It is easy for a coach to devise volleyball drills to simulate the basic movements required for a hit. Throw the ball in the air and have a player spike it and you will learn the basic moves associated with the spike. The same is true for any type of hit. However, in a game, the ball will not be thrown to only one place each time for a player to hit it. There are several ways you can modify volleyball drills to simulate real games, and that will help your players feel more comfortable when it comes time to play.
There are many volleyball passing, setting and spiking drills that have been used since the sport began. However, in a real game, nothing is as predictable as in a drill. To simulate this game, you can have the team form groups of 6, 3 on each side of the net. The two teams will essentially play a small game of volleyball. Have a server serve the ball over the net and have the receiving players pass the ball to the setter, who will set the ball to the attacker, who in turn spikes the ball over the net. The other team must then do the same. Once both teams have hit the ball over the net, have the second team start the serve. Rotate the serve this way a couple of times to get players loose and ready for the real game. As you can see, this combines several different types of volleyball drills into one great drill.
Another set of volleyball exercises is the precision hit, both in passes and adjustments. The coach throws the ball to a player who must then pass or set the ball to a target player. A great way to help simulate a real game is to have two sets of two players, one on each side of the net. The first player serves the ball, the receiver must pass or set the ball to the target. Once the target has the ball, the passer moves into place, the target runs to the service line and returns the ball over the net. Adding this to your volleyball drill set is a great way to quickly warm up your team before games. They are running back and forth from serving/receiving/goal positions while keeping the ball moving as much as possible.
Not all volleyball drills need to actually simulate a game and still give players that sense of randomness. This drill is perfect for teaching players to be flexible and move to position their body in the best place in line with the ball. Have your team pair up and play a one-on-one game. The trick is to make the short size narrow but long. They must still play by the basic rules, such as not crossing, but having only one stroke to return the ball to the net. This is a great way to get your players to learn how to hit the ball from different angles, from the front or even from the side and still maintain control of the ball. This teaches the things that most common volleyball drills teach, but gives the realism of playing with another player, with the randomness of it, to give a real sense of the game.
Traditional volleyball drills are great for preparing your players for the movements required in any particular game. Modifying the same volleyball drills into something that can be more realistic in game will help your players get into the game mindset. Knowing the correct way to pass the ball is important, knowing how to pass the ball from a potential kill shot will take your team to greater heights than you could ever imagine.