Last Updated: February 13, 2024
To be a good libero, you must be incredibly fast and reactive, but also have decision making skills and great observation capabilities.
With these thoughts in mind, here are a few drills to help smooth your game.
10 Essential Drills for Libero Development
Drop and Sprint Drill
To make this drill more complicated, you’ll need a tennis ball. Get a partner to stand about 10 feet away from you and throw the tennis ball towards you. You’ll need to catch it after one bounce only, so don’t let it hit the ground a second time. Do it with one tennis ball first; then the partner can take more tennis balls.
Two Way Pepper Drill
This drill must be done with three other players. It’s a teamwork drill. Two players go on the back row, the other two go in the same position, but on the other side of the net. Two players do a down ball hit. Once the ball gets on the other side, the other two players receive it and do the same.
Pepper Multiple Hit Drill
Again, you need three other players. The group is divided into two teams, with players 10 feet apart from each other. Each group has a ball.
One player does a down ball hit, meaning the ball gets to the partner. The partner receives it, passes it up, and does a right fist hit, then a left fist hit. Finally, the ball is set and returned to the partner.
Over the Net Drill
This drill involves pairs again. Get a partner first, then position yourselves on opposite sides of the net. Make a downward flight, hit the ball, and your partner should receive it and do the exact same thing. It’s a repetitive action that goes on and on until it becomes natural.
Seven Touch Drill
The seven touch drill requires three players. The first player gets the ball and does a down ball hit. As a libero, you’ll have to dig it up. The third player will touch the ball then. The drill is over when your partner makes seven touches.
This drill may look like a passing drill, but it actually boosts your receiving and serving skills.
Eye Work Drill
This is one of the most important drills for a libero. You need to observe and learn how hitters play, so eye work is critical for your success. You need to keep an eye on the setter, how they get the ball, and how they hit, only to figure out where the ball goes.
Once you figure out the direction, your focus goes on the hitter, particularly on their hand and wrist. This drill is about observation and will help you set some patterns based on jumping styles and positions. It’s just as useful for defensive specialists.
Classic Pepper Drill
This is a popular drill among coaches, and for some good reasons. There’s plenty of touching involved, so it improves players’ ball control. The pepper drill also improves focus and concentration.
There are more variations when it comes to pepper drills. And while libero players often overlook them, ball control is actually extremely important for this position due to the high expectancy of the role.
4×2 Pepper Drill
Like most pepper drills, this one will add to your ball control skills. It must be done in pairs and implies using a single ball only. Get a partner and hit the ball towards them. The partner will receive it and then pass it over. The next step involves a left fist hit, a right fist hit, a set, and a ball hit to the partner.
It’s a repetitive drill that helps you develop new techniques to control the ball.
Triangle Drill
This is a variation of the pepper drill that involves three players. One goes in the setter position, another one left back, and the last one left front. The coach throws the ball towards the left back, who must receive it and pass it towards the setter. The setter sends it towards the left back, who must hit.
Once the drill is over, rotate positions over and over again.
Under the Net Drill
Take low defense positions with a few other players. Get a ball and start passing it back and forth, but make sure it goes under the net. This way, you’ll have to stay low. While in this position, you’ll need to use a constantly rocking motion.
Despite being difficult, the drill improves your swing in all kinds of positions.
Recommended: How the Libero Position Has Evolved in Volleyball
Final Thoughts
In the end, there are obviously more drills a libero can take advantage of, but the above mentioned ones are critical for a successful game.
The libero is among those volleyball positions that come with more responsibilities. It is a versatile position that requires a bit of everything, hence the necessity to train on every aspect of the game.