Skyline Volleyball Club · Practice Plans

Practice Plans built for real improvement

If you want to get better faster, your practices need structure: one clear focus, repeatable reps, and honest feedback. Below are the core fundamentals we train every week — the “no shortcuts” skills that show up under pressure.

1Introduction

At Skyline, we keep it simple: master the basics, then raise the speed. Great practices aren’t random — they’re designed. You’ll train one key skill at a time, get immediate corrections, and earn consistency before you add more chaos.

  • One focus per block: you’re not fixing everything at once.
  • Quality reps: clean technique first, then game tempo.
  • Transfer to play: every skill ends in a competitive finish (points, wash drills, or short games).

Coach cue: If you can’t do 5 good reps in a row, the drill is too hard right now. Make it simpler, then build up.

2Fundamentals of Passing

First contact decides your whole offense. Your goal isn’t “just get it up” — it’s to create a settable ball. The best passers win with early movement, a quiet platform, and a stable angle.

  • Athletic base: balanced, knees soft, chest slightly forward, eyes up.
  • Move first: beat the ball to the spot with small, fast steps.
  • Quiet platform: build the angle with your body, not a swing of the arms.
  • Contact in front: keep the ball in front of your midline for control.

Practice goal: Track “settable passes” out of 10. Make your standard higher every week.

3Fundamentals of Blocking

Blocking is timing + reading. Big jumps don’t matter if you’re late or drifting. Great blockers arrive early, jump straight up, and take space over the net with strong hands.

  • Read the game: pass → setter shoulders → hitter arm path.
  • Footwork: quick shuffle for short moves, crossover for distance.
  • Jump vertical: avoid lunging into the net; land balanced and ready.
  • Press over: hands across the net, fingers spread, “seal” the angle.

Coach cue: If you’re falling forward after landing, you’re likely jumping too early or drifting.

4Fundamentals of Hitting

Hitting is about spacing, rhythm, and options. When your approach is consistent, you can hit hard — but you can also see the block, choose a smart shot, and score in more than one way.

  • Approach rhythm: controlled early steps, fast last two steps.
  • Correct spacing: keep the ball slightly in front of your hitting shoulder.
  • High contact: attack at your highest point; snap the wrist through the ball.
  • See the court: quick look at block/defense, then commit to your swing.

Practice goal: Pick one target (line or seam) and hit it 6/10 before you add power.

5Fundamentals of Setting

Setters control tempo because they can deliver the same ball again and again — even off a tough pass. Clean hands, early feet, and power from the legs create a consistent set your hitters can trust.

  • Beat the ball: get to the spot early, square up, and stabilize.
  • Hands shape: relaxed “window,” contact on fingertips, not palms.
  • Leg-driven: push from the legs; hands guide the finish.
  • Finish to target: follow through toward your hitter with the same release every time.

Coach cue: Too much spin usually means uneven finger contact — slow down and clean it up.