How to Perform Five Main Volleyball Techniques
There are five main volleyball techniques that must be learned in order to play the game with competence. These techniques are serving, hitting, passing, setting, and blocking. As long as you possess a good technical knowledge of each technique, the rest is a matter of practice! In this article we are going to look over a detailed description of each of the most popular volleyball techniques so that you can gain a better understanding as to how each one is properly executed.
As serving is the first technique performed in volleyball, let’s start this off with the most popular style of serving method. This is called the “overhand” method and is used in all types of volleyball games and matches. This style of serving is performed by throwing the ball into the air and hitting it open-handed overhead. To perform this action properly, the feet must start shoulder-width apart, the left slightly ahead of the right (if you’re serving right-handed). Before the serve is executed, the majority of your weight should rest on your right side. The ball will rest in the left hand while the right is brought back near the side of your head. The left hand should toss the ball directly up into the air, at which time you should step forward with your left leg, transferring your body weight there, as you strike the ball with the palm of your right hand. This should be done with sufficient force to land in the opponent’s side of the court.
Hitting is a skill that many volleyball players endeavor to master. Hitting, often referred to as “spiking”, is most often a fast-paced technique that requires one to be fearless and confident. Prepare yourself to adopt the “there’s no way they’re blocking my ball” attitude, because any hesitance in this move will likely result in a failure. This technique usually requires a jump, so the best thing to remember is to be in the right place and have your balance in check before taking off. You also need to be in a position where you can jump forward to make contact with the ball without landing in the net. Use your arms to help gain height in your jump, then once you’re in the air you will use the same hitting technique as with the overhand serve. Let most of the ball’s weight make contact with your palm. Also, make sure that you don’t jump too far forward; you always want the ball to be in front of you where you can see it and comfortably make contact without moving your arm out of alignment with your shoulder.
Passing is the next technique we’re going to discuss. The “forearm pass” is the most common and one of the easier ones to control throughout execution. It is easy to believe that the key to a good pass is in the arms, but that’s not entirely true. Balance is key—and balance, my friend, is maintained in the legs and feet. When you see the serve coming your way, your knees should be bent and your arms side-by-side in front of your body pointed downward. Make sure the inner arms are facing each other. There are a few different things you can do with your hands at this point. Many advanced players simply press their fisted hands together and allow the thumbs to rest on top. Another way you can position your hands is to fist the left hand and cup it with the right hand, letting the thumbs rest on top. Reverse this if you’re left-handed. The idea is to “steer” the ball towards your teammate using the forearms—NOT the hands or wrists, as they aren’t smooth enough to predict the direction of the pass. In most cases, the ball should be moving fast enough that you shouldn’t even need to put a great deal of force behind the pass, you just simply swing your arms to aim the ball where you want it to go.
Setting is a very important technique that all volleyball players should learn to accomplish smoothly. In most cases, the ball is hit from one teammate to another who will “set” it for another player to spike over the net. This is all part of the typical pass, set, and attack maneuver. As with a pass, you want to make sure that your feet are positioned for balance and ready to jump. Get your arms up overhead and bent at the elbows early so you’re ready for contact. Your fingers should be spread and pointed inward towards each other (imagine making a diamond with your index fingers and thumbs without making them physically touch). Make sure that the hands are laid evenly so that the thumbs, index, and second fingers all make contact at the same time. This allows you to extend your arms and push the ball towards your teammate in a smooth and targeted manner.
Finally, we have blocking. What would this sport be without the fun of stopping your opponent’s attack before it even gets to your court? A typical block is performed by extending your arms over the net to literally stop the ball from sailing into your court. The most effective block is performed by several players from the front line stacked side by side creating a veritable wall. –But, a block doesn’t have to be performed by several players to be effective. If you’re in a position to stop the ball, go for it! There are a few things you’ll need to keep your eye on as you plot your blocking scheme, though. First, find the ball. Where is it now and where is it heading? Watch the setter’s body language so you can predict the movement of the ball. Find the ball again, then move your attention to the hitter. Try to get a feel for the kind of attack the hitter is about to execute, then brace yourself for the block!
As you can see, the basics of these volleyball techniques are not difficult to learn, but practice is the only thing that will build your skills and your talent. Good luck and have fun!