ARE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TOO OBSESSED WITH SPIKING?

Everybody wants to spike. But who wants to receive, defend, and do the dirty work?

Watch a volleyball match, and you will notice something interesting. When the ball goes up for an attack, everybody watches.

A powerful spike that lands inside the court gets cheers, celebrations, and sometimes even a replay. But when a player makes a perfect reception, saves a difficult ball, or digs an almost impossible attack, the reaction can be completely different.

Why is the spike getting all the attention?

Spiking is exciting. There is something satisfying about jumping above the net, swinging at the ball, and sending it crashing into the opponent’s court. For many players, it is one of the most enjoyable parts of volleyball. And honestly, who doesn’t want to be the player who delivers the winning point?

But here is the question: Have we become so obsessed with spiking that we are forgetting what makes a good volleyball player?

Everybody Wants to Be the Attacker

Think about a typical training session. When players gather around the court, how many immediately want to practise their spikes?

How many are eager to work on their passing, defensive positioning, or serve reception?

You might have seen players who can hit the ball hard but struggle to control a simple serve. Others want to jump and attack every ball, even when the situation calls for a controlled shot or a well-placed tip.

Then there are players who measure their performance by the number of kills they make. If they score several attacking points, they feel they have had a great game. But if they spend the match receiving serves, covering teammates, and keeping difficult balls alive, they might feel as though they have done very little.

That mindset can be a problem.

Volleyball is not a competition to see who can hit the ball the hardest. It is a team sport in which every contact can influence what happens next.

The Spike Cannot Save Every Rally

Imagine a team with powerful attackers but poor ball control. The opponent serves. The first pass goes flying towards the back of the court. The setter struggles to reach it, and the attacker receives a ball that is nowhere near the right position. The spike opportunity is gone before the attack even begins.

Now imagine the opposite. A player receives the serve cleanly, the setter delivers an accurate ball, and the attacker gets the perfect opportunity to finish the rally.

Who created that opportunity?

The attacker deserves credit for the kill, but the point was made possible by the players who handled the ball before the attack.

This is why passing, setting, serving, blocking, and defence deserve just as much attention during training.

A powerful attacker is dangerous, but a team that can control the ball, read the opponent, and work together is much harder to beat.

You cannot build a reliable attack on a foundation of poor ball control.

What About Players Who Do the Dirty Work?

Every volleyball team has players whose contributions are easy to overlook.

There is the player who keeps making difficult receptions look simple.

The defender who refuses to let the ball touch the floor.

The teammate who covers an attacker after a blocked spike.

The setter who keeps creating attacking opportunities, even when the first pass is far from perfect.

These players might not always appear in the highlight moments, but their work can determine whether the team wins or loses.

Consider a rally in which a defender makes an incredible dig, the setter recovers the ball, and an attacker finishes with a clean spike. The attacker gets the final touch, but the defender helped make that point possible.

Should the attacker receive all the credit?

Of course not.

Volleyball requires different skills, different roles, and players who understand that their contribution matters even when they are not the ones finishing the rally.

But Is Wanting to Spike Really a Bad Thing?

Not at all.

Spiking is an important attacking skill. Players should want to improve their power, timing, approach, jumping ability, and shot selection. Coaches should encourage attackers to become more effective and confident.

The problem begins when the desire to spike becomes greater than the desire to become a complete player.

A player who can attack but cannot perform the basic skills needed to support the team may become predictable.

An attacker who always tries to hit hard might miss opportunities to use a tip, roll shot, or controlled placement. Someone who wants every ball might even interfere with a teammate who is better positioned to play it.

The goal is not to stop players from loving spikes. It is to help them understand that attacking is only one part of the game.

Sometimes the smartest play is not the hardest hit. Sometimes keeping the ball alive is more valuable than attempting a spectacular finish. And sometimes the best thing an attacker can do is trust a teammate to make the next play.

What Should Volleyball Players Focus On Instead?

If you want to become a better volleyball player, do not train only for the moments that attract applause.

Work on your first touch. Learn to read the opponent. Improve your footwork and positioning. Practise serving consistently, communicate with your teammates, and understand when to attack with power and when to use placement.

Most importantly, learn to appreciate skills outside your preferred position.

An outside hitter should understand the importance of passing.

A setter should recognise how good ball control creates attacking options.

A libero should understand defensive positioning and communication.

Every player benefits from knowing how their role connects to the rest of the team.

The best players are not necessarily the ones who hit the hardest. They are the ones who understand the game, make good decisions, and contribute to winning points in different ways.

And for coaches, there is a question worth considering: Are training sessions giving enough attention to passing, defence, and decision-making, or are players spending most of their time waiting for their turn to attack?

Because if we want stronger teams, we need more than spectacular spikes. We need players who can build a rally, recognise an opportunity, and make the right decision when it matters.

So, Are Volleyball Players Too Obsessed With Spiking?

Maybe the real problem is not the spike itself. It is the way we sometimes celebrate the final touch while overlooking everything that made it possible.

The attacker deserves recognition. So does the setter who created the opportunity, the passer who controlled the serve, and the defender who kept the rally alive.

Every role matters. Every touch can change the game.

A powerful spike might win you a point, but a complete team gives you a better chance of winning the match.

Now, let’s hear from you.