Volleyball Drills for Better Communication

January 12, 2017

It’s widely known that the success of a volleyball team depends a lot on communication between players. The reality is the effective communication delivers multiple significant benefits to athletes and greatly contributes to a volleyball team’s success.

Needless to say that volleyball players should understand each other on the court perfectly. There is the evidence that effective communication between volleyball athletes has a profound positive impact on ball control and teamwork. Another bid advantage is that good communication helps a volleyball team organize attacks and land the ball on the opposite team’s side of the court successfully. Effective communication between players positively affects the volleyball team’s defense as well. On the other hand, a lack of communication between volleyball players may negatively affect team’s success.

Obviously, volleyball coaches have to focus on teaching their athletes good communication. In other words, developing communication skills has to be a key part of any volleyball training program. It’s worth noting that there are many drills designed to improve communication between volleyball players. Below, you’ll be able to find several volleyball drills for better communication.

Pairs

Pairs is a very popular volleyball drill. A volleyball team has to be divided into two parts before to start practicing this drill. Two of a volleyball team’s players have to stand in the back row. These two players will be responsible for receiving and serving the ball during the drill. Let’s call them Player 1 and Player 2 on the serve-receive side of the volleyball court. Other players of the volleyball team have to go to the opposite side of the court and stand on the service line.

The drill starts when one of players serves the ball. Afterwards, this player has to approach to the net and occupy the position of the middle blocker. The task of players on the serve-receive side of the court is to receive the ball and pass it to another player. Player 1 and Player 2 will need to communicate with each other when practicing this drill. The player who wants to receive the ball should call out “mine” loudly. By doing this, they’ll be able to decide who is responsible for receiving and passing the ball. So, if Player 1 receives the ball then he/she needs to pass it to Player 2. Afterwards, Player 2 has to set the ball and Player 1 carries out an attack hit. It goes without saying that practicing Pairs drill helps improve communication between two players.

Create Lingo

This drill is aimed to improve the communication between volleyball players on the court. So, players need to establish the system of communication prior to starting the drill. It’s crucial for volleyball players to use simple words in communication. Obviously, it doesn’t have to take a volleyball player too much time to call out.

If players practise this drill on a regular basis they’ll be able to establish their own system of communication over time. Without a doubt, this system will help athletes perform more effectively on the court. However, the most important thing is that your competitors will certainly find it hard to understand your communication during the match.

A Rally Drill

This goal is designed to encourage volleyball players to call out loudly when it’s necessary and communicate with each other during plays and practices. This drill should be practiced by two teams. Before to get started, players of each team have to take their positions on the volleyball court. Additionally, each volleyball team has to assign the coach ahead of time. A coach will be responsible for throwing a free ball to the opposite team.

The drill starts when both teams are ready. First of all, the coach of one team throws a free ball to the opposite team. The task of the opposite team is to receive the ball successfully. Afterwards, the opposite team has to pass the ball, set it and then carry out an attack hit. Another important thing about this drill is that players of each team have to call out “rally” word when the ball goes to the opposite side of the volleyball court.

It’s also incredibly important for players of both teams to communicate with their hitter when practicing the drill. Actually, communication is the perfect way to inform hitters on what they need to do. Thus, hitters will know whether they need to terminate the ball or continue to keep it in play. There is no doubt that the success of each volleyball team depends on communication between players significantly.

As soon as the letter Y is hit during the volleyball match, each of teams has to make an attempt to terminate the ball. As a result, one of volleyball teams gets a point. The volleyball drill is complete when one of teams gets 7 points.

Quick Pass

Quick Pass is one of the best volleyball drills for improving communication between volleyball players. This drill is designed to improve quick thinking, quick reaction and, most importantly, communication between volleyball players. This drill should be also done by those volleyball players who want to learn how to control the ball successfully during the match. Additionally, practicing this drill has a huge positive impact on a volleyball player’s passing skills.

First of all, volleyball players need to get ready before practicing the drill. It’s worth noting that Quick Pass is done by tree volleyball players. Two coaches are required for doing the drill as well. Three volleyball players have to stay in the back row on the court and take left back, middle back and right back positions. At the same time, two coaches (the coach as well as assistant coach) have to get closer to the net. Coaches also need to prepare baskets with volleyballs in advance. By doing so, they will be able to spike balls easily and quickly.

The task of coaches is to spike the ball between players. It’s important for coaches to spike the ball with different speeds. Volleyball players need to communicate effectively on the court and shout out “mine” when it’s necessary. Obviously, the volleyball player who shouts out “mine” during the drill will be responsible for receiving and passing the ball.

Of course, players should be able to communicate, think and react to the ball very quickly while practicing Quick Pass drill. On the other hand, players must be able to master the art of controlling the ball. This drill has to last for between 3 and 5 minutes. When the drill is complete players can change their positions. So, the drill will start once again.

Call Out and Defend

It’s crucial for defensive players to be able to analyze the situation on the court carefully during the play. Clearly, defensive players need to predict movements of opposite team’s players and then take appropriate actions. When watching the players of the opposite team defenders definitely need to pay a close attention to attackers. Communication is vital to the success of defensive players as well.

Call Out and Defend drill is done to help defensive players improve the communication with their teammates during the play. Moreover, practicing the drill on a regular basis also helps volleyball players bring their defensive skills to the next level.

When getting ready to Call Out and Defend drill you need to place boxes on one side of the volleyball court. Boxes are placed on the positions of outside hitters. Two players (an attacker and feeder) will be located on this side of the court as well. Six defensive players should go to the opposite side of the court.

The drill starts when feeder tosses the ball to an attacker. At the next step, an attacker carries out an attack hit and the ball goes to the opposite side of the court. One of defensive players has to dig the ball successfully. As a result, the ball goes to the second defender who will need to strike the ball to the feeder on the opposite side of the court.

Quiet Drill

It’s important to note that Quiet Drill is mainly used for teaching communication between players in the sport of basketball. However, volleyball players can take advantage of this drill as well. Quiet Drill is based on teaching athletes how to rely their instincts during the game.

What is great about Quiet Drill is that it greatly contributes to the communication between volleyball players and improves teamwork dramatically. According to the opinions of many coaches, the drill plays a big role in building team’s culture.

Quiet Drill involves playing without talking, so volleyball players begin to rely on their instincts. In other words, players need to keep quite while practicing the drill. It’s important to point out that playing without talking and relying on instincts makes it easier for volleyball players to understand each other on the court.

Athletes play without talking for a certain period of time and afterwards they are allowed to communicate naturally again. Practicing this drill regularly leads to better communication between volleyball players.

Thanks for reading our article on how to improve communication between volleyball players. Practicing these volleyball drills on a regular basis will undoubtedly help you take your communication skills as well as teamwork to the next level.