5 Essential Pepper Drills You Need To Know!
Pepper drills: One of the most fundamental drills in volleyball! They are simple warm-up exercises and a core part of volleyball training (usually the team’s first exercises before main drills) that enhances passing, setting, and spiking skills through repeated practice. It’s also one of the main routines used in official games to prepare the players.
Pepper typically involves two players (or more) standing about 20 to 30 feet apart 6-9m. The basic sequence starts with one player spiking or tossing the ball to their partner. The defending player then passes (bumps) the ball back to the spiker, which sets it up (a controlled overhead set) for the receiver to spike or hit back. This continuous flow of passing, setting, and hitting offers an excellent workout for all fundamental volleyball skills.
The beauty of pepper drills lies in their simplicity and adaptability. They can be modified to focus on specific skills or areas of improvement. For instance, players can concentrate on improving their passing accuracy by aiming the ball at a particular spot or work on their setting techniques by varying the height and distance of their sets.
The Pepper Drill has many variations, suitable for different skill levels. In this post, I will explain some good starting drills for beginners.
1. The Most Basic Pepper Drill In Pairs
Let’s break down the steps of the basic pre-game pepper drill:
- Formation:
- Two players position themselves on opposite sides of the net or choose one side of the court.
- Optionally, involve more players and rotate positions to keep things dynamic.
- Passing:
- One player initiates by executing a bump (forearm pass) or defensive move to send the ball to their partner.
- The key here is control and accuracy—the pass should be crisp and well-directed.
- Setting:
- The other player sets the ball using their fingertips or forearms. (setting technique).
- Precision matters: focus on delivering an accurate set for the subsequent spike.
- Hitting (Spiking):
- The player who received the set now takes center stage.
- Execute a spike (hit) back to your partner.
- Pay attention to timing and technique—the spike should be controlled. Gradually increase the power of the attack.
- Repeat:
- Keep the ball in motion by continuously bumping, setting, and spiking it between each other.
- Consistency and quality in each touch are paramount.
2. Two Or Three Touch Pepper Drill
The Two or Three Touch Pepper Drill is an excellent exercise for enhancing ball control. Whether you’re part of a pro team or a local club, this pepper variation focuses on controlling spiked balls within your designated area.
Here’s how it works:
- Receive: Begin by defending the ball above yourself. This initial touch sets the stage for the rest of the drill.
- Set: Set the ball high enough to create a better opportunity for a controlled spike.
- Spike: Now, spike back to your partner. The goal is to execute a controlled and accurate spike your partner can handle.
Quick note: If this is too easy for you, try the drill with only 2 touches; spike directly from your defense.
Remember, beginners can start with only forearm and overhead passing, gradually adding a spike as their ball control improves. Whether you practice over the net or without, this drill hones essential skills for offense and defense on the volleyball court.
3. High ball setting pepper drill
High Ball Setting Pepper Drill is a valuable exercise for players to enhance their skills in setting high balls. Here’s a concise breakdown of the drill:
- Objective:
- The focus is on practicing setting high balls (out of the system).
- Ideal for setters of all levels.
- Execution:
- Two players participate: Player 1 (the spiker) and Player 2 (the setter).
- The drill proceeds as follows:
- Spike: Player 1 delivers a powerful spike to Player 2.
- Defense: Player 2 defends the spiked ball, aiming for a high pass (out of the system) in the designated “orange area.”
- Set: From the defensive position, Player 2 sets the ball to one of the attacking zones (zone 1, zone 4, or zone 2). The set must be high and accurate (close to the net).
- The spiking player can be positioned in any of the attacking zones.
- Benefits:
- Improves hand-eye coordination, timing, and accuracy in setting high balls.
- Enhances overall setting skills, especially for challenging situations.
Pepper drill Around The Cones
This dynamic volleyball drill is particularly effective when players focus on off-season conditioning. It closely resembles the basic peppering exercise but adds an extra layer of challenge. Here’s how it works:
- Setup:
- Place a cone (or multiple cones) on the court, approximately 7 to 9 feet apart from you (3-4m).
- Two players stand on opposite sides of the cones.
- Execution:
- The drill begins with one player tossing or spiking the ball to their partner.
- The receiving player passes (bumps) the ball back.
- After each pass, the player who passed the ball must quickly move around the cone (touching it or going fully around) and return to their original position.
- The cycle continues, with the spiker spiking the ball for the defender to defend and run around the cone after each defense.
Benefits:
- Improves footwork and agility.
- It adds an element of conditioning and increases the precision of passing in motion.
5. Reaction pepper drill – Great for Defence
This engaging drill focuses on improving players’ reaction times. Here’s how it works:
- Setup:
- Two players participate the hitter and the defender.
- The hitter holds the ball, and the defender faces away from them.
- Execution:
- The drill unfolds as follows:
- The hitter throws the ball for a spike.
- Simultaneously, the hitter signals the defender to turn around.
- The defender’s timing is crucial—the call to turn must neither be too early nor too late.
- Once the defender faces the hitter, the hitter can execute various attacks: spiking, tipping, or rolling the ball.
- The defender’s task is to react swiftly and defend the ball.
- The drill unfolds as follows:
- Benefits:
- Enhances reaction times and decision-making.
- Allows players to practice different attack variations.
How do you warm up for pepper drills?
Here are some of my steps to warm up for the pepper drill:
- Stretching: Start by stretching your muscles and joints, especially your arms, shoulders, wrists, and ankles. You can do dynamic stretches like arm circles, shoulder rotations, wrist flicks, and ankle rolls.
- Tossing the ball: Next, grab a partner and a ball and stand about 20-30 feet (6-9m) apart. Begin by tossing the ball to each other and catching it with both hands. (Toss with both hands and slam the ball a few times from the ground) This will help you warm your shoulders and arms.
- Passing the ball with forearm and overhead: After a few tosses, switch to passing the ball with your forearms. Aim for a high and controlled pass that goes straight to your partner. Keep your knees bent, your arms straight, and your wrists together. Try to pass the ball with minimal spin and movement.
- Add spike: Finally, add spiking to the drill and start pepper different pepper drills!
Conclusion
Volleyball pepper drills are a versatile and effective way to warm up and improve your volleyball skills. They will help you develop your passing, setting, and hitting abilities, as well as your physical fitness and coordination. Peppering can also be fun and challenging, as you can vary the drill with different partners, distances, speeds, and directions. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, peppering is a valuable exercise that can enhance your performance and enjoyment of the game! Are you doing some pepper drills in your team that I didn’t mention? Let me know!
