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1. Improve Your Volleyball with Coach April
2. Ways To Improve Volleyball Skills
3. How To Practice Volleyball Alone

How To Practice Volleyball Alone: Solo Drills That Build Real Skills

Learn how to practice volleyball alone with wall drills, progressions and weekly one-player training schedules to improve passing, setting, serving & hitting.

Want these drills organized into a weekly schedule? Check out our [4-Week Volleyball Workout Plan].

Want to improve your volleyball skills but don't have a team or partner available to practice with?

You're not alone—and the good news is some of the BEST training happens when you're by yourself.

Here are the exact solo drills I give my players to practice at home. These are the same drills that helped hundreds of my athletes improve their passing accuracy, setting consistency, serving power, and hitting technique—all without needing a coach, teammate, or even a net.

All you need is a volleyball, a wall, and 20-30 minutes a day.

Let's get started.

Want these drills organized into a weekly schedule?

Check out my 4-Week Volleyball Workout Plan.

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.

Your 25-Minute Solo Practice Routine (Do This Today)

This schedule works great for solo practice.

If you want more variety, see my 12 Drills to Improve Volleyball Skills or learn more about Ways to Improve Volleyball Skills.

Don't know where to start?

Here's exactly what to do in your next solo session:

Minutes 0 - 10: Wall Passing (150 reps)

• Three (3) sets of 50 reps, five (5) feet from wall
• Focus on platform angle and target accuracy
• Works in a garage, driveway, or any wall space

Minutes 10 - 15: Wall Setting (60 reps)

• Two (2) sets of 30 reps to a target (basketball hoop or wall mark)
• Focus on hand shape and wrist snap

Minutes 15 - 20: Serving (20 reps)

• If you have court access: serve to zones
• No court? Serve against a wall or into a net in your yard
• Track how many land in your target area

Minutes 20 - 25: Approach Footwork (30 reps)

• No ball needed—just practice your footwork pattern
• Left - right - left (or right-left-right for lefties)
• Add arm swing on last ten (10) reps

That's it. 25 minutes. No partner needed. Repeat 5 days a week.

Now let's break down each skill in detail...

My tips on How to do wall passing drills...

Volleyball wall passing and wall setting drills can be done daily at home with a goal of at least 250 - 500 reps of various drills to keep your

• passing or setting technique, 
• angled platform work, 
• ball contacting skills and 
• control of the ball.....extremely sharp!

Pick a brick, a specific spot on the wall or mark a big X in chalk on a wall or use a basketball net or backboard ...no matter what you decide to use as your target... anybody walking by.... should be able to see exactly where the spot is that you are aiming for EVERY...single....time .⁠

Do 3 to 5 sets of 100... five feet from the wall ....then side step two feet and repeat. Then step back and repeat.⁠

Complete 300 to 500 passing repetitions

Set up a target against a wall and practice passing the ball with accuracy and control.

Solo setting works anywhere. Use a basketball hoop at a park, a chalk mark on your garage wall, or even a tree branch as your target. All you need is ten (10) feet of clear space.

Use wall drills to help build focus on using the correct form and to learn how to pass the ball consistently to the target.

This drill will help you develop better ball control and accuracy in your passing.

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After every wall passing session, honestly evaluate yourself:

• ☐ My platform stays flat through the entire pass
• ☐ The ball contacts both forearms simultaneously
• ☐ My shoulders stay square to my target
• ☐ My follow-through points directly at my target
• ☐ I can hit my target 8 out of 10 times

Are you struggling to check all five boxes?

You're not alone. Most players practice without knowing if they're building good habits or bad ones.

• That's exactly why I created the Volleyball Passing Skills Checklist Bundle—it includes a complete self-assessment system, a 4-week progression schedule and a daily practice tracker so you KNOW you're improving, not just hoping you are

Week 1: Foundation Building (15 minutes/day)

• 3 sets of 50 reps, 5 feet from wall
• Focus: Platform angle and ball contact point

- Goal: 6/10 passes hit target consistently

Week 2: Accuracy & Control (20 minutes/day)

• 3 sets of 50 reps, 5 feet from wall
• Add: Side-step 2 feet, repeat set

- Goal: 7/10 passes hit target from multiple positions

Week 3: Movement & Angles (25 minutes/day)

• 4 sets of 50 reps
• Add: Pass at angles (left, right, center)
• Step back to 8 feet from wall

- Goal: 8/10 passes hit target with movement

Week 4: Game Speed Simulation (30 minutes/day)

• 5 sets of 50 reps at varying distances
• Quick-reflex passing (faster wall returns)
• Random movement between reps

- Goal: 8/10 passes under pressure conditions

Track your progress: Write down your daily accuracy percentage. You should see measurable improvement every 3 - 4 days.

If you're a defensive player, spend 70% of your solo training time on passing and digging drills.

Your passing consistency is what gets you on the court—coaches notice liberos who can pass a 3.0 or better every single time.

Add these libero-specific variations:

• Low passes (simulate hard-driven attacks)
• Passes from a defensive shuffle position
• One-arm emergency passes (yes, practice these!)

Want the complete libero training checklist? It's included in our Volleyball Passing Bundle with position-specific drills for every defensive situation you'll face in games.

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To improve your volleyball skills and support your teammates, you can work on your setting technique.

Find a target, such as a basketball hoop, (this works in a driveway, garage, or basement) and practice setting the ball accurately towards the target.

Concentrate on using proper hand positioning and giving your teammates a set they can work with.

Practicing your setting skills will make you a more reliable teammate and improve your ability to assist others during games.

• ☐ My hands form a triangle/window above my forehead
• ☐ I contact the ball with my fingertips, not my palms
• ☐ My wrists snap through the ball on release
• ☐ The ball comes off both hands simultaneously
• ☐ My sets are consistent enough that hitters trust me

Week 1: Hand Position & Touch (15 minutes/day)

• Wall setting: 3 sets of 30 reps
• Focus: Proper hand shape and soft touch

- Goal: Ball doesn't spin when it leaves your hands

Week 2: Target Accuracy (20 minutes/day)

• Basketball hoop setting: 3 sets of 30 reps
• Add: Set from different positions around the key

- Goal: 7/10 sets go through the hoop (works in a driveway, garage, or basement)

Week 3: Height & Distance Control (25 minutes/day)

• 4 sets of 30 reps to various targets
• Practice high sets, quick sets, back sets

- Goal: Consistent height on every set type

Week 4: Game Simulation (30 minutes/day)

• Set after a self-toss pass (simulate game conditions)
• Move between sets like you would in a game

- Goal: 8/10 accurate sets under movement

If you're a setter, you need hand-strengthening exercises in addition to setting reps.

Squeeze a rubber stress ball or even better a tennis ball 100 times per hand daily. Do fingertip push-ups. These small exercises make a HUGE difference in your setting control.

Check out my Training Equipment List for affordable hand-strengthening tools that actually work—no expensive equipment needed.

Want to master setter-specific footwork and coverage positioning?  The Volleyball Setting Checklist Bundle includes 6 different checklists covering every setting situation, plus a 4-week at-home progression schedule specifically for setters.

Here's why serving is the BEST skill to practice alone:

You control everything. The toss. The contact. The target. The outcome.

While your teammates may need a partner to practice passing or setting, you can become a serving ace completely on your own.

Consistency First (Week 1-2):

• 25 serves per session

- Goal: 9/10 serves in the court

Don't worry about power yet—just consistency

Target Zones (Week 3-4):

• 30 serves per session
• Divide the court into 6 zones

- Goal: 5 serves to each zone, 7/10 accuracy

Power + Placement (Ongoing):

• 30-40 serves per session
• Target specific players (imagine weak passers)
• Alternate: deep corners, short serves, line serves

- Goal: Make every serve difficult to pass

Pro tip:

• Keep a serving journal. Track your accuracy percentage weekly. 

I've seen players go from 60% accuracy to 90% in just one month of tracked, intentional practice.

Want a complete serving checklist system?

It's included in my Volleyball Skills Checklist Bundle with serve-receive positioning strategies and serving zone targets.

To be more confident in taking risks during crucial moments in games, focus on improving your spiking skills.

Set up a target or a net (solo drills are designed to work in a driveway, garage, or basement or in a large bedroom with a decently high ceiling) and practice your approach and spiking technique.

Work on hitting the ball with power and accuracy, targeting specific spots on the court.

By practicing your spiking on your own, you'll become more comfortable and assertive in taking risks during games.

• ☐ My approach is consistent (same footwork every time)
• ☐ I jump off both feet with maximum power
• ☐ My arm swing is fast and follows through completely
• ☐ I can hit different spots on the court intentionally
• ☐ I make contact at the highest point of my jump

Week 1: Approach Footwork Foundation (15 minutes/day)

• Practice approach footwork WITHOUT a ball:  (this can be done a small space like in a driveway, garage, or basement) 3 sets of 10 reps
• Focus: Left-right-left rhythm (or right-left-right for lefties)
• Add arm swing mechanics (no ball)

- Goal: Consistent footwork pattern every single time

Week 2: Approach + Contact (20 minutes/day)

• Self-toss and approach: 3 sets of 10 reps
• Focus: Timing your jump with the toss
• Contact the ball at highest point

- Goal: Solid contact 8/10 times

Week 3: Target Accuracy (25 minutes/day)

• Set up targets (cones, towels, boxes) on court or against a wall (works in a driveway, garage, or basement)
• 4 sets of 10 approaches hitting to specific targets
• Alternate targets: line, angle, deep corner

- Goal: Hit your intended target 6/10 times

Week 4: Power + Pressure Simulation (30 minutes/day)

• Full approach with maximum power: 5 sets of 10 reps
• Create pressure: "I MUST hit 7/10 to this target or I repeat the set"
• Practice game-speed approaches

- Goal: Consistent power and accuracy under self-imposed pressure

Outside Hitters: Spend extra time on hitting sharp angles and high line shots. These are your bread-and-butter points.

Opposites: Practice hitting from the right side with both line and angle options. Master the back-row attack—it's a weapon most opposites underutilize.

Middles: Your game is about SPEED. Practice quick approaches and fast arm swings. Work on reading the setter's hands so you're already in the air when the ball arrives.

Want position-specific attack drills and checklists?

Everything is broken down by position in our 100 Good Volleyball Tips ebook—including video demonstrations of approach variations for every position.

When you're not touching the ball in games, you can still contribute to your team's success by improving your defensive skills.

Use a wall to practice your digging technique. Focus on moving quickly to the anticipated landing spot of the ball and using the correct form to dig the ball up.

By honing your defensive skills, you'll be able to provide better coverage for your team and increase the likelihood of winning rallies.

Week 1-2: Reaction Time

• Stand 10 feet from a wall
• Toss ball hard against wall, react and dig
• 3 sets of 20 reps

- Goal: Control the dig, don't just react wildly

Week 3-4: Movement + Digging

• Add lateral movement before the dig
• Shuffle left, dig. Shuffle right, dig.
• 4 sets of 20 reps

- Goal: Low platform, controlled dig to target

When you're not touching the ball in games, you can still contribute to your team's success by improving your defensive skills.

Use a wall or a small area in your backyard to practice your digging technique on your own.

Focus on moving quickly while staying low to the anticipated landing spot of the ball and using the correct form to dig the ball up.

By honing your defensive skills, you'll be able to provide better coverage for your team and increase the likelihood of winning rallies. 

The roll or barrel roll is one of the several acrobatic individual defense techniques you can use to collapse to the ground after finishing a volleyball dig that takes you off balance.

Watch video of yourself in games. How early do you start moving to the ball? Elite defenders are moving before the hitter even contacts the ball.

Study defensive positioning in my Volleyball Passing Checklist Bundle—it includes court diagrams showing exactly where to position yourself based on hitter tendencies.

When you're not touching the ball in games, you can still contribute to your team's success by improving your defensive skills.

Set up a training partner or work in a driveway, garage, or basement to practice your digging technique.

Focus on moving quickly to the anticipated landing spot of the ball and using the correct form to dig the ball up.

Your entire role is about what you do when you DON'T have the ball:

• Reading hitters' approach angles
• Anticipating where the ball will be hit
• Communicating coverage responsibilities
• Moving BEFORE the ball is contacted

Practice this at home in a driveway, garage, or basement:

Watch video of yourself in games. How early do you start moving to the ball? Elite defenders are moving before the hitter even contacts the ball.

Study defensive positioning in our Volleyball Passing Checklist Bundle—it includes court diagrams showing exactly where to position yourself based on hitter tendencies.

Week-by-Week Solo Practice Plan

All these drills can be done in a driveway, garage, basement, or any space with a wall and 10-15 feet of clearance. No gym required.

WEEK 1: Foundation Building (20-25 min/day, 5 days/week)

• Wall passing: 150 reps
• Wall setting: 90 reps
• Serving: 20 reps
• Approach footwork (no ball): 30 reps

- Focus: Proper technique, not speed

WEEK 2: Accuracy & Control (25-30 min/day, 5 days/week)

• Wall passing with movement: 200 reps
• Target setting: 100 reps
• Serving to zones: 25 reps
• Approach + contact: 30 reps

- Focus: Hitting your targets consistently

               WEEK 3: Speed & Game Situations                 (30-35 min/day, 5-6 days/week)

• Quick-reflex wall drills: 250 reps
• Rapid-fire setting: 120 reps
• Power serving: 30 reps
• Full approach with targets: 40 reps
• Defensive movement drills: 15 minutes

- Focus: Simulating game speed and pressure

WEEK 4: Performance Testing (35-40 min/day, 6 days/week)

• All drills at game speed
• Self-imposed pressure scenarios
• Track accuracy percentages
• Film yourself and review technique

- Focus: Measuring improvement and identifying gaps

Download the complete printable 4-week schedule, daily practice tracker, and skills assessment checklists in our Volleyball Training Checklist Bundle.

• After Week 1: 

Noticeable improvement in technique and consistency

• After Week 2: 

Increased accuracy and confidence in your skills

• After Week 3: 

Faster reactions and better game-speed performance

• After Week 4: 

Measurable improvement you can see in practices and games

You don't need expensive equipment to improve, but a few smart investments make a difference:

• Quality volleyball (not the cheap ones that feel like rocks)
• Resistance bands for arm strength and approach power
• Agility ladder for footwork (or just use tape on the floor)
• Volleyball knee pads that actually protect (cheap ones don't)

Check out my complete Training Equipment List where I share exactly what I use with my players—budget-friendly options that actually work just honest advice from 20+ years of coaching.

Ready to Take Your Solo Training to the Next Level?

• ✓ Volleyball Skills Checklist Bundle Complete self-assessment system for all skills
• ✓ 100 Good Volleyball Tips Ebook - Video demonstrations and position-specific drills
• ✓ Volleyball Passing Bundle - 6 passing checklists with progressive training plans

Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

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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

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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.

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