Volleyball: Steps to Success
Outline
The Sport of Volleyball
A. History
1. Tracing the game from mintonette to volleyball
2. Standardization of rules
3. Influence of organizations
B. Rules
1. Players
2. Court areas and dimensions
3. Positions and rotation
4. Rallies
5. Infractions
6. Description of play
7. Newer rules (libero, rally scoring)
C. Equipment and uniforms
1. Ball
2. Net and antennae
3. Uniforms
D. Safe play
1. Safety considerations
2. Warm-up
3. Cool-down
F. Resources
Step 1 Posture and Movement
A. Introductory notes
1. Movement: balance, speed, control, footwork
2. Importance of efficient movement on the court
3. Importance of maintaining body control
4. Set up in proper position before contacting ball
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Three postures
a. High posture
b. Medium posture
c. Low posture
2. Shuffle step
a. Lateral movement
b. Forward movement
c. Backward movement
3. Crossover step
4. Movement drills
a. Dot drills
b. Ladder drills
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c. Jump rope
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: adjusting posture after moving to play the ball or while moving to play the ball
• Solution: set up in a good balanced posture before playing ball
2. Error: not bending knees while moving
• Solution: bend the knees when moving for more efficient movement
3. Error: crossing feet while moving
• Solution: keep feet at least shoulder-width apart, move both feet to ball, step with foot
closest to ball first
4. Error: weight not evenly distributed over feet
• Solution: keep feet wide apart so body weight stays between them, move both feet when
playing ball, keep head slightly in front of shoulders
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Slow down
2. Discuss and drill steps one at a time
3. Offer before- and after-class help
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Increase speed
2. Discuss and drill all techniques together
F. Applications to the sport
1. Good footwork and movement allow players to play ahead of the ball
2. Good balance keeps body in good ready position
3. Proper footwork is crucial to develop solid skills
4. Good footwork is needed for offense and defense
5. Proper posture helps player play balls better
G. Activity setup
1. Maximize court space
a. Set up several areas for activities and drills
b. Divide class into small groups
c. Set up stations and use the drills in circuits
2. Avoid having players stand in line as much as possible
3. Have enough equipment for everyone
4. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, and obstacles
Step 2 Serving
A. Introductory notes
1. Purpose of the serve: to begin the rally
2. Defining the ace
3. Rule changes
a. Rally scoring
b. Serving from anywhere along the baseline
c. Let serve
4. 10 percent rule
B. Parts of the serve
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1. Setup
2. Toss
3. Arm swing
4. Ball contact
C. Types of serves
1. Underhand serve
2. Float serve
3. Topspin serve
4. Jump serve
5. Baby jump float serve
D. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: bending elbow of tossing arm so toss goes behind head
• Solution: lift the ball with tossing arm and keep arm relaxed
2. Error: toss crosses midline of body, causing server to swing across body
• Solution: keep toss in front of serving shoulder
3. Error: difficulty timing approach and height of toss on jump serve
• Solution: practice tossing the ball high enough so that contact is made at the peak of the
jump (if applicable) and the arm is fully extended
E. Modifications for slow learners
1. In drills that use targets, make the targets larger when possible
2. Give students more time to complete drills
3. Focus on learning and perfecting basic serves
4. Move server up into court so he or she can serve over the net successfully
F. Modifications for fast learners
1. Increase speed of drills
2. Put a time limit on drills
3. Include tougher serves: topspin, jump, and baby jump float serves
4. In drills that use targets, make the targets smaller or move them to different areas of
the court
5. Set number of service errors allowed. If number exceeded, player must start over
G. Applications to the sport
1. Serving strategies
a. Serve to weaker passers
b. Serve to different areas of the court
2. Balance and consistency
3. Minimize service errors
4. Good, effective serves force opponents to play out of system
H. Activity setup
1. Maximize available space
2. Have enough equipment for everyone
3. Keep everyone moving through drills
4. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, and obstacles
© 2008 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Step 3 Forearm Passing
A. Introductory notes
1. Pass is first step to running a successful offense
2. Pass sends ball to setter or target
3. Rule change allows passer to make contact with ball overhead (covered more in step 4)
4. Goal of the forearm pass: get the ball to the target
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Forearm pass
a. Ready position
b. V-platform
c. Contact
d. Follow-through
2. Set up early
3. Medium posture
4. Angle platform toward target
5. Keep body behind ball
6. Rating passes
a. 3 is a perfect pass to target, setter could set to any of the three possible attackers
b. 2 is close to target, setter could set to two of the three possible front-row
attackers
c. 1 is not to target, setter is able to set to only one of the three possible front-row
attackers
d. 0 is not passed, serve was an ace, includes shanked pass or pass over the net
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: crossing the thumbs when making the V-platform
• Solution: bring thumbs side by side and keep wrists parallel
2. Error: swinging arms across body, changing the platform
• Solution: maintain V-platform while pushing ball to target
3. Error: improper posture when in ready position
• Solution: use medium posture, evenly distribute weight on both feet, bend knees, keep
head slightly in front of shoulders, keep hands in line of vision
4. Error: uneven platform causes pass to go off target
• Solution: lock elbows, keep thumbs parallel, do not swing arms
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Begin drills with a toss over net instead of serve
2. Use underhand serves if drill begins with a serve
3. Decrease speed
4. Increase number of opportunities to pass
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Set time limit or specific numbers for drills
2. Increase speed
3. Allow fewer errors
F. Applications to the sport
1. Teams that pass well are able to stay in system, earn the serve back, and attack the
opponent
2. Uses of the forearm pass
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a. Receiving serve
b. Free balls
c. Down balls
d. Defensive play
G. Activity setup
1. Maximize court space
a. Have students do partner drills as homework on their own time
b. Set up stations and use the drills in circuits
c. Divide players into pairs or small groups
2. Make drills more gamelike and competitive
3. Have enough equipment for everyone
4. Keep everyone moving through drills
5. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, and obstacles
Step 4 Setting
A. Introductory notes
1. Setter is most important position
2. Setter’s goal: to set up a teammate for an attack
3. Everyone should learn to set the ball
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Front set
2. Back set
3. Jump set
4. Strategy for setting
a. Zones
b. Tempo (height) of sets
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: making contact with ball below forehead
• Solution: leads to illegal set and eliminates right-side attack; keep hands high
2. Error: using arms only to set the ball
• Solution: bend ankles, knees, and hips to create power
3. Error: making contact with ball behind head
• Solution: make contact above forehead
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Toss directly to setter
2. Toss ball over net instead of serving
3. Place setters in middle of court instead of normal setting position
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Make the setter move
2. Serve from different areas on the court
3. Incorporate different sets
F. Applications to the sport
1. The set is usually the second contact made after serve receive or a dig during a rally
2. All players need to learn to set so they can keep the ball in play during broken plays
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3. Good setters are not predictable
G. Activity setup
1. Maximize court space
a. Have students do setting drills against a wall on their own time
b. Divide players into small groups
2. Have enough equipment for everyone
3. Keep everyone moving through drills
4. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, and obstacles
Step 5 Attacking
A. Introductory notes
1. Crowd-pleasing skill
2. Strength of hit determined by speed of approach and arm swing
3. Kill: a shot that cannot be defended
4. Hitting, slide hitting, tipping, hitting off-speed shots, and tooling the block are all
examples of attacks
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Footwork: three- and four-step approach
2. Approach angles
3. Spiking the ball
4. Backcourt attack
5. Tipping over the block
6. Off-speed shot
7. Tooling the block
8. Slide attack
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: crossing midline of body while taking steps for the approach
• Solution: step in direction you wish to travel, feet on own side of body’s midline
2. Error: failing to get your feet to the ball
• Solution: hitter’s feet, body, and attacking shoulder must get to the ball
3. Error: approaching with steps that are the same size and speed
• Solution: steps get bigger and faster as player approaches the net
4. Error: failing to transition and get off the net
• Solution: get as far off the net as possible to generate speed and momentum during
approach
5. Error: failing to get both arms overhead
• Solution: feet down, hands up
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Players use a standard hit without approach or jump
2. Players attack tossed balls instead of set balls
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Decrease the number of errors allowed by the attacker
2. Require players to hit a variety of sets
3. Add blockers and defenders to drills
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F. Applications to the sport
1. Effective attacks significantly increase the team’s chances to score
2. Outside hitters hit more high sets and take longer approaches
3. Middle hitters hit quicker or lower sets
4. Right-side hitters hit a majority of sets in the zone behind the setter
G. Activity setup
1. Keep everyone moving through drills
2. Maximize court space
a. Divide players into small groups or partners
b. Use different parts of the court for different activities
3. Have enough equipment for everyone
4. Make drills more gamelike and competitive
5. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, obstacles, etc.
Step 6 Blocking
A. Introductory notes
1. The block is the first line of defense
2. Single block: one blocker defends against one attacker
3. Double block: two blockers defend against one attacker
4. Triple block: three blockers defend against one attacker
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Penetration block
2. Soft block
3. Footwork for blocking
a. Step–close
b. Shuffle step
c. Crossover step
4. Multiple blocks
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: locking knees and keeping arms down while blocking
• Solution: flex knees and hold hands at shoulder height when preparing to block
2. Error: going for height on the block jump
• Solution: be sure hands are up and over net to seal it; key is timing, not height
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Stand on a box and hit into blocker’s hands
2. Focus on single blocks (one blocker, one attacker) only
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Increase the pace of drills
2. Increase the number of good blocks players must perform
3. Add movement when blocking
4. Work on double blocks
F. Applications to the sport
1. Blocker’s goal: to deflect the attack as often as possible
2. When the block doesn’t deflect the attack, blockers want to channel the ball to the
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backcourt defenders
3. Blockers force attackers to hit the ball to defenders
4. Blockers get in attacker’s line of approach and get hands over net before attacker hits
the ball
G. Activity setup
1. Maximize court space
a. Have players do blocking footwork as homework
b. Set up different drills in different areas of the court
c. Divide class into pairs or small groups
2. Have enough equipment for everyone
3. Make drills more gamelike and competitive
4. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, obstacles, etc.
Step 7 Digging
A. Introductory notes
1. Every player should learn to dig
2. Backcourt defenders are the second line of defense
3. The dig is used to defend a hard-driven spike
4. The dig is also used to defend tips, off-speed shots, and deflections off the block
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Key elements to digging the ball
a. Establish good floor position
b. Establish good body position
c. Establish good body posture
2. Digging a spike
3. Emergency digs
a. The Pancake
b. The Barrel Roll
c. The Dive
4. Overhead digs
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: thinking that digging is for defensive specialists and liberos only
• Solution: every player on the court should know how to dig
2. Error: standing so the blocker is between you and the hitter
• Solution: get in position behind the blocker so you can see the hitter; if you see the
hitter, you can defend against the hitter
3. Error: digging the ball while out of position
• Solution: change your body position so that you face the hitter; this greatly increases
your chances for a good dig
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Stick to easy shots or toss the ball to the defender
2. Minimize the amount of movement during the drill
3. Decrease the pace of drills
E. Modifications for fast learners
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1. Add blockers and live hitters to drills
2. Use all kinds of shots during drills: spikes, tips, and off-speed shots
3. Emphasize minimizing mistakes
4. Increase the pace of drills
F. Applications to the sport
1. When a team stays in system, its defense has the ability to win games
2. Success depends on the number of balls that defenders dig
G. Activity setup
1. Divide class into pairs or small groups
2. Have enough equipment for everyone
3. Make drills more gamelike and competitive
4. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, obstacles, etc.
c. Teach students how to safely go to the floor before teaching defense
Step 8 Team Offense
A. Introductory notes
1. All players on the team must believe in the offensive system
2. Goal of offense: create opportunities to score
3. The best system is flexible, based on team’s strengths and weaknesses, and considers
the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Rotational organization: how the team sets up
a. Consider serve receive, setting, attacking, and service order
b. Consider team chemistry
2. Experienced players specialize in specific positions
a. Setter: best athlete on the team, good communication skills
b. Right-side player: intelligent player, dependable, possibly left-handed
c. Outside hitter: complete player, good attacker, good high-ball hitter, good
passer, good defender
d. Middle hitter: usually tall, good blocker
e. Libero: able to serve, pass, play defense
f. Defensive specialist: good ball-control player (serve, pass, play defense)
3. Frontcourt setter system: setter sets from the front row
a. Easier serve–receive formations
b. Two hitters have attacking options along the entire net
c. Hitters will likely have double blocks most of the time
d. Setters need to be able to attack second balls
4. Backcourt setter system: setter penetrates from back row to set
a. Three frontcourt attackers
b. Team must be able to pass well in serve receive and dig to target
c. Team must have good setter
5. The 4-2 system
a. Four hitters, two setters (one frontcourt, one backcourt)
b. In basic 4-2, setter sets from middle-front, outside hitter is in front of setter,
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right-side hitter is behind (most basic offensive system)
c. In international 4-2, setter sets from right-front position and an outside hitter
and middle hitter set in front of the setter
6. The 6-2 system
a. Six hitters, two setters who always penetrate from the back row
b. Always three hitters (outside, middle, and right-side) in frontcourt
7. The 5-1 system
a. Five hitters, one setter
b. Combination of 4-2 and 6-2 systems
c. Setter rotates from back row to front row and sets all the way around
8. Serve–receive patterns
a. W-formation
b. Four-player serve–receive formation
c. Three-player serve–receive formation
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: specializing positions too soon
• Solution: young and inexperienced players should get the chance to play all positions
and learn the game
2. Error: implementing an inflexible offensive system
• Solution: an offensive system should be flexible so you can adjust it to fit your players
and your opponent
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Stick with the more basic offensive systems
2. Walk players through the offensive system by rotation
3. Give players the opportunity to play all positions
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Introduce and drill more complex offensive systems
2. Have players begin to specialize positions in the front and back rows
F. Applications to the sport
1. Offensive system must be flexible to fit players
2. Make adjustments based on your strengths and weaknesses and your opponent’s
strengths and weaknesses
G. Activity setup
1. Drill offensive systems thoroughly before expecting players to use them in a game
situation
2. Set up drills to be gamelike and competitive
3. Have students participate in mini-tournaments that require teamwork, strategy, and all
learned skills and techniques
Step 9 Team Defense
A. Introductory notes
1. Defensive goals: dig or play every attack, score points, control momentum
2. Work toward good, consistent digs to the target (dig to kill)
3. Block is first line of defense
4. Backcourt defenders are the second line of defense
B. Key points of instruction technique
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1. Defensive base position
a. Blocker: at net, hands above head, balanced medium posture
b. Left-back and right-back defenders (wing defenders) and middle-back defender
stay in base position until opponent’s setter sets the ball
2. Player-back or perimeter defense
a. Basic defense has defenders digging near perimeter of court but always facing
attacker
b. Movement is forward, left, or right
c. Middle of the court and deep corners are vulnerable
3. Player-up defense
a. Three defenders cover perimeter of the court
b. Defender positioned on attack line mirrors the ball
4. Rotation defense
a. Covers corners and tips over the block
b. Defenders have to move to position themselves for defense
c. Everyone moves in system together, rotating in the direction that the ball is set
d. Backcourt defender closest to ball rotates up behind block
5. Middle-middle defense
a. Based on theory that 40 percent of attacks go to middle of floor
b. Best defender in the middle of court to dig majority of attacks
c. Requires a lot of overhead digs
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: defender is moving as attacker is getting ready to hit the ball
• Solution: once the attacker’s arm goes up to hit the ball, stop, read, respond, and pursue
the ball
2. Error: defender standing behind the block
• Solution: stand so that you can see the attacker and prepare to defend the ball
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Stick to the more basic defensive strategies
2. Walk players through the defensive system you want to use
3. Give players the opportunity to play all positions
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Introduce and drill more complex defensive systems
2. Have players begin to specialize positions
3. Run different systems based on opponent tendencies
F. Applications to the sport
1. Put players in the areas of the court that opponents are most likely to attack
2. Keep defense as simple as possible
3. Base defensive strategy on team’s strengths and weaknesses and opponent’s strengths
and weaknesses
G. Activity setup
1. Drill defensive systems thoroughly before expecting players to use them in a game
situation
2. Set up drills to be gamelike and competitive
3. Have students participate in mini-tournaments that require teamwork, strategy, and all
learned skills and techniques
© 2008 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Step 10 Transition
A. Introductory notes
1. Defining transition
2. Switching in transition (specializing)
3. Importance of practicing transition
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Transition from defense to offense
a. Play ahead of the ball
b. Be able to transition quickly
2. Transition from offense to defense
a. Get into defensive (base) positions quickly
b. Tempo depends on offensive system being used
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: not practicing transition
• Solution: transition training should be part of the team’s daily practice
2. Error: lack of communication among teammates
• Solution: good communication keeps players in sync with each other during rallies
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Slow down
2. Work through transition one rotation at a time
3. Gradually increase the speed of drills
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Increase speed
2. Set up gamelike situations in practice
3. Prepare for opponent’s tendencies
F. Applications to the sport
1. A team transitions between offense and defense throughout a rally
2. Good transition helps the team win points
3. Teams that transition well rarely have to play out of system
G. Activity setup
1. Divide class into teams of six players each
2. Use more than one court, if available
3. If teams have extra players, rotate them into drills as much as possible
4. Avoid having students standing around; keep everyone involved
5. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, obstacles, etc.
Step 11 Out-of-System Play
A. Introductory notes
1. Critical skill because of rally scoring (point is earned every rally)
2. Defining out-of-system play
3. All players need good serving, passing, and setting skills
B. Key points of instruction technique
1. Learn to handle second balls in broken-play situations
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2. Libero and defensive specialist should learn to drive ball over net on third contact
3. In practice, train with two contacts instead of three to drill out-of-system play
C. Common errors and solutions
1. Error: not practicing out-of-system play
• Solution: teams should practice out-of-system situations every day to prepare for broken
plays during games
2. Error: specializing players too much
• Solution: all players should have good ball-control skills to handle out-of-system play
D. Modifications for slow learners
1. Decrease pace of drills
2. Give players the opportunity to play all positions
E. Modifications for fast learners
1. Each side has only two contacts instead of three
2. Increase pace of drills
3. Decrease number of allowable errors
F. Applications to the sport
1. Broken plays happen all the time during competition
2. A team that can play out of system is able to recover from broken plays
G. Activity setup
1. Drill out-of-system play at every practice
2. Make drills more gamelike and competitive
3. Have enough equipment for everyone
4. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, obstacles, etc.
Step 12 The Competitive Volleyball Player
A. Study the sport
1. Learn the rules
2. Practice the skills
3. Refine your technique
4. Learn more than one position
B. Develop physical fitness
1. Good athletes are disciplined
2. Champions are made through hard work
3. Proper nutrition and good lifestyle choices
C. Develop mental fitness
1. Mistakes are more often caused by mental breakdowns rather than physical ones
2. Focus and prepare
D. Foster teamwork
1. Understand your role on the team
2. Respect teammates
3. Put team ahead of self
E. Activity setup
1. Make drills more gamelike and competitive
2. Focus on teamwork and communication
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3. Rotate players into drills as much as possible
4. Avoid having students standing around; keep everyone involved
5. Review all safety rules before any drills begin
a. Students must wear appropriate attire
b. Students must be aware of other students, walls, obstacles, etc.
© 2008 Human Kinetics, Inc.