Passing and attacking drills for your practice

No pass, no attack — volleyball is that simple. Yet at many practices the pass only gets indirect attention. These three drills put it centre stage, building from calm to match-real.

Reading time: 5 min

Drill 1: Pass to target (basics, 15 min)

Setup: server, passer, setter zone marked with a mat or hoop. Flow: serve at the passer, who passes to the target zone. Scoring: 3 points in the zone, 1 point playable outside it, 0 for the rest; first passer to 15 rotates out. Pitfall: passers reaching for the ball instead of moving their feet — only reward passes made from a stable position.

Drill 2: Pass-and-attack over 3 metres (build-up, 20 min)

Flow: pass from the back line, setter sets, the passer attacks it themselves — so after their pass they immediately run their attack approach. Phase 2: add a block. Scoring: a team of three scores a point for a pass in the zone plus a successful attack. Why it works: the pass-to-attack transition is exactly what outside hitters find hardest in matches.

Drill 3: Car wash under fatigue (match-real, 15 min)

Flow: the passer handles six serves in a row at high tempo, sprinting to the sideline and back after every pass. Then rotate. Scoring: count the on-target passes per series of six; note the score and compare across weeks. Why: you win the fifth set with the pass that still holds up under fatigue.

Drill library with the drill Pass-and-attack over 3 metres in the passing and attack category — Put the three drills with their scoring in your library — the scores make progress measurable across weeks.

Do not serve your drill to death. In passing drills, servers are there to serve the drill: 80% in is their standard. If they miss structurally, move them closer — the passers are the target group here.

Frequently asked questions

How many passes per practice should a player make?

In a dedicated passing session a player easily reaches 60–100 ball contacts. More important than the number is the context: at least half under some form of pressure (serve, tempo or fatigue).

How do I involve my middle blockers in passing drills?

Middles usually do not pass in the system, but they are needed: have them finish the attack in drill 2 or set the tempo as servers. That way everyone trains their match role.

What is a good passing percentage to aim for?

At amateur level, 60–70% of passes playable towards the setter is already solid. Above all, measure your own trend with a consistent scoring system — that says more than an absolute norm.

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