Along with athleticism, volleyball requires skill and precision, the likes of which can only be gained through practice. Unfortunately, practice time with the entire team can be limited, especially in the off-season. The best volleyball players find ways to work on their game at all times, performing one-person drills to improve specific aspects of the sport.
Bump in Place
The simplest single-person drill involves bumping the ball in place. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Toss the ball in the air and use your forearms to bump it straight up. Continue bumping the ball as long as possible. Focus on where the ball contacts your forearms. Try to move as little as possible, attempting to bump the ball straight up each time.
Bump and Run
Use removable tape to place several X marks on the court. Toss the ball in the air and bump it towards one of the X marks. Now scramble to run across and receive the ball, bumping it to another X. Keep the ball in the air as long as possible. By adding movement, you’ll stress proper bumping technique while also improving your fitness and coordination.
Setting Drills
The aforementioned bumping drills may also be used to practice your setting. Simply set in place, setting the ball to yourself over and over to work on proper form. Once you’ve mastered the basic set, add movement, setting to X marks on the court. You may even mix up setting and bumping during the drill for more variety. When you’re setting, remember to keep your hands quiet, your elbows slightly bent and to only contact the ball with your fingertips. Try to set the ball without spin to make it easier for your teammates to handle.
Wall Ball
If you’re by yourself, a wall can serve as a practice partner. You may bump the ball off the wall to yourself or practice overhand hits to specific spots on the wall. This is a great way to work on perfecting your arm swing, particularly on serves. You can work on your serving accuracy by trying to hit different spots on the wall. For added difficulty, you can then try to dig the ball before it hits the floor. You can even work on your blocking by jumping as high as you can against the wall. Using proper blocking form will help you avoid scraping your elbow on the wall.
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