Wall drills for volleyball: improve your technique on your own!

Want to get better at volleyball, but don’t always have a training partner or a full team to practice with? No problem! With wall drills, you can train by yourself and significantly improve your technique. In this blog, you’ll discover which techniques you can practice, how to do them effectively, and get practical tips to maximize your training sessions.

Why wall drills?

Wall drills are perfect for volleyball players of all levels. They help you improve ball control, reaction speed, and technique without needing a teammate. Plus, you can control the intensity of your training and focus on the skills you want to develop. Whether you’re a beginner or playing at a high level, the wall is the perfect training partner that always returns the ball!

Example of volleyball wall drills:

Let’s start with some examples of drills that we have recorded on video for you.

u18, Seniors

Suprise

Watch drill

u18, Seniors

Squash

Watch drill

u18, Seniors

Wall sit

Watch drill

u12, u18, Seniors

Kick it

Watch drill

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Warm-up and preparation

Before you start, it’s essential to warm up properly to avoid injuries. Spend at least 10 minutes doing dynamic stretches like arm swings, high knees, and torso rotations. Follow this with a few light passing movements against the wall to activate your muscles and hand-eye coordination.

Techniques you can practice

1. Passing against the wall

Ball control starts with a good pass. Stand about two meters from the wall and focus on creating the correct platform with your forearms. Keep your elbows straight and move from your legs. Try to pass the ball so that it consistently returns to the same spot on the wall.

Variations:

• Fixed position: Stay in the same spot and focus on your technique.
• With movement: Move sideways along the wall while continuing to pass. This improves your footwork and balance.

2. Setting practice

A perfect set requires precision and control. Stand a bit closer to the wall and practice setting with your fingertips. Ensure your thumbs point outward and your wrists are flexible for a smooth motion.

Tips:

• Use a soft touch so the ball bounces back nicely.
• Try to hit the same spot on the wall multiple times for consistency.

3. Attacking and spiking

Want to work on your spiking technique? Use the wall to improve your power and accuracy. Start with a simple approach and hit the ball high against the wall. Pay attention to your timing and arm swing for maximum power.

Important:

• Start with controlled hits before going for powerful spikes.
• Focus on your jump and proper take-off with both legs.

4. Blocking against the wall

Blocking is crucial for defense. Use the wall to perfect your timing and hand positioning. Jump close to the wall and touch it with your fingertips as if you’re blocking an attack.

Tips for a good block:

• Keep your hands wide and strong to ‘lock’ the ball.
• Focus on an explosive jump using your knees and hips.

Extra challenge: combinations and speed

Want to make it more challenging? Combine different drills:

• Alternate passing and setting against the wall.
• Spike followed by a quick block movement.
• Switch rapidly between left and right to train your reaction time.

By varying your drills, you’ll develop not only technique but also speed and agility.

Practical tips for volleyball wall drills

• Use a good quality volleyball for realistic bounce behavior.
• Choose a solid wall without obstacles for safe training.
• Train regularly but keep sessions short, like 20 minutes a day, to keep your technique sharp without overuse.
• Focus on technique over power. Correct movements lead to better results and fewer injuries.

Cool-down and stretching

Just like any workout, a proper cool-down is essential. Spend 5-10 minutes doing light stretches to relax your muscles and maintain flexibility. Focus on your shoulders, arms, and legs for a complete recovery.

Wall drills

Wall drills are an effective way to improve your volleyball technique on your own. Whether you’re practicing passing, setting, spiking, or blocking – with the right approach and discipline, you’re guaranteed to make progress. So what are you waiting for? Grab that ball, find a sturdy wall, and start practicing today!

Good luck and above all, have fun training! Do you have other favorite wall drills? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for more training inspiration? VolleyballXL has a wide range of volleyball drills you can do alone or with your team. Whether you want to train at home, in the gym, or outside – we’re here to help you take your volleyball skills to the next level. Visit our website and discover the exercises that suit you best!