A Comprehensive Guide on the Do’s and Don’ts of Volleyball as a Beginner Player
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Source: Flow volleyball.
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As a beginner, you want to be the best volleyball player in your school, club, university, or wherever you happen to play the sport. You want to stand out in whatever role you are given as a player.
To do that, you must know the do’s and don’ts of volleyball.
Why should you know about this specifically? Great question!
When you have this knowledge, it’ll help you grow as a volleyball player in many ways starting from nailing your role, to becoming one of the best in your team.
In this post, we’ll discuss about the do’s and don’ts as a beginner volleyball player and some general FAQs about the sport.
So without anymore delay, let’s get started! Are you ready?
Did you know? Volleyball was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1964.
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Volleyball as a Beginner Player
First, let’s start with the do’s and then we’ll move on to the don’ts.
Volleyball is truly an inclusive sport and it can be played and enjoyed by players of all skill levels. This is a crucial thing to remember.
Whether you are trying out for a school/college/university/club, or you are already playing in a team, the points outlined in this post are applicable.
So read it carefully.
Video for the Do’s and Don’ts of Volleyball as a Beginner Player
Do’s as a Beginner Volleyball Player
Do Invest in Quality Volleyball Gear
I can’t stress this enough. To perform at your best during a volleyball match, you must have quality volleyball gear with you such as comfortable shoes and socks, a couple pairs of kneepads, at least a pair of volleyball shorts/track pants, jerseys, arm sleeves, ankle braces, elbow pads, finger tapes and high-quality water bottles.
Don’t neglect to invest in these gears as for one, they help you to play longer, number two, they prevent your body from getting unnecessary injuries and three, they’ll increase your overall match performance.
Don’t look at these investments as spending money on some random sports gear.
Rather look at the investment as an aid to keep your body fit enough to play longer duration on the court.
Do Ask Your Coach for Advice and Opinion
There are a multitude of benefits to asking your volleyball coach for advice and opinion.
- It helps you to get clear on what you need to do during a match situation.
- It helps you to get a thorough understanding of the particular role you are expected to perform in the team, and the skills required to do that successfully.
- Asking for advice to your coach aids you to fix the errors in your game.
I could go on and on and on, but as I’ve said earlier, there are so many benefits you’ll get when you ask advice and opinion to your coach. Nothing wrong in asking advice and in fact, it’ll improve you as a volleyball player in so many ways.
Do Communicate with Your Team Mates Often
Do you want to know the number one reason for a volleyball team to lack bonding and collaboration among its players? Yes, you’ve guessed it right! Lack of communication.
It is the major culprit that derails achieving anything worthwhile on and off the volleyball court for players and coaches.
So to avoid that, maintain a clear communication with both your team members and coaches.
This’ll enable you to form a meaningful relationship with your team mates and the coach. Apart from that, clear communication helps you to play well as a team and aids you to learn each other’s playing style and talk to them accordingly.
Do Spread a Positive Vibe Around Your Team
This is crucial. Spreading a positive vibe around your team to focus, regroup and play well whenever the going gets tough is seriously crucial. After all, who doesn’t love to be around a positive person?
Being positive helps to boost the overall morale of the team, lifts a player up when they have a bad day on the court and encourages your team mates to perform at their best in all matches.
Your positivity impacts every player of the team in a really good way. Nothing costs to be positive around your team mates. Isn’t it?
Do Give Your Best in All Practice Sessions
Want to know what excites a volleyball coach during a practice session? It’s the enthusiasm of the players to give their best.
Coaches love to see players practicing excitedly and helping each other out. Also, coaches really enjoy players trying hard to perfect skills related to their role.
When you try hard and be supportive to other players, you’ll earn their trust immediately. Do all of your practice sessions to the best of your ability and when you leave the court, you should feel that you’ve gotten something out of it.
You’ll experience a sense of satisfaction every time when you practice hard during each session.
Books for Beginner Volleyball Players
Dream Like A Champion: Wins, Losses, and Leadership the Nebraska Volleyball Way
The Untold Story of William G. Morgan, Inventor of Volleyball
Smarter Volleyball : Principles and Strategies for Winning Doubles
Don’ts as a Beginner Volleyball player
Don’t Skip the Basics
No matter what role you play in a volleyball team, it is very important to learn the basics of the sport. This means it’d be easier for you to learn the position related skills such as setting, passing, serving, digging and so on.
Not skipping the basics allow you to perform significantly better overall in volleyball and it’s an added advantage especially if you are trying out to join a team.
Don’t be Afraid to Talk to Your Coach
The obvious disadvantage of being afraid to talk to your coach is that you’ll be missing out on key information on the coach’s observation about your style of play, errors you are making throughout the match and key pointers on how you can improve your mistakes. Talking to your coach helps to build a strong relationship.
Being afraid to talk to your coach does more harm to your overall play as a volleyball player.
Your team coach is there to guide you during the tough times and help you to perform at your best in all the matches you play. You’ll get valuable pointers and guidance whenever you need and hence, talk to your coach more often.
Don’t Let the Match Proceedings Get to You
Imagine this situation. You are having a tough game and your team is behind. The easiest thing to do is to let the pressure of the game get to you.
This in turn affects your overall game and it may pass on to your team members as well.
By not allowing the little things to get to you, you’ll control your game and you may create chances for your team to get in front of the match.
Don’t trash talk
To be honest, it’s one of the ugliest characteristics to have as a volleyball player. Do not trash talk the players, coaches, referees and whoever involved in the match.
Your team mates will lose trust in you and it is not a good thing at all.
Remember, volleyball is a team sport and your actions will surely affect the entire group. So make sure to say and do good things around your team.
Don’t be Silent on the Court
It isn’t going to help anybody when you are silent on the court. Be loud, cheering, encouraging and communicating with your team members during the match.
Being loud and clear helps your team mates to be prepared for whatever that comes their way and you increase the chances of scoring points and moving forward in the match.
Some More Do’s and Don’ts
- Do always push extra during a match.
- Don’t slack on the court.
- Do eat healthier food before, during and after the match.
- Don’t eat junk and fast food items.
- Do watch volleyball whenever you get a chance.
- Don’t lose shape during the off-season.
- Do be coachable.
- Don’t be stubborn thinking that you know it all.
FAQs on the Do’s and Don’ts of Volleyball
What are the Various Types of Volleyball?
There are a variety of volleyball games played all around the world. They include.
- Aquatic volleyball. It is also known as pool volleyball. It is adapted to be played in a shallow swimming pool.
- Beach aquatic volleyball: this type of volleyball can be played either individually or in a team setting. It is very similar to an aquatic volleyball and the only difference is that it is played in the shallow waters of a beach.
- Beach volleyball: This variation of volleyball has the same popularity among its fans as the original sport. The first beach volleyball match was played in 1930 and since then, it has evolved into a highly-acknowledge sport.
- Footvolley: This variation of the volleyball requires your socker skills in action. Yes, you’ve read it right. In this game, players use all parts of the body except their hands to play it.
- Indoor sand volleyball: It is the latest version of beach volleyball. In fact, the rules of this type of volleyball are the same as the beach volleyball except the fact that it is played in an indoor sand court.
- Snow volleyball: Snow volleyball is the same as the beach volleyball. The rules are the same and the only difference is its scoring system.
Apart from these variations, there are several types of volleyball played all over the world. I can write a whole article about it!
How does the Scoring System Work in Volleyball?
According to FIVB, the scoring system works like this.
- The matches are played for best of 5 sets.
- The first 4 sets are played for 25 points and the final set is played for 15 points.
- A team must gain a 2 point advantage when they reach 25 in order to consider them as winners of that particular set.
- There are no point limits to which a set can extend.
Please note that these scoring rules are followed in the professional and international
Volleyball matches.
What Skills Do I Need to Play Volleyball?
Although you need to have a basic idea of all skills related to volleyball such as serving, passing, hitting, digging, blocking and spiking, the most important thing to get really good at is the skills related to your role in the team.
Let me explain this.
Imagine that you are the libero in your team. When you have all the libero skills mastered along with the fundamentals of volleyball, you can significantly contribute to your team.
Jack of all trades but master of non won’t work in any sport, and volleyball is no exception.
Conclusion
Now that you know the do’s and don’ts of volleyball, it’s time to put them in practice.
You won’t get everything perfect from the very beginning, but remember, knowledge is power only when its applied in the field.
Want to share your thoughts about this post? Put them in the comments section below!
I’d like to hear from you!
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LET’S BE SOCIAL!
great article, I love the fact about the Olympics!
Hi Kristy, thank you very much!
So much great information. I always wondered how the scoring was done.
Hi Angelia, thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post helpful!
Great post. I love that you say don’t lose shape out of season. I remember the first week of practice always being horrible because I was always so out of shape!
Hi Alison, thanks for your encouraging comment. Glad you found this post relatable. Losing shape during the off season doesn’t help make it easy for any player to get back into practicing and playing as efficiently as they were previously. This is precisely why I made that point and I am happy you recognized the value of it.
This is full of helpful and interesting information! I love the tips about keeping a positive vibe for your team and asking your coach for advice and opinions!
Hi Katherine, thanks for your encouraging comment. Glad you found this post helpful. Having a positive vibe around your team and asking tips and advice to your coach provides so many benefits to a player.
Lots of good information!
Hi Hannah, thank you so very much!
Thank you for highlighting the do’s and don’ts of volleyball. Great tip to always give your best in practice. Showing up with a positive attitude is always a great first step.
Hi Debbie, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. Glad you found this post helpful.
My boys were asking about volleyball last week as we don’t play it here much! Very intersting guide.
Hi Amanda, thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post helpful.
This post is a fantastic resource for anyone starting their volleyball journey!
Hi Jessica, thank you so very much for your appreciative comment!
Such a helpful post for beginner players! Nicely done!
Hi Literally Laurie, thank you so very much!
Very informative and it’s good to know that there are people so passionate about sport. Well done!
Hi Smiley, thank you so much for your appreciative comment. Glad you’ve found this post informative and helpful.
Great post! Quality gear is essential for playing at your best performance. Passing this on to my younger nieces. I think they’ll have a LOT to learn from this. Appreciate you!
Hi Aubrey, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post helpful. Very happy to know that you are passing this post to your younger nieces. I guess they are also playing volleyball. If yes, convey my best wishes!
Volleyball is such a fun sport when everyone has the right attitude and plays as a team. I’ve always enjoyed the game.
Hi Susan, I completely agree with your point on having the right attitude when playing volleyball. Happy to know that you enjoy volleyball as a sport!
Such a well-detailed and comprehensive guide for beginner volleyball players. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Valentina, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post useful.
It’s always good to know the do’s and dont’s of volleyball, especially when you are just beginning. Thanks for the tips!
Hi Maryanne, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post helpful.
Really great information! I love that you spend so much time on sportsmanship and being a good teammate!
Hi Christine, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post valuable. Sportsmenship and being a good team player are the cornerstone of any team’s success and so happy to see your appreciative words about that.
Great job covering the do’s and don’ts of being a beginning volleyball player. Very comprehensive and thorough guide!
Hi Debbie, thank you so much for your highly appreciative comment. I feel truly satisfied that you think that the guide is thorough and comprehensive.
I played volleyball in high school and I definitely agree with all of these! You definitely need to be positive and coachable. Thank you so much for posting these do’s and don’ts!
Hi Kelly Krebs, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post useful. Very happy to know that you’ve played volleyball in your high-school. All the very best in your blogging journey!
Very informative and I have some knowledge. However, you mentioned beyond my knowledge, and glad to know about something.
Hi Fransic, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post informative.
Great post. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kirsten, thanks for your comment. Glad you’ve found this post helpful.
So informative. Thank you for sharing ♥️
Hi Sana Bashir, glad you’ve found this post informative!