6 Volleyball Drills for Middle Schoolers
Recreational volleyball is a fast-paced sport that helps develop coordination, agility, and teamwork. Understanding the fundamentals of volleyball is key to building skills that will set middle schoolers up for success! Here are several effective drills that can help adolescents improve their playing abilities:
1. Passing Drill
Passing, or “bumping,” is one of the most basic and important skills in volleyball. In this drill, players stand in pairs facing each other, about 10 feet apart. One player tosses the ball underhand to their partner, who then uses their forearms to pass the ball back. This drill helps youths focus on maintaining proper form.
2. Setting Drill
Setting is important for creating offensive plays. Kids also work in pairs for this drill. Their partner stands about 10 feet away from the setter and tosses the ball above the setter’s head. The setter’s goal is to use their fingertips to push the ball up and forward to an imaginary target. Players need to use a soft touch and keep their hands in a triangular “window” shape above their forehead. This drill helps develop hand-eye coordination.
3. Serving Drill
Middle schoolers must learn the basics of serving in order to score. To begin, players should focus on underhand serves, which are easier for beginners to master. Once they are comfortable, they can progress to overhand serving.
4. Target Hitting Drill
Hitting, or spiking, is a volleyball skill most players are excited to learn. In this drill, players line up in a row, and one player sets the ball for each player to jump and attempt to hit the ball with their dominant hand. This helps players work on timing, arm swing technique, and aim.
5. Defensive Drills
Digging (or receiving a hard hit) can be difficult for younger players. In this drill, a coach or another player hits the ball overhand, and the student must get into a low, athletic stance to dig the ball up with their forearms. This drill improves reaction time and teaches players how to position their bodies to defend against powerful attacks. It’s important to wear knee pads when practicing this drill as the player’s knees often hit the floor.
6. Teamwork Drills
These drills encourage communication and collaboration, which are essential for players. A simple team drill is “The 3-Ball Game,” where kids must pass, set, and hit the ball three times before sending it over the net. This encourages cooperation and teaches players to work together to complete a successful play.
By using these drills in practice sessions, middle school volleyball players will develop a strong foundation in the sport and improve their skills in passing, setting, serving, hitting, and defense. Working on these basic skills will help players build confidence and skill!
