Master the volleyball kill and dominate the court

The objective of every attack is to get a kill, requiring a combination of finesse and power. This post explains how to get that critical volleyball kill.

A volleyball kill is when the ball finds the floor on the opponent’s side of the net or prevents the opponent returning the ball legally. While getting a kill is the goal of every attacker, simply forcing the opponent to handle difficult balls can result in points for your team. You can attack a ball in many ways and different situations require different techniques. In our book, Volleyball Steps to Success author Becky Schmidt runs through a variety of techniques that will prepare you for every situation.

Technique for the volleyball kill

Schmidt simply describes attacking in volleyball as a three-step process:

Run to the ball
Jump to the ball
Throw your hand through the ball.

That may sound simple, but hitting a moving object as hard as you can while also in the air is a challenging feat. Below, we discuss the techniques that will allow you to attack with consistency and power along with the strategies used to score points.

Approach

Your movement to the ball in attacking plays an important role. Your approach develops a horizontal momentum that can be transferred into a strong vertical jump. From there your torso must be in a position to generate torque to facilitate your ability to reach as high as possible when contacting the ball. To learn more about getting an extra spring in your step have a read of How shock plyometrics can make you more explosive.

Four step approach

The four-step approach is the best way to move to the ball for an attack. The following steps describe the four-step approach for a right-handed hitter; a left-handed hitter uses the opposite footwork.

Step 1

Start a step behind the 10-foot (3 m) line facing the net with your weight on your left foot and at a 45-degree angle to where you intend to hit the ball. Take a small step toward the net with your right foot and begin to lean forward, keeping a slight bend in your knees (figure A).

Coaching points

Start behind 10-foot (3 m) line
Face the net
Put weight on left foot
Stand at 45-degree angle to where the ball will go
Take a small step with right foot and lean forward.

Figure A

Step 2

Take a larger step with your left foot and bend deeper at the knee and at the waist (figure B). Keep your arms relaxed and by your sides.

Figure B

Coaching points

Take a long step with the left foot
Bend deeper at knees and waist
Keep arms relaxed by sides.

Step 3

Leap off your left foot and reach with your right foot so that your third step is long (figure C). When you place your right foot on the ground, point your toe towards the court and parallel to the net. While taking the third step, swing your arms and hands back and lean forward with your shoulders.

Figure C

Coaching points

Leap off left foot and take a long step with right foot
Point right toes toward the court and right foot parallel to net
Swing arms and hands back
Lean forward with shoulders.

Step 4

Rotate your hips and plant your left foot parallel to your right foot about shoulder-width apart (figure D). Draw both arms forward and overhead as you transfer your horizontal momentum up and jump to the ball, use both feet to jump.

Figure D

Coaching points

Rotate hips and plant left foot parallel to right foot
Position feet shoulder-width apart
Draw arms forward and overhead
Jump to the ball off two feet.

The first couple steps of your approach should be somewhat slow, but momentum should increase quickly so that the last two steps are fast. This is called a crescendo approach.

Sometimes there is not enough time or space to perform all four steps of this approach pattern. Middle hitters, for instance, might only be able to get two steps off the net before they need to begin their approach. While you may lose momentum, power and reach, you must be able to adapt and put yourself in the best position possible to aggressively attack the ball. If you have time for only two steps, then use the last two steps to plant to the set, jump and swing. If you have time for three, use the last three. Volleyball is a game of opportunity, not perfection and requires players to make constant adjustments in order to get the most out of every rally.

Arm Swing

Ideally, your approach will put you in a position to contact the ball as high as possible and have many attacking options. To achieve maximal consistency and power through the arm swing, Schmidt has put together some guidelines.

After you are in the air and both hands are up to reach for the ball, draw your dominant elbow back and bend the elbow so that your hand comes behind your head (figure E).
Your elbows should be at the same height with both hands up, making a T at your shoulders. Rotate your hips and shoulders toward the opponent’s court in order to add torque to your attack (figure F).
Reach your dominant elbow to the ball and extend your hand to follow while letting your nondominant arm fall and bend naturally (you don’t need to focus on this; it should do it on its own). With a large palm, drive your hand through the centre of the ball while at maximum jump height, allowing your wrist to naturally snap over the ball (figure G).
Let your hand fall back to your hip after you make contact and get into position to play defence.