How to Teach the Volleyball Spike Approach
The volleyball spike approach is a short, accelerating run that ends with a two-foot plant and a jump straight up to the ball. Right handed hitters use a left, right, left rhythm on the final steps, plant both feet, swing both arms back then up, and attack the ball at the top of the jump. Teach the footwork first, add the arm swing, then time it to the set.
Get the approach right and everything else in the attack gets easier. Players jump higher, hit the ball in front of their swinging shoulder, and stop drifting into the net. Here is the exact progression we use, plus the drills and diagrams that make it stick.
What is the spike approach and why does it matter?
The approach is the footwork a hitter uses to move from the ready position to the point of attack. It turns horizontal speed into vertical lift, which is why a good approach can add several inches to a player's jump without any extra strength work. It also lines the hitter up behind the ball so the arm swing travels down and through, not sideways.
New hitters almost always jump off one foot, drift under the ball, or start their run too early. Fixing the approach fixes all three at once. That is why we teach it before we ever worry about how hard a player hits.
Should you teach the 3 step or 4 step approach?
Both approaches finish the same way, with a quick left, right, left plant for right handed hitters. The difference is how the hitter builds speed into that finish. Start younger players with three steps, then add the tempo step once the rhythm is clean.
Right, left, right, left for a right hander, counted as three big steps into the plant. Simpler to learn, great for beginners, middle school, and back row attackers who need a compact run.
Adds a small directional first step to build more speed and cover more ground. Better for experienced hitters and pin attackers who transition from off the net every rally.
Whichever you pick, keep the last two steps the same for everyone: a long, low penultimate step followed by a quick close. That big-then-quick rhythm is what loads the legs for the jump.
What is the correct approach footwork, step by step?
Teach a right handed hitter this exact sequence. Left handers simply mirror it, finishing right, left. Walk through it slowly with no ball first, then add speed.
Right handed footwork: left, right, then a quick two-foot plant and a jump straight up.
Custom Volleyball Clipboard (2 Sided)
Draw the approach angles and plant marks right on a full court, then flip to a zoomed hitting lane to show footwork. Two sides mean you diagram the play and the drill without erasing either.
How do you time the approach to the set?
Timing is the hardest part, and it is almost always a matter of starting too soon. The fix is a simple rule: the hitter holds until the ball leaves the setter's hands, then attacks. On a normal high outside set, that hold-then-go timing puts the hitter at the peak of the jump right as the ball arrives.
Faster sets change the trigger, not the footwork. On a quick set to the middle, the hitter is already moving as the pass is coming up. On a slower high ball, the hitter waits a beat longer. Same steps, different start.
What are the most common approach mistakes?
Watch for these six errors at every level. Each one has a quick, specific fix you can coach on the spot.
The hitter broad jumps instead of planting two feet. Slow the run down and drill the plant with no ball until both feet land together.
Moving before the set leaves the setter. Reset the trigger: hold until the ball is in the air, then go.
Jumping forward instead of up. Move the start point further back so the momentum is forward into an upward jump, not toward the net.
No arm swing means no lift. Teach both arms back on the plant and a hard double-arm throw up on the jump.
The ball drifts over the shoulder. Adjust the last step so the hitter attacks the ball out in front of the hitting shoulder.
Real rallies vary. Once footwork is clean, mix high, medium, and quick sets so the hitter learns to adjust the start.
Volleyball approach FAQ
Right handed hitters lead with the left foot and finish left, right on the plant. Left handers mirror it, leading with the right foot and finishing right, left.
Both finish with the same quick two-foot plant. The four step version adds a slower directional first step to build more speed and cover more ground.
On a normal set, the hitter holds until the ball leaves the setter's hands, then goes. Faster sets move the start earlier, but the footwork stays the same.
They are jumping forward instead of up, usually because they start too close to the net. Move the start point back so the run finishes up, not forward.
Both arms swing back on the plant, then throw up hard on the jump. Draw the hitting elbow high and back, then swing down and through the ball at full reach.
Introduce a simple three step approach as soon as players can pass and set, often around ages nine to eleven. Add the four step version once the rhythm is clean.
Diagram the approach on a board your players can see
Footwork clicks faster when players can see the angles and plant marks drawn out. A two sided custom volleyball board lets you show the full court play on one side and zoom in on the hitting lane on the other, all in your team colors and logo.
