How to Play Volleyball: A Beginner’s Guide

To play volleyball, your team uses up to three touches to send the ball over the net and land it on the other side, while stopping the opponents from doing the same to you. Learn five skills, serving, passing, setting, attacking and blocking, and you can play a real game.

This guide takes you through each skill step by step, explains how a rally fits together, and gives you simple drills to practice, whether it is for PE class, a barangay league or your first club session.

The basics before your first game

You only need a few rules to start playing. These come from the FIVB Official Volleyball Rules:

• Six players a side. Three stand in the front row, three in the back.
• Three touches per side. A block does not count as one of the three.
• No double touches. One player cannot hit the ball twice in a row, except on the team’s first contact or during a block.
• No catching or throwing. The ball has to rebound cleanly.
• Every rally scores a point. Sets go to 25 and you must win by two.
• Rotate when you win back the serve. Everyone moves one spot clockwise.

The full details are in our volleyball rules guide.

The five core volleyball skills

1. Serving

The serve starts every rally. Beginners should learn the underhand serve first, then move to overhand once they can land it consistently.

Underhand serve:

1. Stand behind the end line, feet shoulder-width apart, with your non-hitting foot slightly forward.
2. Hold the
   ball at waist height in your non-hitting hand.
3. Make a fist or a flat palm with your hitting hand.
4. Swing your hitting arm back, then forward like a pendulum, and hit the ball just below its centre.
5. Follow through toward your target.

Overhand serve: toss the ball about an arm’s length above your hitting shoulder, step forward, and strike it with a firm, open palm, as if throwing a ball.

Under FIVB rules, you have 8 seconds after the referee’s whistle to serve, and you cannot step on the end line until after you hit the ball.

Common mistake: tossing too high or too far forward. A consistent toss is the key to a consistent serve.

2. Passing (the bump)

The forearm pass, or bump, is how you receive serves and hard-hit balls. It is the most important skill for beginners because every attack starts with a good pass.

1. Stand in a ready position: feet wider than shoulders, knees bent, weight forward on the balls of your feet.
2. Make a platform: place one hand flat in the other palm, press your thumbs together side by side, and straighten your arms.
3. Move your feet to get behind the ball.
4. Let the ball hit your forearms, just above the wrists, not your hands.
5. Angle your platform toward your target and lift gently with your legs, not your arms.

Common mistake: swinging the arms. Keep the platform steady and let your legs do the work.

3. Setting

The set is usually the second touch. It places the ball in the air so a teammate can attack.

1. Get under the ball early, facing your target.
2. Raise your hands above your forehead, forming a triangle window with your thumbs and index fingers.
3. Contact the ball with your finger pads, not your palms.
4. Extend your arms and legs together to push the ball up and toward your hitter.

Common mistake: letting the ball sit in your hands. A set that rests too long can be called a catch.

4. Attacking (the spike)

The attack is the third touch and the main way teams score. Most right-handed players use a three- or four-step approach.

1. Start a few steps back from the net, watching the set.
2. Take your approach: for right-handers, left, right, left, with the last two steps quick and powerful.
3. Swing both arms back on the final step, then drive them up as you jump.
4. Draw your hitting arm back with the elbow high.
5. Snap your wrist and hit the top of the ball with an open hand, at the highest point you can reach.

Beginners should focus on timing and contact before power. A controlled hit that lands in is worth more than a hard one that goes out.

5. Blocking

The block is the first line of defence against an attack. Only front-row players can block.

1. Stand close to the net, hands at shoulder height.
2. Watch the hitter, not the ball, to time your jump.
3. Jump straight up with arms extended, hands firm and fingers spread.
4. Press your hands over the net toward the ball, angling it down into the other court.
5. Land on both feet and pull your hands back without touching the net.

You cannot block a serve, and touching the net between the antennae while playing the ball is a fault.

[Image suggestion: one simple graphic per skill showing body position.]

How a rally flows

Most rallies follow the same pattern, often called pass, set, hit:

1. Serve: one team puts the ball in play.
2. Pass (touch 1): the receiving team bumps the serve to the setter’s area near the net.
3. Set (touch 2): the setter pushes the ball up for a hitter.
4. Attack (touch 3): the hitter sends it over, aiming for open floor.
5. Block and dig: the other team blocks at the net or digs the attack, and the cycle starts again on their side.

The rally ends when the ball hits the floor, goes out, or someone commits a fault.

Your first game: what to do

• Call the ball. Shout “mine” or “akin” before you play it. Most beginner collisions happen because no one called.
• Stay low and ready. Knees bent, weight forward, between every point.
• Know where you stand at the serve. When your team wins back the serve, everyone rotates one spot clockwise. See volleyball positions explained for the numbered spots.
• Use all three touches. Sending the ball back on the first touch rarely works. Pass to a teammate first.
• Keep your hands off the net while playing the ball.

Five beginner drills

1. Wall passing: bump the ball against a wall at head height, aiming for the same spot. Count how many you can do in a row.
2. Self-setting: set the ball straight above your head repeatedly, keeping it within arm’s reach.
3. Partner pepper: with a partner, go pass, set, hit back and forth in a controlled rhythm.
4. Target serving: place a towel or a slipper in the opposite court and try to land your serve on it.
5. Approach footwork: practise your spike approach without a ball until the steps feel natural.

Common beginner mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Swinging the arms on a pass	Keep a still platform and lift with your legs
Standing flat-footed	Stay on the balls of your feet, knees bent
Reaching instead of moving	Move your feet to get behind the ball first
Hitting the ball with your palms on a set	Use your finger pads
Jumping too early to spike	Wait for the set to reach its peak before your last steps

Gear for beginners

You do not need much to start. A properly inflated volleyball, indoor court shoes with good grip, and knee pads for diving will cover most needs. Warm up before you play and build up jumping and diving gradually, especially if you are new to the sport.

Frequently asked questions

Can you kick the ball in volleyball? Yes. Under FIVB rules, the ball may touch any part of the body, including the feet, as long as it is not caught or thrown.

Do you need to be tall to play volleyball? No. Height helps at the net, but roles like setter and libero reward quickness, ball control and reading the game.

How long does it take to learn volleyball? Most beginners can play a casual game within a few sessions. Consistent passing and setting take longer and come with regular practice.

Is an underhand serve legal? Yes. The rules only require the ball to be hit with one hand or arm after it is tossed or released.

Keep going

Once you have the basics, learn what volleyball is at the professional level and watch how the pros do it in the PVL standings and match coverage on ArenaPlus Insider.