Best drills for volleyball players: improve every skill

Every volleyball player needs to train multiple skills to become more complete on the court. Serving, passing, setting, spiking, blocking, defense, footwork and communication all play an important role in match performance. That is why the best drills for volleyball players are not just random exercises, but focused training activities that help players improve specific parts of their game.

In this guide, we’ll go through some of the best volleyball drills for players at different levels. Whether you are a beginner, an advanced player, or a coach looking for new training inspiration, these drills can help improve technique, consistency, movement and decision-making.

For a complete overview of exercises for every skill, explore our volleyball drills.

Why volleyball players need different types of drills

A good volleyball player needs more than one strong skill. A powerful attacker still needs to pass, defend and communicate. A setter still needs footwork, ball control and decision-making. A libero needs passing, defense, agility and quick reactions.

That is why training should include different types of drills. Some exercises focus on technique, while others focus on movement, game-like situations, teamwork or pressure. The best training sessions usually combine simple repetition with realistic game situations.

Good volleyball drills help players improve ball control, footwork, timing, communication, reaction speed, decision-making and confidence during rallies.

Best serving drills for volleyball players

Serving is one of the most important skills in volleyball because it starts every rally. A strong serve can put pressure on the opponent and create easier defensive opportunities for your team.

Good serving drills should focus on accuracy, consistency, power and serving under pressure. Players should not only practice hitting the ball over the net, but also learn to aim at specific zones and serve with a clear tactical goal.

u18, Seniors

Bounce serve

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u12, u18

Service stroke

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Want more exercises for this skill? View all volleyball serving drills.

Best passing drills for volleyball players

Passing is the foundation of good team play. Without a controlled first contact, it becomes difficult to set up an effective attack. Passing drills help players improve platform control, footwork, communication and serve reception.

For beginners, passing drills should start with simple repetition. More advanced players need exercises with movement, serve pressure and game-like situations.

u18, Seniors

2 vs 2: receive-attack on position 5-6, defend on position 5 or 6

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u12

Smash Volley

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Best setting drills for volleyball players

Setting is essential for creating attacking opportunities. Setters need good hand position, footwork, tempo, accuracy and decision-making. But setting drills are also useful for non-setters, because every player may need to set the second ball during a rally.

Good setting drills should help players move quickly to the ball, square up to the target and deliver a consistent set.

u18, Seniors

20 set reps

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u18, Seniors

Setter

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Best spiking drills for volleyball players

Spiking drills help players improve their approach, timing, jump, arm swing and contact point. A good attacker needs more than power. Accuracy, timing and shot selection are just as important.

Spiking drills should start with technique and then progress toward game-like attacking situations with a setter, blocker or defender.

u18, Seniors

Shot!

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u12, u18

Mat 1

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Best blocking drills for volleyball players

Blocking is important for stopping the opponent’s attack and putting pressure on hitters. Good blocking drills focus on footwork, timing, hand position and reading the attacker.

Players need to learn how to move along the net, jump at the right moment and press their hands over the net. Strong blocking drills help players become more effective at the net and improve the team’s defensive structure.

u18, Seniors

Block Pepper Trio

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u18, Seniors

Moving Blocker to Position 2

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Want more exercises for this skill? View all volleyball blocking drills.

Best libero and defensive drills

Liberos and defensive players need quick reactions, strong passing skills, footwork and confidence in defense. Defensive drills should train players to read the attacker, move quickly and keep the ball playable.

These drills are useful for liberos, but also for other players who want to improve defense and ball control.

u18, Seniors

Libero defense

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Seniors

Know your limits

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Want more defense-focused exercises? View all libero drills or explore our digging drills.

Best footwork drills for volleyball players

Footwork is part of almost every volleyball action. Players need good movement before passing, setting, attacking, blocking and defending. Footwork drills help players arrive in balance and perform each skill with better control.

Good footwork exercises help players move faster, react earlier and stay stable before contact with the ball.

u12, u18, u6, Seniors

Show your colours

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u18, Seniors

L-drill

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Want to train movement more specifically? View all volleyball footwork drills.

Best communication drills for volleyball players

Communication is one of the most important parts of team play. Players need to call the ball, help teammates make decisions and organize themselves during rallies. Communication drills help teams become more confident and connected on the court.

These drills are especially useful for improving serve receive, defense, free-ball situations and transition play.

u12, u18, u6, Seniors

Show your colours

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u18, Seniors

Block Pepper Trio

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Want to improve team communication? View all volleyball communication drills.

Best drills for beginner volleyball players

Beginner volleyball players need simple drills that help them understand the basic techniques. The goal should be control, confidence and repetition. Too much complexity too early can make learning harder.

Good beginner drills should focus on passing, serving, setting, movement and communication. Coaches should use clear instructions and keep the drills easy to understand.

u18, Seniors

Corner pepper

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u18, Seniors

Sit and vertical

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Looking for easier exercises? View all volleyball drills for beginners.

Best drills for advanced volleyball players

Advanced players need more game-like drills. At this level, players should train under pressure, make decisions quickly and connect multiple skills in one rally.

Advanced drills should include serve receive, transition, attack choices, defensive systems and communication. These exercises help players apply their skills in realistic match situations.

u18, Seniors

Match to 3 in the same rotation

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u18, Seniors

Triple left

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Want more challenging exercises? View all advanced volleyball drills.

Best team drills for volleyball players

Team drills help players connect individual skills to real match situations. Volleyball is a team sport, so players need to understand spacing, communication, rotations and rally structure.

Good team drills should include multiple contacts and realistic decision-making. They help players understand how serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking and defense work together during a rally.

u18, Seniors

2 vs 2: receive-attack on position 5-6, defend on position 5 or 6

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u18, Seniors

Match to 3 in the same rotation

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Want to train your whole team? View all team volleyball drills.

How to improve your volleyball skills

To improve your volleyball skills, train one skill at a time, get as many repetitions as possible and then use the skill in game-like situations. Most players improve fastest with this five-step routine:

1. Pick one skill to focus on each week, for example passing or serving.
2. Start with a simple drill with lots of touches, such as wall passing or partner passing.
3. Add movement and a target once the technique is stable.
4. Put the skill under pressure in a game-like drill or a small-sided game.
5. Track one number, such as good passes out of 10 or serves in, and try to beat it next session.

You can also improve on your own. Wall drills and ball control drills only need a ball and a wall.

• Volleyball drills to do at home
• Wall drills for volleyball
• Ball control drills

How to choose the right drill for your players

The best drill depends on the goal of your training session. A coach should first decide what the team needs to improve. Is the focus passing? Serving? Communication? Attack timing? Defense? Once the goal is clear, it becomes easier to choose the right drill.

When choosing drills, consider the skill level, age group, number of players, available court space, training goal, time available and whether the drill should be technical or game-like.

A good training session often starts with simple technical work and then moves toward more realistic game situations.

Example volleyball training structure

A complete volleyball training session could look like this:

1. Warm-up and movement
2. Ball control drill
3. Skill-focused drill
4. Game-like drill
5. Team drill or small-sided game
6. Cool-down or short evaluation

This structure helps players first build technique and then apply it in more realistic situations.

Conclusion

The best drills for volleyball players are focused, purposeful and connected to the game. Players need repetition to improve technique, but they also need realistic situations to learn timing, communication and decision-making.

By combining serving, passing, setting, spiking, blocking, defense, footwork and team drills, coaches can create better training sessions and help players become more complete on the court.

Want to explore more exercises? Go to our full collection of volleyball drills.

FAQ about the best drills for volleyball players