Most Common Volleyball Mistakes

As the saying goes “to err is human”. That means that none is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. Actually, the same can be said about the sport of volleyball. Itʼs hard to find a volleyball player who never makes mistakes on the court. Both beginners and professional volleyball players make mistakes from time to time.

However, volleyball mistakes can have a huge negative impact on the outcome of the game. So, if a volleyball player makes mistakes during the game again and again his/her team will lose points and can even lose the match. That means that volleyball mistakes should never be ignored. Every volleyball player should be able to learn from mistakes and do everything possible to avoid mistakes during the next games and practices. If you have gotten started volleyball then it makes a lot of sense for you to familiarize yourself with most common volleyball mistakes.

In this blog, weʼll talk about the mistakes volleyball players tend to make on the court. Plus, weʼll provide you with tips to help you avoid the most common volleyball mistakes. Follow our tips to become a better volleyball player!

• Approaching to the ball too quickly. Avoiding this type of mistake is especially important for hitters. When a volleyball player approaches to the ball faster and earlier then he/she is unlikely to be able to carry out an attack hit successfully. You may also find it difficult to pass a ball to another volleyball player of your team. In order to avoid this mistake a volleyball player has to watch the game very carefully all the time. On the other hand, an athlete needs to take into consideration the moving speed of a ball. First of all, an athlete needs to estimate how fast a ball moves. Obviously, if the ball is moving very quickly then a volleyball player should get to it faster. When a ball is moving slowly it makes a lot of sense for you to wait a few seconds and then start moving towards a ball. One way or another, youʼll be able to approach to the ball in time and then hit it harder and more precisely. Luckily, hitters can practise a lot of volleyball drills that help them choose the best moment for carrying out a successful attack hit.
• Having hands on knees during serve-receive. Some volleyball players choose to have their hands on knees during serve-receive. However, itʼs a big mistake. When you have hands on your knees youʼll certainly find it hard to react to the opposing teamʼs actions and move on the volleyball court quickly if such a need arises. Actually, this pose offers volleyball players a great way to relax during the game. But you obviously shouldnʼt take it for a long time. Bear in mind that you must be prepared to react to the game anytime.
• Falling down before getting to a ball. Oftentimes, beginning volleyball players fall down to dig a ball too early. As a result, a digger allows a ball to land on the court. Obviously, a player should select the right moment for digging a ball. You need to get to the ball first and then dig it. So, if you see that a ball is about to land on your side of the court then you need to run to it as soon as possible. Also, you shouldnʼt think how you hit the ground when hitting a ball. Just do this! Keep in mind that practicing volleyball digging drills on a regular basis will help you become a better digger over time. Thatʼs why digging drills need to be a key part of your volleyball training program.
• Neglecting communication between teammates. There has been a lot of talk about the importance of communication in the sport of volleyball. Itʼs pretty clear that communication plays a very important role in the sport of volleyball. Most likely that youʼll not be able to do great job on the court if you donʼt communicate with your teammates successfully. For example, itʼs crucial for a setter to communicate with hitters. Letʼs assume that you are a setter. In this case, youʼll certainly need to discuss with your teamʼs hitters who will carry out an attack hit during serve-receive. In reality, setters and hitters can do fantastic work on the court and win additional points for their volleyball team if they are able to communicate with each other in an effective way.
• Making the block obvious. This mistake is often made by many beginning blockers. Obviously, the opposing teamʼs attackers will do everything possible to carry out a successful attack hit, land the ball on your part of the court and hit the target successfully. However, the job of a defensive player is to block the opposing teamʼs attacks. Itʼs clear that the opposing teamʼs attackers will do everything they can to find holes in your teamʼs defense. Therefore, if you would like to become a successful blocker then you should never try to make your block obvious. If you make the block obvious then youʼll make it easy for the opposing teamʼs attacker to find the holes in your defence. As a result, he/she will find it easy to carry out a successful attack hit. Itʼs clear that as a blocker you should do everything possible to prevent this from happening. Try to be unpredictable for the opposing teamʼs hitters. You should watch the opposing teamʼs blocker carefully all the time. Your job is to predict when a hitter is likely to carry out an attack hit. Get ready for the opposing teamʼs attack ahead of time. By doing so, youʼll be able to resist it successfully.
• Not maintaining eye contact with a volleyball player receiving apass. Itʼs no surprise that the success of a volleyball game depends a lot on a pass. Pass is an essential component of a volleyball game. You should know that successful passing requires a little planning. As a passer you should do everything possible to make it easy for your teammate to handle the ball. Obviously, a passer should aim to give an accurate pass to his/her teammate. The problem is that some volleyball players give a pass without paying attention to their teammates. However, youʼll hardly be able to make a good pass if you donʼt maintain a good eye contact with a player who receives a pass. Thatʼs why you should always watch the game very carefully and keep a close eye on each of your teammates. Make sure that you are ready to make a pass to a teammate anytime. As a result, youʼll be able to make an accurate pass when the moment comes.
• Neglecting mental imagery. Neglecting visualization is one of the most common volleyball mistakes. Itʼs important to know that visualization delivers multiple significant benefits to volleyball players. First and foremost, mental imagery helps athletes master the necessary volleyball skills. Also, visualization gives volleyball players the confidence they need. Mental imagery is something that helps volleyball players get the most out of their mistakes. Actually, the list of benefits could go on and on. However, volleyball players will be able to gain all of these benefits only if they visualize on a regular basis. Itʼs a great idea to visualize before and after volleyball matches and volleyball practices.
• Wearing inappropriate volleyball equipment. There is the evidence that volleyball equipment affects the performance of a volleyball player on the court significantly. So, if you choose to buy good volleyball equipment then youʼll be able to do great job on the court. However, if you purchase inappropriate volleyball equipment then it will have a negative impact on your performance. Make sure that you have selected the right type of shoes and knee pads for the sport of indoor volleyball. When selecting volleyball equipment you should take a closer look at the products of the worldʼs best manufacturers. Itʼs worth noting that such companies as Asics, Mizuno and Nike have become well-recognizable brands on the volleyball equipment market. These companies have built a solid reputation and continue to gain in popularity these days. There is no doubt that the products of these companies are worth buying!

Thank you so much for reading our article. Weʼve just explained to you what mistakes should be avoided by volleyball players. In addition, weʼve provided you with tips to help you take your volleyball skills to the next level. Now, itʼs time for you to focus on volleyball practice. Train hard and train smart and most importantly train regularly. Without a doubt, success will come to you over time! As always, we wish you the best of luck!