In volleyball, an attack or spike is a crucial move where the ball is sent over the net to the opponent’s side with the aim of landing it within their court. To execute an effective attack, players must hit the ball with significant force. Therefore, players in attacking, spiking, and hitting roles need to engage in specific drills to enhance these skills.
Today, we’ll delve into the best volleyball spike drills for the development of proficient hitting, attacking, and spiking abilities.
These drills are vital components of any attacker’s training regimen, aiming to sharpen their offensive skills in the game.
1. Spike Approach Drill
This drill is an essential exercise for attackers and hitters in volleyball, focusing on timing the perfect moment for an attack hit. It’s beneficial to start practice sessions with this warm-up drill, preparing players for executing effective attack hits.
Conducted by front-row players, the drill begins behind the 10-foot line on the court’s left side, with players lined up one behind the other. They practice a series of mock-spikes, moving from left-front to middle-front, and then to right-front positions.
Repeating this drill 2-3 times, players can rotate positions, enhancing their ability to approach and execute spikes from different court areas.
2. Team Approach Jumps Drill
This drill is designed to significantly enhance volleyball players’ spiking skills and is unique in that it’s performed without a ball.
Players line up along the sideline, taking turns to approach the net. Each subsequent approach starts from inside the court, ending at the opposite sideline. The drill continues until the last player reaches the other side.
This exercise emphasizes proper footwork, particularly a 4-step approach, and encourages players to experiment and innovate with their techniques. This flexibility allows for the development of new strategies and further improvement in spiking skills.
3. High Contact Drill
The High Contact Drill is aimed at enhancing volleyball players’ hitting technique. In this pair-based drill, players start by warming up their shoulders, throwing the ball back and forth.
Next, they progress to tossing the ball upwards and hitting it to each other.
A crucial aspect of this drill is the emphasis on reaching high and snapping the wrist during the hit.
This action, combined with bringing both arms up during the toss, prepares players effectively for executing powerful attack hits.
4. Pass-Set-Hit Drill
The Pass-Set-Hit Drill in volleyball starts with the coach dividing players into two groups, each practicing on their side of the court.
Each group should have at least three players, allowing for rotation in the passing position.
The drill involves a player in the back-left position, a setter near the net, and a third player on the opposite side. The setter tosses the ball to the passer, who then returns it to the setter.
Next, the setter sets the ball for the passer, now in the hitting position, to spike it over the net.
The third player retrieves the ball, followed by a rotation of positions, lasting about five minutes.
After the rotation, players also switch to the right side of the court.
5. Back Row Attacks Drill
This drill is great for enhancing volleyball players’ ability to execute effective back row attacks and improve team communication.
Setters and two players take positions on each side of the court.
The drill starts with the coach initiating a free or down ball hit.
The middle back player receives the ball and passes it to the setter, who then sets it to a back row player for an attack hit.
The ball is then directed to the middle back player on the opposite side.
During the drill, the middle back player and setter can switch positions to diversify their skills.
6. Game Simulated Hitting Drill
This drill replicates real-game hitting scenarios in volleyball. It requires a minimum of six players.
The drill begins with a coach tossing the ball over the net to a passer.
The setter then changes position, approaching the net to receive the pass and set it for an attacker, who completes the hit.
Post-attack, both hitters and the setter switch to defensive positions.
This drill is beneficial for both pre-practice and pre-game warm-ups, especially for improving footwork. It’s particularly useful for setters focused on enhancing their footwork skills.
7. Wall Spikes Drill
This drill begins with you standing about 10 feet from a wall, holding the ball in your non-dominant hand.
Raise this hand to head height while drawing back your dominant hand, bending its elbow to shoulder level.
Hit the ball with your dominant hand so it bounces off the floor, strikes the wall, and returns to you.
Continue hitting the ball in this manner. If you miss, the drill ends.
Practice for about 5 minutes before switching hands to perform the drill with your other hand.
For an in-depth guide on mastering essential skill, check out our articles on volleyball training and drills, where you’ll find tips and techniques to improve your skills.