Volleyball: Smash

The smash is the main attacking shot used in volleyball and is probably one of the hardest moves to master.

Close up of Smash

Players work in pairs setting the ball to one another first time. This can be done with players facing each other without a net or with one player on each side of the net. Player 1 sets the ball across to player 2 who sets the ball back again. Ensure passes have enough height on them to allow the rally to continue smoothly.

In pairs, the players stand around 3-4m apart. Player 1 rolls the ball along the floor to player 2, then shuffles sideways to the left or right. Player 2 collects the ball and rolls it to player 1. Player 2 then shuffles left or right. The movement while passing the ball should imitate the underhand pass, with both arms straight when passing.

A fun and simple way to introduce the serve. Using the underhand serve players pass the ball over the net one another. There should be no loose balls here, players should focus on accuracy as they aim to get the ball up and over. Once again players should be stepping forwards with the opposite leg to the hand that you serve with.

Throw the ball to go under the net and bounce once to your partner stepping forwards with the opposite leg to the hand that you roll with (using body weight) and releasing the ball.

Stage two of the serving progressions; Throw the ball to go over the net and bounce once to your partner stepping forwards with the opposite leg to the hand that you roll with (using body weight) and releasing the ball slightly higher.

Stage three of the serving progressions; Working in pairs, players throw the ball to go over the net to their partner (with no bounce), stepping forward with the opposite leg to the hand that you roll the ball over with (using body weight). So if players throw the ball with their right hand they should step forward with their left foot.