5 Tips for Beginner Volleyball Players

March 10, 2023

Volleyball is a highly popular recreational sport in Toronto, widely embraced by individuals of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're a complete beginner, eager to delve into the world of volleyball, or an experienced player seeking to refine your skills, there are many ways to not only become a better volleyball player but also a more effective and valuable member of a team. If you find yourself at the starting line of your volleyball journey, fret not! Check out this comprehensive guide on how to get into playing volleyball, designed specifically to cater to beginners, and equip yourself with the fundamental knowledge and techniques necessary to embark on this exciting athletic endeavour. 

In this article, we'll share five tips for beginner volleyball players to not only help you hone your skills but also make playing so much more fun! 

1. Practice the Fundamentals

2. Become More Active

3. Watch Other Players & Games

4. Play with Confidence

5. Focus on Positioning and Teamwork

Interested in finding volleyball games or training sessions in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area? Check out the Javelin App today and explore a wide array of games and tournaments for all skill levels or check out our training sessions to get live insight into volleyball best practices for beginner and novice players. 

1. Volleyball Fundamentals

Volleyball is a game requiring coordination, speed, and agility. As a beginner, it's important to focus on the fundamentals of the game, including serving, passing, setting, and spiking.

Practicing these fundamentals will help you build a strong foundation for your game and improve your overall skills. For example, you can practice serving by standing at the back of the court and serving the ball over the net to a specific spot. You can practice passing by standing in the receiving position and passing the ball to a partner. Similarly, you can practice setting and spiking by working with a partner or a coach.

By practicing the fundamental elements of volleyball you can not only improve your skills but also your comfort levels when being on the court. When it comes to volleyball or any recreational sport, practice makes perfect! 

Here’s a list of Volleyball Fundamentals to get you started! 

2. Physical Fitness 

Volleyball is a physically demanding sport requiring a high level of fitness and endurance. As a beginner, it's important to focus on your overall fitness and building your endurance, strength, and agility.

Some exercises that can help you improve your fitness include cardio workouts, weight training, and plyometric exercises. For example, you can do cardio exercises like running, cycling, or swimming to improve your endurance. You can also do weight training exercises like squats, lunges, and deadlifts to build your strength. Additionally, plyometric exercises like jumping jacks and box jumps can help you improve your agility and explosiveness.

To do your best on the court you need to ensure you're in good enough shape to do so, you don't need to be Schwarzenegger or Stalone to play volleyball, but staying in shape will help to improve your overall performance and enjoyment of the game. 

3. WATCH AND LEARN

Watching professional, advanced or expert volleyball players can be a great way to learn new techniques and strategies for the game. You can watch professional games on TV or online, and observe the players' movements, techniques, and tactics.

For example, you can observe how experienced players serve, pass, and spike the ball. You can also observe how they position themselves on the court and communicate with their teammates. By watching and learning from experienced players, you can improve your skills and strategies for the game.

If you want to get some insight into how players in the Javelin games perform be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel where we share full-length games and highlight clips. By watching players who you may play with (or against), one day you can learn practical skills which can be applied to all the games you play. 

4. PLAY WITH CONFIDENCE

When playing volleyball or any other sport, it's important to play with confidence and to stay focused. Often times when playing with a new group or embarking on an extroverted activity, such as playing volleyball, you can feel overwhelmed and anxious. 

Even though anxiety can help motivate you to play better in some cases, it's important to stay calm and be confident in yourself. For example, if you feel your heart racing before making a serve, take a second to remember why you're playing in the first place, to have fun. 

Drop in volleyball games are meant to be fun, as a beginner, you will be playing with other beginners so it's okay if you make mistakes. Just remember to stay confident in yourself and to focus on having a good time. After all, that's what Javelin games are all about! Good games with good people!

5. FOCUS ON POSITIONING: 

One tip for new volleyball players with limited skills is to focus on your positioning on the court. While it's important to practice fundamental skills like passing, hitting, and serving, being in the right position can help you make better plays and contribute to your team's success.

To improve your positioning, pay attention to where the ball is on the other side of the court and anticipate where it's likely to go next. For example, if the ball is on the left side of the other team's court, be prepared to move toward the right side of your court to cover any potential hits or tips in that area.

Additionally, communicate with your teammates about where you're going to be on the court so you can avoid collisions and cover more ground as a team, this can be accomplished by “calling” the ball. By focusing on your positioning and working with your teammates, you can become a valuable asset to your team and improve your team's overall performance. Remember, communication and teamwork are key to success! 

Practice practice practice! If you're new to drop in volleyball or simply want to improve your skills in this area the best way to do so is through practice. By focusing on the fundamental movements and actions of volleyball you can drastically improve your skill & comfort levels for each. 

On top of the fundamentals you also want to focus on your positioning, communication and teamwork. Despite any challenges you might face, volleyball is a fun and engaging sport, so even if you're not confident in your capabilities yet just remember you're playing to have fun and to improve!

Looking for an easy way to find pickup volleyball games? Javelin is the easiest way to find volleyball pickups near you!

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