When you play volleyball for more than a decade, you get introduced to a plethora of different volleyball games. The one thing that really separates great volleyball games from bad ones are their ability to concentrate on a particular skill while still keeping players entertained. Listed below are how to play six of my favorite volleyball games and what skills each game is targeting.
Volleyball Games: Butterfly
The first of the volleyball games on this list is Butterfly. Butterfly is the quintessential warm-up drill that every volleyball player is sure to come across if they play the game for long enough. It looks very similar to hitting lines but there is an added player serving from the opposing side which enables players to practice a few more skills. The main thing to remember is to follow the path of the volleyball as indicated in the video below.
To start, a player will serve the ball straight ahead at a passer who is waiting on the opposing side. The server will then move into a defensive position on the line and wait for an attack by the opposing team. That passer will pass the ball to a setter who is waiting at the setter position. The setter will then set the player who passed the ball in order for them to complete an attack. The server will attempt to dig the opposing attack thus ending that turn.
Following the completion of a turn, each player will move ahead one spot. This means the server will become the passer, the passer will become the setter, and the setter will become the server on the opposite side.
What skills are targeted with Butterfly?
As you can see, the volleyball game known as “Butterfly” is simple but can be quite effective. Let’s take a look at the skills you can expect to develop by bringing this into your practices.
Serving Ball Control – Depending on your skill level, you may begin this drill with a serve rather than a toss. If so, it is imperative that you can control your serve well enough to get it close to the passer. Continuously serving to a spot on the court will ultimately lead to an increase in ball control which will surely translate to other areas of your game.
Volleyball Passing – Regardless of how you do Butterfly, the main focus revolves around passing the volleyball. Time and time again, volleyball coaches preach that everything starts with a pass. Butterfly allows for added reps in serve receive which will greatly impact the efficiency of your offense.
Volleyball Setting – Players who don’t normally set the ball are usually the ones called for a double hit violation. Butterfly exposes everybody on the team to situational setting which is vital to being prepared for broken plays.
Volleyball Hitting – The biggest benefit in regards to hitting is preparing players for the inevitable bad set. You have to understand that the sets are going to be inconsistent during Butterfly. This means that players can practice adjusting to poor sets thus better preparing them for volleyball games.
Volleyball Digging/Defense – By having the server play defense, Butterfly touches on all aspects of volleyball. Continued reps will teach players to not fear the ball and get them comfortable with turning a spike down the line back into the volleyball court.
Volleyball Games: Back Row Threes
When it comes to volleyball games, back row threes is as fun (or not fun) as you make it. By design, this volleyball game can be extremely fast-paced and competitive or slow-moving with the intention of concentrating on control. Let’s take a look at both of the options.
For starters, each team is composed of three back row players and one front row setter. If your main goal is to work on control, then both sides of the net are working together with the intention of getting as many consecutive controlled hits as possible.
To start the game, a player serves the ball to the opposing team. The opposing team will then pass the ball to the setter who has the option of setting one of the three back row players. That player will then hit a controlled downball from behind the ten foot line to the opposite team and leave the court allowing a new player to join. This means every time you hit a ball to the other side, you will be off and a new player from the line behind the court will fill your place.
Once the ball is hit to the other side, the other team will attempt to do the same. Because both sides are working together, you should not be swinging as hard as you can but rather focusing on control. It makes sense to have a target number in mind such as 30 consecutive controlled hits without the play ending. This creates a common goal and will help the team work together. If the ball is sent over the net by way of anything other than an attack (bump pass, overhead pass, etc) the rally continues but it will not count towards the target number that you are trying to reach.
Competitive Back Row Threes
In terms of set up, the competitive version of back row threes is the same. Each team will have three back row players and one front row setter. The biggest difference is that each team will now be swinging to score.
The best way to play is to set it up as a match where both teams are trying to win two out of three volleyball games. One team will serve for the entirety of the first game until one of the teams scores 25 points. For game two, the opposite team will serve the entire time regardless of who won the first game. If each team wins one game, the third game is played similar to a regular volleyball game (whoever won the last point will serve). That’s to say both teams will serve in game three.
The player rotations in the competitive version are also a bit different. Instead of leaving the court every time you swing, you get booted for making a mistake. This means that if a player makes a bad pass, hits out of bounds, shanks a ball etc., they will leave the court and a new player from the line will take their place.
What skills are targeted with Back Row Threes?
Back Row Threes is terrific because it really hones in on different skills depending on how you’re playing. If both sides are playing as a team, you’re concentrating more on enhancing ball control and court awareness. As a competition, Back Row Threes develops skills in back row hitting, defense, and reading the opposing hitters’ shoulders.
Ball Control – Often overlooked, ball control is one of the most important aspects of an elite volleyball player. Back Row Threes slows the game down and enables players to pick a spot and execute their swing accordingly.
Court Awareness – Hitting a monstrous back row attack will mean nothing if you step over the ten foot line. Back Row Threes gets players comfortable with the boundaries of the court so court awareness will become second nature.
Back Row Hitting – When played competitively, Back Row Threes has an obvious element of back row hitting. Hits out of the back row can be extremely effective for an offense so player development here is key. Adding plays like the bic or “d ball” lead to solid opportunities when on the attack and could be the difference in the outcome of volleyball games.
Defense – On the flip side, it is important to be prepared for the back row attack while on defense. Volleyball games like Back Row Threes do just that and teach players who to read opposing hitters.
Reading the Hitter – Reading a hitter isn’t an incredibly valuable skill that is difficult to practice. It is easier for hitters to disguise their swing in the front row because of the downward trajectory of the volleyball. Back Row Threes provides a way to get a complete view of opposing hitters and their angles. This means their shoulders may be more open or closed thus making reads a bit more obvious.
Volleyball Games: Servers Vs. Passers
Based on its name, it’s pretty obvious as to what this volleyball game is all about. If done consistently, it can have a tremendous effect on a team’s skill level in two of the most important aspects of volleyball.
To start, one side will set up three players as if they were in serve receive with a setter standing in the setter spot. The opposing team will line up and serve one by one in an attempt to cause a bad pass. The passers will attempt to get as many perfect passes as possible given a set number of serves. For example, the servers will continue to serve until they have served 50 times (a serve out of play does not count towards the 50). Once they have served 50 times, they will become the passers and the passers will now become the servers. Whoever gets the most perfect passes (judged by a coach) out of the 50 serves is the winner.
Passer Team Rules: Once you pass the ball, you then become the “setter” and someone from the line behind the court will take your place. The setter is responsible for catching the pass and then will go to the end of the line.
Server Team Rules: It is important to serve as tough as possible but you cannot win volleyball games if you don’t get your serves in. In order to encourage tough serves, the servers will NOT be penalized for the first serve that is out of play. However, a point will be awarded to the opposing team if there are consecutive serves that are out of play.
What skills are targeted with Servers vs. Passers?
This one is super obvious because the skills being targeted are right in the name. Some teams serve others off the court while others pass their way to the top. Developing both skills would be deadly and a great way to make up for areas of inefficiency.
The key here is reps. Getting a ton of reps serving the volleyball will make it automatic and help prevent service errors. At the same time, seeing a bunch of different serves in a row will make passing a breeze. Remember, every single point begins with a serve and running a solid offense starts with a pass!
Volleyball Games: The Gauntlet
The Gauntlet is a very simple defensive game that targets both the physical and mental aspects of volleyball. The objective is simple: touch as many volleyballs as possible before they hit the ground.
To set up, one player is responsible for the entire volleyball court. A coach will continuously toss balls for one minute requiring the player to get to as many as possible. Depending on the skill level, the coach can hit aggressive down balls, tip to either side, or even toss a ball far in an effort to get the player to learn that it is alright to dive. In order to prevent injuries, it is important to first learn the appropriate way in which you should dive as well as perfecting getting up as quickly as possible. Once the minute is up, a new player will take the court and the game will start over.
What skills are targeted with The Gauntlet?
You might be asking yourself, “what’s the point of diving on the floor for a minute straight?”. Well the answer has to do with mental fortitude. Aside from the fact that it is a great way to get your heart pumping, The Gauntlet teaches players not to give up on any ball.
Often times when watching volleyball games on TV, you’ll notice players diving for a ball that is way out of play. The reason is because they are trained to go for every ball no matter what. Having this mentality keeps certain rallies alive and could be the deciding factor in many volleyball games throughout your career.
Volleyball Games: Bongo
Throughout my career, Bongo was always one of my favorite volleyball games. It is designed to work on a team’s free ball offense but allows for so much more.
To start, line up six players on each side as if they were going to scrimmage. From off the court, a coach will toss a free ball to one of the two teams. If this team runs a successful free ball play and wins the point, they will be rewarded with a second free ball. If they once again win the point, they will be rewarded with a third free ball. Upon winning three free ball points in a row, they will get to serve. Finally, if they win the service rally, they earn a point and the teams then rotate. If they do not win the service point, the free balls reset and the opposing team will be tossed a free ball.
In the event that a team only wins one or two consecutive free balls, the free ball count will reset and the opposing team will be tossed a free ball of its own. The objective is to get to three points (meaning they win three service points).
What skills are targeted with Bongo?
At its core, Bongo is essentially the same as a volleyball match so it targets every skill in the game. What makes Bongo one of the best volleyball games is its ability to target situations.
For starters, the free balls allow teams to develop their offense and find plays that are effective. Bics, shoots, and tandems can be incredibly difficult to defend so running them in volleyball games like Bongo can help tremendously.
Bongo also allows for situational defense such as in the instance of a match point. After the opposing team wins three free balls, declare that the ensuing serve is for match point. This puts added pressure on the passers and gets them ready for the real thing.
Volleyball Games: Scrimmage
The last game on this list of volleyball games is the good old fashioned scrimmage. I’ve always believed that in game experience was the best thing players could do to develop their skills. If you have enough people to field two teams, a scrimmage is a simple but effect way to get better. In order to create a more “in game” vibe, you could negotiate a punishment for the losing team. This adds pressure to the situation and trains players to be more comfortable when the game is really on the line!
All in all, adding the right volleyball games to your practices is vital to player development. The key is finding volleyball games that not only make you better, but also allow you to have fun. So next time you and your team are working on your skills, consider adding one of the above to the mix!