Volleyball: the best books to learn the skills and the game
This curriculum takes a complete beginner from zero volleyball knowledge to a confident, tactically aware player and student of the game. The four stages build deliberately — first establishing core rules and movement, then mastering individual skills, then understanding team systems and positions, and finally diving into advanced training and competitive preparation.
Foundations: Rules, Basics & First Touches
BeginnerUnderstand how volleyball works — the rules, court, scoring, and basic movements — so you can follow a game and begin practicing with confidence.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 4–5 weeks, ~25–30 pages/day. Start with "Volleyball Fundamentals" (weeks 1–2), then move to "Volleyball: Steps to Success" (weeks 3–5) to transition from theory to hands-on practice.
- The volleyball court layout, net height, and boundary lines
- Scoring system (rally scoring, points, sets, and match structure)
- Basic rules: serving, faults, net violations, and rotation
- Fundamental body positioning and footwork for all positions
- The four basic touches: pass (bump), set, spike, and block
- Proper grip, arm angle, and contact point for each fundamental skill
- Court positioning and basic team strategy for beginners
- How to transition from defensive to offensive plays
- What are the dimensions of a volleyball court and the net height for your level?
- How does rally scoring work, and what constitutes a point?
- What are the main faults and rule violations that stop play?
- Describe the proper stance and footwork for executing a forearm pass (bump).
- What is the difference between a set and a spike, and when is each used?
- How does player rotation work, and why is it important?
- What are the key differences in positioning and responsibilities for front-row versus back-row players?
- How do you transition from a defensive position to an offensive play?
- Watch a beginner-level volleyball match (YouTube or live) and identify court violations, scoring, and rotations as you watch.
- Practice the ready position and footwork drills daily: side shuffles, forward/backward movement, and explosive steps for 10–15 minutes.
- Perform wall drills: practice forearm passes against a wall for 3 sets of 15 reps to build muscle memory and consistency.
- Practice setting against a wall or with a partner: focus on hand positioning, contact point, and target accuracy for 3 sets of 10 reps.
- Attend a beginner volleyball practice or open gym and perform basic drills with a coach or experienced player present.
- Create a labeled diagram of the court with all zones, positions, and rotation order, then quiz yourself weekly on positioning rules.
Next up: This stage equips you with the rules, court awareness, and foundational touch techniques needed to move into the next stage, where you'll refine these skills through progressive drills, learn advanced positioning strategies, and begin playing in structured game scenarios.
A purpose-built beginner's guide from the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) that covers rules, court positions, and every core skill in plain language — the perfect starting point before anything else.
Uses a proven step-by-step framework to introduce passing, setting, and serving with drills you can practice immediately, reinforcing the vocabulary and concepts from Dearing with hands-on repetition.
Individual Skills: Technique & Execution
BeginnerDevelop sound, repeatable technique in every individual skill — passing, setting, serving, attacking, and blocking — so your fundamentals become second nature.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 4–5 weeks, ~25–30 pages/day, with 2–3 dedicated practice sessions per week
- Proper body positioning and footwork as the foundation for all volleyball skills — including ready position, movement patterns, and weight distribution
- The mechanics of the five core individual skills: passing (forearm platform and contact), setting (hand positioning and release), serving (approach and follow-through), attacking (approach, jump, and arm swing), and blocking (positioning and timing)
- Grip, arm angles, and contact points specific to each skill to ensure consistency and control
- Common technical errors and how to diagnose and correct them in real-time
- Progressive skill development — how to build from basic technique to game-speed execution
- The role of repetition and deliberate practice in making technique automatic and reliable
- What are the key differences in body positioning and footwork between passing, setting, and attacking, and why does each require a distinct stance?
- Describe the complete mechanics of a forearm pass, including platform formation, contact point, and follow-through. What are the most common errors?
- What is the proper hand position for setting, and how does hand placement affect the accuracy and height of the set?
- Explain the serving motion from approach to follow-through. How do different serving techniques (underhand, overhand, jump serve) differ in execution?
- What are the critical elements of an attacking approach and arm swing, and how does timing of the jump relate to the setter's delivery?
- How should a blocker position their hands, feet, and body to effectively block different attack angles, and what timing cues should they watch for?
- Perform 50 forearm passes daily against a wall or with a partner, focusing on platform consistency and contact point. Record video to compare against handbook diagrams.
- Practice setting form drills: 30 sets to self, 30 sets to a partner, and 10 sets from a pass, emphasizing hand position and release point each time.
- Execute 20 serves of each type (underhand, overhand, float) daily, tracking accuracy to specific court zones. Gradually increase distance and speed.
- Perform 10 attacking approaches with full arm swing (with or without a ball initially), focusing on footwork timing and arm path. Progress to hitting against a wall or net.
- Practice blocking footwork and hand positioning: 20 lateral shuffles with proper ready position, followed by 15 simulated blocks at the net (with or without a ball).
- Film yourself performing each skill and compare your form to the technique photos and descriptions in the AVCA Handbook. Identify one technical adjustment per skill and practice it for 5 minutes.
Next up: Mastering these individual skill fundamentals creates the technical foundation needed to execute skills under game pressure and to understand how individual techniques combine into team systems and tactical play.
A comprehensive skill-by-skill breakdown with clear photos and coaching cues; reading this after the Steps to Success foundation lets you refine technique with much greater detail and self-awareness.
Though framed for coaches, its skill chapters give players deep insight into why each technique works, helping you understand the 'why' behind every movement cue you've been practicing.
Positions, Systems & Team Tactics
IntermediateUnderstand every position's responsibilities, how rotations work, and how teams run offensive and defensive systems together.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 4–5 weeks, ~25–30 pages/day (approximately 150–170 pages total across both books)
- The six basic volleyball positions (setter, outside hitter, middle blocker, opposite/right-side hitter, libero, defensive specialist) and their primary responsibilities in serve-receive, transition, and attack phases
- Rotation mechanics: how players move around the court, the importance of serving order, and how substitutions maintain tactical flexibility
- Offensive systems (4-2, 5-1, 6-2 formations) and how setters distribute the ball to create attacking options against different defensive alignments
- Defensive systems (man-to-man, zone, hybrid approaches) and how positioning, communication, and coverage patterns prevent opponent attacks
- Transition play: converting defense to offense and offense to defense efficiently through proper positioning and decision-making
- The role of the libero in modern volleyball and how defensive specialists extend court coverage and passing consistency
- Coaching principles for teaching systems: how to drill rotations, reinforce positional responsibilities, and build team cohesion through tactical awareness
- What are the primary responsibilities of each of the six positions, and how do these responsibilities change during serve-receive versus transition play?
- Explain how a 5-1 offensive system differs from a 4-2 system in terms of setter positioning, hitter options, and when each is most effective.
- How does the rotation work in volleyball, and what happens when a team rotates out of system?
- Compare man-to-man and zone defensive systems: what are the advantages and disadvantages of each, and when would a coach choose one over the other?
- Describe the role of the libero and how this position has changed modern volleyball strategy and team composition.
- Walk through a complete transition sequence: how does a team move from a defensive position to running an offensive system after a dig?
- Draw and label court diagrams for 4-2, 5-1, and 6-2 offensive systems, showing setter position, hitter locations, and passing lanes for each rotation.
- Watch 2–3 full match videos (available on YouTube or FIVB archives) and track one player through an entire rotation, noting how their positioning and responsibilities shift.
- Conduct a 'position audit': for each of the six positions, list 5–7 specific technical and tactical skills required, then identify which drills from Shondell's coaching bible develop each skill.
- Create a defensive assignment chart for both man-to-man and zone systems, showing where each player stands and their coverage responsibilities against different attack angles.
- Attend or film a local volleyball match and analyze 10 consecutive rallies, identifying the offensive system used, the defensive formation, and where the breakdown occurred on lost points.
- Design a 2-week practice plan that teaches a team one complete offensive system (4-2 or 5-1), including progression drills for rotations, setter-hitter timing, and transition execution.
Next up: Mastery of positions, rotations, and systems provides the tactical foundation needed to advance to in-game decision-making, where you'll learn how to read opponent tendencies, adjust systems mid-match, and develop advanced strategies like serve placement, blocking schemes, and situational substitutions.
The official USA Volleyball resource on offensive and defensive systems (5-1, 6-2, perimeter defense, etc.) — the authoritative text for understanding how individual skills plug into team play.
A collection of chapters by elite coaches covering positional roles, scouting, and game planning; reading this after the systems book lets you see how top programs actually implement tactics in competition.
Training, Athleticism & Competitive Mindset
ExpertBuild a complete athletic and mental training program — strength, explosiveness, injury prevention, and competitive psychology — to take your game to its highest level.
▸ Study plan for this stage
Pace: 4–5 weeks, ~25–30 pages/day with 2–3 rest days per week for practice application
- Periodized training cycles (macrocycles, mesocycles, microcycles) tailored to volleyball's seasonal demands
- Sport-specific strength development: core stability, lower-body power, upper-body explosive strength, and rotational power
- Plyometric and agility training protocols designed for volleyball movements (jumping, lateral quickness, directional changes)
- Injury prevention strategies: identifying risk zones (ankles, knees, shoulders), corrective exercises, and prehabilitation routines
- Cardiovascular conditioning and metabolic demands specific to volleyball's interval-based play patterns
- Mental training and competitive psychology: focus, confidence, pressure management, and team cohesion
- Nutrition, recovery, and regeneration practices to support high-intensity training and competition
- Testing and assessment protocols to measure athletic progress and adjust training variables
- How do you structure a periodized training year for volleyball, and what are the key differences between macrocycles, mesocycles, and microcycles?
- What are the primary strength and power qualities needed for volleyball, and how do you develop each through targeted exercises?
- How should plyometric training be sequenced and progressed to maximize jumping ability and landing safety?
- What are the most common volleyball injuries, where do they occur, and what prehabilitation exercises prevent them?
- How do you assess and improve the mental aspects of competition—focus, confidence, and handling pressure—in a team setting?
- What recovery and nutrition strategies support the demands of high-volume volleyball training?
- Design a 12-week periodized training block for an off-season phase, specifying macrocycle focus, mesocycle themes, and weekly microcycle structure
- Create a sport-specific strength program targeting the core, lower body, and upper body with 4–6 exercises per session, including sets, reps, and progression schemes
- Build a plyometric progression sequence starting with basic double-leg bounds and advancing to single-leg, rotational, and sport-specific volleyball movements over 6–8 weeks
- Develop a prehabilitation routine (15–20 minutes) addressing ankle stability, knee alignment, and shoulder mobility for injury prevention
- Conduct baseline fitness testing (vertical jump, broad jump, 3-10-3 shuttle, core endurance) and create a tracking system to measure progress over 4 weeks
- Design a mental training plan including pre-match routines, focus cues, pressure-management drills, and team-building exercises for a 4-week cycle
Next up: This stage equips you with the scientific framework and practical tools to build an elite athlete's body and mind; the next stage will apply these systems to match-specific tactics, game strategy, and in-competition execution.
Written by one of the most decorated coaches in NCAA history, this book provides sport-specific strength, agility, and jump training programs that directly translate to volleyball performance.
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