What is a good first hitting drill for beginners?

Approach footwork without a ball is a strong first drill. It lets an athlete learn to start, build speed, jump, and land in balance before timing a toss or a set. Add the ball only when the steps feel calm and repeatable.

How can a young volleyball player practice hitting at home?

A player can practice approach footwork, arm-swing shape, and controlled wall contact in a clear, safe space. A net is not required for every rep. Keep the target low and the swing controlled, and never hit toward windows, people, or breakable objects.

Should young players focus on power when learning to hit?

Not at first. Good timing, a balanced approach, high contact, and a safe landing give power somewhere to come from later. A player who can aim a comfortable swing will make better progress than one who tries to hit every ball as hard as possible.

Volleyball Hitting Drills: 6 Ways to Build Timing

Hitting is one of volleyball’s most exciting skills, but young athletes do not need to begin by trying to crush the ball. A useful attack starts lower down: a balanced approach, a calm jump, contact in front of the shoulder, and a safe landing that leaves the athlete ready for the next play.

These volleyball hitting drills give athletes a clear progression from footwork to a real attack. Start with the drill that matches the player’s current confidence. A new hitter may need a few minutes of no-ball steps. A developing player may be ready for a toss and target. The goal is always the same: help the athlete make one more controlled, playable attack with their ohana.

Aim before power. A controlled ball to a target teaches more than a hard swing with no direction.

Build the attack in the right order

An attack is more than the final arm swing. The FIVB coaching manual treats an attack hit as the action that sends the ball toward the other side of the court. For a young player, that action becomes much easier when the feet, jump, contact, and landing are learned one at a time.

Begin with a simple rhythm. Right-handed athletes often finish a three-step approach with right-left steps, while left-handed athletes reverse that finish. The exact number of steps can vary by age and situation. What matters most is that the final two steps create a stable takeoff, the athlete sees the ball early, and the swing is directed toward a useful space on the court. If a player is rushing, go back to the feet before changing their arm.

Club IMUA Volleyball athlete practicing a jumping movement

1. Approach and freeze

Place a line, cone, or piece of tape where the athlete will start. Without a ball, they walk through a three-step approach and freeze in their landing position. The landing should be balanced on two feet, knees soft, and body under control. Start slowly enough that the player can name each step.

After five good walk-throughs, let the athlete build a little speed while keeping the same finish. This drill makes the approach less mysterious. It also keeps the player from reaching for a ball before their feet are ready. For younger athletes, it is fine to use a small hop rather than a full jump at first. The win is a steady rhythm they can repeat.

2. Toss, reach, and catch

Have a partner give a gentle, high toss in front of the hitter. The athlete uses their approach, jumps or reaches up, and catches the ball high with two hands. There is no hit yet. The catch shows whether the ball arrived in a comfortable contact window, slightly in front of the hitting shoulder instead of behind the athlete’s head.

Ask the tosser to make the ball easier before making it harder. A consistent toss gives the hitter a fair chance to learn timing. If the athlete catches the ball too low or too far behind, shorten the approach or begin a little farther from the toss. One adjustment is enough. Let the next rep answer whether it helped.

Club IMUA Volleyball athlete leaping during practice

3. Standing contact to a wall target

Choose a clear wall, a soft practice ball, and a target that is safely above shoulder height. From a standing position, the athlete tosses the ball a little in front, reaches up, and sends a controlled contact toward the target. This is not a power drill. The goal is to feel an open hand contact and a high finish while keeping the ball in the practice space.

Work in short rounds of five to eight contacts. If the ball is spraying wide, lower the toss and bring the athlete closer to the wall. If the player is dropping their elbow, use a simple cue such as “reach high, then finish.” USA Volleyball’s hitting lesson-plan resources are another helpful reminder that skill practice works best when athletes get clear, game-connected repetitions.

4. Toss, approach, and roll shot

Now combine the approach with a gentle attack. A partner tosses a high ball. The hitter approaches, reaches up, and sends a controlled roll shot over a low net, rope, or court line. A roll shot uses a softer, placed contact rather than the biggest possible swing. It gives young athletes a chance to find timing without feeling they must hit hard.

Put a large target on the other side, such as a hoop, towel, or open corner. Award a point for a ball that crosses the line and lands in the target area. This turns technique into a decision: see a space, choose it, and send the ball there. Make the target wider for a newer player and smaller only after the athlete can create a predictable arc.

Club IMUA Volleyball athlete playing near the net during a tournament

5. Partner pass, set, and attack

Make groups of three. One athlete starts with an easy toss or pass, the next athlete gives a high set, and the hitter sends a controlled ball over the net or line. Rotate every few balls so everyone passes, sets, and hits. This drill connects the attack to the two contacts that come before it.

Keep the first version friendly. Let the pass be caught and tossed if the group is still learning. Let the setter catch and set from a stable spot. The hitter’s job is to call for the ball, approach after the set begins, and choose a safe target. Club IMUA Volleyball’s setting drills can help athletes build the high, playable second contact that makes this sequence possible.

As the group improves, remove one catch at a time. The drill should become more game-like without becoming a long scramble. Three athletes moving, communicating, and sharing reps will learn far more than a long line watching one person swing.

6. Hitting lines with two targets

Set up a coach, parent, or developing setter near the net with a pile of balls. Place one large target down the line and another cross-court. The hitter starts from a consistent spot, approaches a high ball, and calls the target before contact. A player does not need a full-power swing to learn shot selection. A controlled ball that reaches the named space is a successful rep.

Change only one challenge at a time. First, use the same high toss for every ball. Next, alternate targets. Then let the feeder move the set a little so the hitter learns to adjust their timing. Older or more experienced athletes can add a passive blocker, but only when their approach and landing remain safe. The best next challenge is the smallest one that still asks the athlete to think.

Club IMUA Volleyball athletes playing a volleyball rally together

Make the same drill easier or harder

Good drills meet the athlete where they are. If a player is new to hitting, remove part of the puzzle. Use a standing contact instead of a jump, a catch instead of a swing, or a tossed ball instead of a moving set. Make the target larger and place it closer. Those changes are not shortcuts. They let the athlete feel a successful movement before the next layer is added.

When a drill becomes comfortable, change just one piece. Ask the athlete to call a target. Move the toss one step wider. Add a second target. Let the feeder send a slightly different ball. More experienced players can begin with a defensive move, then transition into the approach. USA Volleyball’s solo practice ideas are useful for this same reason: a focused constraint can make a simple rep purposeful without making it overwhelming.

Keep an eye on the player’s energy. Hitting asks athletes to jump repeatedly, so quality matters more than a huge total. Give them time to retrieve the ball, reset the feet, and breathe before the next rep. Stop or simplify the drill when landings become heavy, steps become rushed, or the athlete is no longer seeing the ball clearly. A fresh, confident finish is better than a tired final swing.

Fix common hitting problems with a smaller drill

When a hitter keeps arriving late, do not ask them to swing faster. Remove the ball and return to approach-and-freeze reps. When they contact the ball behind the head, bring the toss lower and a little farther forward, then use toss-reach-catch until the right contact point feels familiar. When a player is hitting into the net, ask for a higher target and a softer roll shot before adding speed.

When a player lands off balance, pause the drill. Landing is part of the skill, not what happens after it. Give them more space between reps, clear loose balls away from the net, and return to a smaller jump if needed. The FIVB manual’s advanced coaching guidance describes how the hitting shoulder works over the ball near contact. Young athletes do not need a long technical lecture to use that idea. A simple “reach high and finish through your target” can be plenty.

A 20-minute hitting practice plan

Start with four minutes of light movement and arm circles, then spend four minutes on approach-and-freeze. Use four minutes of toss-reach-catch, four minutes of standing wall contact or roll shots, and four minutes of pass-set-attack. Finish with a few calm target swings if the athlete still looks fresh.

Count useful reps, not just big swings. A parent can notice a balanced landing. A coach can praise a hitter who called a target before the ball arrived. An athlete can track how many controlled balls reached the other side. Those are wins that make a hard skill feel learnable, and they give the next practice a clear starting point.

Give feedback that helps the next rep

Hitting can make athletes feel exposed because everyone notices the ball that goes into the net or out of bounds. Keep feedback short and connected to something the player can change right away. “Start a little farther back,” “see the toss sooner,” or “land under control” gives the athlete one job. A long list of corrections usually gives them nothing useful to do on the next ball.

Parents can be especially helpful by noticing effort and choices rather than only whether a ball was a point. “You got to the ball early,” “you picked the open space,” and “you reset after that miss” all tell an athlete what to repeat. The goal is not a perfect swing today. It is a player who stays brave enough to take the next useful rep.

Build confident attackers with Club IMUA Volleyball

Hitting develops best when athletes have a safe place to move, make decisions, and take another rep with teammates. Club IMUA Volleyball programs give athletes ways to grow through academy training, camps, clinics, teams, and private lessons. Those shared practices connect approaches, passing, setting, serving, and attacking into the game athletes love.

Families can also pair this guide with the club’s volleyball passing drills and volleyball serving drills. A player who can make a controlled first touch, a useful second contact, and a thoughtful attack has more ways to help the whole team.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a good first hitting drill for beginners?: Approach footwork without a ball is a strong first drill. It lets an athlete learn to start, build speed, jump, and land in balance before timing a toss or a set. Add the ball only when the steps feel calm and repeatable.
How can a young volleyball player practice hitting at home?: A player can practice approach footwork, arm-swing shape, and controlled wall contact in a clear, safe space. A net is not required for every rep. Keep the target low and the swing controlled, and never hit toward windows, people, or breakable objects.
Should young players focus on power when learning to hit?: Not at first. Good timing, a balanced approach, high contact, and a safe landing give power somewhere to come from later. A player who can aim a comfortable swing will make better progress than one who tries to hit every ball as hard as possible.