Purpose
The approach step drill gives players a chance to focus solely on footwork, eliminating the potential distraction of hitting a live ball and allowing them to build a firm foundation.
Setup
- Four players will line up on the attack line, facing the net.
- You don’t need any balls for this drill.

How it Works
- Players will start at the attack line.
- On the coach’s command, players will go through their approach step, then jump and pretend to spike a ball over the net.
- Players will return to the attack line and repeat.
Coaching Tips
- Show the players what it looks like before the drill begins, so that they have a visual model.
- The focus should be on slow steps at the beginning into a quick explosion at the end.
- Remind players to take a break step before planting and taking off, so they don’t have too much forward momentum.
- Keep an eye on their landing spots – anything past the center line is no good.
- Gives you a great chance to walk around and evaluate players all the way through their approach step.