Beginner volleyball drills: easy and fun drills for new players

The best beginner volleyball drills are simple, give players lots of touches and feel like a game. Start with catching and tossing, move on to the forearm pass, and only then add setting, serving and small-sided play. Below you’ll find 10 easy drills in that order, a 60-minute practice plan and tips for coaching kids.

u18, Seniors

Shot!

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u18

Setters Showdown #1 a Setting Challenge Left kneesit set, right kneesit set

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u18

Setters Showdown #23 a Setting Challenge L R dribble Set kneesit set

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u12, u18, Seniors

Double Dribble

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u18, Seniors

Who bounces the ball

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u18, Seniors

Control Circle

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Why easy volleyball drills work

New players struggle with coordination, timing and reading the ball. Easy drills take away that pressure, so they can focus on one thing at a time. That gives you:

• More repetitions in less time
• Lower cognitive load, so technique sticks
• Faster development of a stable ready position and platform
• A clear step-by-step progression from catching to controlled rallies
• High engagement and fun, which keeps young players coming back

A “beginner” can be an 8-year-old or a 30-year-old playing for the first time. Use the age filter in the drill library to pick drills that fit your group.

Start with passing

The forearm pass is the first skill to teach: almost every rally starts with it. Good beginner passing drills help players to:

• Stay balanced in a low ready position
• Keep the platform angle steady
• Move to the ball with small, controlled steps
• Call the ball and communicate on shared balls

10 easy volleyball drills for beginners

Ordered from easiest to hardest. Each drill works with 2–12 players and one ball per pair or group.

1. Toss and catch on the platform. Partner tosses underhand; the player catches the ball on straight forearms, then progresses to bumping it back. Builds the platform before contact gets fast.
2. Wall passing. One player, one ball, one wall. Pass against the wall and count consecutive contacts. Great for home practice and for very large groups.
3. Self-passing ladder. Each player works alone and passes the ball straight up above their own head: 5 low passes, then 5 high passes, then alternating forearm pass and overhead set. Trains ball control.
4. Chaos (Easy → Medium → Hard). Starts with catching and throwing in a crowded area and gradually adds passing and movement. One drill that grows with your group.
5. 5-3-5-3-5 passing. Five passes forward, three backward, five left, three right and five on the spot. Adds footwork to passing without making it complicated.
6. Corner pepper. Three or four players in a square pass the ball around the corners. Teaches passing to a target and calling the ball.
7. Trio 3-corner pepper. Pass, set, controlled hit between three players. The first step towards the pass–set–attack rhythm.
8. Short-court serving. Players serve underhand from halfway between the attack line and the end line, then take one step back after every two good serves. Success first, distance later.
9. Challenges (Power Passer, Samurai Setter). Short individual challenges with a score, so every player sees their own progress.
10. 2 versus 2. Small-sided game on a narrow court with three contacts required. Lots of touches and the first real game situations.

More drills and technique guides for beginners:

• Passing drills
• Serving drills
• Fun volleyball drills
• How to teach the forearm pass

Sample 60-minute beginner practice

Want a plan ready to use?

• Pre-built practice plans for beginners
• Generate a practice plan for your age group

Drills for kids and young beginners

Young players need clarity, repetition and lots of success moments. With kids and elementary school groups, focus on:

• Simple ball control and short rallies
• Partner work and small-group tasks
• Playful movement and coordination
• Low-pressure learning with plenty of fun
• Teamwork, communication and confidence

Let them catch the ball before they bump it, use lighter or bigger balls and lower the net. Keep explanations under 30 seconds and get the ball moving.

Build a beginner practice in VolleyballXL

• Practice plan creator: put your favourite drills in order and save the session.
• Pre-built practice plans: ready-made sessions for beginners you can run today.
• Practice plan generator: choose age, level and focus; the generator builds the session.

Every drill comes with video, coaching cues and variations.

Get more inspiration, create more enjoyable training sessions effortlessly, and bring more fun to your players.

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