Approach Footwork Drill

The approach footwork drill teaches a hitter the steps that turn a run into a high, controlled jump, so the hitter arrives behind the ball, jumps straight up (or slightly forward) and contacts the ball high in front of the hitting shoulder. A right-handed hitter uses left-right-left for a 3-step approach or right-left-right-left for a 4-step approach, with the last two steps quick and close together. Lefties use the mirror pattern. A good approach adds height and makes the arm swing easier to time. Practice it with no ball first, then add a toss.

Focus

Footwork, arm swing, jump

Level

Beginner–intermediate

Players

1 or more: alone, or a group in lines

Equipment

None at first; later 1 ball and a tosser

Space

Front court: start at or just behind the attack line (10-foot line), about 3 m from the net

Time

10–15 min inside a hitting session, for example 3 sets of 6 approaches with walk-back rest

Print this drill

Setup

Players start in line with zone 4 (front left); adjust the start so the jump happens just behind the ball. Leave at least 2 m between players working side by side. With a large group, form two lines: one at zone 4 and one at zone 2 (front right).

Optional: floor tape or small flat markers for foot placement. Use flat markers only, never cones, where players will step.

4-step 3-step

4-step

3-step

◀ Back ▶ Play Next ▶ ↺ Restart Left-handed Step 0 / 6

• Power step: arms back

  ✓ Correct

  Both arms swing back on the power step.

• Jump: arms up

  ✓ Correct

  Swing both arms forward and up as you jump.

• Bow and arrow

  ✓ Correct

  Elbow high; the non-hitting arm reaches up toward the ball.

How to run it

Right-handed hitter; lefties mirror. Beginners learn the 3-step first (skip step 2).

1. Ready stance. Stand tall, weight on the balls of the feet. For a 3-step approach (left-right-left), start with the right foot slightly forward. For a 4-step approach (right-left-right-left), start with the left foot slightly forward. Lefties mirror.
2. First step (4-step only): right foot. A short, slow step to start moving toward the ball.
3. Direction step: left foot. A medium step that sets the direction of the approach.
4. Power step: right foot. The longest and fastest step. Both arms swing back behind the body, hips drop.
5. Closing step: left foot. Plant the left foot quickly next to and slightly ahead of the right foot ("right-left" should sound like a fast double beat). From zone 4, the toes point slightly toward the right antenna.
6. Jump. Swing both arms forward and up, push off both feet, and jump.
7. Arm swing. As you rise, draw the hitting arm back with the elbow high (bow-and-arrow position) and reach the non-hitting arm up toward the ball. Swing through at the top of the jump.
8. Land. Land softly on both feet, knees bent, on your side of the center line.
9. Walk back to the line and repeat. Add a tossed ball once the steps are smooth.

Scoring

This is a technique drill, so score against a standard, not an opponent. An approach earns 1 point when the last two steps are a quick right-left (lefties: left-right), both feet plant, and the player lands on two feet.

Safety

Do a full warm-up first (see warm-up). Keep the landing area free of balls. Teach a soft two-foot landing with knees bent. Limit total jumps and stop when the approach or landing gets sloppy. See common injuries for jump-related injuries.

Health note: General information, not medical advice. Young athletes should train under a qualified coach, and anyone with pain or an injury should see a doctor or physical therapist.

Watch: the 3-step approach, with footwork for lefties

How to Attack a Volleyball for Beginners: The Approach (Includes Footwork for Lefties!)

What to watch for: The 3-step approach for beginners, broken into starting position, footwork and jump, for right- and left-handed players. Part 1 of a 3-part spiking series.

Video: Sarah Pavan Volleyball on YouTube. This video teaches the 3-step approach; the page also covers the 4-step. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.

Coaching this drill

What success looks like

At your normal approach speed, the last two steps are a quick right-left (lefties: left-right), both feet plant, the player jumps up rather than into the net and lands on two feet. Once a toss is added, the ball is met high and in front of the hitting shoulder.

One cue

“Big step, quick close.” The power step is long; the closing step is fast.

One common error

Goofy foot: a right-hander finishes left-right instead of right-left. Adjustment: walk the steps slowly and say them out loud.

Make it easier

Slow it down: walk the steps without jumping, then walk them with a small jump, then jog them.

Make it harder

Add a ball: a self-toss or a coach toss that the player catches with two hands at the top of the jump.

When to progress

Practice suggestion: add a ball when about 8 of 10 approaches score a point (see Scoring) at your normal approach speed, and look for the same footwork with the toss before hitting over the net. Lower the number for young players, and end the set when landings get sloppy.

More cues and common mistakes

• “Slow to fast.” The steps speed up as you go, so you carry the most speed into the last two. If the steps are all the same size, the approach never speeds up. Fix: use tape marks for a short, medium, long pattern.
• “Arms back on the big step.” Then they are ready to swing up as you take off. Arms that are still in front when the player jumps are late.
• “Jump up, not into the net.” Turn your speed into height, not distance. If the player keeps drifting forward in a broad jump, plant heel-to-toe on the last two steps so they act as a brake, and swing the arms up, not forward.
• “Elbow high, reach for the ball.” A high elbow lets you contact the ball at the top of your reach.
• “Two feet down, soft knees.” Bent knees absorb the landing. A one-foot landing often follows reaching too far for the ball. Fix: toss the ball closer to the hitter and cue a two-foot landing.

More ways to make it easier or harder

• Easier (young kids): use the 2-step version: only the last two steps (right-left for right-handers), then jump.
• Harder: the coach tosses from zone 3; the hitter swings and hits the ball over the net.
• Harder: start the approach after backing off the net from a blocking position (transition footwork).
• Harder: approach from zone 2 and zone 3 as well as zone 4.

Deep dive: why the last two steps decide the jump

The power step turns forward speed into a lower, loaded position. The quick closing step stops the forward movement and lets both legs push up together. If the closing step lands on the same side as the hitting arm, the hips and shoulders cannot turn as freely, so the arm swing loses power. That is why coaches watch the last two steps first.

Frequently asked questions