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

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.

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 

• how to rotate on the court,
• how to talk to your teammates and 
• how to be mentally tough 

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: 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: 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.

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. 

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: 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." 

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: 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. 

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



1. Improve Your Volleyball with Coach April
2. How To Play Volleyball

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.



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 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?

Get 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!

Email

First Name (optional)

I am at least 16 years of age.

I have read and accept the privacy policy.

I understand that you will use my information to send me a newsletter.

Subscribe

Tennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements

Click to learn more about my weekly advanced volleyball instruction availability email me at info@improveyourvolley.com to get your questions answered and sign up for my newsletter

Click to learn more about the weekly volleyball classes and clinics or email info@imrpoveyourvolley.com for information

My schedule is out and I'm ready to send it to you if you're interested in my 2026/2027 semi private training opportunities. Sign up for email newsletter above to get all my news!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vegas Volley (@vegas_volley)

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Recent Articles

• 
• 
• 

1. Improve Your Volleyball With Me Private Volleyball Coach April Chapple

   Jun 08, 26 02:17 AM

   
   Improve your volleyball with Coach April Chapple, creator of the Las Vegas Volleyball Boot Camp, Breakfast Club and Vegas Volley 18s Boys and Girls Head Coach

   Read More

2. A Setter Volleyball Checklist With Tips To Improve How To Set A Ball

   Jun 07, 26 10:48 PM

   
   Learn how to improve your setting technique with these setter volleyball checklist tips that breakdown what to do with each body part from head to toe.

   Read More

3. Tool The Block Volleyball Wipe and How To Use The Block For Points

   Jun 07, 26 08:51 PM

   
   Learn to tool the block volleyball wipe and how to use the block when you get a trap set or need hitting options in order to score a point or sideout.

   Read More