VOLLEYBALL SKILLS
BASIC MOVEMENT
The Basic Ready Position
The essential volleyball move
Before you touch the ball, everything starts with how you stand and move.
This basic ready position is extremely important. You’ll use it all the time in volleyball. Get into it whenever you’re waiting for the serve, and stay in it while the ball is in play so you’re always ready to move and react. This section will show you the basic ready position - your starting stance for volleyball. You’ll learn how to position your feet, bend your body, and stay balanced so you can move quickly in any direction. We’ll also walk through how to practice it and fix common mistakes, so you can feel confident, quick, and ready for every play.
Why The Basic Ready Position Matters
This is your starting position for almost every skill.
It helps you move quickly in any direction.
You want to start low so that you can get under the ball quickly.
Great players are ready before the ball comes.
Step-by-Step
To get into the basic ready position for volleyball, follow these steps:
1. Start With Your Feet
Put your feet a bit wider than your shoulders.
Point your toes straight or slightly in.
Have a small stagger - Back foot toes line up with the front foot heel.
2. Bend Your Legs
Bend your knees so you’re low and athletic.
Knees go slightly over your toes.
Not too straight, not too deep - just ready to move.
3. Get Your Body Ready
Keep your back straight and chest up.
Lean slightly forward.
Keep your head up and eyes forward.
4. Set Your Arms
Hold your arms in front of your body.
Keep elbows bent and close to your sides.
Stay relaxed - not stiff or locked.
5. Shift Your Weight
Be on the balls of your feet.
Feel light and ready to move fast.
How to practice:
Step 1: Find Your Ready Position
Get into your ready position.
Check: feet, bend, arms, balance
Step 2: Relax and Reset
Stand up and relax.
Then quickly get back into ready position.
Make small changes until it feels comfortable and natural.
Step 3: Move and Stop
Start in ready position.
Move in any direction (forward, back, side to side).
Then stop and freeze in ready position again.
Goal: You should always be able to move → stop → be ready again
Common Mistakes (And how to fix them)
Feet Problems
Feet too even (no stagger)
Fix: Slight stagger - back toes to front heelFront foot too far forward (like fencing)
Fix: Bring feet closer so you can move side to side easily
Knee Bend Problems
Not bending enough → you look tall and slow
Bending too much → you get stuck and can’t move
Fix: Find a middle athletic bend where you feel quick
Body Position Problems
Rounded back, head down
Fix: Straight back, eyes up so you can track the ball
Arm Problems
Arms too straight and stiff
Fix: Keep them relaxed and slightly bent
Coach Tips
We want you to feel balanced, light, and ready.
Everyone’s stance will look a little different - that’s okay!
If you feel slow → check your height and weight (don’t be on your heels!)
Easy Way to Remember
Feet – Bend – Lean – Arms – Go!
Coach Cue:
“Stay low, stay light, and be ready before the ball gets to you!”
COURT MOVEMENT
How You Move on the Court
Move well, and everything else in volleyball gets easier.
Great volleyball players don’t just react - they move early, quickly, and under control. This section will teach you how to move on the court so you can get to the ball in the best position every time. You’ll learn the right movements for different distances, how to stay balanced, and how to arrive ready to play the ball.
Why Court Movement Matters
You almost always need to move before you play the ball.
If you move slowly or inefficiently, you won’t get to the ball in time.
Good players start and finish in ready position.
Move well = play better!
How We Want You To Move
Start and finish ready.
Always begin in your ready position.
After you move, stop and get back to ready.
This helps you stay balanced and in control.
Types of Movement
(Based on Distance)
1. Small Adjustments (Tiny Moves)
If the ball is close, don’t over-move.
Just shift your weight slightly.
Stay low and balanced.
Think: “Small move, stay ready”
2. Short Distance (Up to 1 Meter): Shuffle Step
Step sideways with your lead foot.
Push off your other foot.
Bring your feet back together.
Two Ways to Shuffle:
Step + bring feet together
Quick hop shuffle (both feet leave the ground briefly)
Stay low - don’t let your feet cross!
3. Medium Distance (1–2 Meters): Stride to Hop
Take a big step toward the ball.
Push off that foot into a small hop.
Land with both feet ready.
This helps you move faster but still stay balanced.
4. Bigger Distance (3–4 Meters)
Option 1: Stride to Cross-Over
Step toward the ball.
Bring your back leg across your body.
Keep moving quickly in that direction.
Option 2: Stride to Cross-Over to Hop
Step then cross-over.
Then push into a small hop.
Land balanced and ready.
Use this when you need a little extra speed.
5. Long Distance (More than 4 Meters): Turn & Run
Turn your body and run.
Then slow down using:
A cross-over step or a hop to stop
Always finish in ready position.
Common Mistakes
(And how to fix them)
Standing too high
Standing up too tall while moving.
Fix: Stay low in your ready position.
Crossing feet
Crossing feet on small movements.
Fix: Use a shuffle instead.
Not able to stop
Not stopping under control.
Fix: Always finish balanced in ready.
Too much movement
Moving too much for small distances.
Fix: Use a simple weight shift.
Coach Tips
Move early.
Stay low and light on your feet.
The goal is to arrive balanced and ready to play the ball.