
Serve + Pass Foundation System: The Complete Skills Arsenal The two-skill mastery system that transforms inconsistent players into the athletes coaches build their lineups around. Stop Struggling With The Two Most Important Skills In Volleyball!
Looking for specific drills to improve your volleyball skills?
You're in the right place.
Here are 12 proven drills I use with my players in boot camp classes, private training sessions, and team practices—2 drills for each of the 6 basic volleyball skills.
Whether you're working on:
...these drills will help you improve fast.
Each drill includes:
Let's break down two essential drills for each skill, starting with DIGGING.
Are you having a problem digging balls that're hit right at your feet?
One digging issue you may have is that you are putting your hands together to form your platform...too late.
When the hitter commits to their arm swing, that's when you as the digger should have your hands together to form your digging platform.
Once the hitter commits to their arm swing, that's when you as the digger should have your hands together to form your digging platform.
Many times players wait too long and still have their hands apart after the hitter has contacted the ball...by then its too late.
Putting your hands together earlier creates a platform with both forearms to dig the ball with and something to keep the ball off the floor earlier.
When I use my phone to show players what they’re doing wrong more times than not they can see what I’m telling them to correct and they fix it fast.
Working on Libero Training digging three types of attacked balls...
Drill #11
Weekly Drill Rotation
Don't try to do all 12 drills in one practice. Here's how to rotate them:
Each practice session: 30-40 minutes, 3-4 drills
What you need: Net, court space
How to do it:
Start in middle front (Zone 3). Practice blocking footwork to move left and right along the net.
Pattern:
1. Start in ready position (hands up, knees bent)
2. Shuffle-step to left side (Zone 4)
3. Jump and block
4. Shuffle-step back to middle (Zone 3)
5. Shuffle-step to right side (Zone 2)
6. Jump and block
7. Return to middle
Reps: 3 sets of 10 (5 blocks left, 5 blocks right)
Goal: Quick feet, hands stay up throughout movement
Focus on:
- Shuffle-step (don't cross feet)
- Hands stay above the net on every jump
- Land balanced, ready to move again
Why this works: Middles and pin blockers need fast lateral movement. This drill builds the footwork pattern into muscle memory.
Swing Blocking: Blockers square their upper body to the net, "swinging" their arms and hands up which helps gain momentum to reach over to penetrate the plane of the net to block. (Avinash Kunnath)
Volleyball Blocker Tips: Time your block so you jump and penetrate the net with your arms ..just before the hitter contacts/spikes the ball
What you need: Partner (or coach), volleyball, net
How to do it:
Partner stands on a box or chair on opposite side of net with a ball.
They simulate a hitting motion (arm swing). You jump to block at the moment they "contact" the ball.
Reps: 3 sets of 15 blocks
Progression: Partner varies timing (slow set, quick set, back set)
Goal: Jump at the right time 8/10 attempts
Focus on:
Why this works: Blocking is about timing, not just height. This drill teaches you to read the hitter and time your jump.
What you need: Court space (or driveway, gym floor)
How to do it:
Practice your approach footwork WITHOUT a ball.
For right-handed hitters: Left-Right-Left rhythm
For left-handed hitters: Right-Left-Right rhythm
Reps: 3 sets of 10 approaches
Progression: Add arm swing on last 10 reps (still no ball)
Goal: Consistent footwork pattern every single time
Focus on:
Why this works: Footwork is the foundation of hitting. Master it without a ball first, then add the ball later.
On this tight set that's close to the net, watch as Amber gets inside the court taking bigger steps to get her feet to the ball, she reaches high at the height of her spike jump and then she swings fast...before she starts her descent from her jump.
Watch this two vs two left side hitter volleyball drill that I have my outsides do in order to do get multiple and continuous cross court reps in both sharp cross court and deep cross court areas to work on how and where to contact the ball with the correct spiking arm swing technique. This is the cooperative drill version which means they're purposefully working on and prioritizing control the ball to a specific area as opposed to hitting hard to make a point.
What you need: Volleyball, court (or marked zones if practicing in yard/gym)
How to do it:
Divide the court into 6 zones (or use the standard rotation zones 1-6).
Serve 5 balls to each zone in order: Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6.
Reps: 30 serves total (5 per zone)
Goal: 7/10 accuracy to your target zone
Progression: Increase to 40 serves (add deep corners, short serves)
Focus on:
Why this works: Serving to zones keeps opponents out of system. This drill builds placement accuracy under pressure.
Players are given a specific amount of time to serve a pre-determined number of balls to the target area formed by the chairs. hitting the middle of the chairs is rewarded more than just hitting the chairs in this case but coaches can come up with their own rules in irder to make this a tougher or easier drill.
If you notice I put the target in a zone on the court that I want my players to become really good at serving to. So in this case I put the chair in the court Zone seam 1/6.
What you need: Volleyball, court, serving target
How to do it:
Create a pressure scenario: "I must make 8/10 serves to Zone 5 or I repeat the set."
Serve 10 balls. Track your makes.
Reps: 3-5 sets of 10 serves
Goal: Hit your target percentage under self-imposed pressure
Focus on:
Why this works: Games are won and lost on serves. Practicing under pressure prepares you for match point situations.
Pro tip: Keep a serving journal. Track your accuracy percentage weekly. I've seen players go from 60% accuracy to 90% in just one month of tracked, intentional practice.
Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.
Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2
There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with
What you need: Volleyball, basketball hoop (or wall target)
How to do it:
Stand under or near a basketball hoop. Set the ball toward the hoop, aiming to get it through the net.
Reps: 3 sets of 30 reps
Progression: Set from different positions around the key (left, right, center)
Goal: 7/10 sets go through the hoop
Focus on:
Why this works: The hoop gives you instant feedback—you either make it or you don't. No guessing about accuracy.
Practicing your setting skills will make you a more reliable teammate and improve your ability to assist others during games. Watch as Anais does her wall setting with footwork movement during one of our private training sessions.
What you need: Volleyball, wall
How to do it:
Set the ball against a wall repeatedly, but add footwork between each set.
Pattern:
1. Set to wall
2. Shuffle 3 steps to the right
3. Set to wall
4. Shuffle 3 steps to the left
5. Repeat
Reps: 3 sets of 30 (90 total sets)
Goal: Ball doesn't spin when it leaves your hands; consistent tempo
Focus on:
Why this works: Setters need to move and set—this drill combines both. Simulates chasing down off-target passes.
What you need:
Volleyball, wall, target (chalk mark or tape)
How to do it:
Pick a specific spot on the wall—a brick, a chalk X, or a piece of tape. Make it visible so anyone walking by can see exactly where you're aiming.
Stand 5 feet from the wall and pass the ball to your target repeatedly.
Reps: 3-5 sets of 100 reps
Progression: After each set, side-step 2 feet and repeat. Then step back to 8 feet and repeat.
Goal: Complete 300-500 passing repetitions with 8/10 accuracy to your target
Focus on:
Why this works: Wall passing drills can be done daily at home to keep your passing technique, angled platform work, ball contacting skills, and control of the ball extremely sharp.
My tips on How to do wall passing drills...
Volleyball wall passing and wall setting drills can be done daily at home with a goal of at least 250 - 500 reps of various drills to keep your
Pick a brick, a specific spot on the wall or mark a big X in chalk on a wall or use a basketball net or backboard ...no matter what you decide to use as your target... anybody walking by.... should be able to see exactly where the spot is that you are aiming for EVERY...single....time .
Do 3 to 5 sets of 100... five feet from the wall ....then side step two feet and repeat. Then step back and repeat.
Complete 300 to 500 passing repetitions
Can you pass two balls at a time? This is a passing drill which forces you to pass the ball right to the target because if you overpass the ball your passing partner will probably have to stop the drill.
What you need: Volleyball, partner, court space
How to do it:
Start 10 feet apart. Pass back and forth, focusing on consistent platform angle and target accuracy.
Progression:
Focus on:
Why this works: Adds movement and communication—two things you need in real games.
Controlled Partner Passing Volleyball Passing Drill
The person closest to the net, on the ten foot line, is the control “target” partner. .
This is the “target” person who never moves and where the partner who is working needs to get the ball to. .
After each drill session, ask yourself:
Want a complete tracking system?
My Volleyball Skills Checklist Bundle includes printable drill logs, progress trackers, and self-assessment checklists for every skill.
Check out this pepper drill option that you can do at home with a partner or against a wall. I love changing pepper options so players can work on controlling the ball. In this drill you'd dig to yourself, set your self a two ball (a second tempo set) with one hand and then again with the other hand before hitting a controlled ball to your partner who repeats the sequence.
1. What is a defensive specialist in volleyball?
A defensive specialist is a back-row player who is usually the best on the team when it comes to defensive skills like digging, passing, serving and serve receive.
They're crucial team members who help defend their court by preventing opponents' attacks from hitting the floor and scoring and help to maintain the rally momentum with precise ball control.
2. How is a defensive specialist different from a libero?
While both positions focus on defense, defensive specialists follow regular substitution rules and attack the ball from the backrow, whereas liberos have unique substitution privileges but cannot serve in most leagues.
Unlike the libero, defensive specialists can jump and hit the ball from the backrow, and they wear the same colored jersey as the other members on the team and must be substituted within the substitution zone, following standard volleyball substitution rules.
3. What skills should a defensive specialist focus on?
What my defensive players focus on during private training lessons with me include:
- Reading opponent attacks and anticipating where the attacked ball once it passes the blockers hands will land in the court and be there ahead of time to dig the ball back up
- Quick upper and lower body to the a ball or to the ground reaction time in addition to being agile and quick enough to make diving saves to keep the ball off the floor
- Developing precise volleyball passing technique for serve receive and increased ball control skills during long rallies
- Excellent communication skills with teammates in order to talk about quickly what is happening and what is about to happen during a rally
- Strategic positioning and court awareness
- Developing a consistent serving ability in order to be a dependable point scoring player on the team
- Working on forward backward and side setting volleyball skills from the left side of the court
4. Why did you choose an alligator to represent defensive specialists?
First of all I love reptiles and I chose the alligator because of its natural defensive characteristics including
Just as alligators protect their territory with unbelievable laser focus and aggressive response, defensive specialists are responsible for guarding their court with similar intensity and determination.
Like alligators who transition between water and land, great defenders and volleyball diggers and liberos must be comfortable diving, rolling, and recovering quickly to get to their feet while staying balanced in order to make offensive plays effective.
5. What are the key defensive positions on the court?
The main back row defensive positions include:
6. How can I improve my defensive reactions?
Enhance your defensive reactions through:
7. What equipment does a defensive specialist need?
Essential equipment includes:
8. How do I know if the defensive specialist position is right for me?
You might be perfect for this position if you:
9. What are the most important defensive drills?
Some critical volleyball defensive drills include:
10. How can wearing your position-specific gear possibly help improve your mental performance and self confidence?
My volleyball position inspired shirts, posters, aprons, stickers, hoodies and sweatshirts like my alligator shirt can:
Your three options are:
If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

Struggling with passing consistency?
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Download my eBook for $17.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.
What Are You Looking For?
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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