Pick a drill by the skill you want to improve, your level, and how many players you have. Each drill page explains the setup (using court zone numbers), how to run and score the drill, what to say while it runs, the mistakes to watch for, and how to make it easier or harder.
One partner tosses, the other forearm-passes back to the tosser's forehead.
Main setup
A rotating toss-pass-catch pattern on both sides of the net that keeps everyone moving.
Main setup
Two players take turns passing, setting and hitting to keep one ball going.
Main setup
Three passers share the back court and learn who takes the balls between them.
Main setup
Repeated sets against a wall to groove hand shape and soft, even contact.
Main setup
Two players set one ball back and forth, from toss-set-catch to sets on the move.
Main setup
Learn the underhand serve close to the net, then step back line by line to the end line.
Main setup
Servers aim at marked zones and score points for accuracy.
Main setup
Serving games with consequences so practice serves feel like match serves.
Main setup
Step-by-step practice of the attack approach without a ball, then with one.
Main setup
Attackers take turns hitting set balls from the left or right side.
Main setup
Shuffle and crossover steps along the net, finishing with a well-timed block jump.
Main setup
Defenders dig controlled attacks and aim them high to the setter target.
Main setup
Small teams battle for the winners' side in short, fast rallies.
Main setup
Full-team scrimmage where a team must win two rallies in a row to earn a point.
Main setup
Players move from defense to offense on an easy ball and run an attack.
Main setup
A kids' team game: keep a balloon or beach ball in the air and beat your group's record.
Main setup
Quick-foot ladder patterns that match volleyball movements.
Main setup
Published solo-wall option
No drill matches all of those filters yet. Try removing one filter, or check the regressions on a nearby drill — many can be run with fewer players.
Example goal: pass a playable ball to a teammate, then use it in a short rally. Here “half a court” means one clear 9 × 9 m side. Use an approved low net or safely secured rope across its middle to make a short 4 v 4 court; keep clear run-off space. If that setup is unsafe, use a marked floor line and catch-and-throw instead. No diving or hard attacks.
| Time | Everyone’s job | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00–0:06 | All 8: easy movement, ready-position stops and gentle arm preparation. | Players finish warm and ready, not tired. |
| 0:06–0:16 | 4 pairs, 1 ball each: toss–pass–catch. Swap after 5 tosses; add one step only when the return is controlled. | Count passes caught at the partner’s forehead without a chase. |
| 0:16–0:18 | Water and station change; all balls go in a safe collection spot. | Remind players of one cue: angle the platform to the target. |
| 0:18–0:28 | 2 groups of 4, 1 ball per group: tosser, passer, target and observer. Rotate all 4 roles after 5 feeds; the 2 spare balls stay out of play. | The observer counts target catches and gives one useful cue; nobody waits in a long line. |
| 0:28–0:41 | 4 v 4 across the short court, using 1 ball. Start with a gentle toss or a close serve; allow one catch if needed. Rotate roles after each rally. | Try pass–set–send. Count cooperative net crossings first; score a short game when rallies are playable. |
| 0:41–0:45 | Easy movement, return equipment, and one thing each player wants to repeat. | Record the best controlled sequence and choose the next session’s single goal. |
The 45 minutes include water and transitions. Use a lighter ball or allow a catch before increasing speed. The coach may shorten a block for fatigue, pain or space problems; unused time is not filled with punishment runs.
Full steps: Partner Passing · Partner Setting · Kids’ games · Blank session plan
For 10–12 advanced beginners on one court. Focus: serve receive.
| Time | Block | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00–0:10 | Dynamic warm-up | Jog, skips, lunges, arm circles and short shuffles. See Warm-Up. |
| 0:10–0:20 | Ball-control warm-up | Pepper in pairs, 2–3 minutes per variation. |
| 0:20–0:30 | Passing basics | Butterfly Passing — goal: 25 passes caught at the target. |
| 0:30–0:40 | Serving | Target Serving — each player serves 10 balls at zones 1 and 5. |
| 0:40–0:45 | Water break | Short cue reminder: “Feet first, then platform.” |
| 0:45–1:00 | Main drill | Serve-Receive Triangle — servers vs. passers, first to 15. |
| 1:00–1:20 | Game play | Queen of the Court, 3 vs 3; every rally starts with a serve. |
| 1:20–1:30 | Cool-down & wrap-up | Easy stretching, one thing each player did well, one goal for next time. |
Shorter practice? Cut the serving block to 5 minutes and the game to 15 minutes for an 80-minute session.
Coaches often talk about three ways to practice a skill. In blocked practice, a player repeats the same action many times in a row, such as 20 tossed passes. It builds the basic movement quickly and feels good, which makes it useful for beginners and for fixing one detail. In random practice, the type of ball changes from one rep to the next — short, deep, left, right — so the player has to read and adjust every time. Game-like practice goes one step further and adds the things that happen in a match: a real server, teammates, a score.
Most players need a mix. A simple rule: spend a little time on blocked reps when a skill is new, then move to random and game-like drills as soon as players can keep the ball under control. The drills in this library list progressions that follow the same path.
Four to six drills is plenty for a 90-minute practice. Fewer drills with more reps usually help players more than many short drills.
Most drills work well at 8–15 minutes. Stop or change a drill when players stop improving or start losing focus.
A net, volleyballs and a few cones or floor markers cover almost every drill here. See our Coaching Equipment page for optional extras.