The 6 Basic Skills of Volleyball All Varsity Players Should Know

Varsity players know the 6 basic skills of volleyball are serving, passing, setting, blocking, digging and hitting. Serving starts the rally and is the most important skill.

Varsity players know the 6 fundamental skills of volleyball are serving, passing, setting, blocking, digging and hitting. Serving starts the rally and is the most important skill. (Craig Fildes)Varsity players know the 6 basic skills of volleyball are serving, passing, setting, blocking, digging and hitting. Serving starts the rally and is the most important skill. (Craig Fildes)


Passing, serving, setting, spiking, blocking and digging are the six basic skills of volleyball which are the first things varsity players need to learn about the sport.  


Basic Skills of Volleyball:
The Serve: What does it mean to serve in volleyball?

Basic Skills of Volleyball: The serve is the first opportunity for a player to score a point. Serving starts the rally in a game. If you can serve tough you'll get playing time. (Al Case)Basic Skills of Volleyball: The serve is the first opportunity for a player to score a point. Serving starts the rally in a game. If you can serve tough you'll get playing time. (Al Case)


The volleyball serve is the first opportunity for a player to score a point.

Once the referee blows the whistle to start the rally you have 8 seconds to complete your serve routine and get the ball over the net.

Fundamental skills of volleyball. Serving-Toss the ball in the air to contact it to send it over the net or let the ball drop without touching it again until it hits the floor. (White and Blue Review)Basic skills of volleyball. Serving-Toss the ball in the air to contact it to send it over the net or let the ball drop without touching it again until it hits the floor. (White and Blue Review)

Once you toss the ball in the air you must contact the ball to send it over the net or let the ball drop without touching it again until it hits the floor first. 

If you let the ball drop to the floor, the referee will blow the whistle again and this time you have five seconds to serve the ball over the net.  






Basic Skills of Volleyball: 
Passing: How do you pass a volleyball?

Fundamental skills of volleyball. Clasp both thumbs and hold wrists together creating a flat platform to forearm pass the volleyball in the air deflecting it to a player or over the net.Basic skills of volleyball. Clasp both thumbs and hold wrists together creating a flat platform to forearm pass the volleyball in the air deflecting it to a player or over the net.

The pass also known as the bump, or the forearm pass is a service reception technique used to contact a ball that's entered your court area when your team is on offense.

Once the opposing team served ball crosses the net onto your side and arrives just above your hip level, you


How to pass a volleyball Move to the ball then clasp both hands together, one palm inside the other, pointing both thumbs to the ground. contact the ball on forearms deflecting it in the air.How to pass a volleyball Move to the ball then clasp both hands together, one palm inside the other, pointing both thumbs to the ground. contact the ball on forearms deflecting it in the air.

This creates a platform with both arms that you use to contact the ball deflecting it from your angled platform into the air towards the person most responsible for making the second contact on the ball, your setter or if its the third contact then you send the ball over the net. 


Basic Skills of Volleyball:
Setting: What is the set in volleyball?

Fundamental skills of volleyball: Setting a ball is the second contact in a rally done by a player called a "setter" who sets up offensive plays by setting the ball to their hitters. (Aversen)Basic skills of volleyball: Setting a ball is the second contact in a rally done by a player called a "setter" who sets up offensive plays by setting the ball to their hitters. (Aversen)


The set is usually the second contact in a rally and the person who sets the ball the most is called the setter. 

The setter on a volleyball team is like a point guard on a basketball team who runs the offense and calls the plays. 

Offensive plays consist of a combination of sets called by using hand signals to eligible hitters who hit these sets at different heights, speeds and locations along the net in order to confuse the opposing team's blockers in an effort to score points. 


Fundamental skills of volleyball: Setters decide who gets to hit each set, how high each set is, how fast the set is and where the set will be. (CE Andersen)Basic skills of volleyball: Setters decide who gets to hit each set, how high each set is, how fast the set is and where the set will be. (CE Andersen)


If you are the setter on your team, you determine

  • who gets to hit each set
  • how high each set will be
  • how fast the set will be and 
  • where along the net or backrow the set will be. 

Basic Skills of Volleyball: 
Spiking: How do you spike a volleyball?

An attack hit or a spike is the third contact in a rally that a player uses with a 3/4 step spike approach and an armswing to send the ball over the net with power. (Aversen)An attack hit or a spike is the third contact in a rally that a player uses with a 3/4 step spike approach and an armswing to send the ball over the net with power. (Aversen)


An attack hit or a spike describes the technique commonly used for the third contact in a rally that sends the ball over the net with power. 

A spike starts with a three step or four step approach a player uses to jump off the ground to contact the ball with an armswing while its in the air. 


A spike starts with a three step or four step approach a player uses to jump off the ground to contact the ball with an armswing while its in the air. (Neon Tommy)A spike starts with a three step or four step approach a player uses to jump off the ground to contact the ball with an armswing while its in the air. (Neon Tommy)

With your spike approach the first two steps are slow and the last two steps are bigger and faster that propel you in the air gathering momentum as you go, to lift you above the top of the net so you contact the ball with an armswing that contacts the ball at its highest height to attack or hit it down into the opposing court. 



Basic Skills of Volleyball: 
Blocking: How do you block a volleyball?

Basic skills of volleyball blocking: When blocking a ball your team is trying to keep the opposing team, now on offense, from putting the ball on your court floor. (C. Fildes)Basic skills of volleyball blocking: When blocking a ball your team is trying to keep the opposing team, now on offense, from putting the ball on your court floor. (C. Fildes)


A block is the first opportunity for a team on defense to keep the team on offense from hitting into their court. 

Once the whistle blows and your team serves the ball over the net, your team is on defense, ready to defend your court.


The 3 blockers on the server's side work together to block a player forming a wall with hands, arms, shoulders that extends over the net to stop the ball from entering their side. (Aversen)The 3 blockers on the server's side work together to block a player forming a wall with hands, arms, shoulders that extends over the net to stop the ball from entering their side. (Aversen)


Once the ball is served, the three front row players on the server's side will work together in an attempt to block a player by

  • forming a wall with their hands, and arms  (and for some who jump high their shoulders)  
  • that extends over and penetrate's the plane above the net 
  • in order to stop the opposing team's hitter from spiking the ball into the defensive team's court or to a specific area of the court.

Basic Skills of Volleyball: 
Digging: How do you dig a volleyball?

Fundamental skills of volleyball digging means to sink your hips low to the floor and you use your extended arms in your platform to "dig" or deflect the ball up in the air. (Ralph Aversen)Basic skills of volleyball digging means to sink your hips low to the floor and you use your extended arms in your platform to "dig" or deflect the ball up in the air. (Ralph Aversen)

The dig is a slang term used to describe an underhand technique made on the first contact of a ball in a rally that's been sent over the net with an attack hit.

You sink your hips low to the floor, below the ball before it gets to you and you use your extended arms clasped at the wrists to create a platform with your forearms to "dig" or deflect the ball up in the air. 

If you are the 'digger" or defender your job is to dig the ball up high enough in the air and ideally to the middle of the court close to the ten foot line, so that the second contact in the rally can be made.


Click to Download Your Jump Float Volleyball Serve Mastery Checklist pdf:

🎯Jump Float Volleyball Serve Mastery Guide - $7

Are you attempting jump float serves but lacking the technical precision that creates consistent power and accuracy? Why Struggle with Jump Float Serves When You Could Master Them Systematically?


Jump Float Serve Checklist pdf You'll Get: Approach and Setup Methods, Jump and Timing Techniques, Ball Contact Fundamentals and Landing and Follow-throughJump Float Serve Checklist pdf You'll Get: Approach and Setup Methods, Jump and Timing Techniques, Ball Contact Fundamentals and Landing and Follow-through

You'll Get:

Approach and Setup Methods                --Master 3-step and 4-step approaches with optimal spacing and ball positioning

Jump and Timing Techniques                  -Perfect the slow-to-fast acceleration that creates maximum vertical lift and power

Ball Contact Fundamentals                        Learn the "high five" contact method for consistent float effect and accuracy

Landing and Follow-through                    Execute safe two-foot landings with proper hip rotation and shock absorption

Click to Download Your Tactical Serving Strategy Checklist pdf:

🎯Tactical Serving Strategy Checklist Guide - $7

Are you serving without strategic purpose while opponents easily run their offense? Why React to Opponents When You Could Be Controlling Them?


Tactical Serving Volleyball Checklist $7 You'll Get: Pre-game intelligence methods - Identify technical weaknesses and poor passing habits during opponent warm-ups Strategic target selection, Situational serving tactics, Mental approach strategies, Coach April's tactical tips, 1-page PDF checklist.You'll Get: Pre-game intelligence methods - Identify technical weaknesses and poor passing habits during opponent warm-ups Strategic target selection, Situational serving tactics, Mental approach strategies, Coach April's tactical tips, 1-page PDF checklist.

You'll Get:

Pre-game intelligence methods               --Identify technical weaknesses and poor passing habits during opponent warm-ups

Strategic target selections                                  Master seam serving and zone targeting that creates immediate passing problems

Situational serving tactics                           Know when to serve aggressively vs. safely based on score and game situation

Mental approach strategies                  Develop point-scoring mentality and force passers out of comfort zones

Coach April's tactical tips                                    Adjust serving strategy mid-game and target front-row hitters effectively

1-page PDF checklist                                            Convenient format you can print or keep on your device for strategic reference

Click to Download Your Consistent Toss Mastery Checklist pdf:

🎯Consistent Toss Mastery Guide - $7

Are inconsistent tosses sabotaging your serves and forcing you to chase the ball? Why fight your toss when you could master the foundation of every great serve?


You'll Get: Starting position fundamentals - Master hand positioning and arm alignment for consistent toss trajectory "Two Up, One Forward" formula - Perfect the exact ball placement that eliminates serving errors Advanced consistency techniques - Develop fingertip release and straight-arm motion for precise control Daily training methods - Build muscle memory with progressive rep systems that guarantee improvement Coach April's toss secrets - Master the foundation skill that helped set Tennessee's #2 career aces record 1-page PDF checklist - Convenient format you can print or keep on your device for daily practiceYou'll Get: Starting position fundamentals - Master hand positioning and arm alignment for consistent toss trajectory "Two Up, One Forward" formula - Perfect the exact ball placement that eliminates serving errors Advanced consistency techniques - Develop fingertip release and straight-arm motion for precise control Daily training methods - Build muscle memory with progressive rep systems that guarantee improvement Coach April's toss secrets - Master the foundation skill that helped set Tennessee's #2 career aces record 1-page PDF checklist - Convenient format you can print or keep on your device for daily practice

Basic Skills of Volleyball
Where Do I Go From Here?


If you'd like more information on basic skills in volleyball check out the pages below. 


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Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:

🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide -

Players! Learn How To Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon

Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist pdf

🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist Guide

Parents! Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played)


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