How to Practice Volleyball by Yourself？
Volleyball is a game that requires a great amount of dedication to practice in order to improve. While it’s best to practice with other players to create game-like situations, there is a way to practice alone to improve your skills. One way is through the use of a volleyball practice net
Ways to Improve Volleyball Skills Using a Practice Net
Hit the ball into a rebounder volleyball net to improve hand-ball contact and arm swing needed to hit the ball correctly. The net is also great for using as a setter. After hitting the ball into the net, treat the rebound as a set and react accordingly.
An excellent drill for warming up is playing pepper with the net. This is more suited for two players, alternating hitting the ball into the net, but a single player can use this technique as well by passing the ball back and forth from different distances. This will improve overall form and footwork required to perform the passes.
Play the ball near the net. This will help reaction time for balls coming off the net on a poor pass or dig.
How to Practice without a Net
There are instances where you won’t have access to a volleyball practice net. That doesn’t mean that you cannot improve your game. With creativity, you can practice situations that occur in a game without the used of a volleyball practice net.
Serve Against a Wall
Put a line on a wall at the height of the top of the net. Sand back a reasonable distance that you’d play in a game and practice serving the ball over the line. Use your regular routine for serving, trying to imagine scenarios as to score and situation. This will enable you to maintain focus and concentrate on serving the ball where you want to. Practice the serve from all positions of the end line. Be sure to dash to the back line defensive area following the serve, watching the ball while you do so. This helps you practice getting back into proper defensive position.
Pass and Front Set into a Corner
While positioned with corner of the wall front and to the right, pass the ball off the wall so it ricochets back, simulating a serve. Try to pass it like you would to a setter. In order to simulate a front set, throw the ball off the wall so it rebounds back as if it was coming from a passer. You can work on low, medium, and high passes. This will simulate game scenarios such as jump set. Keep throwing it over and over to improve getting to balls ricocheting at various angles.
Back-Set
Much the same as front setting, but with a back set, stand with the ball at your back and left. Back-set the ball behind you. Get the bell and repeat the process over and over. You can stand closer to the wall for lower sets. The further positioned from the left wall, the greater reaction time for the pass. While this drill may seem tedious, it’s a great drill do simulate back sets from various distances.
Spike Against a Wall
Stand at a distance of about 30 feet from a wall and set the ball up to yourself and strike it as you would in a game over the net. Of course the net is not there, but simulate this. Be sure to hit it high enough to cover the net, not hit the net or worse yet, into the blockers. The downside of this kind of practice is that you can’t get into a rhythm from hitting off the wall from a close distance, but practicing the correct arm swing is invaluable. In a game situation, you will need to know how to hit around the blocks while still getting the ball over the net. There is the situation where you can simply spike the ball with no blockers, but those instances are few and few between. In addition, practice cross court, line shots, and cut shots into the wall. The idea shot is hitting the back line corner, which is nearly impossible to defend.
Practice Coverage off Roof
A slanted roof is perfect for praciting digging the ball up, off of a tip or in some cases, a blocked spike. Simply toss the ball up on the roof and when the ball rolls off, play it as if it were a tip over the net in a game. You can also simulate it as if you are in spiker coverage. Be creative. Play it up as high as possible which enables the setter to have ample time to come in. The hitter has plenty of time to get back into position to hit it again.
Play Pepper of Juggle
In pepper, you want to hit the ball against the wall higher than the height of the net. Dig the ball to yourself off the ricochet. Then preform the set against the wall. This is an excellent drill in ordre to become a good setter and digger. Your coach and teammates will appreciate your efforts and in the end, will help improve your team’s chances at victory.
Much like in soccer where a player can use their head, thighs, or knees to keep the ball off the ground, you can use your body in volleyball as well. Practice rebounding the ball off all parts of your body. In addition, learn to strike the ball cleanly.
In conclusion, it’s always great to train with a volleyball practice net, but when that isn’t available, there are creative ways to improve your game. Be creative, persistent, and enjoy the practice. In time you will develop your skillset that will impress your coaches, teammates, and give your team the best chance of winning each match.
