Volleyball fundamentals

Volleyball is one of those amazing sports that combines athleticism, strategy, and teamwork in a way few other games can match. These volleyball fundamentals form the core of what makes a great player, regardless of your experience level. Since William G. Morgan invented it back in 1895, it’s evolved into a dynamic sport played by millions worldwide.

What makes our guide unique is that every skill we discuss comes with detailed video demonstrations and drills. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your technique, you can see each fundamental in action and follow along with our step-by-step video instructions. Before diving into the techniques, you might want to check out our guide to volleyball positions to understand how these skills apply to different roles on the court.

Serving

Let’s start with serving – it’s literally how every point begins. Check out our video serving drills to master each type of serve. Ready to take your serving to the next level? Our complete serve training program takes you through an entire structured practice session.

There are a few ways to serve. The underhand serve is where most beginners start, and there’s no shame in that. You hold the ball in your non-dominant hand, swing your other arm like a pendulum, and hit the ball from underneath. It’s all about control rather than power at first.

u18, Seniors

Long Short

Watch drill

u18, Seniors

Number 3

Watch drill

u12, u18, u6

Command

Watch drill

Once you’re comfortable with that, you might want to try the overhand serve. This is what you typically see in higher-level play. You toss the ball up, hit it above your head, and send it sailing over the net. The key is consistency in your toss – if your toss is off, everything else will be too.

Passing

Passing, often called bumping, is crucial for building a strong offense. Perfect your technique with our step-by-step passing drills that break down every aspect of this fundamental skill.

The key to a good pass is creating a solid platform with your arms. Lock your elbows, bring your hands together (one palm over the other), and keep your arms straight. Your platform should be flat and stable – think of it as a table top. The ball should hit your forearms, not your hands.

Your stance matters too. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and stay on the balls of your feet. You want to be ready to move in any direction. When the ball comes your way, try to face the direction you want the ball to go.

Setting

Setting is like being the quarterback of volleyball. Improve your setting skills with our detailed setting drill videos. A setter’s job is to take that second touch and deliver the ball perfectly to their hitters.

The basic setting position starts with your hands above your forehead, forming a triangle with your thumbs and index fingers. Your fingers should be spread but relaxed – you’re not trying to grab the ball, just guide it.

Different situations call for different types of sets. A high set to the outside gives your hitter more time to approach. A quicker set in the middle can catch the opposing blockers off guard.

Spiking/Hitting

This is the part of volleyball that everyone loves – the attack! Want to become a more powerful and accurate hitter? Master attacking with our comprehensive attack drills and follow our complete attack training program to take your hitting to the next level.

The approach is where it all starts. For right-handed players, it’s typically a three-step approach: left-right-left. Your steps should start slow and get faster, like you’re building momentum. The timing is crucial – you want to be jumping up just as the set is reaching its peak.

Shot selection is what separates good hitters from great ones. Sure, sometimes you can just power through the block, but mixing up your shots keeps the defense guessing.

Blocking

Blocking might seem simple – just jump up and put your hands in the way, right? But there’s so much more to it. Improve your technique with our blocking drill videos, and combine your skills effectively with our block-defense training program.

u12, u18, Seniors

Chaos Easy

Watch drill

u18, Seniors

In the red corner

Watch drill

u18, Seniors

Serve and react

Watch drill

Start with your hands up and ready, about shoulder-width apart. Stay light on your feet so you can move quickly along the net. When you jump, reach up and over the net, but be careful not to touch it. Your hands should be spread wide, creating a solid wall above the net.

Digging

Digging is like passing, but everything happens much faster. Learn proper defensive positioning and quick reactions with our defensive technique videos.

The ready position for digging is similar to passing, but you’ll want to be even lower. Stay on the balls of your feet, ready to move in any direction. Keep your arms loose and ready to move – you’ll need to react quickly.

Putting It All Together

When practicing volleyball fundamentals, it’s important to understand how each skill connects to the others. That’s why we’ve created complete training programs that take you through proper progression, from warm-up to cool-down. Each drill builds upon the last, helping you develop comprehensive volleyball skills.

Conclusion

The best way to improve your volleyball fundamentals is to practice regularly and mindfully. Take advantage of our video drills and structured training programs to perfect your technique and elevate your game to the next level.

Remember, every great volleyball player started exactly where you are now. The key is consistent practice and patience. Choose a skill to focus on, pick a training program that matches your goals, and start your journey to becoming a better player today!