Passing Drills for Intermediate Players

Discover three practical passing drills to enhance your volleyball skills as an intermediate player.
By Taylor

Introduction to Passing Drills for Intermediate Players

Passing is a critical skill in volleyball that sets up the offense and keeps the ball in play. For intermediate players, developing precision and consistency in passing is essential for elevating overall performance on the court. Here are three diverse examples of passing drills specifically designed for intermediate players to refine their technique and improve teamwork.

1. Partner Passing Drill

This drill is excellent for working on accuracy and communication between partners. It’s perfect for practicing both forearm and overhead passing.

Start by pairing up with a partner and standing about 10 feet apart. One player will toss the ball underhand to the other, who will then pass it back using either a forearm pass or an overhead pass. Focus on keeping your eyes on the ball and using your legs to generate power. Alternate roles after 10 successful passes.

To make it more challenging, you can increase the distance between you and your partner or introduce a target area on the wall to aim for. This will help improve your precision and control during gameplay.

2. Wall Passing Drill

Utilizing a wall for passing drills is an effective way to work on technique independently. This drill is ideal for refining your passing form and building muscle memory.

Find a solid wall and stand about 5-10 feet away. Start by passing the ball against the wall using a forearm pass. Focus on your stance, keeping your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Aim to keep the ball at a consistent height when it rebounds back to you. Continue this for 5 minutes, then switch to overhead passing for another 5 minutes.

You can vary this drill by changing the distance from the wall and adjusting the speed of your passes. Recording yourself can also provide visual feedback to improve your form.

3. Circle Passing Drill

This drill emphasizes teamwork and movement, helping players work on their passing while staying engaged with their teammates. It’s great for enhancing reaction time and communication.

Gather 4-6 players and form a circle. One player starts with the ball and passes it to a teammate across from them. After passing, the player must move to a new position in the circle. The receiving player then passes to the next teammate, and the cycle continues. Encourage players to call out the name of the person they are passing to in order to enhance communication.

To add complexity, you can introduce a time limit for each pass or require players to use specific passing techniques (e.g., only forearm passes for one round, then only overhead passes for the next). This keeps the drill dynamic and fun while reinforcing essential skills.

By incorporating these examples of passing drills for intermediate players into your training routine, you can enhance your skills, improve teamwork, and feel more confident on the court. Happy practicing!