Short Term Goals For Volleyball (That Will Make You Invincible)
Setting goals is crucial in any athletic pursuit, and volleyball is no exception. Studies suggest that setting short-term goals are the best way to keep going towards your bigger goal in whichever thing you do.
And by short-term, I mean something from 3 to 6 months. You can stretch the timeline to a year if you want to, and it is completely fine to do it.
Short Term Goals for Volleyball
Here are the short-term volleyball goals that you can set to improve your game.
Serve Accuracy and Consistency
When I started learning volleyball serving almost 17 years ago, I sucked at serving.
Every time I used to serve, it hit the net; a couple of times, it even hit the heads of my teammates. And when I tried to keep it a bit up, it used to go all the way outside the opposition’s serving line.
But then I knew that this was the situation for almost every server out there.
That is why I say that improving your serve should be at the top of the list of your short-term volleyball goals.
It doesn’t matter how much you dislike serving; you can’t get away with it due to the volleyball rotation policy. So, in the short term, you must improve your serving ability as it will help you in achieving excellence in the long run.
By setting a goal to improve your serving accuracy and consistency, you’ll become a valuable asset to your team. Focus on serving with precision, targeting specific areas of the court.Â
Regular practice and repetition will enhance your technique, allowing you to consistently hit your desired spots.
Get Your Passing Skills Right to Avoid Aces
Every beginner tends to pass the ball so hard that either it starts hurting their arms or it goes into the opposition’s court instead of going to the setter.
I see volleyball players facing this problem once a day and twice on Sundays.
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Effective passing and setting skills are essential for a well-functioning team. Not to mention they help you avoid aces.
And each player on the court should have the ability to pass the ball, as you’ll get an opportunity to do it when you play back row.
So, improving your passing skills should be on your bucket list for short-term volleyball goals.
Concentrate on creating accurate passes that set up your teammates for successful attacks.
Start Practice in All Volleyball Positions
When you are a volleyball beginner, you may not know what position you want to play in. The time at which you start setting your short-term goal is the perfect time to see your compatibility with various positions.
So, if you have already figured out your volleyball position, well and good, you just need to improve your skills in that area. But if you do not know your role, start practicing in all areas and continue till you find the best one for you.
Focus on the basics of every position and engage in beginner warm-up drills or even fun practices for volleyball that will make you game-ready.
Improve Your Vertical Jump (Without Injuring your Feet)
High jumps and the game of volleyball are part and parcel of each other.
Irrespective of which position you want to play the game, you have to master this skill. So start improving your approach jump slowly, and you will be set to go in the long run.
The high jumps will also help you in all volleyball roles, particularly serving, attacking, and blocking.
In the short term, you must develop a great understanding of the volleyball court.
Work on improving your situational awareness by actively scanning the court and anticipating the movement of the ball and players.
Additionally, enhance your communication skills by effectively conveying information to your teammates, such as calling out plays, providing encouragement, and alerting others to potential dangers.
Work on Your Defensive Skills to Keep the Opposition Silent All the Time
Just like serving, every volleyball player needs to develop great defensive skills in the short run.
Dedicate time to developing stronger defensive skills, such as digging and receiving. Practice diving and rolling techniques to retrieve difficult balls, and work on your reaction time to read the opponent’s attacks and adjust your positioning accordingly.
A solid defensive foundation will make you a reliable and valuable member of your team.
Improve Your Stamina And Fitness (So You Are Not Breathless Ten Seconds into the Game)
No one wants a volleyball player on their team who is left breathless after playing a couple of shots. And this is one of the biggest problems most volleyball players face these days.
This is why improving your stamina and overall fitness should be your short-term volleyball goal. When you are setting short-term goals, you should focus on overall fitness instead of doing position-specific exercises.
Once you achieve this short-term goal, it’s easy to move on to more specialized exercises.Â
Set a goal to increase your overall fitness level through targeted workouts, including cardio exercises, strength training, and agility drills. Building endurance will enable you to maintain a high level of performance throughout matches and withstand the demands of competitive play.
Enhance Team Bonding
Every beginner must work on improving the team bonding with other teammates. While working on short-term volleyball goals, you can foster a goal of enhancing teamwork by developing strong relationships with your teammates, both on and off the court.
Embrace effective communication, trust, and support, and strive for a harmonious team dynamic. Together, you can achieve remarkable results and overcome challenges.
Get At least One Tournament Within the First Three Months
While playing a lot of tournaments is surely a long-term goal, you should aim to play at least one tournament in the short term. The purpose of this tournament is to set the stage for your success in the years to come.
These competitive settings will provide valuable opportunities to apply the skills that you have been learning, learn from different opponents, and showcase your abilities.
Embrace the challenge, relish the atmosphere, and use these events as stepping stones in your volleyball journey.
Attendance at Volleyball Clubs or Camps
Joining a volleyball club is optional, but if you can do it, it will help you in achieving most of your short-term goals.
Club volleyball is expensive, but these clubs have various objectives that can polish your skills.
If you can afford it, you can join club volleyball in the short term, and these clubs will take care of the rest.
I have published a complete guide on whether club volleyball is worth it or not. Check it out to see if you need to join the club.
But if you are not joining clubs, you must aim to attend at least some volleyball camps in the short term. And be aware of the things that you need to take to these camps and the clothes that you need to wear.
In the camps, engage in skill-specific drills, tactical sessions, and gain exposure to new techniques and strategies. The knowledge gained will enhance your performance and accelerate your growth as a player.
The camps will be enough for most of the volleyball players looking to improve their skills in the short term,
Develop a Rigorous Accountability Mechanism (To Get Your Act Straight)
Self-accountability is a must thing when you are setting short-term volleyball goals. Develop a mechanism through which you can track your performance and do an analysis of your own progress.
Keep a record of your serving percentage, passing accuracy, hitting efficiency, and other relevant metrics.Â
Develop Better Anticipation and Reaction Time
Anticipating the opponent’s attacks and reacting quickly is a valuable skill in volleyball.
Set a goal to improve your anticipation and reaction time by studying the opponent’s tendencies and adjusting your positioning accordingly. This will allow you to be in the right place at the right time, enabling you to make effective defensive plays and initiate powerful attacks.
Increase Speed and Precision in Transition Play
Transition is a key aspect of the volleyball game. It refers to moving quickly between offense and defense. Try to increase your speed and precision in transition by working on your footwork and decision-making. By improving your ability to transition smoothly, you’ll be able to contribute to both offensive and defensive plays effectively.
Participate in Scrimmage Matches or Friendly Games
Practical application of skills is crucial for improvement. Set a goal to participate in scrimmage matches or friendly games to practice your skills in a game-like setting. These opportunities will allow you to refine your techniques, adapt to different playing styles, and gain valuable experience.
You can participate in different variations of the game, like quad volleyball or social volleyball, where you get a chance to practice the art you have been learning for.
Final Words
Short-term goals in volleyball are essential for individual growth and team success. Always remember that these goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, relevant, and time-bound).
Set a date and pick any of the above goals and start learning. In no time, you will see a significant improvement.
Remember to track your progress, celebrate achievements, and stay committed to the journey of continuous improvement. With dedication, perseverance, and a focus on these short-term goals, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your full potential in the exciting world of volleyball!
Ahmed is the founder of Ball and Net Sports, a platform where he writes about volleyball.
As a professional volleyball player who has participated in various national and international level volleyball competitions, he loves to teach other volleyball enthusiasts about the game.
He is now a professional volleyball coach who organizes volleyball camps and social events for talent hunting for top volleyball teams.
As a volleyball talent-hunting specialist, he loves to teach people how they can make their game better in the fast-paced volleyball environment where it is extremely difficult to get quality content free of cost.