Okay, here’s my blog post about practicing fundamental volleyball skills, written in a casual, personal style:
So, I’ve been trying to get better at volleyball, you know, not just flailing my arms around. I figured I should really nail down the basics before I even think about trying to spike like a pro. Today, I focused on what I found to be a good starting point.
Getting Started
First, I Grabbed my volleyball and headed to the local park. It has a decent-sized grassy area, perfect for some solo practice without smashing any windows. I also check some youtube, so I have a basic knowledge.
The Underhand Serve
I started with the underhand serve, ’cause, well, it seemed the easiest. Here’s what I did:
- Held the ball in my non-dominant hand, out in front of me.
- Stepped forward with the opposite foot.
- Swung my serving arm back like a pendulum.
- Made contact with the ball using the heel of my hand, kind of like a gentle punch.
My first few attempts? Embarrassing. The ball went sideways, backwards, you name it. But I kept at it, focusing on keeping my arm straight and hitting the ball squarely. After about 20 minutes, I started to get some decent height and distance. It wasn’t perfect, but it was over the imaginary net I’d set up in my head.
Bumping (Forearm Pass)
Next up, bumping. This is where you use your forearms to pass the ball. I remembered these tips:
- Joined my hands together, thumbs on top, and straightened my arms.
- Bent my knees and got into a ready position, like I was about to sit in a low chair.
- Moved my feet to get under the ball.
- Used my legs to push up and “bump” the ball with my forearms.
This felt awkward at first. I kept hitting the ball with my wrists, which stung. I also kept shrugging my shoulders, which I read was a no-no. I focused on keeping my platform (that’s the flat part of your forearms) steady and using my legs, not my arms, to power the pass. I tossed the ball up in the air and practiced bumping it to myself. Gradually, I got better at controlling the direction and height of the pass.
Setting (Overhead Pass)
Setting is using your fingertips to pass the ball, usually to set up a teammate for a spike. Here’s the gist:
- Formed a triangle with my thumbs and index fingers, above my forehead.
- Got under the ball, again bending my knees.
- Used my fingertips to push the ball up and out.
This was the hardest one for me today. My fingers kept bending weirdly, and the ball either went straight up in the air or dribbled pathetically off to the side. I realized I needed to work on my finger strength and coordination. I practiced tossing the ball up and just trying to get a clean, consistent set, even if it was just a few feet in the air. There’s definetly a long way to go.
Wrapping Up
I spent about an hour practicing these three skills. I definitely didn’t become a volleyball master in a single afternoon, but I felt like I made some progress. My arms are a little sore, and my fingers are probably going to be stiff tomorrow, but it was a good workout. More importantly, I started to get a feel for the basic movements. I’m going to keep practicing these fundamentals, maybe add in some serving practice against a wall next time. The journey continues!
