Volleyball Skills

Volleyball, the second most popular sport after soccer in the world has evolved within the last few decades. The major objective of the players of teams on either side of the net is to score at least 25 points. There are six basic volleyball skills which are necessary to know and absorb as a volleyball player. Time, target and focus are the major ingredients which help in making an efficient player. Before getting accustomed to the volleyball skills, make sure you are well aware of the rules which are required to be followed within the volleyball court.  The six major skills in volleyball include serving, digging, setting, blocking, spiking, and passing.

 

Serving Skills:

To ignite the volleyball court with fire and upsurge with a quick momentum of energy, serving is one of the best volleyball skills which can put a weaker opponent at a great disadvantage. Underhand serve is the easiest to execute which keeps the ball in motion. Do not make contact with the end line while serving. You can both, serve the ball with open or cupped hand, and always maintain the firmness of your wrist. Always keep your eyes steady on the movement of the ball. Serving types includes:

• Floater: In this, the ball is punched with a fist and does not spin, rather darts as a knuckleball in baseball.

• Top spin: The ball is thrown above, and then swiftly passed over the net to reach the opponent’s side. In order to create a spin, make sure to give your wrist a quick snap.

• Jump serve: The jump serve skills in volleyball require tossing the ball high above, and jumping a little to hit the ball. This is the hardest volleyball serve, and may end up out of the bounds if there isn’t sufficient top spin.

 

 

Digging Skills:

Digging are defensive skills in volleyball where the knees are required to be bent. The weight of the player should be exerted more towards the front so that he/she can easily dive to the floor in order to retrieve the volleyball. To become an expert in digging volleyball skills, timely execution, great foot work, rolling and diving are few of the key things. The player must have a lower position with the knees positioned over the toes and forwardly placed. Keep your right foot forward. The weight of the body is required to be equally concentrated on both the balls of feet. Always keep the feet at a shoulder length distance with your arms bent a little before the knees. Keep a keen eye on the movement of the hitter and react only after studying them. While diving on the floor to obtain the ball, make sure you fall on your abdominal and not on your knees or elbows.
 

 

Setting Skills:

Setting is an important ingredient to spice up the game and the setters are more often responsible for almost all the contacts, made by the team with the ball. The setter generally decides on which hitter to set. Many teams keep two setters as they are the one who receives a bumpy pass and make it manageable enough to be hit by his/her other team mates. Setting is one of those volleyball skills which have a strong hand in deciding on the team’s fate. Setting involves keeping the elbows and knees bent and focus on your target always. Make sure that your both hands are engaged in handling the ball. Avoid violations by preventing the ball from touching your palm which is known as push. You will be alarmed by the referee if your hands are not kept above your face. This skill in volleyball requires the setter to hold the ball for at least 3 seconds.
 

 

Blocking Skills:

Blocking is one of those volleyball skills which tends to cripple the hitter’s spike, making the opponent weak. The blocker is generally near the net and stays in motions with hands place higher up. Keeping target on the ball is of utmost importance and the player jumps vertically to obtain maximum height while hitting the ball above the net. A typical blocker will have his/her arms raised above the head, both the hands in contact with fingers open, hips almost parallel to the net, flexed knees and wrists in square with the arms.  While landing, it is important for a blocker to maintain proper inertia and keep balance. Swinging arms are considered as a major fault on the player’s side so it must be prevented. The blocker should have excellent perseverance power and be able to anticipate where the ball will be hit and therefore react accordingly. It is important for a blocker to touch almost every pass.
 

 

Spiking Skills:

When the team has a good number of players who can spike well, undoubtedly your team has a better chance to win the match. Spiking volleyball skills are majorly attacking techniques where timing is very significant. Keep yourself at an angle with the ball to execute a proper spike. This skill is a four step technique for the right hand players: Right, Left, Right and Left; whereas for the left hand players, it is a three step technique: Left, Right and Left. To exert more strength on your spike, always face cross court. The player requires his/her legs to be angled at 90 degrees for an excellent jump. Give your jump the guidance of both of your arms for a smoother ride. Broad jumping is big no-no in spiking technique. You will be at a disadvantage if your contact with ball is too low or your jump to approach the ball is too late.
 

 

Passing Skills:

Passing skills in volleyball are usually the least identified, but a highly critical ingredient in this sport. While passing volleyball skills keep the feet placed widely apart from one another, with one foot placed a bit forward. Keep your shoulder lowered and knees bent for a better pass. Keep your eyes in search of the ball till it makes contact with your hand. Keep your arms straight and keep your hips open in the direction of the approaching ball.  The players must not handle the ball in “shank” orientation.  Do not keep the ball too close to your body while passing. Poor footwork often renders to a poorer pass. Always make sure that the floor on which you are playing is even.  For passing you can either have a wrapped fist or cupped palms to pass the ball. Choosing either of the two hand volleyball position depends totally on the players’ choice and comfort.

 

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