What drills should I practice before volleyball tryouts?

Practice simple drills that let you show control: serving to a target, passing to a partner, setting from a predictable toss, moving into ready position, and playing a cooperative rally. Choose drills you can repeat well instead of rushing to learn a difficult skill at the last minute.

What do coaches look for in volleyball tryout drills?

Coaches often notice how an athlete moves to the ball, gives a teammate a usable contact, communicates, responds to feedback, and recovers after a mistake. A big swing can stand out, but reliable effort and ball control matter throughout a tryout.

Can I prepare for volleyball tryouts at home?

Yes. A wall, a ball, and enough clear space can support controlled passing, setting, footwork, and serving motions. Make safety the first priority, and use a court or a qualified coach when you need room for serving, jumping, or hitting.

How much should I practice before volleyball tryouts?

Practice enough to feel familiar with the ball, then protect your energy. Short, focused sessions in the days before a tryout are more useful than a sudden marathon workout that leaves an athlete sore or tired.

Volleyball Tryout Drills: 6 Skills to Practice

Volleyball tryouts can make even a prepared athlete feel like every touch has to be perfect. It does not. A tryout is a chance to show how an athlete moves, learns, competes, and helps a group play better together. The most useful preparation is not a bag of complicated drills. It is a few calm, repeatable skills that let a player arrive ready to take the next ball.

These volleyball tryout drills are for athletes and families who want a practical way to prepare. They build the ball control, movement, communication, and steady response that show up in many tryout settings. Use them as a guide, then follow the instructions from the club, school, or coach running the tryout.

Practice to make the next contact easier. That simple goal helps an athlete show control, awareness, and teamwork in every drill.

Start with the skills that make volleyball work together: a reliable serve, a usable pass, a calm set, purposeful movement, and a willingness to play the rally all the way through.

How to use these volleyball tryout drills

Keep each practice short enough that the athlete can focus. Fifteen to 30 minutes of quality work is plenty for many young players, especially in the last week before a tryout. Begin with easy movement and a few comfortable ball touches. Then choose two or three drills from this guide instead of trying to complete everything at once.

Use a ball, clear space, and a partner when one is available. A wall can replace a partner for many passing and setting touches. Save full-speed serving, attacking, and jumping for a safe court environment. The goal is not to test how hard an athlete can work. It is to make familiar movements feel calm when the gym gets busy.

USA Volleyball’s coach resources emphasize drills that ask players to read, anticipate, and connect skills in the environment where they will play. That is a helpful standard for tryout prep too. A drill is worth repeating when it helps an athlete see the ball, move early, and give the next teammate a playable contact.

1. Target serving for a repeatable first ball

Serving is a common tryout skill because every athlete can take a turn and show a clear starting routine. Find a court when possible, choose one reliable serve, and pick a generous target area. For a newer athlete, the first target can simply be the far side of the court. Once that feels steady, aim toward the left or right half.

Start with five serves that prioritize getting the ball in. Pause between each rep, reset the feet, and use the same breath and toss routine. Then try five more with a simple target in mind. Do not chase a harder serve because someone else uses one. A controlled serve that starts the rally is more useful than a powerful serve that misses the court.

After a miss, practice the response you want on tryout day: take a breath, collect the next ball, and repeat the routine. No eye roll, no rushed second attempt. Coaches can see when an athlete can reset. That quality carries into every other skill.

Club IMUA Volleyball athlete preparing to serve a volleyball

2. Partner passing to a target

Passing drills reveal more than arm position. They show whether an athlete gets their feet to the ball, stays balanced, and gives a teammate something they can use. Stand with a partner at a comfortable distance. One player gives an underhand toss, while the other moves into position and passes toward the partner’s chest. Switch after ten to fifteen controlled touches.

Keep the platform quiet and let the legs help direct the ball. If the ball drifts left or right, move the feet first rather than reaching with the arms. A good goal is not a perfect pass every time. It is a ball the partner can catch or play without taking several steps away from their spot.

To add a little challenge, have the partner toss one ball to each side. The passer calls “mine,” shuffles early, and returns the ball to the target. This combines movement and communication without turning the drill into chaos. For more detail on a calm first contact, use Club IMUA Volleyball’s volleyball passing drills between tryout practices.

3. Pass, move, and pass again

Tryout drills often ask athletes to move after a contact, not just stand in one place. Set up with a partner and two floor markers a few steps apart. The partner tosses to the athlete at one marker. After the pass, the athlete shuffles to the second marker, receives another toss, and passes back to the same target. Keep the pace slow enough that every rep stays controlled.

Use short, quick steps. The athlete should arrive with knees soft and shoulders square enough to send the ball back to the partner. If the movement starts to pull the player off balance, make the distance smaller. Better footwork on a small pattern is more valuable than scrambling across half the gym.

This drill also gives athletes a chance to practice their voice. Call for the ball before the contact. Say “help” if the ball is too far away. A player who communicates early can make a teammate’s decision easier, even when the touch itself is not perfect.

Club IMUA Volleyball athlete practicing a controlled volleyball pass

4. Setting from a predictable toss

Setting can feel intimidating because the ball arrives quickly in a game. Begin with a slow, predictable toss instead. A partner stands a few feet away and sends the ball above the athlete’s forehead. The athlete moves under it, uses soft fingers to set back to the partner, and holds a balanced finish.

Keep the goal simple: get to the ball before sending it. A clean set does not need to be high or fancy. It needs to be playable. If a player is new to setting, catching the toss above the forehead first can help them learn where to move. Then return to a gentle set when the position feels more natural.

After several steady reps, ask the partner to vary the toss slightly. The athlete takes one or two steps, settles under the ball, and sets back to the same target. That movement is what makes the drill useful for tryouts. It shows that the player can adjust without losing balance or forcing the ball with their arms.

5. Approach, land, and reset

Many tryouts include some form of attacking or jumping. An athlete does not need to show the biggest swing in the gym to prepare well. Start with a no-ball approach. Use the footwork the athlete has been taught, finish with a small controlled jump if appropriate, and land softly on two feet. Pause for one count before stepping out and resetting.

The landing is part of the skill. Keep knees soft, stay balanced, and leave enough room from teammates and net equipment. If the athlete is not ready to jump, they can rehearse the approach and stop under control. That is still valuable practice for timing and body awareness.

When a coach or qualified practice partner is available, add an easy toss. The athlete approaches, reaches for a controlled contact, and aims to keep the ball in play. Do not use tryout prep to introduce a new full-speed attack. Use it to make familiar movements look composed. Club IMUA Volleyball’s hitting drills guide can help athletes build that progression over time.

Club IMUA Volleyball athlete jumping during a volleyball rally

6. Cooperative pepper or a short rally

The final drill connects the skills. With a partner, begin with toss, pass, catch. When both players are ready, move to pass, set, catch. From there, add a controlled roll shot or an easy ball over the net. The point is not to see who can make the fastest pepper pattern. It is to show that both athletes can stay present, communicate, and keep the ball playable.

If a ball gets away, chase it safely, reset, and start the next exchange. A player who turns a difficult touch into a useful next contact often helps a group more than the athlete who waits for a perfect ball. That is why many tryouts finish with some version of small-sided or full-court play. The rally shows how passing, setting, movement, and communication work together.

For a simple pre-tryout sequence, spend five minutes on target serving, five minutes on partner passing, five minutes on pass-move-pass, five minutes on setting, and five minutes on cooperative pepper. If the athlete has less time, choose the two drills that match the skills they want to feel more comfortable using.

Club IMUA Volleyball athletes supporting one another during practice

What to show when the drill changes

No two tryouts run exactly the same way. One gym may use serving lines and partner passing, while another moves quickly into small games. Instead of trying to predict every drill, help the athlete carry a few habits into each one: move early, call the ball, make the next contact easier, listen to the coach, and reset after a mistake.

Tryouts can include a lot of waiting, especially in a large group. Use that time well. Watch the drill, learn the rotation, stay ready to step in, and encourage the athlete in front of you. When it is time to play, start with a clear first job. On serve receive, that might be getting the ball toward the setter area. In a small game, it might be calling the first ball and covering the next touch.

Families can support this approach by keeping the conversation short on the way to the gym. One reminder is enough: “Play the next ball.” The athlete does not need a car ride full of fixes. They need room to compete, learn, and let their practice show up naturally.

How Club IMUA Volleyball helps athletes prepare

Club IMUA Volleyball gives young athletes space to learn the game one useful rep at a time. Skill work is not just about a single perfect pass or a powerful hit. It is about helping athletes move with purpose, communicate with teammates, and keep growing when a drill does not go their way.

Families who want a supportive place to keep building can explore Club IMUA Volleyball programs, see the current club teams, or review tryout information. For a broader plan around the event itself, read the Club IMUA Volleyball volleyball tryout preparation guide. Every athlete can take the next step with their ohana beside them.

Frequently asked questions

What drills should I practice before volleyball tryouts?: Practice simple drills that let you show control: serving to a target, passing to a partner, setting from a predictable toss, moving into ready position, and playing a cooperative rally. Choose drills you can repeat well instead of rushing to learn a difficult skill at the last minute.
What do coaches look for in volleyball tryout drills?: Coaches often notice how an athlete moves to the ball, gives a teammate a usable contact, communicates, responds to feedback, and recovers after a mistake. A big swing can stand out, but reliable effort and ball control matter throughout a tryout.
Can I prepare for volleyball tryouts at home?: Yes. A wall, a ball, and enough clear space can support controlled passing, setting, footwork, and serving motions. Make safety the first priority, and use a court or a qualified coach when you need room for serving, jumping, or hitting.
How much should I practice before volleyball tryouts?: Practice enough to feel familiar with the ball, then protect your energy. Short, focused sessions in the days before a tryout are more useful than a sudden marathon workout that leaves an athlete sore or tired.