600x600 Get 5 free servingtipspromoGet 5 FREE Serving Tips (Plus 20 Bonus Techniques)! at ImproveYourVolley.com/complete-serving-system-checklists.html

Register TODAY! for my
Coach April's
May 16 -17 and 30 -31
Spiking and Hitting clinics

COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today
COACH APRIL’S MAY HITTING CLINICS AT ITS ALL VOLLEYBALL For serious players ages 11–17 who want to improve: - approach footwork - hitting mechanics - power - ball placement - attacking confidence Perfect for: NYS players newer club players club travel players who need more focused hitting work DATES May 2–3 May 16–17 May 30–31 TIMES 10am–11am ages 11–13 11am–12pm ages 13–15 12pm–1pm ages 15–16 1pm–2pm ages 16–17 $40 one session $80 two sessions $120 three sessions Email info@improveyourvolley.com to register today

Email: info@improveyourvolley.com for info or to register for this weekend's clinics! 


How To Play Volleyball So That You Improve And Make Your Varsity Team

Learn how to play volleyball tips while learning the rules of the game for beginners and advanced players needing to get varsity skill instruction. 

How To Play Volleyball-learn everything you need to know to about this awesome sport. From the basic skills, to the 6 basic positions, the rules, to the history, to important tactics and more.How To Play Volleyball-learn everything you need to know to about this awesome sport. From the basic skills, to the 6 basic positions, the rules, to the history, to important tactics and more.


Are you ready to learn how to play volleyball so well that you make the team or teams you plan to try out for?

Whether your goal is to make your varsity, JV or a club team or even prepare to play in college you've come to the right place.

You'll get your questions answered  and you'll learn things like 

which all are a part of what you learn when you are taught how to improve your game playing skills so you can help your team score points and win.

Are you ready?






How To Play Volleyball:
Learn Basic Volleyball Skills on Serving  

How To Play Volleyball: The serve is the first opportunity for you, the player, to score a point. (JMR Photo)How To Play Volleyball: The serve is the first opportunity for you, the player, to score a point. (JMR Photo)


The serve is the first opportunity for you, the player, to score a point. 

And, its the one skill, out of all six of the essential skills, that you, the player can do, all by yourself without the assistance of another player to help score a point for your team. 


Once the referee blows their whistle to begin a rally, the player on the serving team in the right back position, which is also known as Zone 1, steps behind the service line and serves the ball over the net.



Beginner and inexperienced players learn how to play volleyball just by serving it over the net easily to begin the rally.

But the volleyball serves made by advanced players are tougher and harder because they may use a jump serve to try to score a point from the service line. 


How To Play Volleyball:  
Learn Basic Volleyball Skills on Passing

How To Play Volleyball: Passing is done when you hold both wrists together, and with both thumbs side by side and pointing to the ground as you contact the ball on the forearms of both arms.How To Play Volleyball: Passing is done when you hold both wrists together, and with both thumbs side by side and pointing to the ground as you contact the ball on the forearms of both arms.


Passing and serving are two of the most important skills you can learn in this sport. 

One of the two most important skills to learn first is passing in volleyball because if you can't pass then you can't play.

Passing is done when you hold both wrists together, and with both thumbs side by side and pointing to the ground as you contact the ball on the  forearms of both arms.




CROSSNET Four Square Volleyball Net & Game Set - Volleyball Set for Backyards - Yard Games for Kids and Adults Game Four Square Volleyball - Includes Poles, Carrying BackpackCROSSNET Four Square Volleyball Net & Game Set - Volleyball Set for Backyards - Yard Games for Kids and Adults Game Four Square Volleyball - Includes Poles, Carrying Backpack
CROSSNET Four Square Volleyball Net & Game Set - Volleyball Set for Backyards - Yard Games for Kids and Adults Game Four Square Volleyball - Includes Poles, Carrying BackpackCROSSNET Four Square Volleyball Net & Game Set - Volleyball Set for Backyards - Yard Games for Kids and Adults Game Four Square Volleyball - Includes Poles, Carrying Backpack


Keeping your thumbs pointed to the ground, keeps your arms straight.

Your forearms, commonly known as "your platform", should be angled towards the target you plan on passing the ball to. 





How To Play Volleyball:  
Learn Basic Volleyball Skills on Setting





When learning how to set a ball, you'll use an overhead contact with all ten fingers shaped in a triangle around the ball to push it back up towards the ceiling, so it travels from you to your intended target. 

Setters, are the players responsible for getting to every second ball on their side and they are specialists in using this overhead contact called "the set" to deliver the ball to the hitters on the team.



The setter waits close by the net for the pass and they "set the ball" to one of their outside hitters or middle blocker. 



 How To Play Volleyball:  
Learn Basic Volleyball Skills on Spiking

How To Play Volleyball: The hitters responsibility is to spike the ball over the net, back to the side of the team who first served the ball. (Penn State News)How To Play Volleyball: The hitters responsibility is to spike the ball over the net, back to the side of the team who first served the ball. (Penn State News)


The hitters responsibility is to spike the ball over the net, back to the side of the team who first served the ball.

They are trying to spike or hit the ball to an open space on the court so the receiving team can score a point. 

When you score a point with a hard hit, its called a "kill." 



How To Play Volleyball:  
Learn Basic Volleyball Skills on Blocking

As a defensive player at the net, which is what a blocker is, you will block a ball by using this eye sequence pattern called BSBH or Ball - Setter- Ball - Hitter.As a defensive player at the net, which is what a blocker is, you will block a ball by using this eye sequence pattern called BSBH or Ball - Setter- Ball - Hitter.


As a defensive player at the net, which is what a blocker is, you will block a ball by

  • watching the ball while the opposing team's passer passes it to their setter 
  • then you'll watch the setter to see where she sets the ball from, how fast she sets it, and who she intends to set the ball to
  • once the setter sets the ball you'll watch the ball, tracking the set as it leaves the setters hands and travels to the hitter
  • finally you'll watch the hitter to quickly determine where her spike approach is taking her to meet the ball and see where her arm is swinging so you pick up clues on where she intends to spike the ball




How To Play Volleyball:  
Learn Basic Volleyball Skills on Digging

How To Play Volleyball: A dig is made when you put your hand or arm(s) in front of the path of a ball, while sinking your hips lower to the ground, below the level of the oncoming ball.How To Play Volleyball: A dig is made when you put your hand or arm(s) in front of the path of a ball, while sinking your hips lower to the ground, below the level of the oncoming ball.


Both defensive player positions in volleyball will use BSBH while playing defense

While its the blockers job to try and stop the ball at the net, its the responsibility of the players in the back row  to keep the ball of the floor, if the ball happens to get past their block. 

The technique used to keep the ball of the floor is volleyball digging. 

A dig is made when you put your hand or arm(s) in front of the path of a ball, while sinking your hips lower to the ground, below the level of the oncoming ball.

You use your forearms to contact and deflect the ball up towards  the ceiling so a second player, ideally the setter, can make a second contact on the ball. 






How To Play Volleyball:
Where Do You Go From Here?


What do you need to do now? You have three options: 

  1. Learn more about Serving and Basic Skills
  2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page  Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
  3. Or visit the pages in the How to Play Volleyball section in the drop down menu at the top of the page to get started. 

Learn more about how to play volleyball in the pages below!

  1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Vegas VB Coach April Chapple
    2.  ›
  2. How To Play Volleyball So That You Improve And Make Your Varsity Team


    3. If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

    Ebook_How_to_Clean_Up_Your_Passing_and_Get_More_-linkedin-profile-cover-1.jpeg

    Struggling with passing consistency?

    I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills  BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.

    Download my eBook for $17.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

    Volleyball Player Whisperer in Vegas Restoring Power + Peace + Passion To Burnt Out Players, High Performance Volleyball Coach, ImproveYourVolley Web Author, Peace Love Volleyball CollectionVolleyball Player Whisperer in Vegas Restoring Power + Peace + Passion To Burnt Out Players, High Performance Volleyball Coach, ImproveYourVolley Web Author, Peace Love Volleyball Collection

    AUTHOR BIO

    April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.

    She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.


From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?

What Are You Looking For?

Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:

🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide -

Players! Learn How To Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon

Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist pdf

🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist Guide

Parents! Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played)


5freeseervingtips600by600promoGet 5 FREE Serving Tips (Plus 20 Bonus Techniques)! at ImproveYourVolley.com/complete-serving-system-checklists.html

Hi there!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.

Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you can learn more each week!

Stay strong! Stay motivated!

-Coach April


 SUSCRIBE  to my email newsletter below!

as seen as on USA News InfluencerTennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements
utkchampionsweekendneylandstadiumselfiewithsharrieffaduringsocial

Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

    In It To Win It      Tournament   

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division



Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts

In the city that never sleeps, my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are your 24/7 support system. Las Vegas pulses with endless energy, and as a volleyball mom, you're the powerhouse behind your player's non-stop journey.In the city that never sleeps, my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are your 24/7 support system.
More than just clothing, my shirts are a tribute to the tireless spirit of Vegas volleyball moms.More than just clothing, my shirts are a tribute to the tireless spirit of Vegas volleyball moms.
With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.
In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.

Ready to energize your volleyball mom journey?

Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list above on ImproveYourVolley.com.

You'll receive energy-boosting tips, exclusive insights from me,        Coach April Chapple on maintaining momentum in volleyball.

Let's power up the Vegas volleyball scene together!


Struggling with the unique demands of being a volleyball mom in the desert? My Peace Love Volleyball shirts offer both comfort and inspiration for the challenges you face. From dealing with intense heat during outdoor practices to long drives across the valley for tournaments, Vegas volleyball moms face obstacles that others might not understand.Dear Vegas Volleyball Mom, I know that balancing Vegas life with volleyball commitments can feel like walking a tightrope, but my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are here to support you every step of the way.
As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.
In a city known for its high energy, finding moments of calm can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of volleyball life.In a city known for its high energy, finding moments of calm can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of volleyball life.
My volleyball mom shirts aren't just about looking good - they're about feeling good too.My volleyball mom shirts aren't just about looking good - they're about feeling good too.
With messages that promote mindfulness and positivity, they serve as a wearable reminder to breathe, center yourself, and approach each volleyball challenge with a peaceful mindset.With messages that promote mindfulness and positivity, they serve as a wearable reminder to breathe, center yourself, and approach each volleyball challenge with a peaceful mindset.
In the fast-paced world of Vegas volleyball, these moments of zen can make all the difference.In the fast-paced world of Vegas volleyball, these moments of zen can make all the difference.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Team Building Activities for Volleyball: A Freshman Coach's Guide

    May 12, 26 11:05 PM

    coachapril18steambondingpaintcerramicsteamouting2
    Boost Your Freshmen Team's Chemistry! Discover fun and effective team building activities for volleyball freshmen players to improve communication and teamwork.

    Read More

  2. 2 High School Volleyball Tips On How To Use Your Communications Skills

    May 10, 26 12:21 AM

    young vb spiker too far under the ball when spiking looking straight up instead of keeping the ball infrontofheralcase
    One of my high school volleyball tips is to be the back row quarterback who maximizes your communication skills to help guide your team through every play.

    Read More

  3. How To Improve In Volleyball The Volleycats Elite Volleyball Club Way

    May 10, 26 12:17 AM

    norasvcebookpage22
    When I became club director of my own Volleycats Elite Club I created a strategic practice and conditioning plan for players on how to improve in volleyball.

    Read More

Don't miss CheapOair's Super Saver Flight Deals! Save up to $30 with Promo Code: FLIGHT30