Fundamental Skills of Volleyball
by S.G.R.BOne of the worst situations that a volleyball team could be in is to show up at a game without being able to perform the basic skills they needed to able to be competitive. Hitting the ball, being in the right place, physical conditioning, and a player’s ability to jump can help to win the game as well as gain confidence for the game. Getting back to the basics for volleyball can help you to gain the skills needed for every game.
General Playing Skills That Should Be Developed
1. Serving. This is what always starts the game and is a necessary skill. There are two basic types of serves. The first is overhand; where the player tosses the ball above their head, then hits it on the way down. The other being the underhand serve, where the server holds the ball in one hand and swings the opposite arm beneath the ball to hit it. Once the basics are learned, a player can the practice variations of either one of these.
2. Pass or reception. This is typically set up by a player called a “setter”. It is used in order to take the ball and set the ball up to the other players on your own team. Your teammates will then be able to put the ball to the other side in a manner to win the point.
3. Tip. A tip is used as a way to fool the opponent into thinking that the ball will go further than it will. The player hits the ball lightly, making it just go above the net but not too far into the other team’s area so that they can’t return it.
4. Dig. This is the ability for a player to save the ball from striking the floor after it has been spiked by an apponent. A player may often slide underneath the ball and extend his/her arms to make the save.
5. Rebound. This happens when the ball is blocked, making the players “rebound”, or continue to play the ball.
Physical Skills That Must Be Developed
1. Quickness. People [frequently A volleyball player does not require the speed of a sprinter, but having quickness is a big plus.
2. Vertical Jump. If everything else is the same, a volleyball player that can jump higher than an opponent has a huge advantage. Being able to leap up to hit a ball before your opponent does can aid to win many points.
Increasing the physical skills frequently leads to the improvement of the playing skills. Increasing a player’s quickness will help them respond more quickly and let them get to more “saves”. A player that can leap higher will be able to tip and spike the ball over the opponent easier. And the development of both sets of skills work jointly to give the player more self-assurance in his or her game.
For further information on how to improve your physical skills, check out How To Jump Higher.