You Want to Spike, But Can You Pass?
You just started volleyball.
You’ve learned how to hold the ball, you’ve watched a few matches, and now you’re already imagining yourself flying above the net for that perfect spike.
We get it. The spike is exciting.
But the problem is that many beginners want to learn how to attack before they have learned how to control the ball. And in volleyball, you can’t build a good attack without a good foundation.
The Spike Isn’t Where Volleyball Starts
Attacking might be one of the most exciting parts of volleyball, but it is only one part of the game.
Before the ball gets to the attacker, someone has to receive it.
Someone has to control it.
Someone has to set it.
Then the attacker gets their chance.
That’s why rushing straight to attacking can hold beginners back. If you don’t understand the skills that come before the attack, you may know how to swing your arm, but you won’t necessarily know when, where, or how to attack effectively.
First, Learn to Pass
Passing is one of the first skills every beginner should take seriously. A good pass gives your team options. A poor pass can put the entire team under pressure.
Imagine receiving a serve and sending the ball flying away from your teammates. Your team hasn’t even had the chance to build an attack. That’s why coaches spend so much time making beginners repeat the basics.
It may not look as exciting as spiking, but those repetitions are building the foundation for everything that comes later.
Learn how to create a stable platform.
Learn how to move your feet toward the ball.
Learn how to control the direction of your pass.
You don’t pass because you’re not ready to attack. You pass because you’re learning how volleyball works.
Ball Control Comes Before Big Hits
Before you start trying to hit the ball as hard as possible, ask yourself:
Can I control it?
Ball control is being able to keep the ball playable and direct it where you want it to go.
For a beginner, that means learning how to:
Control your first touch.
Move your body into position.
Make consistent contacts.
Keep the ball in play.
Adjust when the ball doesn’t come exactly where you expect.
You don’t need to smash every ball.
Sometimes the best play is simply keeping the ball under control. Because when you can control the ball, you give yourself and your teammates more opportunities.
Don’t Forget Your Footwork
New players often make the same mistake, they stand and wait for the ball to come to them.
Then the ball moves slightly away and they reach for it. Good players learn to move before making contact.
Your footwork affects almost everything you do on the court.
Passing.
Defending.
Setting.
And eventually, attacking.
Before you worry about jumping higher for your spike, learn how to get your body into the right position.
Good movement makes good contact easier.
Learn to Serve Too
The rally doesn’t start with your spike. It starts with a serve.
As a beginner, your first goal shouldn’t be a powerful jump serve. It should be a consistent serve that gets over the net and into the court.
Serving teaches you:
Ball control.
Timing.
Accuracy.
Consistency.
Placement.
A powerful serve that constantly goes out isn’t helping your team. A controlled serve that consistently lands in can put pressure on your opponent.
Master control first. Power comes later.
Understand Setting
Now we’re getting closer to the attack.
A good pass doesn’t automatically become a good attack. Someone has to turn that first touch into a ball the attacker can use.
That’s where setting comes in.
Setting teaches beginners about:
Timing.
Accuracy.
Ball placement.
Decision-making.
Communication.
Even if you don’t plan to become a setter, understanding what a setter does will make you a smarter attacker. You’ll begin to understand where the ball is coming from, what kind of set you can expect, and how your approach should work with the play. Then the game starts to make more sense.
And Then Comes the Attack
This doesn’t mean beginners shouldn’t learn how to attack.
You absolutely should.
But don’t rush the process.
Learn your approach.
Learn your footwork.
Learn your timing.
Learn how to contact the ball properly.
Learn how to see the block.
Learn when to hit hard and when to use a smarter shot.
Because attacking isn’t simply:
Jump → swing → hit.
A good attacker has to read the game. Sometimes the best attack isn’t the hardest one.
Sometimes placing the ball into an open space is smarter than trying to hit through three blockers. That’s where your volleyball IQ starts to matter.
Volleyball Is More Than the Highlight Moments
Social media makes volleyball look like it’s all about huge spikes, dramatic blocks, and spectacular saves. Those moments are exciting, but they don’t tell the whole story.
A rally might be won because someone made a perfect pass.
A defender might keep a difficult ball alive.
A setter might make the right decision.
A player might cover their teammate at exactly the right moment.
These things may not always make the highlight reel, but they’re what make a team work. Don’t chase the highlight before you understand the game.
Beginners, Don’t Skip the “Boring” Part
Passing the same ball repeatedly isn’t as exciting as hitting a spike. Practising footwork isn’t as exciting as jumping at the net.
Learning rotations isn’t as exciting as celebrating a point. But those “boring” parts are where players are built.
The players you admire didn’t start with perfect attacks.
They learned how to control the ball.
They learned how to move.
They learned how to communicate.
They learned how to understand the game.
Then they became better attackers.
So, You Want to Spike?
Great.
But before you chase that perfect highlight, ask yourself:
Can I pass?
Can I control the ball?
Can I move into position?
Can I serve consistently?
Do I understand what the setter is trying to do?
Do I know when and where to attack?
If the answer is no, that’s okay.
You’re a beginner.
You’re not supposed to know everything yet.
Your job is to learn.
The Basics Aren’t Holding You Back
This is probably the most important thing for a new volleyball player to understand. Learning the basics isn’t delaying your progress.
The basics are your progress.
Every controlled pass makes you better.
Every good first touch makes you better.
Every serving repetition makes you better.
Every movement drill makes you better.
Every mistake you learn from makes you better.
Eventually, all those small skills come together. And when you finally get that perfect set and go up for your attack, you’ll understand that the spike didn’t start with your jump, it started with the first touch.
If you’re new to volleyball, don’t be in a hurry to become the player who finishes every rally.
First, become the player who can help build one.
Master your passing.
Build your ball control.
Improve your footwork.
Learn to serve.
Understand setting.
Develop your volleyball IQ.
Then attack.
Because the goal isn’t just to become someone who can hit the ball hard.
The goal is to become a complete volleyball player.
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