Eight Volleyball Drills That Build Toward Match Play

The best junior high volleyball drills progress from serving and serve receive into connected contacts and small-sided games. Use the eight drills below in order, advancing only when players meet the checkpoint; shorten the serving distance, reduce the court or use a lighter ball when control breaks down.

Choose the skill that breaks down and the current level; the tool identifies the next drill.

USA Volleyball’s middle-school plan is written for grades 6–8 and uses lighter balls, reduced courts and small-sided games during much of the progression. Its broader coaching guidance recommends short, scored activities that use a net and combine skills rather than keeping players in isolated drills for long periods (USA Volleyball lesson plans).

Use the full sequence across multiple practices, or continue only as far as the group’s control allows during one session.

1. Build Serving Range With Partner Serves

Setup: Put partners across the net with one ball. Let the server begin near the 3-meter line rather than requiring every player to serve from the end line.

Action: Serve to the partner, who catches the ball and serves back. After two successful serves, the player takes one step backward. After a miss, the player stays at the same distance.

Cue: “Low toss in front of the hitting shoulder.”

Checkpoint: Make 8 of 10 serves over from one distance before moving back.

USA Volleyball’s junior-high plan likewise begins partner serving near the 3-meter line and increases distance as players become successful (junior-high lesson plans). For a fuller mechanical progression, use float-serve fundamentals.

2. Add Direction With Three Serving Lanes

Setup: Divide the receiving court into left, middle and right lanes with cones. Use pairs or groups of three so players can retrieve for one another.

Action: Each server attempts two balls into every lane. A serve scores one point if it lands in the called lane; it must first clear the net to count.

Cue: “Call the lane, then serve through it.”

Checkpoint: Hit four of six called lanes, including at least one successful serve to each lane.

Do not demand end-line serving from a player who loses all control there. Move that player forward while keeping the same target and scoring system.

3. Connect the Serve to a Target Pass

Setup: Use groups of three: server, passer and target. Put the target near the setting area at right front. Begin with a controlled serve or overhand throw if necessary.

Action: The server sends the ball over the net, the passer plays it to the target, and the target catches it above forehead height. Rotate server to passer, passer to target and target to server.

Cue: “Angle the platform to the target.”

Checkpoint: Produce 6 target catches in 10 attempts before making the serve faster or moving the passer.

The platform is the joined-forearm surface used to redirect the ball. Footwork should place that surface behind the ball rather than force a large arm swing.

4. Teach Two Passers to Own the Seam

Setup: Place two passers side by side with a target at the net. A server or coach sends balls between the passers as well as directly at them.

Action: Before contact, one passer calls “mine.” The other releases toward coverage instead of reaching across. Give the pair 10 serves, then change passers.

Cue: “Call early, then own the ball.”

Checkpoint: On 8 of 10 balls, one player makes an early call and the pair avoids a collision or late double move. Count the decision as well as pass quality.

Once the pair is organized, continue with this serve-receive progression.

5. Link the Pass and Set Before Attacking

Setup: Groups of three use one side of the net: passer in middle back, setter at right front and attacker at left front. A coach or teammate sends a free ball—a controlled ball that is not a hard attack—over the net.

Action: Pass to the setter, set to the left-front player, and catch the set at attack height. Rotate every five balls.

Cue: “Pass high enough for the setter to arrive.”

Checkpoint: Complete 5 of 8 pass-set-catch sequences without anyone chasing outside the court. Then replace the catch with a controlled standing attack.

6. Control the Dig Before Adding Attack Speed

Setup: Partners face each other across the net. One is the attacker and one begins in defense.

Action: The attacker self-tosses and sends a controlled standing attack over the net. The defender digs the ball upward and catches it, then becomes the attacker.

Cue: “Dig up, not back over.”

Checkpoint: The pair catches 7 of 10 digs on its own side. Increase attack speed only after the defender can control the current ball.

This drill is adapted from the attack-dig-catch activity in USA Volleyball’s grade 6–8 plan, which asks the defender to dig high enough to catch before switching roles (junior-high lesson plans).

7. Reward Three Contacts in Two-on-Two

Setup: Play 2v2 on a narrow court. Start with a serve from an appropriate distance. Allow a catch-and-toss second contact for a true beginner, but require normal contacts for players who are ready.

Action: Teams try to use a pass, set and attack. Award one rally point normally and one bonus point when a team uses three contacts before sending the ball over.

Cue: “First contact high and inside.”

Checkpoint: Each pair creates three attackable third-ball opportunities in a five-minute round.

When rallies repeatedly end on the serve, shorten the serving distance rather than removing the serve from the drill.

8. Finish With Three-on-Three Serve-First Volleyball

Setup: Use a reduced-width court with three players per side: one front and two back, or two front and one back. Play short games to seven and rotate teams quickly.

Action: Every rally starts with a serve. Players call seams, attempt three contacts and send a controlled third ball to space. Award two points for winning a rally after three contacts and one for any other rally win.

Cue: “Pass, set, send.”

Checkpoint: A team produces a pass-set-third-contact sequence on at least half of its playable serve receptions. Once teams meet that standard, widen the court or progress toward 4v4 and eventually 6v6.

USA Volleyball’s junior-high curriculum similarly progresses from 1v1 and 2v2 into 3v3, 4v4 and eventually full-team play, while reducing required cooperative exchanges as players gain control (junior-high lesson plans). Small-sided play gives each player more responsibility for reading, moving and contacting the ball before the group progresses to 6v6.

A 75-Minute Junior High Practice Progression

This session uses the early drills and finishes with game play. Save attack-dig-catch for a defense-focused practice.

Time	Activity
0–8 minutes	Dynamic movement with a ball; finish with short partner rallies over the net
8–20	Partner serve over the net
20–32	Serve the three lanes
32–46	Serve, pass and catch; add the seam decision for ready groups
46–58	Pass, set and catch
58–68	2v2 three-contact game
68–75	3v3 games to seven

Keep explanations under a minute when possible. Put the score or checkpoint on a whiteboard and change only one variable at a time.

If a drill breaks down, shorten the distance, slow the incoming ball or enlarge the target. If players meet the checkpoint, add movement, a live serve or a scoring consequence—not a longer line.