Volleyball training?

Question

I want to do volleyball but I'm not that good. If I get a good position and the ball is just right, I can nail an awesome spike. But otherwise i'm mediocre. I'm athletic; I do track and field hockey but I've never played volleyball. I have a volleyball and practice spiking against my garage alot but I need more ideas to work with. How can i get better faster?

Thanks =]

Answer 1

Find a partner and pepper a lot whenever you get chance.

That's how beginners learn the basics skills and even good players master their moves.  When you pepper with just one partner, you get to touch the ball more often than doing anything else.  More you touch the ball, better you get handling it.  Repetition makes perfection.  Also, you get to practice almost all the moves you need to learn in volleyball like passing, setting, hitting, and digging.  Always use the correct posture and full motion as if you're playing a real game.   Build the techniqes into your body by doing a lot of repetition.

By the way, below is some tips I've given to other people.  Maybe, you can utilize it too.  Good Luck.

No matter how much you play, FIRST learning the basic skills and using the right forms, motion, and posture is most importanat. If you don't do this, you'll never reach your full potential. I know people who have been playing volleyball for decades but still suck because they never picked up the basic skills. Once you pick up bad moves and it becomes habitual, you're in deep trouble because it's very hard to lose them. Basically, you would always use wrong way to pass, set, and hit.

Passing:

1. Contact point - Put your hands and forearms together with both arms straight.

You can use the whole forearms to pass but there's a sweet spot right above your wrists. Do not hit the ball with your wrists or fists.

2. Posture - Bend your knees and keep your arms up making arms and thighs parallel and 90 degrees to your body. It's all about hand-eye coordination. When you keep your arms up they're closer to your eyes.

3. Motion - Lean forward slightly standing on your forefoot when waiting for serves. This helps you react faster.

Chase the ball, position yourself, get in to 'the posture,' wait for the ball, and let the ball hit your forearms and bounce off.

Don't swing or jump at the ball. You should have the arms up and ready to pass before making the contact.

Setting:

Locate the ball, position yourself facing where you're setting not the ball, and place your hands above your head. Make a triangle with your hands without touching. See the ball through the triangle making your head, the triagle, and the ball in a straight line. Push up the ball extending your arms and legs. Most important - Hands should be up before you make the contact. Also, use all five fingers with thumbs being the most important. Don't just use the fingertips but the whole lengths of your fingers for better control.

3. Hitting;

When you swing your arms up to hit, place your elbow, bent about 90 degrees, above and behind your shoulder. The palm should also face away from your head. Swing and fully staighten your arm when making the contact with the ball.

Answer 2

Speak to your school coach about joining a volleyball club where you can play more volleyball and get more training.  When you get to the club see if they offer private classes or clinics where you can get more one on one or more personalized training.  The more you play with more experienced players the more you will learn.

Good luck,

Volleyball Mom.

Answer 3

Search on the internet for any day camps around your area...I know around me there are several small colleges and bigger universities that have helped me out a lot.  Watch videos of Kerri Walsh online and watch her approach.  Lift weights for your legs-it helps you jump higher.  Touch a volleyball every day.  Bump/set against a wall.  Serve every day.  My big thing is practicing defensive slides...it helps me keep my butt down, which is a big deal.  Try to be more flexible.  Do lunges.  Play on sand, it builds up your calf muscles.  Stand on the very edge of a stair or box and lift your body up with your toes.  It all helps a lot. =]