Best Volleyball Drills You Can Do at Home

How To Practice Volleyball in Your Backyard

Volleyball practice shouldn't be limited to an official court or the local gym. There are many volleyball drills you can do without leaving home. You don't need a court or another player - and in some cases, you don't even need a ball to #TrainLikeAPro.

Here are some of our favorite drills and tips for how to practice volleyball at home by yourself or with Bownet® volleyball training equipment. In addition to volleyball for beginners, these tips are also great for elite players and pros who want to stay sharp.

Forearm Passes to Yourself

One of the most common moves in volleyball is the forearm pass, where you place your forearms next to each other and "bump" the ball to another player. For volleyball practice at home, simply bump the ball to yourself. It's a simple activity that's kind of like juggling. To perform this drill:

  • Toss the ball up in the air.
  • Get into passing form.
  • When the ball comes down, bounce it off your forearms and back into the air.

Try to get as many consecutive passes to yourself as you can. Along the way, you'll be practicing your technique, improving reaction time, and increasing strength.

Volleyball Setting

Setting, or overhead passing, is another volleyball drill you can do in the backyard. Start by setting to yourself. It's similar to the forearm passing drill except for the technique: hold both hands above your head and hit the ball upward using just the fingertips of each hand.

Once you have the hang of setting straight up, start passing to the side so you have to move and reset. As you continue to progress, use a target, such as the Bownet Volleyball Setting Net, to work on accuracy.

PRO TIP: For an advanced volleyball training drill, alternate between bumping and setting to yourself.

Volleyball Serving

A good serve can change a match, so remember to work on yours at home. The multipurpose Bownet Volleyball Practice Station is an excellent target and catcher that will save you time chasing down balls. Start by standing 10-15 feet away from the station in your serving position. (And be sure you're aiming away from any breakable objects.) Toss the ball in the air and serve to the practice station, focusing on technique and accuracy. Once you're comfortable at 10-15 feet, start backing up so that you're closer to the in-game serve distance.

Volleyball Against the Wall

If you have a large, smooth wall at home, then you're in luck: It can function as a target, backstop or even as a "passer" to bounce the ball back to you. Use a wall for the volleyball practice drills discussed above and many more, including:

  • Hitting
  • Spiking
  • Pepper drills
  • Blocking

Conditioning

Volleyball players must be in good physical shape to play well. There are many exercises you can do at home to build strength and stamina. Jumping rope and running hills are two of the best exercises for volleyball players. There are also many at-home bodyweight activities you can do, such as sit-ups, squats, planks, lunges and pull-ups.

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