick reflexes is a big plus.

2. Vertical Jump. If everything else is the same, 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 improvement of the game skills. Increasing a player’s quickness will help them respond more quickly and let them get to more “saves”. A player that can jump higher will be able to tip and spike the ball over the opposition easier. And the development of the combination of skills work together to give the player more confidence in his or her ability to play the game.